Hi everyone! A few months ago when I was giving our family room a makeover for the $100 Room Challenge, I shared a hutch I had picked up on craigslist for $50 and had planned on using for a TV cabinet. It didn’t work out for that space because it was just too big so I went with plan B. Fast forward til now and the piece was still sitting in our barn. I decided to give the beast (it’s huge!) new life by making it into two new pieces that are more practical so today I’m sharing this hutch makeover with you.
Sorry it’s a bit blurry but here’s what it look like when it was listed on craigslist. Can you believe it was just $50?!?
I know, I know, it’s pretty as is but honestly it’s soooo big, we just had no room for it. Since it came in two pieces, it turned out it was better to use each separately than as the full hutch. We started with the bottom part or buffet.
The top of the buffet was somewhat of a mess with scratches and marks from where the hutch part sat on it. It didn’t really matter because I knew I wanted to stain it anyway. I used paint stripper and took off the top layer of paint. For some reason, I don’t have a picture of that process but here it is with the stain. Epic blogger fail.
I’m not gonna lie, this one gave me a run for my money. It took forever to get that paint off the top and the surface prepared for the stain. Then the stain didn’t seem to go on well so I had to do it a couple of times until the color felt right. Then three coats of polyurethane. It also took 2 coats of paint. I know it doesn’t look that different in these pictures but when we got it it was like a buttery yellow which I just didn’t like. I started to paint it black but hubby wasn’t a fan so I went with my go to white. Hey, at least it goes with everything, right?
We were still planning on using it for a TV cabinet when we finish the basement until I was inspired by my recent post 25 Unique Bathroom Vanities. Now we’ll use it as our new vanity in our master bath! That project will be coming soon!
Long story short, I changed out the door hardware and here she is…
So pretty, right!? I can just see it as our bathroom vanity with a sink on each end. It has lots of storage too. 🙂
For the top part of the hutch makeover I had two choices. We could either make it a wall shelf (which would have required some serious mounting capability because of the weight) or a bookshelf. I chose the later. 🙂
We needed to add a base so we started by adding a shelf at the bottom made out of MDF. You can actually pick these pre-cut shelves up at Home Depot for just $11 and the nice part was it already had the bull nose edge.
I gave the new shelf and legs a coat of primer, we screwed it to the bottom and then we added the brackets for the feet.
Funny story about these legs, I bought them at Home Depot one day and happened to stop at a local thrift store on the way home. I could not believe it when I found 4 of the same legs on a little table he was selling for $5! Needless to say, I returned the original ones.
Another funny story, when we put those legs on they were too high. In the end I opted for bun feet. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll use the longer ones for something. Sounds like an excuse for another project to me. 🙂
Ok, so here is the final bookshelf with the bun feet…
I really didn’t like the scroll-y edges on it as a hutch top but I love the detail on it as a bookshelf. I really wish this would fit in my daughters room because it’s so pretty and feminine. It’s cute enough for a playroom or pretty enough for an office. I love that each of the pieces has a new and different life and you get more bang for your buck.
Do you have a piece of furniture you have used in a different way than it was intended? If not, maybe you have something you can re-create? Either way, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
I was looking for a way to turn a hut h into a buffet and bookcase and found your blog. My hutch as a decorative top which I feel I need to saw off or unscrew to make the top flat. I was thinking legs with casters. Also worried about the legs not being able to take the weight of the hutch. It weighs a ton. What do you think?
Your hutch/dresser turned out beautifully. I like it much better as two pieces. I like the stained top on the dresser & drawers, and you did a fabulous job on the bookcase. It brightens up the space beautifully.
What a great workaround to recreate two pieces from one to fit into your space. I love the bookshelf hutch a nice low easy to reach shelving unit that’s a perfect piece for a kids room, makes for easy clean up! Thanks for sharing your project at #fridaysfurniturefix, always a pleasure Colleen!
Oh my Colleen, incredible and wonderful and gorgeous, both pieces. What a fantastic idea how you rethought the top part, love it, you’re good girl.
I am so envious of your new bathroom vanity. Have been wanting to do something like that in our bathroom, it’s just convincing Mr. Furry. Our vanity is awful and so outdated. Our single wide was built in 1998 so you can most likely imagine how awful it is, shudder.
I have a buffet I bought awhile back which is black but think would work nicely, more storage which we need desperately. Then maybe could get sink I want and faucet. One can only hope. Would love to have 2 sinks but have managed for 12 yrs. with one so better not push it if I can get him to install the buffet. He’s not big on making things nicer just cause.
I enjoy your blog/posts so much.
I was looking for a way to turn a hut h into a buffet and bookcase and found your blog. My hutch as a decorative top which I feel I need to saw off or unscrew to make the top flat. I was thinking legs with casters. Also worried about the legs not being able to take the weight of the hutch. It weighs a ton. What do you think?
Hi! Yes, I think you could probably add legs. I’m not sure about the casters but a heavy solid leg would work.
I’m inspired!
Hi Renea! Thanks for stopping by. I’m happy you like it!
Your hutch/dresser turned out beautifully. I like it much better as two pieces. I like the stained top on the dresser & drawers, and you did a fabulous job on the bookcase. It brightens up the space beautifully.
Thank you so much, Barb. I can’t wait to see what the buffet looks like as a vanity. 🙂
What a great workaround to recreate two pieces from one to fit into your space. I love the bookshelf hutch a nice low easy to reach shelving unit that’s a perfect piece for a kids room, makes for easy clean up! Thanks for sharing your project at #fridaysfurniturefix, always a pleasure Colleen!
Thank you, Brenda!
Oh my Colleen, incredible and wonderful and gorgeous, both pieces. What a fantastic idea how you rethought the top part, love it, you’re good girl.
I am so envious of your new bathroom vanity. Have been wanting to do something like that in our bathroom, it’s just convincing Mr. Furry. Our vanity is awful and so outdated. Our single wide was built in 1998 so you can most likely imagine how awful it is, shudder.
I have a buffet I bought awhile back which is black but think would work nicely, more storage which we need desperately. Then maybe could get sink I want and faucet. One can only hope. Would love to have 2 sinks but have managed for 12 yrs. with one so better not push it if I can get him to install the buffet. He’s not big on making things nicer just cause.
I enjoy your blog/posts so much.
Oh, you are so sweet! I’m so glad you enjoy the projects and that you find inspiration here. Your comments always make me smile. 🙂
Please let me know if you end up using the buffet you bought for your vanity and send me pictures, too. Have a beautiful weekend!