CREDENZA MAKEOVER FOR A DINING ROOM

This credenza makeover turned this Scandinavian midcentury modern bedroom dresser into a contemporary dining room sideboard.

Hi friends!  I wanted to show you how great my credenza makeover turned out!  This piece was actually my grandparents bedroom dresser, as part of a set.  My parents had the set in their master bedroom for a long time.  They wanted to get rid of it a few years ago, and I quickly called “dibs!”  It’s legit Scandinavian midcentury modern.  My grandmother is first generation American, her father came to the States from Sweden via Ellis Island.  I even have a copy of the passenger manifest!

Back to the project…  The box had some surface damage, and ultimately needed to be painted.  And I love the combo of stained wood and white painted wood.  After some food filler, sanding, three coats of primer, three coats of paint, and one coat of polyurethane this credenza makeover was looking good!

If you’re going to try a credenza makeover of your own, here are my tips:

• SUPER thin coats
• use the best quality SOFT bristle nylon brush they sell at the store
• paint in a room that gets good air flow and not in a garage that gets too humid in the summer time
• give yourself at least 24 hours between coats.  I’d suggest letting it cure as long as possible after you’ve applied your polyurethane.  Pretty sure I gave myself a week because I was so nervous I would wreck the finish!
• buy really good quality primer and paint – see my post about the best primers and paints for furniture and cabinets
• the poly top coat was probably the most frustrating step since I was applying it over white paint.  For some reason, every time I apply poly on anything, there are always a bunch of fuzzies that get in the poly or on my brush, so I end up trying to quickly wipe them off and lightly brush over the spot to blend it in.  If anyone has any tips on how to avoid this, I’m all ears!

This is the only photo I can find pre- credenza makeover.  It wasn’t bad looking by any means.

And here’s an ‘in progress’ look that I posted on Instagram a week ago.

Finished priming my parents old bedroom dresser they got when they got married 38 years ago! And now it’s going in my #diningroom ?. #whatsoldisnewagain #paint #white #DIY #diyblogger #abode #lovehome #decor #instahome #instadecor #interiors #whereilive #design #home

A photo posted by Jen Tyler @ The Striped House (@thestripedhouse) on Aug 29, 2015 at 6:19pm PDT

 

I hope my little dining room credenza makeover inspired you to make over something and give it a new life.  If you follow my suggestions above and give yourself time to do it thoroughly, then you’ll be in great shape.  Have you painted furniture?  What kind of tips or tricks do you have?  Or favorite products?  I love hearing what worked for others!

You can follow along with my other painting adventures here:

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