As we mentioned in last week’s rug post, our search for a new master bedroom dresser came to an unexpected and happy end. We’d been looking to replace our old Ikea Malm dresser—the one we bought over five years ago during the move from NYC to Richmond—that’s destined for the guest room.
The Malm was too small for the wall, one middle drawer had gotten a bit wonky during the move, and it had acquired a few visible dents and scratches from life in our previous house. In short, we wanted something larger and a little more characterful.
We were specifically drawn to something with a more traditional, curvy look to contrast the modern elements in the room (like Ed the Bed and our large globe-like light fixture). We also liked the idea of a dresser on turned legs so it would visually relate to the leggy design of the bed and help blend old and new in a balanced way.
We had been scouring thrift stores and Craigslist for weeks hoping to rescue a vintage piece, but found nothing that felt right—until the perfect dresser turned up at my parents’ house.
My parents are downsizing now that the nest is empty, and they’ve been letting go of many things. When we noticed my dad’s dresser during a visit and asked if they planned to keep it, they said they were going to list it online—unless we wanted it. We jumped at the chance.
They happened to be nearby a couple of days later and brought it down, which was an even quicker and better surprise than we expected. And that’s how this beauty arrived at our house:
It’s noticeably wider than our old Ikea dresser and fills the wall proportionately. The traditional styling adds warmth and balances the room’s modern pieces. We’re already excited about adding matching nightstands in a similar warm wood tone and with drawers for concealed bedside storage—either found or refinished—to complete the layered, collected-over-time look we’re aiming for.
When we brought the dresser home, one drawer needed a quick fix: a busted rail that I tightened up with a screwdriver in about ten minutes. Beyond that, we’re not planning any major refinishing or painting right now. Although the idea of repainting or restaining was tempting, we like the warm wood finish against the cool wall color and bedding. The dresser’s tones echo the honey shades in the curtains, the jute rug, and the duvet’s gold leaves, which felt like a reason to leave the wood as-is for now.
Also, our bedroom’s wide plank floors are in rough shape—discolored, stained, and splintered in spots—so we plan to refinish them in a darker mocha tone along with the rest of the home’s hardwoods. Once the floors are darker, the dresser’s warm finish will stand out even more, especially if we add matching, leggy nightstands on either side of the bed. We might even take on a few thrift store or Craigslist finds to refinish so they feel like part of a cohesive set without being perfectly matched.
We love the dresser’s imperfections because they tell the piece’s story. It’s our first true hand-me-down “antique,” and that sentimental value feels special—this one has family history. My dad bought it from a cousin back in the 1960s for $100 and has used it ever since; one drawer even still carries a scratch from when he transported it in his trunk decades ago.
There’s also a stamp inside one of the drawers that reads “Abernathy Furniture Co.” A quick search suggests that company began operations in the 1850s in Kansas, which adds to the piece’s charm and sense of provenance.
After a few days of living with the dresser, I noticed how certain sounds—like the metal pulls clanging against the wood—evoke memories from my childhood. Hearing Sherry open and close the drawers triggered a flashback to similar sounds from down the hall in my parents’ house. It’s surprising how strongly sound can connect you to the past.
Aside from tightening the hardware, the main remaining issue was that the drawers stuck and dragged a bit. Sherry tried a traditional fix by rubbing a dry bar of Dove soap on the drawer bottoms and the internal tracks to “wax” them, which helped noticeably but didn’t completely solve the problem.
For a free, simple trick it was worth trying; we may follow up with wax or another lubricant if needed. If you have tips for making wooden-drawer slides glide more smoothly, we’d love to hear them.
On top of the dresser we’ve arranged functional and sentimental items: a white lacquered charging station we scored at the Pottery Barn Outlet, a ceramic egg crate that holds Sherry’s jewelry, a seasonal table fan, a couple of white bowls for bracelets and sunglasses, three framed anniversary photos, and a bronze ceramic pig Sherry found at HomeGoods. The mix of practical storage and meaningful objects makes the dresser feel like part of the room rather than just furniture.
To show how the new dresser fits into the larger scheme, here are more photos of the bedroom. The room still needs artwork, a long bench, a built-in or cabinet to the left of the bed to balance the door, matching warm-hued nightstands, and possibly new table lamps. Shopping for those finishing touches will be part of the fun (and occasional debate).
One of the biggest wins is practical: the dresser gives us four full drawers of storage, so clothes that were piled on our closet floor finally have a proper home. After more than three months of living with a too-small dresser and one inoperable drawer, we have no more excuses for not getting organized.
This first hand-me-down antique has been a delightful addition to our home. It feels special to own a piece with a family history, even if it’s a little beat-up and hasn’t come from an auction house. Have you ever inherited a piece of furniture that carried memories or a story? Did you leave it as-is or make changes? In our case, we were lucky: my parents were happy to pass it on and even excited to see how we’d use it.
Pssst—Want to see how we completely refinished an old Craigslist dresser with stain and paint for Clara’s nursery? Click here.