How to Modernize an Bulky Outdated China Hutch for Storage

The hard part about settling in after moving is figuring out where all the things GO. I have WAY LESS cabinet space in the new kitchen. So I bought a used china hutch to add additional storage in our eat-in kitchen area, right off the kitchen.

Hutches are big projects. But well worth the work - they make such a difference when they are painted. Let me show you how I modernized this outdated hutch.

Time: 4 Hours Cost: $75 Difficulty: Easy

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I knew I wanted the top to mostly be for decoration, and to display and should my ironstone collection. The glass doors seemed to really close it off and not allow me to see what was inside, so those were the first to go. I removed the doors, and the support bars (turns out it was just a couple of screws). I filled the holes with wood filler.

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I primed this piece first with  primer because I didn't want to risk any bleed-through.  So I applied 2 coats of primer, then 2 coats of my snow white paint with my favorite high-quality brush that reduces brush strokes. My full blog post has details on these paint products and when to use a top-coat and prevent your "white" from turning pink or yellow. Be sure to read those white paint tips!!!

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I chose to paint the inside of the hutch in a dark gray.  I love the contrast of the bright white and the dark charcoal gray, and this will allow a surface for my white dishes to pop!  It almost looks like chalkboard paint too, so it's adding a layer of texture to the room!  

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I distressed this piece with my paint scraper so I could show off the details of this piece.  It's also going to be a work horse for our family, and used often - so starting off with a few scratches on purpose, will help keep this momma sane when they happen naturally :)

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I used the same hardware as we used on our kitchen cabinets.  The glass knobs are big, shiny and so pretty for a bit of sparkle. The pulls are satin nickel, sleek but with curves that make them classic.  

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Here it is all styled and looking pretty!  See, aren't the milk glass bottles and ironstone pitchers so fun on that dark gray background?!  It's amazing what a little paint can do to modernize old furniture and bring it into this decade!

If you love seeing old furniture get new life, you will love seeing more of my projects and makeovers- just subscribe to my blog here. You can also find me on Facebook where I often give painting tips and paint LIVE. Find me @rootsandwingsfurniture

You can also click on the blog link below to get my tips for painting with whites, my full product list and see another furniture makeover I did with this same paint color combo!

Thanks for stopping by!