Saturday, August 21, 2010

the destroyed waterfall dresser

I found these two interesting little pieces of furniture at a garage sale and soon realized they were part of an antique waterfall-style vanity and had once been connected by a middle piece and topped with a beautiful mirror.  They looked pretty rough.  So rough, that I caught my mom hauling them out to the burn pile and just about to light a match to them when I stopped her with a heart-stopping "MOTHER, WHAT ARE YOU DOOOOING?!"  Busted.  She gave me one of those looks and I knew she was picturing my place being featured on the next Horrid Hoarders show.  But, I proved her wrong, and I kind of think they cleaned up good! 
BEFORE - I ripped off that outer layer or veneer
AFTER - gave it a good sanding, painted it white and black.  I painted the original drawer pulls on the bottom, but found some round wood ones for the top that I thought suited the new style better.

8 comments:

  1. I just found out that these are really sought after and considered rare. They are called Swing style Waterfall and I have two matching nightstands that I got at a yard sale for $5 for the both of them and they are in very good condition but now I am thinking about doing this to mine. Yours look fantastic!

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  2. Mine is also part of a dresser that had been cut apart. You did a great job restoring them. I haven't started working on mine yet, when I do I hope it turns out as well as yours.

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  3. I have a full original set - double bed, vanity with mirror and tall dresser in this waterfall pattern - all in excellent condition - they were my parents' bedroom set that they bought when they were married in 1950. Will be using them in the guest room / library at the cottage...

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  4. I have a waterfalls vanity that the mirror broke. Was having trouble finding a replacement so I was thinking of doing something like this! Looks great

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  5. I have a waterfalls vanity that the mirror broke. Was having trouble finding a replacement so I was thinking of doing something like this! Looks great

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  6. I have a few of the actual dressers with the round mirrors still in good shape...one has that exact same wood pattern and i have the matching chifferobe and bed

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  7. I just got a pair in a similar state to yours, however I was asked to refinish them by a friend. It's neat to know they likely where a vanity at one point.

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  8. I had the complete Waterfall bedroom set, Bed, Chifferobe with 5 drawers and a full length mirrored door, vanity bench, vanity and nightstand. It was my mother's dated 1940 and I passed it on to my daughter. She decided it was not big enough (full bed not queen) and sold the entire set for $400. Kids don't always appreciate the classics! I love what you did with the two pieces to give them new life.

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