Bold Orange Credenza Makeover
Read below how I created this fabulous orange furniture update!
Product list, sourcing, prepping, painting the first time, painting the second time, my big mistake, faux stained feet, the final look
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Bold Orange Credenza Makeover
This bold orange Credenza wasn't always as fabulous as it is now. It was once a really gross, outdated, damaged piece of furniture that I found at the thrift store. I took it home, gave it two makeovers, and now it has a new home, my home! Keep reading for all the details for both makeovers, and why I had to paint it twice.
Product List
Products from GoodBonesPaint.com: save 15% from this online store with the coupon code: KHICK
Carolina Clay Chalk Type Paint
Products from Amazon.com:
Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler
Knobs and Pulls - Amazon Alternatives:
I found this piece...
I purchased this piece at Goodwill for about $40. I thought it was a great price for this size of furniture. I loved the style, the details, and the shape of it. It had three drawers in the center with a cabinet space on each end. Plus each cabinet space has a little shelf! It was super cute sitting there, and I thought it would be an easy flip! If you see one like this for that price - I say get it! If you are buying to flip this style it will more than likely sell quickly. People like long pieces.
Originally, I believe it would have had a hutch on it - a cabinet on the top for plates and fancy china. I think that was perhaps why it is so short. I didn't know whether to call this piece a dresser, credenza, or side board. I did some googling... & I finally decided on credenza which is defined as, "a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence. especially : one without legs." While it does have legs, I read on a different website that credenzas are mostly short, and this one is definitely a shorty.
The First Paint Job
Prepping for paint...
cleaning
I brought this piece home and started cleaning it up immediately. I was very excited to get started.
sanding
After thoroughly cleaning and allowing it to dry - I gave this piece a good scuff sanding with 120 grit sand paper then 180 grit sand paper. Always sand with the grain.
Scuff sanding is done to "rough up" the existing finish - It de-glosses the piece and gives the paint something to cling onto.
When not scuff sanding - To completely remove a finish it is good to follow with the grain using first 80 grit sandpaper then 120 grit then 180 grit then 220+ grit. As your grits get higher your piece gets smoother.
Finish with a really high (like 400+) grit. it makes for a really smooth finish. The higher the grit the smoother it will be. A crinkled up brown bag would work, as well, for the final sand.
repairs
This piece had a few holes and dings that I took care of with wood filler. I just got a glob of filler with my finger and rubbed it into the damaged areas of the surface.
Once the wood filler was dry I was then able to sand it down using a 220 grit sanding block. The 220 grit is great for smoothing and evening it out so that it blends with the level of the surface.
My current go-to wood filler is Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler. I usually will buy the one below and keep it on hand. Just about every project I have done has needed a filler. It has a great texture, and it dries to a nice fill. It's easy to sand smooth. Wood filler can shrink sometimes so you might have to do two runs of the filler. Allowing proper dry times between fills.
After wiping with a damp lint free cloth and making it dust free - I primed it with Wise Owl Paint's clear furniture primer. This primer is a blocking and bonding primer. I definitely wanted to block out that old furniture smell and take preventative measures against tannin bleed through.
I did two coats on the entire piece. Inside of the drawers and inside of the cabinets were done. The top insides and outsides. All primed. The feet may have been the only area I omitted. I usually wait about 4-6 hours to recoat. I waited 24 hours before beginning on my first coat of paint.
At first I was going to paint it tan...
My first and second coat of paint I decided to use a light tan color, but after awhile I had no interest in keeping it this color. After that second coat - I accidently let it sit in the garage for almost two years because I just did not know what direction I wanted to go in... It was also that out of sight out of mind kind of thing.
so anyways, it got very dirty and looked like this:
2 Years Later
Prepping it again...
I find myself wanting to paint this one again, finally. I went into this second paint job wanting to keep this piece for myself. Since it did not have an excessive amount of paint on it I just went ahead and gave it a really really good cleaning, lightly scuff sanded it with 180 grit sandpaper, wiped away the dust, and then primed it again!
Another two coats of primer → but this time I used Eye Love Hue's Ole Bitty Blocker clear primer. Blocker is also my last name, so I feel like maybe this is me some days... ole bitty blocker haha! Makes me want to use it more often.
painting it again...
I was very excited to begin painting this piece again. I decided on this fantastic fall shade of orange paint. A spicy, bold, eye catching makeover was surely what this piece needed. We need someone to notice this cutie.
I painted the first coat with my Zibra Palm-Pro. I really like this brush. It easily fits into my hand and fits the tops and corners easily. I brush my paint in one direction - up and down strokes. If it dries out or drags while I am painting I will use a