A hutch makeover

We are all alive and healthy here in my happy little house. I hesitate in writing this next part, but I do believe I can say with 99% certainty, we are free and clear of that nasty little flu bug. Which, by the way, does anybody no why it's called the flu BUG? Why the word bug? Maybe it's because the flu just bugs. Anyways, good riddance!

Speaking of a happy house, over Christmas break my husband and I did a hutch make-over on my Gramps' old hutch. When my Gramps passed away, my mom inherited the hutch. However, through the years she couldn't find the perfect place for it in her home. That's because it belonged in my house =) So, she gave it to me. As you can imagine, it holds a very special place in my heart.

But, as special to me as it may be, it still needed some updating before it could move out of the garage and into my home. The 1970's faux dark wood look kept the hutch in garage purgatory for a year, until the task of updating its style could be squeezed into our schedule.

We wanted an Anthro weathered look for the piece, yet the task seemed too labor intensive for a weekend. Plus, the piece isn't solid wood. Portions of the hutch (the surface top of the bottom portion) are made of press board with a wood texture formica top. We weren't sure of how to create the weathered look on that type of surface. Finally, my father-in-law mentioned that we could paint the surface by first sanding the surface to make it rough. This, combined with a light layer of primer spray paint, was enough to transform the hutch from the 1970's Sear's vibe to the coastal cottage Anthro style that I wanted.

The project only took us a day and half to complete. I was amazed with how the process was much easier than I imagined. Now, my house is graced with a meaningful family furniture piece that I can one day pass on. Ironically, my grandkids will probably do all they can to return the piece to it's original state when the 70's Sears vibe comes back in style =)

Here is the almost before pic. (My husband started the project before I could take a pic of pre-makeover. No complaints here for the enthusiastic help.)

And here is the after....

We replaced the handles with knobs from Anthropologie. Very easy.

For a coastal color, we chose a Valspar Signature Martha's Vineyard interior matte blue from Lowe's. In order to get the weathered look, I randomly rubbed the edges with a damp rag before the paint was completely dry.

The red bird cage on top of the hutch was originally a greenish, grey, old, gross color, but with some red spray paint it added just the right amount of pop.

I also decoupaged the drawers with Heather Bailey's Pop Garden fabric.

One last look at the hutch without the glare.

Now my crafty projects have a home.

Jamie