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Saved from Salvage

Saved from Salvage

Home Decor, DIY Projects and Renovations

Home » From the Blog » How to Revamp a Hutch

How to Revamp a Hutch

by Regina 28 Comments

Do you like roadside finds?

This was rescued from a trash pile. I share how to revamp a hutch into two separate pieces.

What a transformation.

DELIVERED TO THE FRONT PORCH

Table of Contents

  • AN UNEXPECTED FIND
  • SCORING THE HUTCH
  • THE HUTCH TEAR DOWN
  • THE REBUILD
  • THE HUTCH REVAMP
  • STEP ONE
  • STEP TWO
  • STEP THREE
  • STEP FOUR
  • STEP FIVE
  • STEP SIX
  • STEP SEVEN

AN UNEXPECTED FIND

With an affinity for thrifting, dumpster diving and the good ole days of bringing things HOME from the dump, it’s no surprise that I get excited for Bulk Trash Day.

This beauty was spotted in our neighborhood. Unfortunately it was on a day that Carmine was out of town and I was headed to a shower. Dressed up and running late, there was no time to load up a piece of furniture myself. So, I began making phone calls.

I knew I had to have it. To read the story of it’s rescue, see my post here at BULK TRASH DAY.

SCORING THE HUTCH

It landed on the front porch and I used it as a quasi potting station. Carmine didn’t love the aesthetic to put it nicely.

WHEN IT LIVED ON THE FRONT PORCH

Eventually I brought it inside. It would be perfect to store chargers, over sized plates, cloth napkins and placemats. When I put it in the only space I could, I didn’t like it. Because the hutch is short and narrow, it seemed lost there.

THE HUTCH TEAR DOWN

A few weeks ago I thought about taking it apart and creating two separate pieces. I waited until someone was out of town and I laid it on it’s side right where it was, and started at it. Not too sure what I was getting myself into.

DON’T TELL ANYONE I DID SURGERY INSIDE THE HOUSE

The inside was a hot mess and the outside needed some love. Bubbly from it’s time outside, the back wasn’t pretty. I began removing nails and a few minutes in and it seemed like it wasn’t worth saving.

A HOT MESS
ALL BUBBLY AND WARPED
THIS IS WHY IT WAS IN THE TRASH
TOOLS TO TAKE IT APART

On a mission, I continued until I had separated the top from the bottom. It was basically completely taken apart. Now, after a cleaning, the top section with the glass, will only need paint, legs, and a new back.

THE BOTTOM WITH NO BACK OR TOP
THE TOP WITH NO BACK

THE REBUILD

The bottom now had no top…oops. There just happened to be a coffee table in the garage I had found at a thrift store. I had cut the 1/2 of the legs off and used it for an outdoor picnic table. Weighing in at a zillion pounds, I wasn’t up for dragging it anywhere for another picnic. For that reason, I decided it might be the ticket.

THE LEGS AND TRIM TO REMOVE
LEFT A LITTLE MESS
BECAUSE OF THE TRIM IT WILL LOOK BETTER UPSIDE DOWN
MEASURE TWICE – CUT ONCE
CUTTING THE COFFEE TABLE TOP
LAYING IT ON FOR A FIT

First to get the trim and remainder of the legs off. After measuring the top and marking it, we used a circular saw to cut it. I would flip it upside down and use that for the top. The trim upside down sort of matched the bottom piece.

There were marks and divots from yanking the feet off, so there was some work to be done. Using Dixie Belle Mud, I filled in the holes and indentations on the coffee table top. Similar to spackle, you spread it on and sand it down after dry. I repeated a few times.

Follow along here and see how I ended up revamping the hutch.

THE HUTCH REVAMP

How about that for a quick glance? I am in love. Now to break down what I did for you.

After disassembling it, it was obvious both pieces would need a new back. The lower piece needed the top and the coffee table was the answer, so that was done.

STEP ONE

The bottom section was cleaned with White Lightning on the outside. The inside needed even more. I used a degreaser, vacuum, and razor blade.

HOW DISGUSTING IS THIS?

STEP TWO

Next using an orbital sander, I sanded outside and inside to clean up and remove the chipped paint.

Cleaned and sanded. I had some spots that needed mud to even them out. So next I added some mud to the splintered and low spots.

SANDING IN THE COLD
IT’S BARELY TOGETHER
THE MUD
SPREADING THE MUD
WAITING FOR IT TO DRY

STEP THREE

Removing and cleaning up the hardware was the next step. I used white vinegar and dropped in the hardware, the handles were solid brass. Then scrubbing with baking soda, they cleaned up beautifully. The knobs were the same. The hinges were rusty and yucky, not brass, I used some gilding wax to brighten them up and pop.

BEFORE AND AFTER GILDING WAX

STEP FOUR

Next I began painting. With the inside being so cruddy, I started with two coats of Dixie Belle Boss in white. This is a primer that prevents bleed through and odor. The inside was blue so after the Boss, I painted it with Dixie Belle Drop Cloth. This lighter color would definitely brighten the inside.

AFTER ADDING BOSS

I used the same color for the top.

The color I chose for the outside was Dixie Belle Spanish Moss. Such a light greyish green, it’s rich looking. It’s a Chalk Paint and can thicken so I used the continuous misting bottle to spray as I brush on the paint, it really helps it glide on smoothly.

ADDING THE SPANISH MOSS
USING THE MISTER BOTTLE
PAINTING THE REVAMPED HUTCH SPANISH MOSS
PROGRESS

The brass knobs and pulls looked great against that color.

STEP FIVE

I wanted to add a little something special so I added painters tape to the bottom apron and created stripes. Spanish Moss and Drop Cloth go together beautifully.

ADDING THE STRIPES
TOO COLD TO WORK OUTSIDE
THE PRETTY NEW INSIDE AND TOP

When I thought I was finished painting I took a picture. It was evening and there was a shadow along the top of the piece. It looked like the top of the doors were a different color. Hmmmm.

STEP SIX

I liked it, so I decided to mix Spanish Moss and Drop Cloth together 3 parts Spanish Moss to 1 part Drop Cloth and painted the top part of the drawers with that mixture. Subtle but I liked it.

STEP SEVEN

Since the back was warped and peeling, I had to cut an old piece of Lauan plywood, paint it and staple to the back.

THE OLD BACK ON THE RIGHT AND THE NEW BACK ON THE LEFT

With the hinges back on, the top attached and the back on, I only had to paint the inside shelf. After a coat of Boss, then Drop Cloth I was done. All together I painted 2 coats of Spanish Moss and 2 coats of Drop Cloth, that provided excellent coverage.

Now she was ready for show time. What do you think?

top of revamped hutch with a plant and heart on top

Thanks for stopping by to see my “Hutch Revamp”. Now it’s on to the top. I’m going to paint the inside the same color but I may just paint the top and leave the remainder all chippy and the way it is.

I’m thinking it would be perfect to store my paints in my office or keep it downstairs and do what I originally planned, store chargers, placemats and kitchen stuff. We’ll see.

If anyone tries to tell you something has to stay together and you can’t take it apart and revamp a hutch, tell them Saved From Salvage did it.

To see some of my other “furniture makeovers” click here and here.

Oh, and I’m looking forward to April, that’s the next Bulk Trash Day here in our ‘hood. Ten bucks if Carmine remembers, he flies me somewhere to keep me off the streets.

Enjoy what you read? Take a minute to subscribe and get updates on projects as they are finished.

It really means a lot that you stopped by so thank you! Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts. I love to see your comments.

XO, Regina

Filed Under: DIY

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Comments

  1. Sandra Randlett says

    January 29, 2022 at 4:37 PM

    Wow Regina! You’re very talented! Did you go to school for design? I’m glad I saw this post.

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 29, 2022 at 5:53 PM

      Sandra – how sweet. No design school for me.

      Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    January 29, 2022 at 9:01 PM

    Regina, this looks FABULOUS!!!!! I love it! You are incredible. I cannot wait to see what you find on trash day.

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 29, 2022 at 9:54 PM

      Thanks Elizabeth! I can’t believe how excited I can get about trash!

      Reply
  3. Lori says

    January 29, 2022 at 9:46 PM

    It turned out beautiful!

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 29, 2022 at 9:54 PM

      Thanks Lor!

      Reply
  4. Leslie Watkins says

    January 30, 2022 at 12:03 AM

    What an amazing job! Love that you saved it. ❤️

    Reply
  5. Rachel - Tea and Forget-me-nots says

    January 30, 2022 at 10:02 AM

    Wow, you put in so much effort, well worth it.

    Reply
  6. Stacey says

    January 30, 2022 at 1:02 PM

    This is truly an unbelievable transformation! There is hope for any piece of furniture!

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 30, 2022 at 2:17 PM

      Stacey – thanks so very much!

      Reply
  7. Janet says

    January 30, 2022 at 3:10 PM

    This turned out beautiful Regina. I would have never thought that is was salvagable. you hare a really good eye for things that you can save and give a new life to.

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 31, 2022 at 8:36 AM

      Janet – Thanks so much for the kind words!

      Reply
  8. [email protected] says

    January 30, 2022 at 5:50 PM

    You did a wonderful job on this makeover! Love the end result.

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 31, 2022 at 8:36 AM

      Paula – thanks so much – me too!

      Reply
  9. Marieza says

    January 31, 2022 at 2:05 PM

    Wow, Regina! What a makeover! It is unrecognizable, you did an amazing job.

    Reply
    • Regina says

      January 31, 2022 at 6:47 PM

      Thanks so much Marieza!

      Reply
  10. Rosemary Palmer says

    February 1, 2022 at 5:49 AM

    What a find – and makeover. Lots of work but looks like it was well worth the beautiful finished hutch.

    Reply
  11. Tammy says

    February 1, 2022 at 6:40 PM

    Regina, you put a lot of sweat and hard work into this piece. It turned out beautiful.

    Reply
  12. Donna @ Modern on Monticello says

    February 2, 2022 at 11:19 AM

    Wow – it doesn’t even look like the same piece. You definitely put a lot of work in to this one. I would have probably hauled it away. Glad you showed that sticking with it made all the difference. Thanks for sharing it. #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
  13. Cindy says

    February 2, 2022 at 12:21 PM

    Wow what a major overhaul. You did beyond an amazing job!

    Reply
  14. Ann says

    February 2, 2022 at 3:22 PM

    I love a good ‘Lost Cause Makeover’ – I’ve done a few myself. I can’t wait to see what you do with the top!

    Reply
    • Regina says

      February 3, 2022 at 8:52 PM

      Ann – Sometimes I can’t believe I try to save these things but in the end I love them!

      Reply
  15. Lynne Zemaitis says

    February 4, 2022 at 8:12 PM

    What a wonderful transformation! Thank you so much for sharing at Tuesday Turn About!

    Reply
  16. Kim Hume says

    February 5, 2022 at 9:37 AM

    This is an amazing transformation!! All of your hard work paid off. Beautiful job!

    Reply
  17. Cecilia says

    February 5, 2022 at 3:17 PM

    Wow! You really gave your hutch new life! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!

    Reply
  18. Renae says

    February 13, 2022 at 9:07 PM

    This is awesome. I would love it if you would share this on The Fabulous Friday Link Party.. https://www.peacockridgefarm.com/category/fabulous-friday-link-party/
    Hugs to you.

    Reply
  19. Summer says

    March 30, 2022 at 9:01 PM

    Wow! What a great job you did! It really is a beautiful piece now and you’ve inspired me to use stripes on my next piece to give it a little something extra. I was thinking of going with a WoodUBend product but the stripes will be a beautiful touch, I think. Thank you for sharing your love of hard work and hobby 🙂

    Reply
    • Regina says

      April 1, 2022 at 7:59 AM

      Summer – thanks so much for coming by! I’m glad you like it. Yes it’s easier than using another material. I still need to use some WoodUBend myself.

      Reply

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Hi there!

I’m Regina, I have a passion for DIY, Home Decor, Entertaining and Party Planning! One project at a time I am transforming my home into one that makes my heart happy.

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