Turn bookcases into a pretty china
hutch.

Linen and Lace

These side-by-side units start as two unassuming unfinished bookcases. Easy embellishments give them china hutch status. To make such bookcases worthy of a formal dinner -- but not so showy that they overpower the pretty dishware displayed on their shelves -- give them an antiqued paint finish in a soft color. Curtain panels on swing-arm rods create a "cabinet" at the base and conceal stacks of dinnerware. Dressed up with these tricks, the unit looks more like a true hutch.

 

Paper lace doilies add a gentle
touch.

Paper lace doilies from a party supply store add a faintly Swedish touch to the shelves. They are easily attached with double-stick tape. Overlapped to look like one continuous piece of lace, each scallop is a sturdy double-thickness.

 

Candle wax makes it easier to sand
later.

To create an antiqued finish on an unfinished bookcase, use a layered paint process. Prime the units, then paint a base coat (ours is cream) that contrasts with the top coat. When the top coat is sanded away, the undercoat will create the illusion of layers of paint added over time. After the base coat dries, rub the edges of the shelves and the frame of the bookcases with a wax candle, so the top coat can be easily sanded away later. Apply the semigloss top coat (ours is green) with a dry brush, using short, choppy strokes to give it a weathered effect.

 

Sand the edges to create a
timeworn effect.

After the top coat dries, sand the waxed areas to reveal the base coat and raw wood, so it appears wear-and-tear has rubbed off some of the paint.

 

Fabric makes soft cabinet doors.

These bookcases have an extended shelf that marks a natural spot to create lower cabinets. If your shelves are all the same depth, portion off the lower third of the shelves.