While browsing at my local thrift store a couple a weeks ago, I came across this hutch top. It was priced at $14.99, which I thought was a little high. I decided to give it a week or two. And it paid off. The reduced price was $7.50, and of course, I could not pass it up! The Hubs loaded it up!
I already had an idea brewing in my head as we drove home with it in the back of the truck. I wanted to make a farmhouse shelf. This could be accomplished by turning it upside down and adding a shelf.
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Hutch Top Before Upcycling: the Ugly Leaf Carving
The top was in awesome shape. I did realize from the very beginning that the leaf decor on the top had to go! It wasn’t giving off that farmhouse vibe! But that can be fixed with wood filler.
Of course, like all the other hutch tops I have repurposed, I decided to flip it upside down so that the molding would be on the bottom. Since this was going to be a shelving unit, I did not add furniture legs. Here is the shelf turned upside down. See how it flows better flipped upside down? The Hubs used a piece of plywood and cut a shelf for the bottom.
New Top Construction
My husband constructed a new wood top and bottom shelf. The bottom was some sort of cardboard, which was originally the top before being flipped, so it did not serve a purpose. I knew it needed a sturdy wood shelf. Therefore, the Hubs built a shelf out of pine wood.
He constructed the top from 2×4’s cut down and trimmed it out with smaller pieces. I then stained it with Rust-Oleum’s English Chestnut.
Painting
I gave everything a light sanding and then cleaned with vinegar and water. Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint in Charcoal was the color choice. I knew the red tint of the wood would pop if painted black and distressed. The shelf only needed two coats, allowing a 24-hour drying period in between coats. Here is the cabinet with two coats of Charcoal inside and out.
The back of the hutch top was in excellent condition! I liked the “beadboard” look it had! The only change made to the back was applying the paint. Once everything was dry, I distressed it with my 220-grit sandpaper.
Final Touches for my Repurposed Hutch Top
In order to give this thrift store find some class, we added two shelving brackets from Hobby Lobby to the top. It gives the new bookcase some character.
This was a pretty easy project. I love the farmhouse vibe it puts off!
When you’re thrift diving, always remember our motto: “It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it will be.”
Save this project for later!
i am so glad you put the putty on those leaf carvings. they are absolutely cheap looking and the flipping of the cabinet is absolutely brilliant keep up the excellent work. Thank you for sharing.
That leaf carving was the only thing that gave this piece any charm. It’s totally ruined now and looks cheap.
I agree with you, the leaf pattern may be an old trend but that doesn’t make it obsolete or ugly! It had character. Otherwise this was a really cute project. I like it. I don’t see the necessity of bashing people’s personal taste by calling something ugly – just say you wanted to smooth it and move on!
Oh my goodness! I wouldn’t have recognized it as the same piece! It looks absolutely charming. You did a fantastic job on it and should be proud of th job you and your husband did.
What a great buy! Your shelf turned out beautifully! Love the distressing! I am going to start looking at furniture in a whole new way. Flipped upside down. Lol ❤
Thank you Linda! Yay save the old stuff from the landfill 🙂