I recently completed a custom job for a client. She had an old entertainment center that was in two pieces but only wanted the bottom piece redone. She asked if I would be interested in bartering the top. In return, I would give her a discount on her finished piece. Here in the country, it’s what we do, we barter. It’s not always veggies or eggs, it’s furniture too! I knew I could repurpose this old entertainment cabinet top and give it a new life.
The entertainment center top sat in my garage for over a week. Every time my husband looked at it, he just shook his head. He could not see this ugly top being anything but, well, an ugly top. I was determined to show him that this ugly duckling could be beautiful again.
The cabinet frame was in good condition but the it was covered in dust and grime from being stored in an outside shed. (While I am writing this post, I am sitting outside, and a little bird is pecking away at the ground trying to get a worm, and he did just that!). Anyways, I pondered for days, waiting for inspiration to hit. Visits to the garage, just sitting staring at the top.
Table of Contents
The Idea For the Old Entertainment Center Top
One rainy night in Georgia, while lying in bed, my mind was in overdrive. I laid there thinking of ways I could transform this old entertainment center top into something that was useful and unique. Suddenly, at 3 a.m., I hopped out of bed and ran into the garage. The Hubs didn’t flinch, he is apparently used to my late-night rendezvous in the garage.
The next day, I told my husband my vision. I wanted to flip the piece upside down. He just stood there, staring with this blank look on his face. Without any argument, he flipped the piece. After looking it up and down, he was quite surprised by the upside-down look. I then proceeded to explain the rest of my vision. I wanted to remove the two drawers (yes it has drawers I just forgot to take a photo, ughhh!) and replace them with shelves. The glass in the door panels would be removed and replaced with chicken wire. Lastly, I asked the Hubs to build me a new plank top. He agreed!
At that time, I didn’t know it was just the beginning of a long series of furniture flipping upside down . Click here to see another hutch top we flipped!
Supply List for the Repurposed Entertainment Cabinet
Note: These are affiliate links. I include products that I use or similar products. You can see my Disclosure here.
For this project, I used Behr Paint “Sage Garden” but you may also like this Dixie Belle Green color
We then started discussing what type of furniture feet we would need. The piece needed to have sturdy feet to keep it stable. We visited Lowe’s and found several sets that seemed rather flimsy and just not large enough. After discussing what we needed with one of the Sales Associates, he gave us an idea. He took us over to the decking department, and he showed us these deck post toppers. They were very well constructed, and also had a flat bottom. He knew they could hold the weight of the former entertainment center, and still look stylish.
Repurposing process
The next day, we got to work. We removed the glass doors and the drawers, and the Hubs replaced them with shelves. To construct the shelves, he just simply measured the area and cut a piece of plywood to fit. He also helped attach the deck post toppers to cabinet new bottom. He constructed me a new wood top and also a bottom piece to cover the holes where the lighting fixtures were located. Then I sanded the new top to get a smooth wood surface.
The one original part of the entertainment center I decided to keep was the backing. Normally when repurposing furniture pieces with backs, the old back is the first to go! However, on this top, I loved the beadboard feel it had, so I decided to keep it.
After construction was complete, I removed all the ugly hardware. I gave it a good cleaning with TSP. It took a lot of paper towels, it was dirty. I mean dirty.
Painting the Old Entertainment Center Top
The color I chose was Sage Garden by Behr. I decided to make my own chalk paint for this project (there are tons of recipes on Pinterest). I only mix one cup of paint at the time, because here in the South where the humidity is very high, the chalk paint does not store well. Also, be sure to use flat paint, not semi-gloss paint.
I gave the entire piece, including the inside, two coats of the chalk paint, allowing a 24-hour drying period between coats. I stained the top with Minwax Dark Walnut.
Next, I used my Gator 120 grit sandpaper and distressed heavily, by hand. You may also use a foam sanding block or sanding sponge. When it comes to distressing, everyone has his own favorite technique.
I decided to apply a coat of antiquing glaze to give the entertainment center an old, worn-out feel. Antiquing glaze works better over the Polycrylic. If you use the glaze straight over the paint, the paint will absorb the glaze and it will change your entire paint color and make it look dirty! Trust me, I know! Applying the glaze is a very simple process wipe on, wipe off. I normally have a damp cloth so that I can remove any access glaze in areas I may have applied too much. While I was applying the glaze, the Hubs added the chicken wire to the doors.
For the final touches, I decided to add a wood applique to the center, to give it some classiness. The knobs are from Hobby Lobby. They were perfect for the cabinet! I thought this repurposed entertainment center top would be the perfect addition to a living room or entryway. With its new shelves, it could be used a display case.
I listed it for sale, and it sold the same day!
Yet another hutch top we flipped! Here is the before. CLICK HERE to see the After!
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“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it will be.”
Thanks so much for sharing this! We recently got a hardwood floor refinishing service done, but we realized that we needed to add in some fresh decor to complete the new look. Seeing your project has inspired us to try to repurpose an entertainment center ourselves.
Thanks Alicia for the comment! Always glad to see we are a source of inspiration ????
love it!!!! love the green!!!! love the chicken wire!!!! love it all!!!
Angela from NJ
Thanks Angela, appreciated! ????
I love this! Great job! My question is, why did you flip it? Was it so the crown would be on the bottom for a base? I’m new to this and trying to understand your thoughts. Thanks!
Exactly! So it would make a nice-looking base, especially when adding feet
This is AMAZING! I found you because I’m researching how to repurpose an old two piece oak desk! I’m sure you remember the desk … insanely heavy, two piece (hutch type thing and then square desk) with the holes for computer cords! I can’t find anything … I would love your thoughts!
I love that you kept the curves on the bottom! It gives it a winsome, slightly feminine look. Just lovely!
Thank you! I thought it was unique 🙂
You sound just like me! Waking up in the middle of the night with how to make it work, and being distracted by the birds in your yard. 🙂 I love the piece, and will definitely be keeping my eye out for these around here! Thanks for the idea!
Thank you Nicole 🙂 all of the Greer ideas happen late at night around here! 🙂
Very pretty painting project
Thank you Maria 🙂
I just saw your upside down cabinet top. Nice flip. I would have removed the doors, flipped them top to bottom so that the curved edges were at the top and then reattached them left one to right side, etc.. But, nice flip: decorative trim, handles, feet and all.
Thank you! We thought about that but I preferred them at the bottom, just looked more unique 🙂
The green hutch looks so nice! The only thing I would’ve done differently would’ve been to turn the doors so the arch was on top; that’s the only “giveaway” that the unit is upside down, and would be easy to do.
Thank you Reba! We actually thought about doing that but I thought it was unique the way it was, so we decided to leave it. 🙂
This is just beautifully done! What a fab idea to turn upside down
Thank you Maria! 🙂
You are amazing in everything you do. Thank you so much.
Thank you Jola you made my day! 🙂
Wow…I didn’t think I was going to like it upside down, but you have more vision than I do. It looks awesome! I would have kept it for myself!
Thank you and I considered it but at the time we didn’t have room❤️❤️
Hi, Christina,
It looks great. That color of green is just right for the farmhouse look. I don’t understand why white is considered “the” defining color of farmhouses. Having grown up on a farm and having primarily friends who lived on farms, I think this green and medium tone yellow are much more prevalent. Appliances were white, Until the infamous avocado green and harvest gold had their very brief day. I wondered if your talented husband could have switched the doors so that the curves were on top. I think that one tiny detail is the only clue of its former position.
Thank you Judy you are so right. We did consider switching the doors, but I felt it looked unique by leaving the curves on the bottom. Thank you for visiting ❤️❤️
It looks amazing!! I love the knobs! Thank goodness for those 3am thoughts, huh? 😀
Thank you! It’s my best time to come up with ideas ??
This looks fantastic, what a clever idea!!!
Thank you Zoe! It was a fun project 🙂
That is truly amazing, Christina. You have great vision and great style…and I had to laugh at your 3am bed hop. I do my best redecorating then, too! 😉
Thank you Kim! Isn’t that crazy how our minds operate lol!
Oh that turned out awesome! I absolutely love it! I see those once in a while at Goodwill. I wish that I had a place for one I would just on it in a heart beat. LOVE!!!
Thank you so much Linda! That was my last spot in my home so anything else I do I will have to sale! ??Can’t keep!
Wowwww this is gorgeous!!
Thank you Paulette! It’s one of my favs too ❤️
I love it, but I would have reversed the doors so the arched top would ha e been on the top .
Hi Edna! I thought about that afterwards but I felt it made it unique. ❤️❤️
It looks awesome!!
Thank you! ❤️