Gorgeous white and pale grey, shabby-chic hutch

Here is a dramatic makeover of a very unfortunate-looking hutch into a thing of beauty!  The hutch was in decent condition when I bought it and I immediately fell in love with its gorgeous lines, scrolled filigrees and wood work.  I bought it with intentions to make it look quite old and established, but wasn't sure what to do with the glass paneling and glass-top shelving inside - they wouldn't work with that style.  Thankfully (?) my delivery helpers nearly dropped the piece and every single pane of glass on the interior shattered into bits.  I was startled at first, but challenges like that intrigue a creative mind and I was already thinking of alternatives to the glass shelves.

After rebuilding wooden shelves and having a plan laid out, I set to work shellac-ing the entire piece.  I wasn't pleased with the smell from being in someone else's previous ownership!  I also really wanted the outside of this piece to have a very old, worn, crackled and full of character look!  Sometimes, a layer or two of shellac will let you do just that!  (It also conceals smells where conventional cleaning just doesn't cut it!)  I also removed all of the exterior glass paneling so that access to the shelves was made possible instead of having to reach around one open door to get items in and out.  I decided I was happy with that and refrained from adding paneling.


The whole piece was crackled, chalk-painted a bright white on the exterior and pale grey on the exterior, stenciled with damask-work, then waxed and further shellaced for protection.  I even white-washed the original fixtures because I didn't mind how they looked overall.  The final look is nice in pictures (despite poor lighting), but gorgeous in person!  This hutch looks like it came straight out of a 17th century French farmhouse - just what I was after!

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Before: a very dated, ugly 70's number that screamed for help:

After: a French country, shabby-chic wonder!

In a brighter indoor light (it takes on a creamier colour under bright lights): 

No glass paneling and sturdier, non-breakable shelves!

The interesting decals looks like they've withstood ages...

To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook!