When people move, it seems they always leave something behind. Whether that be a shoe, magazines, a chair, or something else, doesn’t really matter. I just find it interesting that it’s rare to move into a previously owned home and not find some remnant of the prior owner. Perhaps it’s a deep-seated unconscious desire to remain attached to a place that has been a part of our memory, even in a seemingly small, insignificant way. What do you think Freud would say? He’d probably say it’s that ole Oedipus complex rearing its ugly head again.
Okay, I’m am now off my soapbox and done waxing philosophical on you (applause). Of course, by now, you should have deduced that today’s post is about a piece of furniture, you got it, left behind by our home’s previous owners. This 70′s style hutch was stored away in the basement storage room and we immediately felt we could put it to use. We had it sitting out, unchanged, in the basement for many months, just holding our record player and records. Finally, I found inspiration to give it a more attractive look. Sorry for not having a picture of the hutch before it was dismantled, but Aaron was very industrious before I got home to snap the shot.
Here is the top part of the hutch now suspended in our laundry room (also in the basement) for additional storage. It has already proved exceptionally useful.
Funny enough, it’s actually hung above another piece of furniture left behind by the previous owners. This is the bottom piece of the hutch, ready for a little revamping and it’s new role as a entertainment console.
My first step was taking the doors off, filling the holes where the screws had been, and sanding them until smooth. I was not planning on putting the doors back on (at least for now), so I had to ensure you couldn’t discern that had ever been there in the first place. Then I primed. Waited. Did my first coat of paint using the Sherwin William’s paint leftover from the upstairs hallways. Waited. Did a second coat. Waited.
After all that waiting, I convinced Aaron to move our huge piece of granite downstairs (with my help of course). It just so happened to be the perfect size to use as a top for our new console. Here’s a close-up; isn’t it lovely? Did I mention it was free?!
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After a little heave, ho’, we had everything in place. Then I went to work with a little quick styling, using wine crates to hide our CD and game collection. Without further ado, here she is!
I love the Osage oranges against the red, although they are just temporary until I have time to find more permanent accessories.
And what did I listen to as I so lovingly photographed our new (and completely free) furniture? Jonny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues, of course
Here’s one more angle to give you a feel for the new piece. It’s not a knee-shaking, wowzers, kind of piece, but it will proudly serve as loved record station for us. 
And last but not least, a little photo collage of our basement so you can sorta kind-of understand the layout of our basement and where exactly this console is situated (although I did not include photos of the laundry room or bathroom). * Please note that I do not have Photoshop and hence did the best collage I could without. Clicking on the picture will give you a larger view.
inding treasure is such as rush for us and we are dumpster divers through and through. I personally take credit for Aaron’s evolvement into a treasure finder, but I have to give my mother credit for my own foraging mentality. I remember being so embarassed as a young girl as my mother frequently pulled up next to dumpsters and trash piles to salvage all matter of items. She paid little attention to my mortification. She would take this ‘junk’ and, with a little spray paint and imagination, would transform it into the most awesome things. She is by far one of the most creative persons I’ve ever met.
