One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure

Last summer, I gladly accepted my step moms china hutch she had no use for.  I honestly wasn't sure what I needed it for.  However, how could I pass up free furniture?  It wasn't long until I found amazing Kate Spade crystal wine glasses, bone white china tea set, and all the fun stuff to go in a hutch.  I now had a reason to need the hutch because where else was I going to put all my new pieces?

So over a period of a few months I still couldn't fall in love with the hutch.  All the crystal in the world could not make the hutch look any less than "I gladly accept free furniture".  But, I could never throw the hutch away.  Why would I?  Not only was it made out of solid Oak and free, it also represented a time when my step mom worked so hard for it.  She was a single mother, making ends meet working as a nurse in Fort McMurray, trying to provide a a great childhood for her son, and living pay cheque to pay cheque.  She saved every last penny to buy this hutch.  This hutch was staying with me.

I had to come up with an alternative to truly love this beautiful piece of furniture.  It wasn't until the dark, cold and gloomy winter we had, that it hit me.  Why couldn't I just stain it?  It was at that point that a wave of energy and creativity rushed through me.  I started doing research on stains and how much of a huge project I was going to take on.  Since there was a gloss finish on the wood, I would have to sand the whole entire hutch down.  I was getting impatient, already.  So I had to make some calls to local paint stores to see what tools I needed for this "I want to pull my hair out" project.  I called Benjamin Moore and spoke to a very  helpful woman, who told me of this miracle product to stain.  This miracle product you DON'T need to sand down anything.  Yes, I said it and I will repeat it.  You don't have to sand down anything.  It's called Saman.  An oil based formula, it dries fast and is odorless.  Perfect!

So away I started.  I took out all the glass, the doors and shelves then dipped my brush in the miracle stain and worked away.  I wont lie, it wasn't a 2 night after work project like I hoped.  It took a good week to finish.  The most frustrating part of the project were the doors.  They had contours and rivets that made it difficult to keep the stain even and not too heavy in some spots.

My end result was beautiful.  After all the glass was placed back, doors with updated hinges and knobs, and crystal wine glasses all in their places, it was breathe taking.  Now, my once "I gladly accept free furniture" was now a one of a kind that no one could ever have.