DIY repurposing an old stereo console

This is definitely my fave thrift store furntiture project to date.

The hubs and I got this sweet vintage stereo console at our favorite thirft store, Nettie’s Thrift and Consignment in WPB:

Look how cool this thing is.  Original radio & turn table in tact. Honestly, it could have been left well alone and it would be awesome in it’s original essence, but I decided to repurpose it to work perfectly with our space.

The console would be used to store our DVD player, cable box, PS3, record player, etc. under the TV.  We were using this set up before, another thrifty find, but it just didn’t hold that all we needed it to and we ended up stacking stuff on and around it:

See?   No bueno.  I like things neat and organized!

So, first things first with this baby.

I wanted to make sure to preserve and enhance the vintage feel, so I went with a weathered crackle style finish.  To achieve this, all you need to do is buy the crackle glaze, a basecoat paint (optional), and a topcoat paint.  I didn’t get a basecoat paint because we wanted to wood to show through instead of another color.

Brush the glaze on AFTER your base color has dried.  Or, if you’re just using the original surface as the base like this, you can put it directly on there.  Do it pretty quickly, it dries fast.

The insides of the console were removed, with the exception of  saving the “telefunken” radio logo.  DUH!  So cool.  That thing is going right back on there.

Some paint colors we tested too.  Remember to always get samples FIRST before you commit.

The light robin’s egg/Tiffany blue shade is the color of the season AND it matches our beloved dining table set.  Score.

Brush the paint on and as it dries, watch the crackles appear before your very eyes. 

It may not crackle evenly, but to me, a little inconsistency is part of the charm.  It also looks pretty cool if some paint streaking or pooling occurs.

Check it out:

When the paint dried, the edges were sanded for an extra weathered touch.  The legs were also spray painted black, it added some depth

 I looove repurposing stuff, and this distressed finish look is pretty simple to achieve.  Give it a try with your next thrift shop piece! 🙂

Storage and More

I’ve decided to spotlight my favorite thrift store/yard sale purchases.  We go ‘treasure hunting’ pretty often!

My favorite thrift store HANDS DOWN is Nettie’s Thrift and Consignment, and this TF just happens to come from there: 

These vintage crates arrived at Nettie’s the same day the hubs and I were there. What luck!  Shabby chic solid wood, one painted/one au natural, decades old with IBM Corp stamped on the side (did I mention half my family works or has worked for IBM?  Nostalgic coolness). 

For now, we’ve used one for throw pillow/blanket storage in our bedroom (below), and the other as a stereo equipment console under our TV.

The possibilities are endless with these things.

One for the Guys

It’s official.  My husband has turned into an LP freak!  LP definition (for you, IPod generation).

I don’t even remember how it started, but now I have a new record arriving at my door each new day (it feels like).  BUT I’m not complaining, I mean there’s nothing cooler than your favorite artist playing on a vintage turn table.

Here is the Hubs’ latest set up, showcasing this thrify find in a retro light: