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Tag: Furniture Makeover

Furniture Makeover: Cabinet Gone Green

New content on the blog has been a bit sparse as of late, but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t been hard at work conjuring up more awesomeness & greatness.

Along with family life that always keeps me busy, I’ve had a flurry of new + exciting client projects (near & far), and I was away for a few days in Boston at a design conference hosted by Wayfair (check out pictures from my trip on my Instagram feed).   Being surrounded by SO MUCH TALENT & hearing others speak so passionately about their businesses, really gave me the spark and motivation needed to be open to the exploration of new & different paths as my future unfolds.  I know I am just at the beginning of this long journey of exploration…

As each day continues to unfold with wonder, I am excited about TODAY and that’s because I have a new furniture makeover project to share with you.

Check out this green beauty…

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

I love giving new life to old furniture.  A piece that is made well + has ‘good bones’, can truly live on for years.  Giving a favorite heirloom or thrift-store-find a pick me up with a dose of TLC + a fresh coat of paint, will just add to it’s life long story; its journey.

This cabinet that I have just given life #17, is older than me (so just over 21, hehe – NOT).  For decades it sat beautifully in my moms home, but for the last 9 years, it’s been a treasure in my humble abode.

It started out stained, I gave it a makeover a few years back with paint + a glaze overlay, and now it got another refresh with a major splash of color.

Hello to my ‘new’ gorgeous green beauty…

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Before I share more on the process of painting it, let me take you back to what it used to look like…

FIRST 35 YEARS.

Cabinet Before

LAST 9 YEARS.

Cabinet Before

NOW.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

She truly needed a revamp AND she got it!  She looks better now than she did at 20.  I hope they say the same about me some day…

THE PROCESS.

The last time I tackled a BIG furniture makeover >>> the china cabinet makeover, I broke all the steps into individual blog posts.  Since this is a smaller scale project, I’m going to include all the details in this one post, but if you want more specific detail on the various steps, here are the links t o check out.

> how-to prep + sand wood furniture

> why + how-to prime wood furniture

> tips + tricks to paint wood furniture

> adding details + styling

> china cabinet ‘reveal’

To start this makeover, I brought the cabinet outdoors on a pretty, sunny day a few weekends back.  When the weather is good, I love to work outdoors!  I set myself up on the driveway and got workin’.

Cabinet Before

I sanded the all the surfaces using my orbital sander + hand sanded the nooks & crannies that couldn’t be reached.

Before & After CABINET MAKEOVER: The process of sanding, priming, and painting a cabinet to give it a fresh, new look. Tutorial on www.jennaburger.com

Before & After CABINET MAKEOVER: The process of sanding, priming, and painting a cabinet to give it a fresh, new look. Tutorial on www.jennaburger.com

Then I gave the entire cabinet a good wiping off with a lightly damp cloth.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Typically I would prime the surface next (as I did with the china cabinet), but since I primed this cabinet when I painted last using a stain blocking primer, it wasn’t needed. So I went right to painting with the new hue.

The color of choice for this project was an interesting one… there’s always a story.

I envisioned a true kelly green color for this cabinet and upon working with Glidden Paint last year on the china cabinet, I had to turn to them again for this makeover!  They pointed me in the right direction for choosing the best color using their Simplified Color Palette.

Call me crazy, but I finally chose a paint color featured in the Team Colors collection. My color of choice was Boston Green, the perfect green hue from the Boston Celtics. I had it mixed at The Home Depot in Glidden DUO Paint + Primer

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Glidden Duo Paint + Primer is A+ because it truly is more than paint!  Because of the Paint + Primer formula, I save time & money.  The paint applied beautifully and the coverage was exceptional.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

I opened the can of paint and was a little taken back by the color.  It was bright.  Thankfully when it was applied to the cabinet and dried, the intensity quieted.

Using a new angled brush, I applied the first coat of paint in a semi-gloss finish.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

first coat complete.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

3 coats later it was complete.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

I paired the fiery, robust cabinet against a quiet, neutral wall and styled it with elements that were complimentary.

A few favorite books + accessories that aren’t as intense and loud sit atop the cabinet to balance out it’s boldness.

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

Go big or Go Home!  That is the motto for this cabinet makeover.

One last peek at the before & after…

Furniture Makeover: TUTORIAL ON HOW-TO PAINT FURNITURE; before & after cabinet transformation by www.jennaburger.com

What a change!

Thanks for checking out my latest and greatest DIY project.  I’ve got plenty more up my sleeve, so stay tuned.

GLIDDEN is giving away a $50 gift card to Home Depot.  Whether you have a painting project to tackle or a DIY idea that you want complete before the holidays, this is the time to ENTER, WIN, and CHECK it off your to-do list!

TO ENTER, fill out the rafflecopter box below and you’re done.  GOOD LUCK…

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: THIS IS A SPONSORED POST WITH GLIDDEN.  ALL WORDS + OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN – I TRULY LOVE THIS PRODUCT.  AFFILIATE LINKS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS POST.

China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

It’s done!  What a journey it’s been for this china cabinet.

Upon finding this diamond-in-the-rough on Craigslist and rescuing it from a dilapidated garage that housed chickens, roosters, and a few other unknown animals (I was afraid to even look around), the once trash-bound cabinet now sits beautifully in my dining room with a vibrant new color & a complete designer makeover…

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

It has been quite the task of getting her to this point, but she’s complete!

We can’t appreciate the ‘after’ without looking at the ‘before’.  Remember what she looked like a few short weeks ago…

China Cabinet >>> before - details prior to the makeover

China Cabinet >>> before - details prior to the makeover

>>> read more on The Backstory + Choosing a Color <<<

Like I said, it’s been quite a journey. Let’s reminisce…

I was psyched to bring her home.  Once she landed in our garage, I started the prep work by removing all the hardware, the doors, and the shelves.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

I cleaned her up a bit + lightly sanded all the surfaces.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

>>> read more on Prep + Sanding Wood Furniture <<<

Once all the surfaces were ready, it was time to prime!  As I’ve shared over & over, priming is SO IMPORTANT.  The purpose of paint is to provide color, but the purpose of primer is to provide the ideal base for the paint to be applied.  The paint + primer in one is fine for walls, but a true primer like Glidden Gripper (which is what I used) will block the stain from bleeding through and will provide the needed base for the paint to adhere!  If you’re painting furniture, YOU MUST USE PRIMER.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

>>> read more on Why & How-To Prime Wood Furniture <<<

After the key step of priming all the surfaces, it was time to PAINT!  Finally, right?!  I chose the color Red Red Rose by Glidden using the Glidden’s new simplified color palette.China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!This is a real wow-factor color and even before finding the china cabinet, I knew this rosy, raspberry hue would be perfection.  Typically I have the piece before choosing the color, but not in this case.  The other hues + layers in the dining space are fairly minimal and neutral, so I knew a focal point piece that would be the eye-catcher of the room would make a real impact.  It’s all about the contrast and the balance between neutrals and bolds.

The process of painting this beauty was laborious, but O So Worth the time + effort!

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

>>> read more on How-To Paint Wood Furniture <<<

Once the china cabinet was painted & sealed, I wanted to add a few fun, unexpected details.  I chose to add self-adhesive, contact paper to the back of the cabinet interior which provided a beautiful backdrop for all my dishes, platters, and china.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

When I couldn’t find the exact hardware I had envisioned, I DIYed it to create exactly what I wanted at a fraction of the cost.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

Once the jewels hardware was set, it was time to style this gorgeous gal!

It’s now all filled up with our collected plates, glasses, and platters…  Believe me, not one new thing was bought for this revamped beauty.

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

>>> read more on the Details + Hardware + Styling <<<

a recap of the process…

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

And then she was complete!

The ‘after’…

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

Styling Tips: Adding unique, one-of-a-kind details to the finish the china cabinet makeover!

Let’s compare one more time…

China Cabinet before & after >>> The process of giving this piece of a furniture a complete makeover!

What do you think?  Pretty major change, right?!

Thank you so much for following along on this Tale of a China Cabinet Makeover!  I’ve received countless emails, comments, and messages on how the multiple posts and step-by-step breakdown of the process has been an inspiration.  From your notes, it sounds like many of you have had the urge to paint that piece of furniture but either didn’t know how, weren’t sure of the process, or didn’t have the inspiration needed to get started.  I hope I’ve pushed you enough to make the move!

Here are the many posts related to this before and after
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

This post is sponsored by Glidden paint, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  I am so excited about this project & was thrilled to partner with Glidden paint on this furniture makeover.

China Cabinet Makeover: Backstory + Choosing a Color

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover: The backstory + the choosing of a color

In the past 2 days, a project that I’ve been dreaming about for months has magically come to fruition! Somehow the stars aligned and I’m freaking excited about this one…

So a long while back, about 5-6 months ago to be specific, I had the itch to spice up the dining room.  At the time, I was in the last weeks of my pregnancy so no real action could take place, but I had lots & lots of thoughts brewing in my brain.  My mind immediately went to changing everything, but I decided to start off slow (truly the best way to makeover a space).  First up, the bench.  I snagged a gorgeous navy Ikat patterned fabric earlier in the year and the bench at our dining table was reupholstered.  Next up, the end chairs.  I ditched the leather matchy-matchy chairs and scored a new wicker style from Target.  They’re actually outdoor seats and perfect for a family with a load of kids – yes, that’s us now.  Here’s a recent shot…Dining Room makeover

What’s next?

The buffet.

We’ve had our current buffet for years (here’s a peak from last years Christmas spread) and remember how I mentioned recently that sometimes it’s difficult for the Mister to let go of things (to sell or to update), well this is one of those pieces.  After some thought, we both agreed the buffet had to go and something else – something new – was needed.  So the search began…

Craigslist.  Local thrift stores.  Garage sales.

And then I found IT.  ‘She’ was perfect and just what I was thinking to spice this space up!

I found her on Craiglist and the “purchase” story is something I won’t forget.  Miraculously, we got it home.  Somehow.  Someway.  She now sits in our garage.

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

Check out the details…

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

I love that there is a pull-out drawer in the lower cabinet.  What a great spot for storing silverware or cloth napkins!

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

The hardware is so true to the time of this piece.  Not all the hardware came with the piece, so I may have to keep some & find some new…

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

So let’s take a few steps back for a moment…

Before I had even acquired her, I had a vision.  A bright + bold + eye popping vision.  A raspberry vision to be exact.   Even before she came home, I knew what color she’d be…

In the midst of my emails & calls to get my china cabinet home, Glidden paint reached out to me about collaborating on a project.  I love Glidden paint colors (my favorite orange wall is a fabulous Glidden hue) & was excited about their new simplified color palette.

Glidden's simplified palette - Choosing color made easy

I jumped on board and found THE PERFECT  COLOR in their red & magenta section.  I knew I wanted a mix of something not too red, but not too pink.  And then I found IT – the perfect shade of raspberry called Red Red Rose.

Glidden's simplified palette - Choosing color made easy

Perfect Cabinet + Perfect Color = Makeover Heaven

I’ve got big plans for this lady of mine.  She’s going to be fabulous and I can’t wait to spice this space up with a pop of color.

Looking for the perfect color for your space or the ideal color for a furniture makeover?  Check out Color My Room where you can preview a space with a color you love.

Color My Room on Glidden paint will help choose the best color for your space

Or are you inspired by a picture and love the colors in it?  Click on over to My Image Inspiration where a color palette will be created using hues from your image.

My Image Inspiration is a Glidden paint tool where a color palette will be created using hues from a picture

There are so many great tools that Glidden paint has to offer to help choose the perfect color!  I’m off to paint.  If you need me, I’ll be in the garage with a paint brush in hand.  I can’t wait to see how this all comes together…

Follow along on this makeover with these other posts
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

This post is sponsored by Glidden paint, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  I am so excited about this project & thrilled to be partnering with Glidden paint on this furniture makeover.  I’d love for you to follow along on this new project!