Storybook land
Beatrix Potter Decoupage Changing Table/Dresser
When I found out I was pregnant, my mom, who had been eagerly anticipating this event for a very, very long time, immediately jumped into action. She, of course being very familiar with my tastes, knows that I have a fondness for vintage items and began hunting for unique, classic nursery decor. She hit the jackpot at a local bookstore that was sadly going out of business. They had a number of old prints and illustrations from children’s books that had been gathering dust in the basement of the bookstore since the ’50′s. She scooped up a bunch of these treasures at thrift store prices. Among them were these fantastic Beatrix Potter illustration panels. I remember being enthralled with the adventures and misadventures of all of these characters when I was young, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny, The Tailor of Gloucester. And the colors of the illustrations are so calming and lovely, perfect for a nursery. At first I wasn’t quite sure I could incorporate the panels into our decorating scheme; they were an odd shape for framing, but I had to put them to use somehow.
So I decided to get crafty.
Here’s what I did:
1. I found a changing table on Craigslist. The girls would need a changing table, of course. It was actually in pretty good shape. Just not my style, see:
2. I removed the drawer pulls and roughed up all the surfaces with sand paper to give the paint something to adhere to.
3. I chose a new paint color. I finally went with ‘Gumdrop’ from Benjamin Moore. I used their High Gloss Impervo oil-based paint, because I read that it is the best for repainting furniture. It is fantastic paint. But, all you pregnant ladies out there, fumes from oil-based paint are very, very harmful to your baby. I didn’t know this at first, but it’s true. Thankfully, darling, patient Brian was lovely enough to do the painting for me. This crafting thing is definitely not his gig, but I think he did a great job.
4. Brian painted the changing table and the outside edges of the drawers. Then I measured and cut the illustration panels to fit the inner rectangle of the drawer fronts. I was very deliberate with my measuring and precise with my cutting. I think my patience paid off; the panels look as if they were designed specifically for this piece of furniture.
5. I then used a sponge brush and Mod Podge (which ROCKS, by the way) to adhere the panels to the drawers. I’ve learned that the key to a great Mod Podge project is applying a very thin coat. It dries pretty quickly – about 15 minutes. Then I sealed it with 3 more very thin coats.
6. I then drilled new holes and put in some awesome glass drawer pulls. I found these at Rejuvenation.
7. Et voila. Fancy decoupage changing table for the twins’ little nursery storybook land.
Hey, want to go paragliding? Yeah. Me neither. My kind of ‘stunts’ are more centered around the home. I chronicle the ups and downs of my domestic adventures in hopes of offering creative inspiration to folks like me. And failing that, some friendly commiseration at least. Check out my ‘about’ pages for more. Glad you’re here!
SOOOO beautiful!!! I love it!
Those little Sweeties will remember this forever.
I’m in love with it! Poor Jackson just got a cruddy old dresser from babies r’ us… I need to start taking lessons from you!
OMG – I LOVE Beatrix Potter. My grandmother used to buy me the music boxes and books. So pretty! And how exciting that you are pregs – congratulations!
Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your sweet comments! I am really kind of proud of how it turned out.
Hi there!
I just wanted to tell you that your dresser inspired me to do something similar for my sister in law, who absolutely loves Beatrix Potter! I managed to find exactly the same panels you used on eBay and a second hand changing table which I painted white. It looks so pretty, very vintage but I love it (and I hope she does too, I’m presenting it today to her at her babyshower). The only thing I would’ve done differently was to rough up the areas a bit with sandpaper. I painted over the varnish and if you chip the paint it comes off easily, but I’ve sealed all the areas with a clear gloss lacquer so hopefully that will help.
Thank you for being my inspiration
Hi — Like everyone else, including all those that didn’t leave a comment, I adore what you have done with this dresser. It would be dreamy to find panels remotely like those you have used — is there any specific jargon, like a brand name, you could share that would help me locate something like that for my project? Thanks for the glimpse of the pinnacle of creative and clever. Caroline
Lovely pattern.. I really like it.. The pink one is looking awesome.. I will look forward to such design.. Great job!
Hi, I saw your wonderfull dresser, for some time ago and I could not find your site again, until now.
Please, I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter, collecting figurines and have rubber stamps from Crafters Companion.
Please, may I aske where you bought the Beatrix Potter decoupage paper? I have an small chair (child) I would like to decorate.
Thanks
Yours sincerely
Monica Kasandra from Denmark
And your things are beatyfull