DIY Chalk Finish White Entertainment Center

OK, OK…I know most of you were thinking OMG, I cannot believe she bought that huge, chunky, old, wood, over-the-top entertainment center. Yes, I totally get you questioning my decision to bring this mammoth of a piece into my living room. BUT, I mean you must admit, it looks pretty darn fabulous after I put my special touches on it, right?!?!

Our living room desperately need a uplift. I had hung a large canvas, curtains and created a media stand, but it still looked super sad. This is a before of our living room when we bought it and then the small media stand I created. This grey media stand looks perfect in Hartley’s playroom now. It just wasn’t enough to fill our large living room walls.

My dream was to pay for professionally installed antique door built-ins (like Joanna Gaines does), but with what I wanted costing over a thousand dollars, this just was not a possibility. So one day when we were in Habitat of Humanity Restore, we found this piece. It was originally $450, but we took the chance of no one wanting this huge wood outdated media center and waited patiently for months for it to go on 50% off. So for $225, paying for a $60 U-Haul, and a few beers for a good friend who helpfed lug this off the truck. This thing was all ready for me!  

I used Annie Sloan Old White as my first coat (because I has bought it to re-paint my dining room, but that was going to wait after this huge paint project). Then I bought 4 quarts (yes…4) Valspar Chalky Finish Paint in Kid Gloves. So about $120 worth of paint! I also used this this brush which seemed to make application easier around the detailed areas. I finished the piece off with amazing Champange Bronze handles from Wayfair that will match the hardware color I am putting in the kitchen. I still have to finish the painted areas with wax, but I just haven’t had the energy to tackle it.

New floors are bamboo. The walls I painted with Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray. The wall art above the firepalce is from Hobby Lobby. The rug, floral pillows, and curtains are from HomeGoods. The sectional is from Havertys and I LOVE the color. The coffee table is a old free hand-me-down. I was thinking of painting white to match, what do you all think?

These past few months have been full of projects, but it’s exciting to to seeing it all come together! What do you think of our living room before and after?