Hello amazing friends! Today I’m sharing a simple painted farmhouse hutch I redid that belongs my sweet mama! I often use transfers, stencils, etc to change the look of my pieces, but just a simple paint job can do wonders!
I originally shared this hutch makeover in April of 2020 right when the Pandemic was in full swing. Thrift stores were closed and I was running out of furniture to paint, so for Furniture Fixer Upper day that month, I chose to paint this piece that my mom had wanted painted for a very long time:
It is a lovely piece of furniture, but with the dark floors and the dark kitchen cabinets to the left of this piece, it made this area feel like a dark hole.
Clean
I like to start all my furniture pieces with a good cleaning with White Lightning. It’s a degreaser and a deglosser and will give you a super clean surface to work with.
Just add a TBSP to a half gallon of warm water:
The terrycloth applicator pads are perfect for this step, and you can throw them in the wash when you’re done.
Once you have cleaned your piece, swap out the water for clean water and give it another wipe down. Gloves are recommended.
Painting the Hutch
My Mom prefers a creamier white, so I gave her two choices that Dixie Belle makes: Drop Cloth and Buttercream.
She immediately chose the Buttercream.
Here it is with one coat on the bottom and two coats on the top:
It looks a bit more white than cream with just that first coat on. I ended up giving it three coats for solid coverage.
The After
After three days of work, this hutch was complete:
It took almost a whole 32 oz sized jar to paint it doing three coats.
This is such a lovely, soft, buttery color. It almost has a very slight yellow undertone and I think that is what makes it such a pretty color. Drop cloth has no yellow undertones.
I only lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper as my Mom does not like a ton of heavy distressing…
I sealed with Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat in satin using a blue sponge applicator.
This is my Mom’s set of transfer ware that has always been on this hutch, and I think the lighter color is a much prettier backdrop for it.
Compare it to this pic my mom found on her cell phone from a few years ago:
Yes, so much better!
She also wanted to change out the original wooden knobs, and I was lucky enough to find a set of these pretty ones in my stash at home that were perfect:
I found these at TJ Maxx a few years ago and had forgotten all about them!
The sides of this pretty hutch are what give it a farmhouse feel…
And in this photo, you can see a peek at the living room.
This hutch now matches the rest of the space so much better!
And here it is from the other side looking towards the dining area and kitchen…
That area feels so much lighter now! The hutch matches the dining set, and it is a nice contrast to the dark floors and cabinets in the kitchen.
Sometimes all a piece needs is a simple paint job!
I hope y’all enjoyed another peek at this one. My mom was thrilled to have this done for her and she still loves it!
We’ll be taking Jack back to college this weekend, so I will be back with this sweet piece from my archives:
UPDATE: See how this one turned out HERE now!
Have a fantastic weekend!
XOXO,
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Petra says
Such a lovely piece and her crockery looks so much better with the lighter background 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! I agree, such a nicer backdrop for that pretty pattern! XOXO
Denise Cox says
This is sooo pretty! I missed this one, some how…🤔😋!
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! I think a bunch of my posts were missed from that strange time. So glad it was new to you! XOXO
Janette says
Fabulous, the difference a lick of paint and alot of hard work makes is always amazing to me and I was so glad it wasn’t over distressed, I am not a big fan but love this.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janette! Paint can do wonders for sure!! XOXO
Donna Lou Carter says
Again you did a beautiful job. Your mother is very lucky to have you for a daughter. You can help her with anything she wants. As sure as she can help you.I wish I had someone to help me with projects and had the same interests as people like you and I have. But, that’s ok I will watch everything you do and learn from you. You did a beautiful job converting the hutch to a soft feminine piece of furniture that anyone would be happy to show off in their home.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Donna! I get my can-do attitude from my mom for sure, so I’m happy to be able to do things like this for her! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
I loved this piece and how pretty it turned out! I loved that you did this for your sweet mama also! Tell Jack to have fun at college, but not too much fun!! LOL!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I was happy to do this for her and she loved it so much! I will pass on your words of wisdom to Jack ha ha!! XOXO
Meredith Gesterkamp says
Beautiful!!
New look.
I love your work and it inspired me to update my old furniture.
Instead of buying new ones.
TNX
Christy says
Thank you, Meredith!! I love that SO much!! XOXO
Cynthia M Meuwissen says
The hutch is beautiful. I love the buttercream color especially as an antique collector. And good to know that Drop Cloth has no yellow undertones. Bravo to you and your work!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cynthia! Buttercream is such a pretty color for sure! XOXO
Pamela says
I really love how this turned out. I also loved your Mom’s red transferware collection. I have started a small one as well. They are not easy to find in my area. Looking at the sneak peek of the rest of your Mom’s home, it looks lovely.
Christy says
Thank you, Pamela! This hutch really shows off that pretty pattern so much better now. I should do a mini tour of her home…it is lovely! XOXO
Cory says
I’ll never stop being amazed at what paint and a hardware change can do for a piece that feels tired or no longer fits the space. Gorgeous job! And thanks for getting back to me the other day regarding a light sanding for mild distressing!
Christy says
Right?? Paint is magic in a can! Thank you, Cory, and you are so welcome! XOXO
Donna says
Love the your mom’s farmhouse hutch both ways, its a beautiful cabinet
Christy says
Thanks, Donna! It is a lovely piece for sure! XOXO
Lorrie S says
It looks great in the lighter color with her beautiful transfer ware. Nice job!
Christy says
Thank you, Lorrie! A much better backdrop lol! XOXO
Sharon says
Absolutely stunning!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sharon! XOXO
Vicki says
Gorgeous piece!
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki! XOXO
Celia says
This is a beautiful hutch, your mom has good taste and your paint job elevated it all.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Celia! XOXO
Cyndi says
Yes! Much better! And I hope you enjoy every minute with Jack this weekend! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! And yes…trying to enjoy him as much as I can! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
Beautiful! Love the new transformation. Makes the dishes pop!
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! Yes, definitely shows of the dishes better! XOXO
Robin says
The dishes offset the all white hutch and give it so much character.
Great job!
Christy says
Thank you, Robin! They do work so nicely together! XOXO
Ce Ce says
I love the change for the cabinet. It does finish the area as you said. The dishes add a beautiful look to it. I have a cabinet that is not being used for just storage. I think this is good choice for it. Also the dishes displayed. I love the red do you know if they are available any where. I have my grandmother’s and aunt’s dishes in a picture back ground that I display. Their dishes are in green and blue.
Safe travels with moving your son back to school. Ce Ce
Christy says
Thank you, Ce Ce! My mom has collected this set over the years from different places, but I bet you could find them on places like eBay. How nice that you have treasured dished displayed! And thanks, we need to start the packing process lol! XOXO
Kathy says
I could not love this more! So so pretty, and shows off her dishes so well. I would love to paint my china cabinet but I fear doing it. It has glass doors and would be so time consuming cutting around all the glass. And I always worry about the bleed through that you talk about!
Christy says
Aww yay! Thank you so much, Kathy! You could totally do this! I’m linking to this post for a little encouragement: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/the-best-way-to-paint-furniture-white/ It’s my how-to for painting furniture white, but it works for any color! Bleed through is usually only an issue on older cherry and mahogany pieces, but it is an easy fix! Hope this helps! XOXO
Mazuryk says
This looks awesome, love the before and after photos! Your Mom made a great decision:)
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mazuryk! XOXO
Mary says
Oh boy. Did the paint ever highlight the beautiful transfer ware! Wow. And actually paint showcased the details of the hutch too. Amazing! Thank you for sharing it again. The wow factor never gets old 🙂 Safe travels this weekend to you!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Mary! It works so much better with the transfer ware for sure! And yes…those pretty details were hard to see when it was dark! Glad you enjoyed the replay! XOXO
Jackie C says
I know your Mom must be thrilled with how this turned out! It’s beautiful. Her dishes now pop! Blends so much better with the surroundings. You once again knocked it out of the park sis!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jackie! She is thrilled with it! And yes… it fits into her decor so much better now too! XOXO
Marietta says
That is so pretty and so delicate looking now. I really am now in love with buttercream now and will be ordering some soon lady. Speaking of that, your quick ship from your ETSY shop, was soooooo quick this time, I thought surely there was a mistake. But no, it as my order two days later.
Also, I have question for you. What have you decided on as your best way to keep fabric “glued” down to the drawers and boxes? I am getting ready to line several and since I know you have laid most of the groundwork, I figured you might have a shortcut I can borrow. Please and Thank You!?!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Marietta! Buttercream is so pretty! And yay…I’m so glad you got your order so quickly! I try to get them out same or next day. Here is a post that includes a video on how I line drawers with fabric that you may find helpful: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/6-thrift-store-end-table-a-video-on-how-to-line-a-drawer-with-fabric/ And here is my tutorial for lining boxes with fabric: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/how-to-line-a-box-with-fabric/ Best of luck with your projects, my friend! XOXO
Char says
Absolutely stunning! I love it! Like your Mom I don’t like much distressing either…in fact no distressing is my preference. It looks so much better in the space and makes the dishes look fabulous against that white background. Your Mom must be so pleased.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Char! A tiny bit of distressing goes a long way for me too. My mom loved it! XOXO
Joanne says
Yes! Yes! and Yes! Perfect for your mom’s home. Time flies, for sure. Back to college, Jack.
Christy says
Thank you, Joanne! It really fits in with her decor so much better now! And yes..right?? XOXO
Niki says
I hope you are having a great week with Jack and Brennan!! I actually remember this redo. I think it’s one of the first ones I saw once I started to follow your blog. As others have said I really like your moms red transferware. I’m going to try and match the green transferware I acquired by happy accident. Best wishes to Jack on year 3 and to Brennan in 7th grade. I’m spending a week at the lake with my boys. Youngest-Bridger will start 8th grade soon.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! We’ve had such a nice week together! Ooh green transfer ware? They sound really cool! Enjoy your boys this week as well!! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I am in LOVE! This piece is stunning. You are a master crafts woman in your genre!
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! You are the sweetest!! XOXO
Dalila says
So much better! And it does look so well with the LR and DR. Great job!
Christy says
Thank you, Dalila! It really does! XOXO
Linda, sissyc says
Lovely , I like the twisted columns
And Moms China is so
Beautiful
Thx
Christy says
Thank you, Linda!! I never really noticed the twisted columns when it was dark lol, but I love them too! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
So pretty!
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! XOXO
LINDA says
I love this so much! Beautiful piece!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Linda! XOXO
Janice Holt says
This is one of my all-time favorites and the dinnerware looks beautiful.
Christy says
Aww yay! Thank you, Janice! I really love this one too, especially because it was for my mom! XOXO
Bonnie says
Oh so much better,makes your eyes flow along with the rest of the beautiful home. I see where you get your talent from.
I would love the no yellow undertones but, for this and rest of home you can’t tell it here. You have a never ending supply of imagination that keeps your followers interested.
What year of college for Jack? Hugs
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Bonnie! I definitely get my can-do attitude from my mom for sure! Jack is going into is third year! Hard to believe! XOXO
Linda Johnson says
NICE WORK !!! Love the light color with the dishes !! I noticed the “table” top of the piece is tiles…..back in the 90’s we had a kitchen table with white tiled top…..eventually I decided the white was too boring and removed the tiles and made a designed top with same size tiles but different colors…..you can update the tiles someday…..such fun!!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Linda! I love the idea of swapping the tiles out! I bet your table was gorgeous!! XOXO
Carla says
Oh, this is the perfect combination! I love the cream in the transferware and the paint.
This was such a sweet treat for your mother!
Christy says
Thank you, Carla! She was so happy with it, and that totally made the work worth it! XOXO
Penny says
Oh my goodness that is gorgeous. Her beautiful red dishes now pop against that Buttercream color.
Christy says
Thank you, Penny! Yes, so much better with her dishes for sure! XOXO
Marianne says
Best revamp I have seen you do…bet your mom is thrilled
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marianne! She loves it! XOXO
Carrie says
What a difference! It turned out perfectly. I’m not a big fan of transfers (just my personal taste) so I really enjoyed seeing you do a piece that was paint only. I have an oak hutch that belonged to my mom so you just may have inspired me to do something similar! You are very creative and I like your eye for thrifted pieces.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Carrie! It’s amazing what paint alone can do! XOXO