The Search for Perfect Mid-Century Modern Dressers Concludes
The exhilarating hunt for new mid-century modern inspired dressers is finally complete, bringing a crucial piece of our master bedroom makeover to fruition! Two years ago, when we first moved into our beloved lakehouse, our master bedroom was a comfortable but somewhat temporary space. It featured a borrowed maple dresser from my incredibly supportive Mom, alongside some existing pieces like the charming vintage Mingo chair and a fresh mint side table. While these elements had their own character, we knew the room was destined for a more defined and cohesive aesthetic that truly reflected our style and met our practical needs.
Our journey to a more curated master bedroom began with some foundational changes. After my Mom and I successfully sewed the first set of back tab curtains in a striking, bold teal print, the room immediately started to take on a new personality. This vibrant addition inspired a shuffle of existing furniture. The mint chair, while lovely, made way for our more sophisticated black organic chair, which provided a cleaner, more contemporary contrast against the new window treatments. These initial steps set the stage for the larger transformation that was to come, primarily centered around finding the perfect mid-century modern storage solutions.
The Critical Need for Storage: Downsizing and the Dresser Dilemma
I am incredibly thankful to my Mom for lending us a dresser, as it truly tided us over during a crucial period. When we made the significant move from our spacious three-bedroom townhouse to our cozier two-bedroom lakehouse, one of the biggest challenges we faced was a drastic reduction in closet space. Suddenly, for the very first time in our adult lives, we found ourselves in desperate need of dedicated dresser storage. This wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was a fundamental necessity to keep our clothes organized and our smaller home functional. The quest for a suitable replacement began immediately, but it proved to be far more arduous than anticipated.
My initial attempts to find the perfect mid-century modern dressers were met with disappointment and frustration. I was thoroughly disappointed by my first choice, which fell short on both style and quality. I was also dissuaded from going with some Ikea units, despite their affordability, as they simply didn’t possess the robust quality or distinctive mid-century aesthetic I was seeking. Furthermore, my local mid-century finds were either overpriced, in poor condition, or simply not the right fit for our evolving master bedroom design. After painstakingly short-listing numerous options and rejecting them for various reasons – ranging from size and finish to material and overall craftsmanship – I renewed my search with fresh determination at the end of last year, tirelessly exploring the inventory at every local furniture shop and large retailer in my small city, hoping to uncover a hidden gem.
A Serendipitous Discovery: Stylish Options at Leon’s Furniture
At that point, I hadn’t yet explored Leon’s Furniture, so my Mom and I decided to pay them a visit. To my genuine surprise, Leon’s had a fantastic selection! I was particularly impressed by their range of really stylish, very modern dressers and chests, some of which were even proudly made in Canada. This discovery was a game-changer, as finding quality, well-designed furniture locally had proven to be quite challenging. Among their offerings, I found two mid-century modern inspired dressers that immediately caught my eye: the (now discontinued) cherry veneered Noma and the elegant walnut veneered Roxy. Both pieces offered distinct mid-century design cues, from their clean lines to their thoughtful details, and both promised the much-needed storage we desperately required.
At the time of my visit, my local Leon’s didn’t have either the Noma or the Roxy model on the showroom floor, which made the decision-making process a bit more challenging. While ordering the dressers was not an issue, I really wanted to see better, real-life photos to get a clearer sense of their scale and finish. To aid in my decision, I started diligently perusing Leon’s Instagram account, searching for more authentic images of both dressers. I find that seeing furniture styled in actual homes provides a much better perspective than isolated product shots. This proactive approach led to a wonderful opportunity: I ended up chatting with their Director of Social Media, who extended an invitation to collaborate on their exciting new blog, Hello Yellow. This partnership officially kicked off my master bedroom makeover journey, which you might recall seeing the initial stages of when I revealed my stylish new white glass sliding closet doors.
The Final Choice: Noma’s Storage and Style Triumph
A significant part of my ongoing bedroom makeover included integrating two new mid-century modern inspired dressers from Leon’s. This meant finally making the difficult decision between the two compelling styles: the Noma and the Roxy. I was genuinely torn. I adored the classic mid-century appeal of the Noma, with its distinctive silhouette and thoughtful design. However, the rich walnut veneer of the Roxy was undeniably striking and exuded its own sophisticated charm. After much deliberation and careful consideration of our specific needs, I ultimately chose the Noma dressers. My primary reason was the desire to maximize storage capacity; the Noma is quite a few inches taller, wider, and longer than the Roxy, offering superior organizational potential for our downsized living. Beyond the practicalities, I was utterly captivated by the Noma’s unique curvy drawer fronts, a detail that perfectly captured the playful yet elegant spirit of mid-century design.
A Surprise Finish and Embracing the Unexpected
Upon the dressers’ delivery, I was initially a bit puzzled by the finish. It didn’t quite align with my expectation of “cherry veneers in a graphite finish,” as described on the website. I had been picturing a specific stain, perhaps similar to the elegant bench featured in this beautiful bedroom design by Emily Henderson. My hope was that the finish would seamlessly pair with the existing teak and walnut furniture pieces scattered throughout the rest of our lakehouse, creating a harmonious flow. While in the photographs I’ve taken, the dressers might appear to have an espresso-like finish, in real life, the underlying cherry wood profoundly warms up the color, giving it a much richer, chocolate-like hue – a truly warm, deep brown that is both inviting and luxurious. This subtle but significant difference sparked a period of contemplation.
Leon’s, demonstrating excellent customer service, was more than happy to accommodate a swap for any other pair of dressers I might have fancied. However, after much thought and measuring, I ultimately decided to live with the darker finish for a while. The sheer perfection of the Noma’s size and fit within our bedroom was the deciding factor – I simply didn’t want to sacrifice even an inch of that precious storage space. So, I kept them, and spent many contemplative hours in the room, letting the new pieces settle in and allowing my perception of their finish to evolve within the space. Sometimes, the most unexpected choices end up being the most rewarding, and I trusted that the ideal balance would emerge.
Embracing the Mid-Century Charm: A Perfect Fit
After living with them for several days, and even after checking out my local Leon’s which by then had the Roxy in store (allowing for a direct comparison), I simply couldn’t bear to part with these beautiful Noma dressers. I absolutely fell in love with their distinctive shape – especially the elegantly tapered legs, finished with those retro metal foot caps that add such a wonderful touch of vintage flair. The curvy drawer fronts are particularly captivating, strongly reminding me of classic vintage dressers like this example and this other one I admire on Pinterest. However, the Noma offers superior height and spaciousness compared to any truly vintage piece I’ve encountered, blending classic aesthetics with modern functionality. Beyond their stunning looks, the quality of these mid-century modern inspired dressers is truly impressive. The drawers glide open and close with satisfying smoothness, and both pieces feel incredibly substantial and sturdy, a testament to their excellent craftsmanship.
During my period of “finish contemplation,” I revisited some mid-century dressers that I had pinned to my Pinterest boards for inspiration. It was then that I realized the darker stain, far from being a deviation, was actually quite fetching and, more importantly, surprisingly era-appropriate. This was beautifully demonstrated by a lovely 1950s Edward Wormley piece, which showcased how darker wood tones were indeed prevalent and celebrated in authentic mid-century design. This realization brought immense relief and excitement, validating my decision.
| Image Source: 1st Dibs |
While I continued to thoughtfully consider the finish, I made it a point to usher anyone who walked through our doorway directly into our bedroom for their honest opinion. My impromptu poll began with a simple question: “What do you think of these dressers?” Overwhelmingly, most everyone agreed that while the dressers were indeed darker than my usual decorating style, the rich, dark stain beautifully complemented our DIY black welded headboard and enhanced the dramatic tones of our vintage Hungarian posters. The consensus solidified my growing appreciation for their unique character within the room.
A Cohesive Master Bedroom: The Final Decision
And so, after much agonizing and deliberation, the final decision was made: the mid-century modern inspired Noma dressers would unequivocally stay! The room now feels incredibly pulled together, cohesive, and thoughtfully designed, perfectly balancing style and functionality. The dark, warm wood tones of the dressers ground the space, creating a sense of depth and sophistication that beautifully offsets the vibrant teal curtains and the graphic punch of the art. Here’s a sneak peek of the updated space, featuring the recently installed tweed curtains, which add another layer of texture and understated elegance, truly completing the vision for our master bedroom retreat.
I utilized my new camera for some of these photos, and there’s definitely a learning curve to mastering its settings and capturing the true essence of a room. For sure, I haven’t yet accurately captured the precise shade of the stain or the natural brightness of the room, as home photography presents unique challenges with varying light conditions. However, I’m slowly but surely improving my photography skills, and once I’ve got the hang of it, I’ll be sure to re-take some professional-quality photos of the entire bedroom. In the meantime, I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the significant progress being made in transforming our master bedroom into a perfectly styled and highly functional retreat.
Disclosure: I was graciously provided these two dressers by Leon’s Furniture. It is important to note, however, that I was not prompted or encouraged to provide a positive review in exchange. In fact, I had already short-listed these specific dressers as top contenders for my bedroom long before any discussions about a collaboration began. Partnering with a brand that I genuinely admire and would happily purchase from is always the most authentic and rewarding kind of arrangement. I have been exceptionally happy with the service from Leon’s throughout this process – they even offer convenient once-weekly delivery to folks living in more remote areas like ours (a huge thank you for that incredible service!).