As we mentioned in last week’s rug post, our search for a new master bedroom dresser ended unexpectedly. We’d been looking to replace an old IKEA Malm dresser we’ve had for more than five years (we actually bought it on a move-from-NYC-to-Richmond Ikea run), and it’s destined for the guest room.
That Malm is clearly too small for the wall, one middle drawer got wonky during a move, and it shows a few battle scars from living in several rooms over the years. We wanted a larger piece, something a little curvy and ornate to contrast the modern elements in the room—like Ed the Bed and our round, snowball-ish light fixture. The goal was a layered, collected-over-time look, not a modern furniture showroom.
We liked the idea of a dresser on turned legs to echo the bed’s leggy design and hoped to find something to rescue and restore. After weeks of thrift-store hunting and Craigslist stalking with no luck, the perfect piece appeared in the most unexpected place: my parents’ bedroom.
My parents are downsizing now that their nest is empty and they’ve been rehoming furniture and keepsakes. On a visit we spotted my dad’s dresser and asked if they planned to keep it. Their answer was basically “nope—Craigslist, unless you want it.” We said yes immediately. They happened to be in our neighborhood two days later and brought it down. Best dresser surprise ever.
The new dresser is larger than our IKEA piece, so it fills the wall nicely. Its traditional look helps balance the modern bed and light fixture, exactly what we wanted. We’re excited to hunt for matching nightstands in a similar tone and shape, ideally with ring-pull hardware and a few drawers for concealed bedside storage.
The dresser did need a little TLC. One drawer rail was broken, so I tightened a few screws—that took about ten minutes. We’re not planning to paint or stain it right now. As tempting as a full refinish sounded, the warm wood tone complements the cool wall colors and bedding and brings out the honey tones in the curtains, jute rug, and duvet’s gold leaves. The bedroom’s rustic wide-plank floors are discolored and splintering in places, so we plan to refinish the floors in a darker mocha tone; once that’s done the dresser will stand out even more.
We appreciate the dresser’s imperfections and the sense of history they provide. It’s special knowing its back story: my dad bought it from his cousin in the 1960s for $100 and has used it ever since. There’s even an old scratch on one drawer from transporting it in his car over forty years ago. We found a stamp in a drawer that says “Abernathy Furniture Co,” which appears to have origins in 1850s Kansas, though we don’t know the exact age of the piece.
After a few days of use I noticed the sound of the metal pulls clanging against the wood triggered childhood memories—odd how a noise can transport you back. The drawers did stick a bit, so we tried a classic trick: rub a dry bar of soap on the runners. Sherry used a bar of Dove and rubbed the bottom of the drawers and the tracks inside the dresser to “wax” them. The soap made a noticeable improvement but didn’t solve the issue completely. For a free, low-effort solution it’s a win; we may try furniture wax or a more permanent lubricant next.
On top of the dresser we’ve arranged a few everyday items: a white lacquered charging box we picked up at Pottery Barn Outlet, a ceramic egg crate full of Sherry’s jewelry, a small table fan for summer, two white bowls holding bracelets and glasses, and three frames with photos we took on our wedding anniversaries. There’s also a bronze ceramic pig that Sherry found at HomeGoods—her quirky decorating touch that I secretly like.
We’ll share more bedroom photos as the room comes together—it’s still in progress and needs art, a long bench, a built-in or cabinet to the left of the bed to balance the door, the leggy honey-colored nightstands we mentioned, and possibly new table lamps. For now the most practical win is having proper storage: four full dresser drawers mean we can finally move clothes out of piles on the closet floor. After living with mountains of shirts and pajamas for months, we have no more excuses to avoid organizing.
This is our first inherited antique-style piece and it feels meaningful to have something handed down from family. Has anyone else inherited furniture with sentimental value? Did you change it or leave it alone? We were lucky that my parents were ready to pass it on and even more eager to see what we’d do with it. Either way, this dresser has already become a favorite part of the room.
Pssst—if you want to see how we refinished an old Craigslist dresser for Clara’s nursery, click here.