I was given a very large Entertainment Center by a client about 2 years ago. I had every intention of "Redouxing" it and using it in our (bonus/rumpus/child/teen) room. Each month that went by, "suffering husband" and I were intimated by the size of the thing. Redouxing it would not be a problem, getting it up a flight of stairs, turning a tight corner and dragging it all the way to the corner of a large room must have derailed us.
(This is not the actual before picture, but very similar)
Sadly, there it sat on my side yard, the area where furniture has been known to reach it's final destination point before heading off to furniture purgatory (the dump).
As the weather was warming, and with the new purchase of some cool saws, I had the notion to chop the thing in half and put it to use as a cabinet to store outdoor dishes and serve as a buffet for outdoor dining.
I cut it right above the bottom cabinet doors. Pulled off all the decorative moulding, and set to work converting it. I took off the cabinet doors so I could thoroughly reinforce the inside and paint the inside as well. I had two large pieces of MDF that were perfect to serve as a base and top. I put large industrial size Casters on the bottom piece so we could move it around the patio. I then secured the top and bottom with wood screws.
I thoroughly cleaned, then primed the entire piece.
Painted it with a Red I had on hand. I then dry brushed White in random areas over the top to give the piece an aged look. Then went all over it with a Dark Brown Wax. My daughter and I then stenciled our last name initial on the doors and lightly sanded it. Same Wax applied all over the doors. Finally, I thoroughly coated the entire piece in several coats of Varathane to protect it from the elements. We put it into service last night as a buffet for our Fajita feast, and it didn't disappoint! Plenty of room to lay all the food on top, which left my wood plank table free from clutter and we were able to enjoy each other's company.
I love the finished look. So much better used in my outdoor, than one more overly large piece of furniture in my home.
The doors are slightly wonky, but instead of fixing them, I left them "off" because I like the way it isn't perfect, and I am a little "off" myself......
Hope your week is warm and sunny.
Le souper extérieur heureux
au revoir - GTC
Wonderful Karen - great idea to use this piece of furniture outside instead of yet another big piece cluttering the inside of your home. Love the red with the drybrush white and your initial (one the right wat way and one backwards - very clever). I have to think now of what I could put outside! Is this piece covered somehow? Great idea! Linda
ReplyDeleteit looks fabulous! love the distressed red finish on it- it's perfect for outside!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for those old entertainment centers no one wants anymore. I have a question. You say you put wax on it then Varathane. Is that a form of Poly? I have always steered away from using poly over wax, I thougth it wouldn't stick? Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteOne word for the red...LOVE! Well done. The "B" is the finishing touch. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteNICE! I love that you cut it in half and made something USEFUL out of it! Lots of those big ole cabinets floating around out there....
ReplyDeleteWow you mean business when you transform a piece, you have taken it to a whole new level. The cabinet really looks great :)
ReplyDeleteI really like this! So different from it's original purpose. The color is also fantastic
ReplyDeleteWonderful transformation, you "off" doors are great!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I chopped ours in half, too. Broke my heart but nobody wants those big things anymore. It's sitting out in the garage waiting for me to do something. You have inspired me. Love the red.
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