House Update. Before and After

I moved into this new home at the end of July, things are finally getting done and this place is starting to look like me-starting to look like home.

It takes me some time to decide what I want to do in what room. I am not one for immediately decorating the whole house just to get it done. I like to live in it for awhile, and get a feel for each room.

I still have so much to get done. My to-do list is huge, plus I am trying to work on my etsy store and get some holiday things listed in there. I have a bunch of new prints to work on as well. I also hope to get a 2012 calendar in the store... maybe I am taking on more than I can handle? We will see.  Cant believe Christmas is just round the corner! How the heck did that happen?

One of the things I just finished was my hutch (or is it a buffet? I never know). It is pine, and really nice, but I dont like the color. I never liked the "orange" look so common in wood from the 90's.  I was lookiing for a more "Pottery Barn" painted look.

I dont have an actual "before" photo, cuz I didnt think that far ahead, and by the time I remembered I had already taken off the doors and drawers and started with the primer...but you can get a pretty good idea of the orange color from this photo;

I gave the wood a light sand, wiped it off then just put one coat of primer on. Here it is all primed; 

I had planned on getting new knobs and hinges, but first I wanted to paint the ones that were already on there and see how they turned out. I sanded, primed and painted the wood knobs, and sprayed the metal hinges with Tremclad metal paint- didnt prime them at all.  They look great and I am happy that I didn't have to spend any money on new hardware!

After the primer was dry I did one coat of black paint. When it was dry I gave it a light sand. Here it is with the first coat;

You can still see the white primer under the first coat...

After another coat and another light sand in between, it was all done! I am so happy with how it turned out. Like a brand new hutch! And it didnt cost any money- just time (although I dont have an abundance of either! ha!)

There it is! My new and improved hutch. I got lots more before and after to come. Lots to do in the new place. I have some great ideas for art I want to put on the walls so I gotta get to it!

Comments

[Lee Currie]

You did an awesome job, Tanya. Like you, I'll have a ton of before-and-afters if I remember to take the before shots :)