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January 12, 2020 · 32 Comments

MY $7 ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

DIY· Home· Organization

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Who knew I would be able to make my $7 entertainment center and love it so much.  To start, find an old dresser – easier said than done.  Well, sometimes.  This time it was pretty easy and so happy with my final results.   I thought I would share this again as it will soon have a makeover although I still love it, time for a change.  Please excuse the older photos.

I had told my husband to be on the lookout for a dresser which was sturdy and all wood.  To my surprise the next morning he called and said he found one at a church sale, described it (he was not in a good location for messages so no picture could be sent), then I asked the price – $7.  Was he sure?  Was there a missing zero?  Nope, $7 – grab it.  For that price, if I couldn’t use it, I could always donate it or sell it.  For this price, it was worth the risk.

To my surprise when he drove up with it I was thrilled with his find.  I already had a plan in mind on color and stain, so now to get started.ent center before close up

After removing the hardware, I gave it a good cleaning with a non-oily wood cleaner, then hit it with a sander to smooth out a few rough spots.  It was going to be stained and painted, maybe distressed, so I wasn’t worried about it being in perfect condition.

After sanding and dusting, it was wiped down with a tacky cloth to remove any other dust.

Original plan – top would be stained and base and drawers painted.  Remember, plans can change.

I started painting the drawers with General Finishes Patina Green, my favorite color of theirs at the moment.  But, it was a bit bright, even after adding a top coat of General Finishes Van Dyke Brown it wasn’t the color I was going for. ent center drawer paint 1

I added ½ C Snow White to 1 C Patina Green, but still too bright.  Now another ½ C Snow White but also added ½ C Seagull Gray to take some of the brightness away.  Loved it – ready to paint.

ent center drawer paint 2

After all the drawers were painted with my paint mixture, and allowed to dry overnight, I applied a coat of Van Dyke Brown.  It was rubbed on fairly thick with a soft cloth, then immediately wiped off.  Again, the longer it’s left on, the darker it dries.

ent center stain

Also, with this being a water based product, it will dry rather quickly while applying.

ent center vd brown

NOTE – Painting can be a bit of a science just like baking, adding a few ingredients until it’s just right.  Always start with your original color in a small amount as to not waste any of your product.   But in doing this, you do want to mix enough of this to complete your project. 

Another change – after loving the General Finishes Java Gel on top, I decided to do the entire base in it also, leaving just the drawers painted.  To apply the Java Gel, I wiped on a heavy coat with an old cotton rag, then wiped this off with a second cloth within about 15 – 20 seconds.  The longer you leave it on, the deeper and richer the color will be.

ent center java gel

Work in small areas so the Gel won’t dry too quickly but always going with the grain of the wood.  After allowing to dry (follow directions on can – I let each coat dry overnight), I used a #320 grit sand paper to give it a very light sanding.  This step was repeated a second time and allowed to dry overnight.

To make this into an entertainment center the row of top drawers won’t be used.  The glides were removed and inside area painted and stained.  This picture was taken before the stain was added to the drawers.  Always look closely at your project as you go along, easier to make changes as you go, instead of waiting til the end.

ent center paint inside

Plywood was cut to fit to make shelves.  In order to get the proper size shelves to fit inside, I did have to cut them in 3 pieces.  Again, these were painted and stained.

ent center shelves

ent center shelves stain

Holes were drilled through the back so cable wires could be run through. Using my Ryobi drill and a paddle bit, made this an easy job.

ent center ryobi

Because this piece would be used a lot, I did a top coat of General Finishes High Endurance using a small foam roller and foam brush.  A soft cotton rag was used to wipe away any excess to give it a smooth coat.  This had to dry almost 3 days for me to use.  One reason for this long of a time is the High Endurance is water based and the Java Gel is oil.

As in all painting and refinishing there can be many factors on drying times – how thick it’s applied, heat and humidity.  Just don’t rush this process.

D Lawless provided me with these Tumbled Pewter Plain Cup Pulls.

ent center drawer pull

I love how the Pewter color also adds a softness to the drawers since I wasn’t going for a high contrast. 

In about a week I took this $7 yard sale dresser into a fantastic entertainment center.

This proves to always look for a diamond in the rough.  

If you like to bring new life to old pieces, you might enjoy these makeovers also.

striped night stand

chevron table

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. barbara says

    February 20, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Great find, great price, great job!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 20, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Couldn’t believe he found just what I wanted – and at that price.

      Reply
  2. Robin @ the thrifty peach says

    February 20, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Love the frugal redo!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 20, 2015 at 2:15 pm

      That was the best part of it, the price.

      Reply
  3. Amanda says

    February 20, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Looks like a totally new piece! I love it!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 20, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      I loved how it turned out – not as I first planned on color, but better.

      Reply
  4. Amy says

    February 20, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    So fun! I just love the turquoise color! Flea market, here I come

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 20, 2015 at 6:18 pm

      Part of the fun – the hunt for treasures.

      Reply
  5. Kristen says

    February 20, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    What a great find and I love the color you created for it!

    Reply
  6. Shauna Krantz says

    February 22, 2015 at 10:48 am

    so so pretty! I love the colors.

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 23, 2015 at 11:34 am

      Thanks – it was one of those projects that I was very pleased with.

      Reply
  7. Bethany @ The Southern Couture says

    February 24, 2015 at 11:42 am

    This is gorgeous! I love repurposing old items and saving the money. The colors you chose are also just as gorgeous. I would love to have you share at the Motivational Monday Link Party!

    Bethany from The Southern Couture

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 25, 2015 at 9:07 am

      Thanks – I loved how it turned out. I’m going to check out you MM Link Party.

      Reply
  8. Fashion Junkey says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Beautiful work and you did great on the detail work!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 26, 2015 at 10:51 am

      Thanks – very happy with results.

      Reply
  9. Reginia Cordell says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Now this is an awesome find!

    I would go thrifting often when I lived in the states. I never had the courage to by an item that needed restoring or repurposing. My mother is a genius at it though. I love what you did with it.

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 26, 2015 at 10:50 am

      This was a lucky find. Usually I’m the person that walks up 2nd to a great buy.

      Reply
  10. Addie says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:26 am

    This is what repurposing is all about. You made a beautiful upgrade to a simple dresser. I love it!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 26, 2015 at 10:50 am

      I couldn’t believe we found a piece when we wanted it. I am really pleased with it.

      Reply
  11. Lara says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    I’ve always wanted to do this to a piece of furniture. I have a friend who go thrifting and does this for a living!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 26, 2015 at 10:49 am

      It’s not really that hard but kind of time consuming with all the drying in between. Have fun and try a pop of color.

      Reply
  12. Natasha says

    February 26, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    What a beautiful transformation! I love the color with the hardware. Great job! Stopping over from lovelyyoublog.com!
    -Natasha

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 27, 2015 at 9:35 am

      Thanks – it was one of those projects I was really happy with the results. D Lawless has great hardware.

      Reply
  13. Debi (thedeb83) says

    February 28, 2015 at 5:35 pm

    LOVE that color. Makes it really pop. 🙂

    Reply
  14. Jennifer says

    March 8, 2015 at 11:56 am

    Great find (kuddos to your hubby!!) and fabulous makeover! The color is just lovely and the finished project looks great.

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      March 22, 2015 at 6:53 am

      Loved the finished product. He’s pretty good at sniffy out goodies at yard sales.

      Reply
  15. Janie Rinta says

    January 26, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    I love it!!! Fabulous idea!!!

    Reply
    • notjustpaperandpaint@gmail.com says

      February 28, 2018 at 8:39 am

      Thanks. It will get another makeover later this year. Not sure what yet.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sofa Table with Amy Howard Paint-Not Just Paper and Paint says:
    July 12, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    […]   If you enjoy giving old furniture new life, check out a couple more of my makeovers.   Entertainment Center Striped […]

    Reply
  2. To Paint or Not to Paint - That is the Question says:
    October 21, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    […] and had to have a redo before it could be used. What a change.  From ugly dresser to current entertainment center.   With the saturation of all types of paints on the market right now, it’s easier […]

    Reply
  3. Not My Old Cedar Chest Any More says:
    July 18, 2017 at 7:28 am

    […] pulls match the ones on my $7 Entertainment Center.  D. Lawless Hardware is my go-to place for all […]

    Reply
  4. 5 ways to repurpose drawers says:
    July 19, 2017 at 11:03 am

    […] extra drawer was a practice piece for my $7 Entertainment Center. […]

    Reply

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Thanks for stopping by as we talk all things home and travel. I was doing “DIY” before it was the thing to do. I was born in a big city and lived on farms growing up in small towns. Now I live in what some would consider a moderately big city. I still enjoy the common things associated with a home, mainly cooking and decorating, but always make time for travel. Maybe it’s finding something fun in my hometown, or exploring new places on a road trip or cruise. Please pull up a chair, have a cup of coffee, and let’s talk about it. Read more

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