The other day I was flipping through the latest issue of Elle Decor, when I spotted this...
It's the "Button Down Chest" by designer Bunny Williams. Price: $3,000
I did a double take. Why? Because I happen to have this dresser. This dresser has been in my family for years, and recently, my brother gave it to me to use in my son's bedroom. For FREE.
I painted mine with chalk paint ...
Before I painted it, it looked like this...
Strikingly similar to Bunny Williams' ...
Don't ya think?
According to Elle Decor, Ms. Williams was "inspired by a midcentury bureau with reeded detailing and playful drawer pulls." I'm willing to bet my dresser was her inspiration. Okay, well, not my dresser, but you know what I mean :)
Bet my brother is going to be sorry he let me have it.
Oh. And look. I even have a matching dresser in another bedroom, that I painted red...
Do you think if I painted both pieces black, I could sell them for 6 grand??
I'd probably have to change my name to Bunny Williams first.
So, I guess the moral of this little story is to hang on to your old stuff. You never know when a world famous designer will be inspired by it.
Happy Hump Day!!
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how cool! i love the shape of these! :)
ReplyDeleteGuess what? I like your "versions" better than the "original". How cool is that though---A name change costs about $2,000 here so you COULD come out $4,000 ahead...of course, then you would probably want to change your name BACK...but would still end up with a cool $2,000. I say- Go For It! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny Carolyn! The same thing happened to my in-laws. They wanted me to sell a cocktail table on Craigslist, and when I researched it, I found out it was a really cool vintage piece that was worth some money! We decided to use it in their new house rather than sell it - somehow we liked it better after we knew it's pedigree - isn't that silly? But true :)
ReplyDeleteCarolyn I saw that dresser in Elle and I kept thinking I had seen it somewhere before. It was yours I was remembering! I'd say Bunny was more than a little inspired...it's pretty much an exact copy.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right...hang on to your old GOOD pieces because everything old is new again :)
PS love both of your dressers.
Hey before that dresser was your tween's or your brother's, it was mine! I think I need to bring a U-Haul out and see what other treasures I can find.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that ironic? If her dresser is a copy of an older piece, how does that make it an original design? Just pondering. I really like your choice of paint colors much better than the solid black - and you have the matching dresser too? Wow! I've never seen a design quite like this one and a glad your family hung onto it! Hugs, Leena
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is that!!!! They are super cool dressers. A year ago I bought two matching lamps at a yard sale for $2. I then saw that they were marked and looked them up. They had sold for $1200! Gotta love it when that happens.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh...that is a beautiful dresser...so unusual...love it!
ReplyDeleteI'd say she'd be even more inspired if she saw how much better yours look!
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