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dresker collage 1

I shared how we cut into our vintage bedroom dresser and added hardware to create a hinged drawer here. Today, you get to see it in action!

dresker 1

The dresser/desk {I have officially coined it the “dresker”} sits in a corner of our bedroom near the bathroom. Like I mentioned in the DIY post, HH was in need of a quiet spot to take conference calls in the evenings. Preferably, a spot that could be closed off from pesky kids. HH eventually found retreat in our bedroom but was uncomfortable sitting on the bed with his laptop. Tweaking the dresser into a makeshift desk was the perfect solution.

dresker 3

Now HH is able to set his work laptop on top of the dresser and use a wireless keyboard and mouse found inside the hinged drawer.

dresker 4

The keyboard and mouse are nothing special. HH just picked up the cheapest ones he could find. If this was an everyday office space, we would probably splurge on nicer versions but these get the job done. The cork liner negates the need for a separate mouse pad. I spray painted the white trim piece – the one HH added for the piano hinge install – gold. You know, because that’s what I do.

dresker 5

I drilled holes in the back of the drawer and dresser to accommodate HH’s phone charger. {There’s an outlet in the wall behind the dresker.}

dresker 6

I found a manly {?} notepad on clearance at Target for HH to jot down notes during his meetings. I can’t foresee HH ever needing paper clips at this desk but they were $1 and I couldn’t help myself. I painted the inside of a glass votive holder with neon yellow acrylic paint and dumped in a bunch of paper clips. It was a quick and easy project.

dresker collage 2

When HH needs to work, all he has to do is open the drawer and pull up a chair. {He’s successfully used the dresker already and is happy to finally have a designated workspace away from the hustle and bustle of family life.}

dresker collage 3

Not just any chair – this chair. It is the ultimate comfy office chair. And it swivels! It was a total splurge but I haven’t regretted it for one second. HH is worth it. The acorn stained legs complement the wood tones of the dresser. It was meant to be. The pillow was an etsy find from this shop. I love the kilim pattern against the thin stripes of the chair.

dresker 7

Did you notice the kids’ picture missing from above the dresser? During our bedroom makeover, HH made it clear that obnoxious photographs of the kids are not welcome in the bedroom. And most of you agreed! I had never really thought about it but it makes sense. Bedroom = sanctuary. Kids = chaos. Bedroom ≠ kids. I leaned one of the original art pieces I bought at our house’s estate sale {the previous owner was a painter} on top of the dresser just to get a feel for it before I hung it BUT I quite like it leaning. Our bedroom is naturally dark {it faces northeast} so there’s a lamp and some low light loving plant I found at Home Depot. The wood sculpture next to the dresser was a thrift find years ago.

dresker 2

I get to fall asleep staring at this lil’ corner. It makes me happy.

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

50 Comments

06.September.2013

I heart that chair. Love it. Love how you make it work in your house!

06.September.2013

Love it! Great chair.

06.September.2013

Love how everything is intentional and is so pretty. I think you must have gotten the best pillow they had–I’ve been scrolling through, and nothing else pops out at me like the one you chose!

06.September.2013

I LOVE the corner! I’m especially enamored by the pattern mixing. The pillow against the chair – I wouldn’t have thought to put them together as the patterns and colors are so different, but it’s really working! Then in the last picture where you pulled back to see how the duvet cover and chair just go – well done!

06.September.2013

Love the combo of functionality + style!

06.September.2013

This corner is incredible! I love everything in it! I have that same chair (adore it!) and have been struggling with finding a pillow that works. I love how yours looks! I’d be happy to work in that corner any day!

06.September.2013

I seriously want to come and live in every corner of your house. I love this! That chair is SO perfect. I feel like you hit the mixtures of mid century, chic, rustic, and modern just right…every time!

06.September.2013

Hi, I love the chair, do you mind sharing where you purchased it?

06.September.2013

Snazzy! Great DIY to update the dresker. And that chair … be still my heart. That chair rocks.

06.September.2013

I had no idea that chair swiveled! And oh how I marvel at the happy union of form + function (go dresker, go swivel chair!).

06.September.2013

That corner looks terrific, and the painting seems just right leaning there. I’ve loved that piece of furniture from the moment you posted it, long before it became a dual-purpose dresker. Finding a way to make it extra functional for your family is a bonus. Your house definitely is no longer an underdog. :D

06.September.2013

I absolutely LOVE everything about that happy little corner. I would stay awake at night starting at it and smiling. Great job and great eye!

06.September.2013

Linked within the post!

06.September.2013

Gorgeous! I love every little thing in this corner!

06.September.2013

And what a remarkable little corner it is! LOVE the term “dresker”…so freaking fitting and cute!
Amy @ http://giftedgabber.blogspot.com/

07.September.2013

I was looking forward to seeing the dresker in action after your last teaser post with the modification.

I had no idea the striped version of the chair swiveled! I’m jealous of your swivel, but I managed to score the gray version for free behind my local West Elm. True; two legs are broken and the upholstery has been slashed but I look forward to fixing it up now that I hear how comfortable it is.

07.September.2013

Gorgeous job! Love that pillow. The dresker is cool. Have you thought about staining the sides of the drawer so that when its pulled out it matches the finish of the dresser? I like the way the dresker, legs of the chair and bathroom mirror are similar in tone. Serendipidity. You did a great job pulling it all together.

07.September.2013

I love it all. You always style so nicely.

And you have a knack for finding the best shops on etsy!

07.September.2013

I hadn’t thought of that but it’s a great idea!

07.September.2013

Awesome dumpster score!

07.September.2013

Gorgeous!! I had no idea it swiveled! How dreamy :) By the way…Do you ever watch A Bryk at a Time on HGTV? Danielle and you are style/design twins. She does a wordly basement/nanny suite and then the same persons luxury kitchen and they are both designs I would have guessed you did. If you don’t watch it, you totally should to see what I’m talking about! :)

07.September.2013

Wonderful. Congratulations to you both.

08.September.2013

Here’s the thing: I really enjoy your/this blog. and I want so badly to have this be a site that I tell friends & random people about when I divulge my obsessions with diy blogs. {In fact, this post is a perfect example- I’ve seen and even owned desks that open up similarly but I NEVER thought about making one myself. I also love the use of cork as a mouse pad too and am thinking of using left over cork pieces from my wall for my own mouse pad (I do feel silly for not thinking of this now!)} But anyway my only gripe is the use of the “HH” acronym. Since finding this site I have not searched back to see if there is a reason (nor is it really any of my business–also, why am I even writing this?) as to why your husband is not named, but I just feel like every time I read the acronym I am brought out of the story and reminded that this is an intentionally constructed blog entry. I really don’t want this to come across as a negative blog post, but I am just writing I guess as if I had been asked for notes on a novel /screenplay/etc– but I haven’t been asked. Regardless though, I believe that it would be better to just use a faux name (instead of the acronym). I don’t know, maybe I am the only one that this bothers, but I feel like this blog could grow viewership even further with one tiny tweak? It seems that often the entire blog culture gets wrapped up in catering to a viewership of either “mommies” or “diy-ers” and while I feel like I may fall into one or none of these, I don’t want to have to discriminate between which blogs I recommend to what people. Does any of this make any sense? Who knows… okay well just please regardless please keep putting your content out there because it is inspiring and beautiful.

Thanks! xoxo

08.September.2013

Doesn’t the trim piece make a less-than-comfortable wrist rest? I guess I was hoping to see a demo of the keyboard drawer in actual use. And, does the top of the dresser have to be cleared (at least partially) to accommodate the notebook computer?

08.September.2013

Thank you for this post. If/when a baby comes for us we’ll be changing out the office to be the kiddo’s room and have thought about what to do to ‘hide’ our office in plain sight. This is an excellent idea. We even have my dad’s old dressers that we currently use but don’t love too much but are loathe to part with. I am pinning this to remember for when the time comes! Thanks so much for the idea!

09.September.2013

Glad to see that how well you have maintained the cozy work environment so peaceful and functional. But please let me know where I can buy this furniture, especially dresser cum desk.

09.September.2013

Your “Dresker” would work for me well. It’s a space saver and excellent idea. I will redesign my dresser like this one too. Thanks!

09.September.2013

The trim piece is rather minimal in size. HH says it doesn’t bother him. I guess we could always add a wrist rest if necessary. I was hoping to get pics of HH actually using the desk but, sadly, he was out of town on business last week and I was too impatient to wait for him to return before I shared after pics. HH’s work computer is small. He doesn’t have to remove anything on top of the dresser – just push things a little further to the sides. Since this workspace isn’t used too frequently, the setup works for us.

09.September.2013

HH = Handy Hubby = Steve. Yes, Steve Miller, like the band.

When I first started writing this blog years ago, my husband wasn’t keen on me using his first name. So, together we came up with Handy Hubby which I eventually abbreviated to HH. He doesn’t mind me using his first name now but I’ve been writing HH for so long that I thought it would be strange to change it. Obviously, in real life, I only refer to him as Steve.

09.September.2013

I LOVE this idea!!! You now have me rethinking the desk I’ve been shopping for!

09.September.2013

i think this is the cutest corner… i love the design, the chair, the repurposing of the dresser… but i can’t help but wonder how practical it is covered in decorative items, at least if i wanted to copycat this idea in my own home… i did read that another commenter something similar, and i saw your response, so i guess if hh is good with the small space, that’s fine, too :)

10.September.2013

Love the chair, love the pillow, love the dresker..love it all. And I agree 100% that the bedroom should be a sanctuary. I feel absolutely zero guilt about it being a no kid zone for the most part. Of course this is coming from someone who doesn’t like to hang family photos on walls either. Only art. Thanks so much for sharing.

10.September.2013

That’s a pretty good idea if you live in a small,compact living area and don’t have much space. Unfortunately, I think my legs are too lanky to try to sit there all day without being able to stretch them out.

10.September.2013

Dana, I love this. We are not space challenged, but I hate desks. Dressers come in much more attractive options! Thanks for the inspiration!

10.September.2013

Ohhhh it looks like this got pinned by West Elm. Maybe this is a regular occurrence, but I would be over the moon if they repinned something I had made. Congrats!

22.September.2013

“‘HH’ into perpetuity!” I say. An apt acronym!

25.September.2013

Umm.. this desk area is so fantastic!! I love your style!!

10.October.2013

Well done! I love idea, the color palette and no kid photos in your bedroom. You have a new fan!

07.November.2013

I have been looking for a rug like this for while..would you mind telling me where you got it and I know its probably not soft but is it soft enough for kids to play on in the living room?
Thank so much! Love your style!

08.November.2013

It’s from Overstock and it’s the most expensive rug in our home. When it comes to jute, you get what you pay for. The higher the quality, the softer / silkier the jute is. It has a nubby texture but it isn’t scratchy at all.

[…] A Desk Disguised as a Dresser {a.k.a. “The Dresker”} – HOUSE … […]

27.February.2014

Love your style! I think we’re getting that same West Elm chair so I’m definitely going to check out that Etsy store you mentioned. Could you tell me what size the pillow is? Thanks :)

27.February.2014

It’s 16″ x 16″.

01.March.2014

Sorry to be pain if you’ve already mentioned it, but where is that lamp from? I love it so hard.

01.March.2014

Never mind! Found the post about the lamp! Digging through your archives helped!

02.March.2014

Glad you found it! Sorry you had to dig.

20.January.2015

I love this room! Going for the same kinda vibe in our bedroom. Would you mind sharing your paint color?

20.January.2015

It’s Benjamin Moore half moon crest!

21.January.2015

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it :) Love your style!

07.September.2015

Wow, super cool. I like this drawer a lot. Make the things so much nicer and tider. Great idea. I will put in my DIY box. Thx