If you follow me on Facebook you already know I scored another Roadkill Rescue. Upcycling old furniture is one of my favorite sports. We drove past this old Vintage TV sitting curbside. I got out of the car, examined it and then decided against it.
I really don’t need anymore projects. Then I saw it the next day,”Hmmmm,” I thought. But I drove right on by. Then I saw it the next day, then the next and then the next.
Five days on a busy street in my city and NO ONE PICKED IT UP. What is wrong with you Hoosiers???
The day before trash day my husband and I went at midnight and hauled it into my van. I couldn’t let it be thrown away– I am a Roadkill Rescue Hero! 😉
You think I am crazy don’t you? I know! I know…I am half mental!
So I went through my strategies for Roadkill Rescues and I decided to take a chance!
Upcycling an Old TV Cabinet Into a Console Table
It was destined for the dump, so the night before trash day I hauled it home. I had a big vision of this becoming a console table for my entryway.
Step 1 – …get that darn TV out of the cabinet.
It wasn’t easy but somehow satisfying. After the beast was out it was like 12,000 times lighter!
Step 2 – What To Do With It
Then I started thinking through my options. I could use a folding table in my laundry room. I also thought about some more storage in the kid’s room.
Then my children decided it was an awesome place to play in.
But in the end that isn’t what it became.
So I had a vision in my mind and I needed to take some depth off the cabinet. I thought and thought about how to cut it in half.
I decided to get a second opinion because I wasn’t feeling very confident. And I asked my friend Mike if he could help me think through it. Being the sweetheart that he is he said “I can help you do it right now if you want.”
Step 3 – Cutting In Half
So with a circular saw and sawzall he cut it in half for me.
It was so fun watching it transform!
To help keep it stable we reattached the support beam from the cut piece onto the new back of the unit.
Step 4 – The Feet
We also unscrewed the feet and reattached them to the new back as well.
Since we cut off part of the foot I had to make a slight change in the front feet too by sawing a piece of it off.
It is now stabilized and ready to take on a new life.
Step 5 – Transformation
Since the inside was so jacked up with glue and other stuff I decided to line it with 1/4” luan I had in my garage. That would cover up the imperfections.
So with a jigsaw I cut my pieces to fit.
It looks much cleaner now.
Step 6 – Adding MDF
Next I cut some MDF (also in my garage) and made shelf supports.
Then I caulked all the seams so everything would look tidy.
Step 7 – Shelving and Backing
I had some leftover shelving (from some closet space I redid) and I cut a board to size to make a shelf to fit inside.
I also had some leftover backer board from my Aqua Armoire and I cut a new backing as well.
Step 8 – Filling the Holes
Lastly I puttied up some blemishes with wood filler and filled the two holes on the bottom center where the old hardware went.
The “drawers” on the bottom are just for looks. They actually do not open. I then redrilled a centered hole for some new hardware.
Since it isn’t solid wood I used the Zinnser BIN Ultimate Cover Primer that is made for laminates and plastics and gave it a coat.
Step 9 – Painting
Then with my air sprayer I painted it Lake Champlain by Dutch Boy. Loving how the Dutch Boy paints spray.
No thinning required. (I promise I will do a post on my paint sprayer soon. I get asked questions daily about it.)
Step 10 – Glazing
So after reading the e-book from Altar’d on painting furniture I decided to try Mandi’s way of glazing.
It looks so much better than the glaze and wipe off method I had been doing.
My glazing always looked streaky to me. Her method gives a nice marbled look that I think looks more natural.
I also tried a black glaze instead of the normal brown I use.
I used Ralph Lauren’s glaze with some black paint.
I love how the black pairs with this turquoise color.
Step 11 – The Knobs
Then I used some metal primer and Krylon’s Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint to give some simple, old knobs a new look.
Step 12 – The New Console Table in my Hallway!
Then I placed it in my hallway to serve as a console table. We needed a little decor in my otherwise plain hallway.
I plan to put some baskets on the shelf for last minute items (keys, checkbook, coupon holder, receipt folder, etc).
The best part is that it is on wheels so I can easily roll it around for cleaning!
The next obstacle is to add some art to the wall above it and to decorate the top of the table.
Step 13 – Decorating
Well I have set out on the mission to decorate the new console.
I am not a knick nacky kind of girl so I really don’t have many flat spaces in my home to house vignettes. I also don’t have a ton of stuff laying around to decorate.
So I decided to keep the space simple. A mirror I made myself, a couple of gorgeous lamps with simple shades and something seasonal that I can change out in the middle.
I started with a small squared bowl I found at Goodwill a while back. Also grabbed my Dollar Tree pumpkins I purchased a couple of years ago.
After a quick coat of black spray paint and some added moss I created a simple fall vignette.
I thought maybe it would distract from the mirror but I think it compliments it quite well.
And I love, love, double love red, black and turquoise together.
Now I just have to work on the lower shelves. But I like keeping the area simple and clean. Let’s hope I can keep it uncluttered. It would be a minor miracle people!
This project was completely FREEEE! Free TV cabinet, free paint from Dutch Boy, free knobs from an old project, free wood laying in my garage and free glaze and black paint I already had.
Woohoo!
UGH! I can't believe you are going to leave us hanging! LOL. Can't wait to see it!
I am guessing a shelf in the middle and storage for towels and other things in the bathroom. Maybe a pale blue shabby chic…
I wish I could find something like that. It would make a great two story dollhouse.
I haven't been keeping up on blogs as much lately, but I was thinking of you as I've been finishing up my own roadkill rescue…with real furniture this time, not just clothes. 🙂 I'll have it up soon.
hmmm..laundry room storage? like maybe beside the machines?
Agggh! You tease!! 🙂
I have looked at it and looked at it and I can't tell. Can't wait to see part 2!
~ The Speckled Dog
You're killing me! I've been waiting for this for DAYS!
Okay, my guess is a TV stand! For a flat screen tv. But it will have a shelf and storage inside. Yes?
I guess storage in a laundry room. It has casters and everything to slide nicely
color?? How about bright YELLOW…then you could post it to Dana's new celebrations theme on MADE!
Hi. New reader. I'm going to guess… an aquarium?
Hmm… I really don't know… the drawers at the bottom throw me off… what would you do with those?
Can't wait to see what it is! Because of you planting the seed of road kill rescues I found my first project last weekend! Its so exciting! 🙂
I am going to go with rolling kitchen storage cart! Can't wait to see what you actually do with it!
Whatever it will be, I can tell it will be stunning…I have never seen such an ornate old tv cabinet as this! My vote is for a portable toy cubby storage system….
Oh no! I hate waiting..which is why I couldn't watch soap operas.
I suppose I didn't know you were a hoosier too. 🙂
Ok … inspire me some more … can't wait to see the finished project!!
You are the Queen of cliffhangers! I really don't like you right now…:)! You know how little patience I have!
No idea, but I'm sure the results will be AMAZING!
I'm a Hoosier too! I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I love it!
I'm not even gonna try to guess, but I can't wait to find out!
Can't wait to see what this ends up being!!!
I need something like that to put my serger on.
You know because of you I get the kids up early on Wednesdays and get everyone ready for school only so we can drive around on trash day before school hoping for a rescue! LOL I thought my kids must hate me but they love it ha! Yelling… mommy how bout that over there?! Thanks for inspiring me… still waiting on my first rescue =)
I'm guessing a bedside table…
Wow — you've done a ton of work on this – I'm really excited to see what you've turned it into! I know you won't disappoint!
your a friggin genius, I can't wait!!!
I am thinking either a roll-around kitchen cart or maybe a roll-around book shelf for the kiddos? color not a clue…surprise us already!! 🙂
I have NO clue! The possibilities are endless! You can put a shelf in the middle and make it a shelve type stand. Or would a large basket fit in the middle to hide kids toys!?? I can't wait to see it fully transformed!
There's a TV on the side of the road on my way home from work. Maybe I'll just stop and take it home. Thanks for the inspriation. Can't wait until tomorrow.
I remember my grandparents having a tv like that!
I laughed when I saw that TV. We had one just like that. The "Early American" special. I hated that big old cabinet. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
oooh I am so excited!! A rolling cart? Uh I dunno, but can't wait for you to show us…
BTW the banofee cookies were AWEWSOME!! We definitely had to battle weight gain with them! Thanks!
YOU'RE KILLIN ME HERE!!!
A fireplace????
OMGosh….I have this exact situation, I'm waiting on bated breath to see what comes next! 😉
Thanks for sharing!!!
Desi
Ok, now I'm really kicking myself, because I saw your tv's twin by the road last weekend. Normally I'd stop, but it was a bad stretch of road. Still, I'm thinking about heading back now. Can't wait to see what you do with yours!
I'm gonna gues a laundry organization cart to slide in next to your washer/drier. Like this: http://www.amana.com/accessories/laundry/organizers/laundry_supply_storage_cart_1903wh.pro?scr=category
only a lovely shade of turquoise, to match your armoire in your bedroom.
I'm guessing a baby-changing table that will be painted a lovely shade of distressed green or yellow. 🙂
Just curious…how did you dispose of the tv parts? We can't put those kinds of things in our local trash.
I'm guessing that it's a movable library cart for the kids books.
When I was in my 21 and sharing a house with others, I was so incredibly poor, the only furniture I had was my twin mattress and a small tv. The tv repair shop next door to our house had tossed out a huge console tv. The console was gutted in the back lot and the leftovers tossed into the dumpster, but it was still incredibly huge to get it upstairs. Once it was wrangled upstairs, a skirt was tacked across the front and I had atleast one piece of furniture for my tv and storage under for odds and ends. I'm sure yours will be gorgeous! Can't wait to see it.
That looks like the tv we had in the ’70s, it’s a twin! What did you do with the part you cut off? Could it be turned into a frame or shelf of some kind?
I tossed it. {Gasp} It wasn’t solid wood so I probably wouldn’t have.
I too, am wondering where you dispose of the “guts” of the TV???
I just threw them away ignorantly. I am sure there is a recycling center I should have brought it too. I just didn’t think about it. Oops!
Hey! I love this & am about to get an old console TV. Do you have instructions or tips on how to remove the TV guys safely? Thanks in advance!!
Hi Bonnie, I honestly had no clue how to do it. I just started unscrewing all the parts and tugging it out and cutting wires. Sorry I can’t be of more help!