Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Painting An Old TV Cabinet


Hi everyone! A while back I showed you half of our family room and I said that I was planning on painting our old laminate TV armoire (which we bought for $75 ten years ago at a moving sale).

                                Before


tvcabinet 
Well I finally finished it!

armoire
I originally thought I’d paint it white because I have so much white paint leftover from other paint projects but I just didn’t like it. The ottoman inbetween this piece and the sofa is gray so I decided on gray with white trim.  I bought a quart of Natural Gray in the Behr Premium Plus line (the one that’s paint and primer).

This is the second time I’ve used this paint and I’m not impressed. It costs as much as Benjamin Moore but I still had to do three coats to get good coverage. So might as well buy the cheaper regular Behr or go with the Benjamin Moore which I think covers better. I used an oil-based primer so hopefully the knots won’t bleed through, the body is latex satin and the trim is latex semi-gloss. You can put latex on top of an oil primer but not the reverse.
sofa
We have a very different feel going on in our family room than we do upstairs – it’s more modern. Not a speck of toile to be found :)

side
I would have liked to buy one of the sleek modern TV cabinet systems that we saw at IKEA  a few months ago, but it’s just not in the budget since we have so many projects we need to do to the house to sell it. But I knew I could at least give it a new updated look just by painting it!

insidedoor
The inside isn’t painted. I only painted the inside of the doors since those are open most of the time and lay flat against the other painted part. I also painted the hinges and knobs just to make it easy on myself. I’ll change out the knobs if I find some fun ones but they look good painted.

Most of you know that the easiest way to get a new look is to reinvent your furniture with paint. Especially if your budget doesn’t allow buying new or if you’re just tired of what you have. Don't be afraid to paint! Start small and work your way up to bigger projects. You'll be amazed at what paint can do!


I have more news about this room which I'll post next time!

50 comments:

Debbie said...

Love the cabinet! I expecially like the way you used the two different colors. Isn't it amazing what a little bit of paint can do? Gives it a toally different look!!! You go girl!!!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Manuela, that turned out so good. Good color choice.

Brenda said...

I like your color choices. Good to know about the Bahr paint I will not bother with the extra cost in the future.

Anonymous said...

Hi Manuela! OH, your cabinet looks wonderful. I really like the gray and white! You did an amazing job! As always!! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Unknown said...

I love it! I have never thought of painting on laminate, but it came out beautifully! Very classic. Love your blog, Manuela, so happy to be your newest follower!

Vee said...

That looks great! Thanks, also, for your review of the paint. Do you think that I could paint my sofa?

E. Charlotte said...

It really is amazing what a coat of paint can do, isn't it?! Very pretty cabinet!

Debbie said...

I had wondered about the Behr paint and primer. Glad you shared your opinion and experience.

I love the gray with the white. It's sharp!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

This is great...it looks great! Enjoy!!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Looks great! You really did a good job.

Julie Harward said...

That is a great way to go, especially if one can do it this well. It looks great, I love the two tone of it all, very nice! Come say hi :D

Simple Home said...

I've wondered about that paint and primer in one. It's good to hear an honest review of it. I think your cabinet turned out great. I really like the gray and white. My husband is such a movie buff, he'd love all those movie posters :-)
Blessings,
Marcia

gail said...

Hi Manuella,
I think this is just beautiful. Love the colour. Worth a lot more now than what you originally paid for it.
Brilliant.

Blessings Gail

Denny said...

Hi Manuela...I just love what you have done with this!Wonder if it would make a good computer hide-away if you could slot a sliding bottom into it for the keyboard?

Autum said...

Hi! Your cabinet looks beautiful! I think it's the other way around about the oil/latex paint thing. You can paint oil over latex, but latex will react over oil based paint. You can paint latex paint over oil based primer though. That's how it has been in my experience anyway.
Love the gray and white combination. Just lovely!!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Great transformation, Manuela! I love the color~ it really updated the piece, too!

Mimi Sue said...

Great job, Manuela! It was a big job too. Sure did update it. Mimi

Melanie said...

I am with you on the Behr paint and primer mixed. IT IS NOT GOOD! I used it in our other home in the guest room and still had to do two coats. I like BM much better. I think that it covers really nicely.

Your cabinet is pretty with the two colors. I love gray but I can't seem to find a place for it at my house. I was shocked to see the family room look so different from what I normally see from you. You are right, not a speck of toile:)

Ally's Corner said...

Looks very nice. My husband has painted on the side for 6 years and Behr paint is the worst out there. It's thin and runs. He tells his client some people swear by Behr he swears at it.

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

It looks great!

Rhonda said...

it is amazing how different brands of paint cover, isn't it?
I like your gray and white combo - looks fresh and new

and I esp. like your being able to use what you have, seems to be working at my house right now too

Laura said...

It turned out amazing! I love it. I think that you chose the right colours. I love gray and white.

Thanks for the heads up about that paint! We are going to be repainting our kitchen this winter and I was thinking about using it (assuming I would be cutting coats). The Benjamin Moore is great paint so, like you, I think that I will stick with that instead.

((Hugs))
Laura

Beth Dunn said...

Looks amazing!
xoxo
SC

Anonymous said...

Manuela, that cabinet is beautiful!!

Claudia said...

It looks wonderfully transformed, Manuela! I'm in the midst of painting our kitchen table - found at auction for $70.

xo
Claudia

Anonymous said...

Behr paint is awful! Love the cabinet and the colors you chose. But, it looks UNFINISHED with the unpainted inside.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I just love to paint old furniture to give it new life!

It looks great!

Nadine said...

That turned out beautiful! I wondered about that new paint, it is much more expensive than the regular kind...thank you for the advice!
I am going to be posting about a kitchen hutch that I just got done painting! :)

Blessings!
~Nadine

Kathleen Grace said...

Another cute project Manuela! I really like the color, and I always appreciate tips on products. I had been wondering about that paint and now I know not to bother.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hi Manuela, it's always nice to drop by your place as you always have sweet and simple ideas for he home. I have many furniture pieces I would like to paint. Yours turned out great!

Love your ideas for Fall decorating too. My aunt in OH sent me a bunch of Fall leaves one year. They are in an envelope somewhere. When I find them I am going to frame them up nicely. I'll be on the hunt this weekend.

Have a great rest of the week. :) Tammy

Unknown said...

I have one that looks almost identical. I have been trying to decide if I should get rid of it, or paint it. I guess I could always paint it and then decide. The only thing lost is a little bit of time and some leftover paint. I like to use Kilz paint from walmart. It covers pretty well, is dirt cheap and has that nice screw top lid with the pour spout.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh, I'd much rather have that cabinet that ANY from IKEA. It is beautiful!
Brenda

Donna said...

Manuela, it looks great. I love the colors you chose.

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Wow!! I'm speechless! this is gorgeous! Kudos!
I've been on hiatus for awhile planning my daughter's wedding. It's been fun to blog-hop again. So glad I stopped by to see this.
Happy Fall,
M.L.

Kathy said...

I really like your color choice -and your red sectional is beautiful -you may not have any toile down in family room but you sure did get your red :-)

Mz V said...

You're so blessed with talent! The colors are divine, and your two-toned treatment of the trim is just brilliant. I love everything you've done in your place so far, but this project is my favorite! Sending you lots of good cheer from Texas,
Mz V

Melanie said...

I think the cabinet looks great! That's a big piece of furniture to tackle - kudos to you!

Tanya said...

Your cabinet looks great. I'm currently painting an amoire that I moved into my kitchen.Seeing yours all finished has helped me stay motivated (I've got about 4 projects going at once)!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

It looks very pretty. Thank you for the painting tips.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

I love the colors, Manuela! I don't think I've seen your family room before...love it! Hope you are having a great week...hugs...Debbie

Richella Parham said...

It looks great, Manuela! No one would ever guess that's a laminate cabinet that you bought for $75. Don't you just love it when a project turns out so well?

I hope you're finding time to enjoy this beautiful fall weather. I know you're spending a lot of time on indoor projects, but I'm hoping that you're getting outside, too. :)

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

Looks like a million bucks! Wonderful "before" and "after" shots!

kim said...

You did a great job. This is the color I need our french doors to be on the backporch. I love the armoire it looks outstanding and your family room I need that scarface wall hanging. We love Al Pacino movies. Wish we could meet him in real life. I also like the colors in your family room. That armoire looks good and looks brand new! I hope you have a great evening!

Terri said...

Love the grey with the yellow walls.

As for painting what we have and making it work like 'new'...Just last night it came to me that the chairs I currently have will work with my breakfast table. I'd been contemplating them all along in a new color, but the scale was all wrong. Until last night at 2 am as I sat staring at them (couldn't sleep, lol) and suddenly I realized I could cut the back down a bit and they'd be just right! Grateful for the inspiration and equally grateful for my breakfast area now being reduced to the cost of a piece of glass for the table. Keeping my eyes open for one at flea market/yardsale/thrift shop.

Melissa Miller said...

Manuela it turned out gorgeous! I have always loved grey paint colors.

I have missed seeing you around sweet friend! I hope all is going well with your projects and home selling plans.

Happy fall weekend!
~Melissa ;)

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Hi, Manuela, thank you so much for stopping by. I have entered you in the contest. Take care and have a great weekend!

Kathy

bj said...

This looks amazing. I love the color you chose. Also glad to know the tip on the paint. I have wondered about it and thought the idea of primer and paint together would be super...but...

Melanie said...

I also meant to tell you that I love the red couch. I am hoping to find a red couch for our downstairs family room in the near future.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment (about the enchiladas). I used to make my filling with cream cheese in it too, but my son hates cream cheese & so wouldn't eat the enchiladas. So now I have to make them "plain".

Gumbo Lily said...

Very sharp! It's really amazing what a can of paint can do!

Jody

Suzanne said...

I love the TV cabinet.....the color is perfect with the rest of your furniture!