Before & After: Ikea Malm Nightstand Makeover

I finally finished a project this weekend that has been on my list for a while now.  We have two Ikea Malm nightstands.  I mean, seriously, talk about blah, so I'd been wanting to do something to these guys for a while now, but I'd had a hard time deciding what exactly to do with them.  A few of the ideas that had my gears turning...

Lord knows I love a good chevron...

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Or Greek key moldings...

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Or maybe a lace overlay...

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Or these amazing new and super easy moldings from O'verlays.

But once I saw this picture, I knew immediately that the search was over.

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This beautiful dresser redo from Birdhouse Blog is absolutely gorgeous (as is almost every detail in her new craft room).  I love the simplicity, the contrast, and the beautiful hardware.  She was working with a quality, stainable midcentury modern dresser, but I thought it had the potential to translate to my boring old box o' particle board and laminate.  

Here's a couple of before shots for you.

I gave the drawers a good sanding with some pretty high grit sandpaper.

Wiped them down.

A couple of coats of primer.

With a light sanding between each coat.

And a few coats of high gloss white paint (also with a light sanding between each coat and at the end).

Finally, I installed the hardware (as much as  I love gold - and man, do I love gold - I went with a satin nickel that matches the metal finishes on the other furniture and the lamps), and I really, really love the final product.

  

In the end, it was a pretty simple, fast project that cost me less than $25.  Money and time well spent, I say!

And now I leave you with the all-important side-by-side:

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