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 It was once a really gross, outdated, damaged piece of furniture that I found at the thrift store.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
Products from Amazon.com:
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 misting bottle of water and spray a little on the piece in the area I am painting to get it moving smoothly again.
Paint should glide with ease. Adding a mist of water can help with that.
Check out what Good Bones Paint says about the Palm-Pro:
"The Palm-Pro cut in is specifically designed to be an extension of your hand. This brush is seriously perfect and should be the foundation of your furniture painting experience (with Good Bones Paint, of course.)
The small, ergonomic handle will fit into small spaces and odd angles. It's great for surface painting as well. Zibra brushes have wonderfully soft synthetic bristles, which work great with our paint. If you get one brush today, it should be this one. "
While you are shopping check out this paint color ↓ There is a discount code at the end of this post.
The paint color I used for this piece...
I saw the color Carolina Clay in Good Bones Paint's new fall line photo on Instagram and just had to try it! I thought it would look awesome on this long dresser.
What the Good Bones Paint website says about this color:
"A rusty, red clay color. This dark, reddish orange warms the room with it's soft and earthy terracotta hue."
I received a pint of this color and a quart in the color Cinnabar . They came just as the leaves here were changing into the same colors! What perfect timing ;) The pint was just enough to cover this piece with a little left over for touch ups. I had plenty to get this piece finished and to cover the mistakes I will soon tell you about...
my mistake...😬
I like to sand between coats of paint. This helps create a smooth and even finish. It will also let you know if there were any areas on the piece that had mishaps with prep work. It happens sometimes, and it happened this time... I was sanding this piece with my 220 sandpaper when I got to the bottom of the right side the paint started rolling off. Peeling! My heart sank.
Recovering from this mistake...
I believe it was because of the primer, but I don't believe the primer is at fault. I painted my first coat as normal, waited the suggested amount of time and when I went to scuff sand - it came off.
What I failed to realize is that temperatures had been dropping. I should have had waited longer for it to dry since the air was colder than normal.
For cold temps and raining days we have to wait longer than the recommended dry times, if we can paint at all. Sometimes it can be too cold or too humid to paint . I can't even use my painter's tape when it is raining when it's too humid. It will not stick.
Here is what I did to fix it...
I continued to sand the whole piece with 220 grit sandpaper. If it came off, I allowed it. I encouraged it. It is better to come off now while it is in the shop. If the paint has no prep issues it will stick. I ended up removing the paint from the entire top and most of the bottom of the right side. I cleaned it with a rag and water. Allowed to dry.
For the top I had to completely sand down to the veneer, so that I could prime it again. I applied two fresh coats and was able to get to painting again. This time I was absolutely going to be waiting much longer that I did the first time around.
I waited over night with each new coat of primer before applying my next coats. Was that over kill? Quite possibly, but I didn't want to waste anymore painting products.
↓
After I was sure everything was dry I started to paint. The first coat I used a paint brush again. Allowed to dry.
The second coat I applied with a mini roller that I had found at the Dollar (Twenty-Five Cents) Tree. I love the mini roller and wished I had thought about using it sooner. I had used them in past, but it is not often that I do a solid color finish. It just wasn't on my mind until I saw it at the store. It worked pretty okay, by the way, for being a DT find.
I continued painting and applied the second coat. Then I sanding with 220 again.
No issues this time! Praise be! 🙌
I did paint a few touch up areas. This color took 2 - 3 coats. Maybe 4 in some areas. I can be a perfectionist. 😬😅
Now for the legs...
↓↓↓↓
Faux Stained Legs
I started with sanded / partially sanded wood that shows grain. The "harder to sand" parts in the cracks and details weren't the biggest deal with this technique and that is mostly why I like it. I also like that I don't have to use oil based products, so I can work in small areas without getting headaches or getting cold. Oil based products have strong odors and long dry times... and even longer since it's cold. We already found that out. lol
This technique just felt like the best idea for this piece and these feet.
↓ Check out the 4 steps below each photo ↓
Step 1
- Paint Wash -
First I started with a paint wash with the color Mr. Bean from Good Bones - Chalk Type Paint line. I mixed paint with water and then applied the wash over the entire leg.
Step 2
- Wipe it Back -
I used a lint free cloth to dab and wipe back the excess I wanted a translucent look.
Step 3
- Shading -
I used my brush to slide a bit of Mr. Bean paint on the edges of the feet and the detailed areas to add more depth.
Step 4
- Blending -
Then I blended it with my fingers while it was still wet.
Sealant
I sealed this piece with Miniwax Spray Polycrilic. I sprayed three coats over the entire piece. Even strokes - staying along the wet line with the new line. I sprayed with the doors and drawers shut and then gently pulled them out by carefully sticking my screw driver in the holes meant for the pulls.
Keep the nozzle clean and your finger away from it the best you can. If bubbles or drips formed I quickly and lightly smoothed it out with my finger. A clean brush near by would be perfect for the job, too.
the hardware...
This hardware was purchased from the Lowe's store in my town. They were $9.99 per drawer! Oh, hardware kills me. I wanted to stay on the cheap side 😅 but I decided to splurge for this piece that I worked really hard on.
I wanted it to be really nice! The wait had to be worth it, ya know?
and I really think it was worth it....
Here is a link to hardware that is very similar on Amazon: CLICK HERE & HERE
Final Photos
and final words...
I love the way this one ended up. I think it was worth the wait for just the right finish. I am so happy that I get to keep her. It's funny because as a furniture artist I should definitely have more painted and styled pieces, but I spent too much time making creations for others. I feel like I neglected my own furniture, so I have been working on that more lately. This piece just levels up the whole space. I can't wait for the next one!
look forward to...
I love it so much that I am going to be designing a room around it! I got it up into the house in the entryway against a very tall wall sitting next to this vintage green striped chair that has a similar style. I am thinking of painting the room a moody dark green... but you will have to come back to see it. I currently have been working on getting just the right texture on the wall and then I will be painting, so it will be soon! Looking forward to getting it done within the next few weeks.
your coupon...
Now for that discount code I have been telling you I have for you! When you shop at Good Bones Paint you can save 15% off your entire order. You can order paint brushes, paint, waxes, and more supplies for your next project and save money! This is my affiliate link, and I will make a small commission from it if you make a purchase. This does not cost you anything extra. The profits I make I would use to put back into my projects and share them with you! I do enjoy working with this paint. I have been using it for about a year now, I believe, and I have done many pieces with their products. Be sure to check them out below.
The coupon code is: KHICK - This code is all caps. It is pronounced "Chick" like chicken, but with a K because my name is Kristen and my nickname is Khicken, and Khicktiques is my brand.
The new fall colors...
This is where I found the color for this piece.
Try any of these colors using my link here:
CLICK - use the coupon code: KHICK
While you are there be sure to check out the other colors in both lines of paint! The all-in-one type and the chalk type!
Let me know below which color you like most!
Thank you so very much for reading this post today! If you love this makeover or if you want to try out these colors let me know! I would love to see your furniture art, too! Don't forget to use your coupon!
Paint your art out!
-Kristen
Khicktiques
Check out more projects where I used Good Bones Paint Products to transform them:
