‘Honey, you might want to come look at this’, said my husband. It was dark – pitch dark – and he had gone to walk the dog. So I really wondered what in the world he wanted me to come see!
Our neighbors had been moving out. For several days, they had been hauling stuff to the street. Now, today, they were at it again. We really like them and will sure hate to see them go.
So, when DH said for me to come look, he added that they had put yet another piece of furniture at the street. I didn’t get my hopes up too high, but followed him back out the door.
Even in the dark, I could see that this was indeed worth rescuing! It was an old oak buffet and hutch. It even had beveled glass doors on the hutch, as well as a glass shelf and interior lighting! Oooooh… jackpot!! And I had the perfect spot for it… IN my house, far away from the road. I had been longing for a painted hutch, so that’s exactly what I had planned for this piece.
So he and I began to load it up on the dolly and truck it right over to our house! In the foyer it went. And that’s where it stayed all during it’s makeover… I had no other place to work on it.
After choosing an off-white chalk paint (I made my own – here’s the recipe!), I went to work cleaning it up with household rubbing alcohol, just to remove any dirt and/or residue. I removed the drawers and the doors from the base piece and began painting. The DIY chalk paint went on soooo smoothly that I could hardly believe it was homemade!
After the couple of coats were dry, I took my sanding block to the edges and distressed it somewhat. I didn’t want it quite as distressed as I had done the kitchen table, but I did want it to look like it was showing some wear. The drawers and doors turned out particularly beautiful, I think, as far as the distressing goes. And I fell in love with these antique glass knobs for the drawers and brass pulls for the doors:
Since I have learned a thing or two about painting in the last few years, I opted to give her a coat of polysatin, rather than wax. You can’t paint over the wax, and I wanted the option to make touch-ups if needed. Also, I wanted a slightly more protective finish on this piece, since I plan to also use it as a serving piece.
As you can see, I left the top of the buffet base and the inside of the hutch the stained wood. I love the contrast, and it’s perfect for displaying my collection of whiteware and milk glass.
Here’s an image for you to pin if you like to pin furniture makeovers!
This was such a fun and rewarding project… made sweeter, I think, because it was free. Have you had the experience of giving an inexpensive find new life? Share it with me, please!
Have a wonderfully creative week!
PS- Speaking of creativity: In anticipation of the Ultimate DIY Bundle that is coming out this week, I have a short e-course to offer you on how to spark creativity in your own life for 2015. You can find it HERE!
Sharing this post at Metamorphosis Monday.
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Carolyn Roach says
January 19, 2015 at 10:23 amBeautiful job. Enjoy.
Jennifer @ 2 Bees in a pod says
January 19, 2015 at 11:40 amI am so jealous that you found this on the side of the road…LOVE how it turned out!!!
Sondra says
January 19, 2015 at 6:41 pmI know, Jennifer! That kind of thing NEVER happens to me! We just got lucky… if they’d put it out in the daytime, I doubt I would’ve seen is before someone else grabbed it first. So glad you like it!!
Brenda says
January 20, 2015 at 12:07 amWow this is so pretty!!
Sondra says
January 20, 2015 at 1:17 pmThank you, Brenda. You’ll have to come see it! Hugs!!
Michele @ Our Rosey Life says
January 20, 2015 at 8:40 amSondra ~ Awesome find and awesome job! Can’t wait to see your chalk paint formula too.
Sondra says
January 20, 2015 at 1:18 pmThanks so much, Michele! I’ll be posting the formula later this week!
Denise says
January 20, 2015 at 10:11 amLove this Sondra. I shared on fb today.
Sondra says
January 20, 2015 at 1:19 pmThank you, Denise!! I really appreciate the share! 🙂
Karen Marie Kedzuch says
January 21, 2015 at 2:25 pmSondra,
Your creativity continues to give me inspiration. The Hubby did a great job walking the dog and finding a gem. Of course he knows how to pick a gem because he found you.
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
Sondra says
January 21, 2015 at 10:10 pmOh, Karen… you’re so sweet! Thank you so very much. Although, I think he may have had second thoughts when it took so long to paint and stayed in the foyer until Christmas!!
Denise says
January 23, 2015 at 10:15 amHey Sondra…I shared on the Sunday Features FB page today as well. And pinned!
Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says
January 26, 2015 at 11:15 amIt looks beautiful! Great job!
Sondra says
January 26, 2015 at 12:12 pmThanks, Erin!
Kim @ This Belle Rocks says
January 29, 2015 at 3:43 pmLOVE IT! I have several pieces I am procrastinating on myself….but can’t wait to get started! You indeed hit the jackpot!
Just hopped over from the DIY linkup – which I plan to check out every week and hope to eventually participate 🙂
Jen Disney says
January 30, 2015 at 7:59 pmNice rescue! It turned out great! It was meant to be, I mean, it practically landed at your front door! 🙂
WEST FURNITURE REVIVAL says
February 1, 2015 at 9:32 pmlove how the hutch turned out, i would love to feature it , if that would be ok please let me know
lauren
Sondra says
February 3, 2015 at 12:40 amThat would be great Lauren! My policy is that you can use 1-2 photos, uncropped, as long as you link back to my blog as the source. Thanks!! ~ Sondra
Cindi says
February 18, 2015 at 12:11 pmHi! I love this piece! I want to paint an end table white and don’t know what to put on top of it to seal it. I have two young kids and a puppy, so want it to last and also don’t want it to yellow. What kind of polysatin did you use? I’m new at painting furniture. 🙂 Thanks!
Sondra says
February 18, 2015 at 8:01 pmThanks, Cindi! This is what I used:
Margie says
February 25, 2015 at 8:20 amBeautiful Sondra!! By the way, your ex-neighbors called. They want their hutch back!!!! 🙂
Cynthia says
August 6, 2015 at 1:54 pmLove it! And I am dying to know where you got the knobs and pulls??? 🙂 Thanks!!
Sondra says
August 6, 2015 at 10:49 pmThank you, Cynthia! The knobs and pulls came from Hobby Lobby!
Cynthia says
August 7, 2015 at 2:44 pmAhh! I should’ve known! 😉 Taking inspiration and doing a hutch like this, but with blue on the inside of the cabinets. Thanks!
Joslyn says
September 18, 2016 at 4:06 pmSilly question, but when you say alcohol,do you mean rubbing alcohol or alcohol? I am prepping to do a hutch and so I am researching! Thanks!
Sondra Lyn says
September 18, 2016 at 4:30 pmNot silly at all, Joslyn! I should have made that clear in the post… I’ll go back and fix that! Yes, just household rubbing alcohol. Thanks for reading!!
Heather says
March 11, 2018 at 2:47 pmWhere did you get hanging pendants for hutch?
Sondra Lyn says
March 12, 2018 at 9:27 pmHi Heather! Are you referring to the hardware on the doors? If so, I found them at Hobby Lobby, I believe. This one is similar in finish and style: http://amzn.to/2FvgFJi
Crystal Pegues says
November 5, 2018 at 5:30 pmHi. I am in love with what you did with this hutch. I have a very similar one that I’d like to makeover. How do decide whether or not you need to sand it down or just use rubbing alcohol like you did?