Easy DIY Hutch to Floating Shelf Transformation: $50 Thrift Store Flip (Part 2)
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Nobody wanted this hutch at the thrift store. You know the first part of the story—where I snagged it for $50, flipped it, and a million people watched me sell it for $350. But now, it's time for part two. I’ve been holding onto the top of that hutch for months, and today, it's getting its makeover as a floating shelf!
When I initially made over the bottom of the hutch, I was flooded with questions about what I was going to do with the top. Honestly, I’ve been sitting on it since March, but inspiration finally struck me! My son is an avid reader with books stacked all over his desk, so I thought, why not create a floating shelf for his room to give him more space?
Supplies I Used For This Project
Surf Prep 3" x 4" Electric Ray (Use Code PRETTYDISTRESSED10 for 10% off your order)
Soy Gel Paint Stripper- Use code CHRISTINA10 to save 10%
Soft Wax DARK BROWN - Use code CHRISTINA10 to save 10%
Black paint (similar)
Gold Gilding Wax (similar)
Getting Started with Sanding & Stripping Paint
I started, as I always do, by giving the hutch top a good cleaning with Simple Green (my favorite scent is lemon lavender—it’s so refreshing). Then, I got down to business with some 80-grit sandpaper to remove the finish. The shelves were easy enough, but the back of this thing was a nightmare! It was caked in top coat, shellac—who even knows what else. Sanding it was going to take forever, so I pulled out my favorite paint stripper to speed things up.
Simple Green is my favorite product for cleaning furniture before refinishing. It does a great job of getting rid of grease. grime, and buildup. It’s easy to find on Amazon or your local hardware store. I like the lemon lavender scent best!
Once I realized that sanding wasn’t going to be enough to get rid of the layers and layers of varnish on this self, I got out my favorite brand of paint stripper and applied a thick coat with a chip brush. I like this brand because it isn’t full of harsh chemicals and doesn’t have an overwhelming odor. It always gets the job done!
When you are applying a paint stripper to a piece of furniture, be sure to be wearing gloves and use brush that can be thrown out. Apply the stripper in a thick coat over the entire surface and wait for the magic to happen.
After scraping off all of the varnish and paint stripper, I went back over the piece with Simple Green and a lint free cloth to wipe it all clean. I went back in with my sander another time to remove what was left of the old finish.
After sanding everything again, I moved on to the details, using a foam abrasive to get into all the curves and a little mouse sander for the tighter spots. With the finish off, I smoothed everything out with 150-grit sandpaper to prep the wood for my water-based stain. By this point, I was so over sanding, but I pushed through because I had a vision in my head—a rich, dark, chocolatey brown.
Choosing the Perfect Stain
I tested a few stains, starting with Lilly Moon’s Tennessee Whiskey, a warm brown. I also tried Dixie Belle’s Tobacco Road, a deeper brown, and Black Magic, a black stain. Initially, I wanted to layer a black and brown for depth, but after testing them out, I realized that Tobacco Road full strength was the winner. The black was too dark, and Tennessee Whiskey was too warm. I grabbed a tack cloth, wiped down the surface, and got ready to apply the stain.
I got to work applying my stain of choice, Dixie Bell’s Tobacco Road Water Based Gel Stain, using a synthetic brush. I used my smaller detail brush to get in the smaller nooks and crannies on the bookshelf. I used my mister bottle to spray the surface of the bookshelf so that my open time for the stain is longer and I can get a more even finish.
I used a mister bottle filled with water and sprayed each section of the bookshelf as I was applying the stain. I do this to extend the open time of the stain so that I can get a more even finish.
Topcoating the Bookshelf With Dark Wax
I decided to use a dark brown wax for this bookshelf because I knew it would deepen and enhance the beautiful chocolate brown hue of the stain while giving the perfect amount of protection for this piece.
For the shelf railing, I decided to try something trendy and fun: a faux brass look! Rather than painstakingly sanding all the intricate details, I painted the railing black and layered it with gold gilding wax. This technique gives it an authentic, aged look, like those high-end brass railings you see on designer shelves.
With the railing done, I sealed the entire shelf with brown wax. I love using dark wax on raw wood—it adds so much depth to the color while protecting the surface. Since this is a shelf and won’t get heavy use, I didn’t feel the need for a super-strong topcoat.
I taped off the spindles so that I can apply some black chalk paint and gold gilding wax to achieve a vintage brass look. I thought it would be a fun accent against the dark brown wood stain.
Gilding the Spindles
I prefer an antique brass look, so to achieve that, I first paint a coat of black chalk paint. Then after that has dried, I go in with a gold gilding wax and apply it so the black peeks through ever so slightly for that aged brass look.
Hanging and Styling the Bookshelf
Once everything was in place, it was time to hang the shelf. I used a French cleat system, which is super sturdy and holds up to 300 pounds—perfect for a bookshelf. I even tried out a new drill from NataLee Callahan’s power tool line, designed specifically for women. The grip was smaller and perfect for my hands, but it still had plenty of power. Seriously, if you haven’t checked out her tools yet, you need to!
Hanging the shelf was a breeze thanks to the built-in level on the bracket. No more struggling to line up nails and spending forever trying to get things straight. I had to do some mental math to get the bookshelf at just the right height above the desk, but the addition of this bracket made it so much easier to get it in just the right spot.
I wanted to style this shelf with all of my son's favorite books and trinkets and I think it turned ou beautifully! My vision cam to life in such a good way and now my son has a functional bookshelf above his desk to display all of his prized possessions.
This was a fun project for me and I am thrilled to have given this unwanted bookshelf a whole new life!