The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table - My hubby said it was junk

When I found this "desk" (at least that's what the owner called it, but admitted to it being a vanity since it had the mirror slots) on Craigslist and showed my hubby what he was picking up, he wasn't too enthralled. Seriously...I have to give my guy 100% credit for going along with me the way he does, AND for trusting my intuition.

When my hubs first picked it up, he didn't say anything, but later on he told me, "I thought it was junk."

Who can blame him?  The previous owner said it had been in his family for over 25 years and that he had intended to refinish it, but until then, he used it to build his hobby models on.
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
Ummm yeah...paint drips and drops all over, gouges, holes drilled all over it, yes, it would appear to be junk...at least to the average person's eye.  
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
My eye says, "Game ON!"

Grabbed my handy dandy sander and attacked that top like none other.  This is one of those opportunities I mentioned here where I can get my kids involved in the prep work and this was my daughter's first time sanding. I love it!
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
Wood putty was a friend to this dressing table and since it needed patched, painting was the only way to go.

So, knowing how I wanted to finish this piece with having sanded most everything to bare bone, I applied an espresso stain to those places so that it could peek out after painting.
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
Are you ready for the reveal?

Drums please!  
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
Ta Da!!

Ugly Duckling no more. 
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
I wanted to draw out the color of those pulls and accentuate them with a coordinating fabric on the chair (which I grabbed from my furniture stash, by the way). Looks so good, don't you think?
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
Aren't those brass batwing pulls just fabulous?!  I love the patina, so no polishing for these aged beauties.


Now, you may be wondering where did the mirror come into the picture?

Well, we recently bought an antique dresser to use in our upcoming bathroom remodel and I knew I wasn't going to use it, and thought it went perfectly with the dressing table.

Aaah...now my loving hubby says, "I can't believe that's the same piece!"  Tsk. He should know by now that I carry a magic wand in my pocket.  hee hee.
The Ugly Duckling Dressing Table Makeover by Prodigal Pieces  http://www.prodigalpieces.com
I am happy to say that my ugly duckling was purchased fairly quickly and is in her new home.  I love a happy ending.  sigh...