I’ve always admired my grandmas secretary hutch/curio cabinet. Finally I found one that fit a perfect spot under our stairs!
I found this gem on facebooks marketplace for $150. It appeared that it was already sanded down from a Robbins egg blue color, which meant that half of the work of prepping the wood was already done!
I lightly sanded with a fine furniture sand paper and could jump right in to paint and stain. I went back and forth between a flat black, French blue or ivory color. I sides with the French blue, not quite black but very different from the ivory I’ve done in my latest pieces. The paint I used was Benjamin Moore in Midnight Blue and the stain was Rustoleum in Kona.
Before I start I always try to picture which pieces I want to be painted and stained, usually I try to have anything that is stained either be the top or a table like surface or have it surrounded on all four sides by the paint color I have picked. I think this gives the piece balance and helps to highlight specific areas.
After painting the areas I wanted painted I applied the stain and decided to paint the inside bottom cabinet and stain the inside of the secretary area. I also stained the inside of the curio cabinet. The only thing I dislike is how dark the stain made the inside of the cabinet, but nothing that a small light couldn’t fix!
The secretary cubby storage piece was separate from the inside of the hutch so I decided to attach it to the top of cabinet with several small finishing nails, now my laptop fits perfectly in the cabinet.
Now there is just more room to fit more antiques and junk!