Hutch "The Beast" Makeover

Artfully Yours' Grand Opening is scheduled for April 12th!  I am so excited for Chelsea, Suzanne, and Justin (the "handyman")!  They have worked immensely hard to put their stamp on the 1920's house that they will fill with local artists' work, as well as host workshops, children's classes, and CRAFT PARTIES!  Krysten and I visited Chelsea a few weeks back and we took a tour of the shop. The carpets had already been ripped up, staples pulled, and things were coming together.  The walls were still yellow, but Chelsea was ready to cover those with anything other than YELLOW!  Just last week, we visited Chelsea again and were amazed at all the progress they had made.  All of the walls were white, the wooden floors were painted gray, and Justin, the handyman/boyfriend, was hanging a modern light fixture.  The transformation was amazing! 

So, Chelsea and Suzanne have established April 12th as their Grand Opening.  Although so much has been completed, there are many other projects to check off of the "to-do" list.  I wanted to provide as much help as I could, so I volunteered to take on "The Beast!"  The hutch was in need of a makeover. 

The night that Chelsea and Justin delivered it to my house, I removed the doors, filled the holes with wood putty, then I popped open my can of Annie Sloan Old White, and went to work on the first coat of paint (after cleaning it with a solution of Murphy's Oil Soap).   I added a little dab of water to the paint and began applying it with a chip brush.  After that coat was finished drying, I started on the second coat.

First coat of Annie Sloan Old White

 

 

The next day, Krysten came over and helped me apply the third coat.  We used our Annie Sloan paint brushes.  The paint went on super fast.  Three coats of paint is all we needed.  Then we had to wait for the paint to dry - this is a hard task for someone lacking patience (me)!

 

While that was drying, we started on the top portion of the hutch.  We painted our first layer on the outer portions, and then I taped off the back wall of the hutch so I could add some Provence to give the hutch a pop!

Finally!!! The paint was dry!  I waxed the top and sides with the Annie Sloan Clear Wax.  It went on like butter and off like...work!  Mr. Miyagi would be proud!  After I waxed the top and sides, I distressed the piece with 220 grit sand paper.  Once I was finished distressing, I rewaxed the piece.  On the front doors and drawer, I distressed, then waxed.  I am very pleased with how the bottom portion turned out! 

Tonight, I am going to tackle the second/third coat of Old White on the top portion as well as the second coat of Provence on the back wall.  Stay tuned!