Converting a Dresser to a Changing Table

One of my dearest friends is pregnant with her first child. Combing facebook I found this striking and sweet Craigslist find.

The wide surface and drawer shapes could be perfect for a changing table.

We went in person. The piece needed a lot of work and is about 20 inches shorter than a normal changing table.

The beautiful wood leaf detail, wooden keyholes and price made this a piece I couldn’t pass up.

When I get excited I can’t sleep, so I came up with these plans in the middle of the night using inspiration found online.

My plan is to use pieces taken from an antique dry sink and an antique piano (beyond repair) to turn this into a changing table.

1. Step 1: TLC Dresser
   1. Have sanded plywood cut for back of dresser at Home Depot (cutting should be free) (or use 1×3 pieces of wood re-attaching the old pieces)
   2. Screw or nail plywood to back of dresser
   3. Remove broken drawer slides
   4. Cut and nail drawer slides —1 inch wide, 1/4(?) inch thick
   5. Add or fix up drawer pulls

1. Step 2: Create height for dresser (orange)
   1. Cut two spindles in half from dry sink (12-15 inches tall)
   2. Prepare 12-18 inch spindles for leg anchors
   3. Drill holes for leg anchors
   4. Screw leg anchors into underside of dresser (do not attach spindles yet)

3. Step three: Create changing table top (red)
   1. Find oak wood from other furniture for changing tabletop (17 by 33 inches)
   2. Add ½ inch wood trim around to hold changing pad
   3. Screw feet from dry sink to connect table top to dresser top
   4. Use two other spindles (full length) to support table top (see diagram)
   5. Prepare full length spindles for leg anchors

3. Step four: Create lower shelf base for dresser/changing table (green)
   1. Cut piano wood from parents house to create base for bottom of spindles (40 x 16 plus additional counter length)
   2. Screw six spindles into wood base
   3. Screw antique casters beneath wood base
   4. Attach spindles to leg anchors into bottom of dresser
4. Create extra support for structure (black)
   1. Cut wood V-support
   2. Attach wood v-support

A sketch to give a clearer idea.

Here’s hoping this crazy plan works out. If it does, per my friend’s request, I’ll do a wash in antique white chalk paint. Several of the drawer pulls are damaged, so they may need replacing. I have some ideas of tacking a lot of this work by myself. We’ll see. I’ve yet to wield the drill, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try!