29 March 2012

Drab to Fab Makeover: Hutch Love!

I used to think hutches were so dated, I could only imagine them in tacky old wood finishes that felt really gloomy and heavy looking. Either that or a little too country for my taste. But thankfully I’ve seen enough lovely ones to change my mind :) With a little inspiration, even a dreary old hutch can become a gorgeous addition to any contemporary design!

I’ve been hinting at my own huge hutch makeover for awhile now, so it’s about time I get this post out! This is by far the biggest project I’ve done to date. I was ready to give up several times, but I’m seriously LOVING the final results :)

 
It all started when I saw this piece sitting at my friendly neighborhood Goodwill. 


Not the saddest hutch you've ever seen, but nothing special. It did have great lines though, and really gorgeous details! The finish wasn’t actually that bad – the buffet looked pretty nice on its own. But as a whole it was pretty dull, literally crying out for a makeover! The original price was way high, but thanks to a sale and a little extra bargaining we brought it home for a song :) 

Refinishing this hutch was definitely waaaay more work than I anticipated. This mammoth (with all its doors and drawers) pretty much took over our apartment. And I'd get winded every time I tried to work on it. That makes me sound really out of shape, but you don't know what kind of body contortions were needed to get under all those non-removable shelves :) So I didn’t take any in-progress pics, but the steps I followed were pretty straightforward:


1. I removed all the doors and hardware, then patched + sanded any nicks with wood filler.

2. I primed everything with 1-2 coats of my go-to Zinsser Cover Stain - it’s my go-to mainly because I still have 1/2 a gallon to use up :) - but it adheres amazingly, even to veneers and glossy surfaces, which allowed me to skip sanding!

3. I painted the piece with 2-3 coats of Cottage White. Fab colour -not too yellow or pink or grey, just a really soft and creamy hue. To help minimize patchiness and roller marks I tried out a paint conditioner, which honestly worked wonders!

4. To protect and seal the piece, I went with a water-based product by Varathane - 2-3 coats, lightly sanding between each.

I was really worried about finding a sealer that wouldn’t create a yellow tinge, after my experience with my white goodwill dresser. Helen from Picked and Painted suggested using a wax, but I didn't want to try it for the first time on this giant! So I asked for some tips at Rona, and the paint guy was awesome! He tried out a bunch of different products on a white slab for me, and to my eyes this one gave the truest clear coat.

I kept most of the original hardware, simply updated the pieces (including the hinges) with a little Rub n Buff in Antique Gold.  

 
Since some of the pulls on the buffet doors were broken, I replaced them with matching knobs.


To add a little interest to the interior of the hutch, I wanted to line the back in a really glamorous gold wallpaper. But that plan was a little too pricey, so I opted for this great Morroccan stencil by Royal Design Studio instead.  


LOVE it! The stenciling adds that glam factor I wanted and really makes the hutch pop! 

To achieve this look my sweet husband and I removed the hutch backing, painted it a creamy-beige (a sample jar of paint was enough), then stenciled it in a metallic craft paint. You can't tell from the photos but the pattern has this gorgeous reflective shimmer, especially at night :)   

Deep rich hues are classic, but given the size of this hutch I knew I wanted this makeover to be really light and fresh. I think the final results are anything but drab :)  



I think this might be true love :)


I'm totally smitten with gold lately, and the sparkle of it against this crisp clean white looks so luxe :)  


I was blessed enough to have this hutch sell pretty quickly, but I'm already missing it! What do you think? 
Looking at the pretty pictures makes me almost forget how exhausting it was :) Although next time I tackle a makeover like this, I may invest in a sprayer first. Any suggestions?! 

113 comments:

  1. That is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL! Wow! Looks amazing!
    Would love for you to come by to link it up to my Creative Inspirations party happening NOW! I would love to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunning!!! You did a wonderful job on this hutch.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness!!! I have no words! Amazing!! You did way better than me!! I've never heard of a conditioner before! I will remember that if I redo a piece again. Thanks again for your sweet comment!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous transformation! I looks amazing. I love all the details.

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW! This seriously looks amazing...I've been considering painting my hutch, but thought white was too boring...not now!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is absolutely gorgeous! I almost can't believe it's the same hutch... I'd love to find something similar to attempt a makeover on, but much smaller... something so large would never fit in my teeny tiny bungalow. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This piece is absolutely gorgeous!!!! It makes me want to go and search out a hutch...if only I had room for one. :(

    ReplyDelete
  8. gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous makeover! I love a classic white/gold combo. i seriously just died.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AMAZING! I saw this at A2D. I'm in love... you did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just beautiful! WOW, that is a show piece now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is beautiful! I like that you painted the hardware such a warm color to match. Exquisite! I would love for you to come link it up at my Thrifty Friday Party!! Hope to see you soon!

    Your Newest Follower,
    Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gorgeous Samaa! Zinsser cover stain is my go-to primer too. I just purchased the spray can version and it covers very well too. Perfect for small pieces. Love the stencil too, so classy!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful! I love the stencil, adds such personality and glam. A lot of work, but it paid off so nicely!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is one fabulous makeover! I have a hutch that needs a makeover and I sure hope it turns out that beautiful. I'm glad I found your blog via Addicts Anonymous party. I'm a new follower so we can stay connected. I would love if you stopped by and followed too. Lori

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gorgeous! You did an AMAZING job! I scored a dated brown hutch from Salvation Army a few months back. I can't wait to get started on it now. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Sharla

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you so much everyone :) I'm so touched by all your super sweet words!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Samaa, your hutch is beautiful. I'm a HUGE fan of gold and white! Ugh, it would have killed me to sell this piece of furniture. But there are more hutches to be found!
    Thank you so much for stopping by Project Queen. I'm a fan and follower of your blog now and I look forward to seeing what your next project is going to be.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! It totally love that!!!
    I really want to add a pattern to the back of some of my pieces, fabric or wallpaper seemed the way to go, but now I know stencil is a viable option!
    Very beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a beautiful makeover! I love the backing and the hardware redo. Megan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous. Heirloom quality. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a gorgeous piece you've made now! That is one huge hutch and I can't imagine all the time it must have taken to get her so pretty! Love the color and the stenciling in the back is just perfect! Now I wanna see 'stuff' in it! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. A-mazing! Please come share at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/04/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-18.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. What an amazing transformation! I love the colors you chose! I wouldn't have thought to keep the original hardware but after you shined them up they looked great and very unique, I 'm glad you did!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love this hutch!!! I am going to message you because I have some questions....oh and thanks for the name drop ( I feel super special right now)!!
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  25. Okay, well I can't figure out how to email you (without setting up a gmail account).
    Would you mind giving me your email? Thanks Saama!

    ReplyDelete
  26. WOW!!! This totally encourages me as I too have a Mammoth hutch to refinish.Just gorgeously done!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Samaa! This is amazing!! You're incredible...I REALLY need to get back to crafting but my cooking series has consumed most of my free time :) hahaha. SOON! PS--I'm sharing this with my FB fans today :).

    ReplyDelete
  28. This hutch is totally gorgeous! You did an amazing job. All of the hard work was worth it I think.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Featured you!
    Come grab a button!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

    ReplyDelete
  30. It's perfect! I've so badly wanted to rescue a hutch here and there, but the idea of dragging it home and around the house into my basement workroom, then back out when I sell it to someone, has kept me from it. So glad you went for it! And I love those round mirrors ... so posh.

    ReplyDelete
  31. AMAZING!! you did a beeeeeeeautiful job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. You sold it??? Wow, how sad you didn't keep it. I love every inch of it. I have a hutch sitting in my dining room as we speak just waiting for me to tackle. I would love for it to turn out like this one. I think I've found my inspiration and colors here!

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow Samaa, I think that is so very beautiful! I love the gold and white combo and this is a stunning transformation! Bravo girl!
    xo
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  34. These seriously look like pics out of a magazine. It is so gorgeous! I would probably have to invest in a sprayer, especially if you are selling your furniture. You put so much work into that! It's amazing :)
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  35. that is absolutely gorgeous, samaa! i love it!!! the design and hardware are perfection!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Stunning!! Gives me motivation to dive in to my hutch I have for my bathroom. I love the cream & gold! I couldn't quite decide on if i wanted cream or not.. NoW I know I do!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. WoW! What a transformation. The stencil work makes the piece! So great, congrats on the feature at MMS. :)
    Karah

    ReplyDelete
  38. amazing hutch transformation, I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow Samaa!! I think that is so very beautiful! I am totally amazed and loving the gold and white combo! Featuring you tomorrow! XO, Aimee

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a wonderful job! You have created such a lovely piece of furniture. We here in the UK would call this a Dresser. If anyone asked me to guess what a hutch was I would probably think the one you keep rabits in. Although we all speak English we don't always speak the same language, which I find fascinating. I love your Hutch / Dresser, you put such a lot of work into into it but well worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. OMG how could you sell it...as if you were in my mind while you are doing it...love it love it love itttttttttttttt...just waw and latley im loving gold alot ...I used to be a silver girl but not anymore...it looks like a million bucks hutch and those mirror and table just perfect next to it
    Visiting from it is overflowing blog
    xoxo
    Rasha@mychampagnetaste

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love this gorgeous hutch! You did such a beautiful job on it. (I have the same two mirrors.)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I just found your blog and I love it! You are very talented.. thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  44. If people only had enough vision to see their furniture painted like this, they'd never sell! (but then where would WE be??)

    Fabulous, fabulous job! I'm in love with this piece.

    xox

    ReplyDelete
  45. To all you lovely ladies I couldn't reply to individually by email, thank you so much for your wonderful comments! I appreciate the support so much :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Holy mackerel, you had quite the vision!! It looks beautiful, and so sophisticated. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  47. wow, you deserve a medal and a marching band to celebrate the fabulous-ness of this makeover! I am so totally jealous and at the same time exhausted looking at the amount of work I know you put into this baby. It's BEAUTIFUL!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Such an awesome transformation! Beautiful. And that little gold table! How darling is that? Where did that come from? Love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Val :) I'd been wanting a little gold accent table for ages, but they're a bit pricey in stores! So I picked up this little table at Goodwill for 6 bucks and spray painted it gold - much cheaper :)

      Delete
  49. I'm absolutely loving gold right now, and paired with the white it is simply stunning. Great transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Great makeover! Where did you get those circle mirrors besides the hutch? They are gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Emily! I really appreciate it :) I actually found the mirrors at my local Homesense (the Canadian version of Homegoods). The same mirrors are sold at Ballards too, as well as Pottery Barn, although not at quite the same pricepoint unfortanately! Another blogger mentioned that she found them at Kohls as well.

      Delete
  51. ummmm ..that is amazing. Very lovely, great job! Congrats to you for being featured on Centsational Girl BOTB!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I just came over from CG and I LOVE this makeover. I can't wait to see your other projects, so I'm off to take the tour around your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  53. wow! over here from CG- what a lovely makeover. The gold accents just take it over the top! LOVE

    ReplyDelete
  54. Wow, this is really beautiful makeover!! You must be proud!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I do love it :) I felt a bit insecure about some of the imperfections in my paint job, but all this support has been so amazing!

      Delete
  55. This is very lovely! You did a great job! I wish I had a hutch to makeover!

    ReplyDelete
  56. This is absolutely STUNNING!!!! Found you via Centsational Girl. I wanted to show you my hutch to bar renovation. We also got our stencil from Royal Design Studio. I am so proud. HARDEST project EVER!! http://www.thequeencitystyle.com/2011/11/hutch-to-bar-renovation.html

    Warmest Regards, Whitley Adkins Hamlin
    the Queen City Style

    ReplyDelete
  57. You've inspired me to try this to my old and dated cabinet. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I'm so glad! Thank you so much - I would love to see what you do with yours :)

      Delete
  58. This is absolutely beautiful. We inherited an old French Country-ish hutch from my husband's grandmother, and it needs a LOT of work and a paint job -- but it just seems like such a daunting task! You are an inspiration -- you did a fantastic job!

    ReplyDelete
  59. SOOOO gorgeous! Super job!

    ReplyDelete
  60. My sister's new boyfriend has a sprayer, she really hit the jackpot on him! Someone that can be of some use to us in our insane amount of projects. I'll ask him which one he has and return with feedback.

    ReplyDelete
  61. I am not surprised that it sold so fast or that you are missing it. It looked great. Get the sprayer and do another.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Helen! I may just take your advice :) I'd love something similar, maybe just slightly smaller, to keep for our home.

      Delete
  62. This is just gorgeous!! Thanks for all of the pictures and details on the transformation....love how you share, it really is fun to see how it transforms. I love the gold finish too. I forget how great the rub and buff make some pieces pop! I do have 2 questions/comments~~~ I am surprised when I read your posts and see where you say you had to sand after painting with the chalk paint. I thought the beauty of chalk paint is that no sanding is needed. Also what ‘wax’ do you use as a finish on your painted pieces. thanks and can’t wait to see future pieces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bev, thank you so much for your sweet comment! And I'm so glad you liked it :)
      Regarding your questions, I actually didn't use chalk paint for this piece - this was regular latex paint. I've heard amazing things about chalk paint (the best part being no sanding needed!) but I have yet to try it out. However I didn't fully sand this piece before painting either - that would have taken forEVER! I only sanded a few small areas where I applied the wood filler (to smooth out small dents, and also to fill the old handle holes on the middle drawer). To avoid sanding the whole piece before painting I used the Zinsser primer I mentioned above, it adheres really well even on top of glossy finishes. I also sanded very lightly between coats of the Varathane sealer, that was the product I used as the finish. I've heard wax products are great for finishing pieces too, but in this case I went with the Varathane because it was really easy to apply. Hope that answers your questions, I'm so glad you came by :)

      Delete
  63. This is so beautiful! I love the stencil!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Amazing work! I would love to have this in my home! Stunning

    ReplyDelete
  65. This really looks amazing! I'm so jealous! Love it and love how you've set it up!

    ReplyDelete
  66. This is absolutely perfect! How not to love this piece? Well Samaa, I was wondering if you're interested in guest posting at my blog Stardust. I host a guest blogger every Friday, so shoot me an email if it's a yes, to schedule a date!
    Love, Olga

    ReplyDelete
  67. This turned out beautiful! Very Nice

    ReplyDelete
  68. gorgeous! What a find and what talent! great job!

    ReplyDelete
  69. This hutch is stunning!!! Such a great job and an amazing improvement.
    Katie
    -Athomewhenimwithyou.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  70. Hi. Could you please tell me where you bought Rub 'n Buff?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there! Sorry to be replying sOo late - I actually purchased my rub n buff online off an ebay seller - she had the best shipping rates to Canada. I think in the US you can find it in stores but here in Toronto I couldn't find it in any art stores.

      Delete
  71. Wow, this is beautiful! Amazing job!! I love the stencil idea and the styling around the hutch is beautiful too!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Ohh Ahhh, I love it, and that little gold table too!

    Sammy ~ Renew Redo

    ReplyDelete
  73. You've really done a beautiful job with your hutch! I've got this linked to my dining room hutches post too today, for inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  74. This is a fantastic transformation and is giving me the courage to get to mine after two years of living with it in it's not so lovely wood finish. :) Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  75. LOVE LOVE LOVE this !!! you need a pinterest link i want to pin this lil lovely DIY :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Victoria! I just googled how to add it :)

      Delete
  76. I love love love this!!!! I just finished my hutch and had used your picture as some inspiration! http://azcubed.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/refinished-farmhouse-hutch-with-tutorial/

    ReplyDelete
  77. Thank you so much Allyson - I'm so happy you liked it :) Can't wait to check yours out!

    ReplyDelete
  78. Hi Samma-
    I recently bought a china hutch from my local thrift store and am in the process of painting it white. I’m using your china hutch as one of my inspiration pieces! I’ve included a picture and a link to your blog on Mrs. White Twig & Tea today. Thanks so much! -Angela @ http://mrswhitetwigandtea.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Hi Samma,
    This is adorable.
    Where did u buy the stencil from?
    Did u buy it online

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there! Thanks so much :) I did buy the stencil online at Royal Design Studios - this is the one I used: http://www.royaldesignstudio.com/collections/allover-moroccan-stencils/products/small-moorish-trellis-stencil
      They also have a lot of other great options, and if you check on blogs like young house love or vintage revivals they have 10% off coupon codes!

      Delete
  80. This is so amazing! I came across your blog in today's Star. Love it! I have an old wooden buffet in my basement and this is the perfect makeover for it! Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Naseeba! I'm so glad you came by :) I would LOVE to see pictures of your buffet if you do end up doing it! My email is samaakhan [at] gmail [dot] com

      Delete
    2. Inshallah! Don't know when we'll refurbish it but hopefully soon (your blog has inspired me :) ) and I'll send the pics! :)

      Delete
  81. Beautiful! I was wondering if you have had any yellowing from using the Water Based Varathane on white? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Gorgeous! Just the tutorial I was looking for to transform my 2nd hand hutch. :) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  83. WOW, this is totally amazing!! Just saw it on AT and pinned right away, so impressive!! I'm inspired now to find something like this and make it work in my more modern home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Suzannah! I miss this piece so much, sometimes I regret selling it - I've been on the lookout for a similar hutch ever since!

      Delete
  84. MashAllah... a job well done... question would your primer work with the ikea type wood???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Hira! I really appreciate it :) I painted the back panels of some Ikea bookshelves with this primer and it worked great, they were a very smooth laminate material. I haven't tried it on any Ikea wood products yet, but I have used it on a few pretty glossy/laminate surfaces and it's always worked well, so I would definitely think so!

      Delete
  85. I'm in love and inspired! I bought a hutch today and I'm going to follow your instructions and have my fingers crossed that my results will be close to as wonderful! One question, you mentioned that you use a roller, can you tell me more about that? Which one? Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you so much! And I'm so excited for your makeover - I'd love to see how it turns out! As for the rollers, I usually use the 4 inch foam rollers by Shur-Line, they're readily available at most stores near me and a decent price :) Hope that helps!

      Delete
  86. I am not a fan of parquet floors. But if I had them, your refinished cabinet would rock. I love how they go together. But even without the floors - I love how you redid this cabinet, and then kept the backdrop simple with the moroccan pattern. Love it. All in all, it's a win.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Michelline! I'm totally with you on the parquet floors, although our new place has mostly carpet throughout which almost has me missing those old floors and how easy they were to clean up!

      Delete
  87. This is so beautiful , I ended up here while searching for a stencil on royal design studio, I want to order a stencil but unsure of the size, what size is the stencil you purchased from royal design? I am so looking forward to stenciling after I saw this stunning piece. ty Norma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the very kind comment Norma! I used the small moorish trellis stencil, it was 15.5" squared in size, each shape is around 7". It was a great scale size for this application - not too busy but just the right amount of pattern. They also sell a bigger version of the same pattern, I think that would look amazing too especially on a larger surface like a wall. I'd love to see what you end up doing!

      Delete
  88. Ugh, it would have killed me to sell this piece of furniture. ... diningroomhutch.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete