A simple DIY project dramatically transforms a regular wooden dresser into a luxe piece of furniture on a budget.


Wooden chest: Before
Get the look of our high and low chests on the cheap by doing it yourself. This project is as stylish as it is simple to make.

Lined drawers
For the ultimate in luxe custom looks, we lined the chest drawers in the same wallpaper pattern we used on the walls. It’s an unexpected detail that guests will appreciate – although you’ll never hear it because that would expose them for having snooped through those drawers to begin with.

Materials

• Pine tarva chest. IKEA, $20.
• Valspar cobalt cannon 5001-2C chest paint. Lowe’s, from $46 per gallon.
• Burnished brass plain knob. Lee Valley Tools, $1.50.
• Home Studio small marble canister with lid. Home Outfitters, $20.
• Porcelain L’Objet key tassel candle. Putti Fine Furnishings, $95.

Bathroom trays
A beautiful bathroom tray is in your hands in more ways than one – if you don’t have the budget to buy the high version (shown at right), you can create your own adaptation. We bought an inexpensive shadow box mirror, spray-painted it a leatheresque colour, lined the bottom with watercolour paper and fastened classic stainless steel pulls to each end for handles. Use your tray to corral candles or beauty products, making what could be messy appear clean and organized.

Materials

• Plastic shadow box mirror. Target, $13.
• 5" pulls (used as tray handles), $7.50 each.
• Valspar spray paint in Fiesta. Lowe’s, $6.
• Global Views leather high tray in Coral with metal handles. Universal Lamp, $249.
• Seven Deadly Sins ceramic “Vanity” plate. Putti Fine Furnishings, $350 per set of 6.