I’m not sure if you were aware, but we do have rooms in our house other than the kitchen! We’ve been talking so much about the kitchen lately, I’ve still been doing a little bit of this and that in other rooms and, as the kitchen renovation is coming to a conclusion, I’m already excited about transforming other spaces. The projects will be much smaller, though, and we’ll be doing all of the work ourselves. It’ll be a good long while before we tackle some of the other larger outstanding projects, like renovating both bathrooms, replacing more windows, etc. While the big projects are flashy, the smaller ones are honestly more my speed. Just me and a paintbrush and a sewing machine. Organizing, rearranging, decorating, fluffing.
I still need to paint the dining room walls and figure out exactly what I want to do in the room (another mural is not out of the question), but I have been working on getting it cleaned up and looking more like a real room. Since we moved in, it’s been a holding room for displaced items from other rooms while projects were happening. It was our living room when the hardwood floors were being installed. It was our kitchen when our kitchen was being renovated. It’s been storage for just about every other room as needed. So, last week, Jeff and the boys helped me move any remaining stored items to the basement so there were just dining room things in the dining room.
When I purchased the antique pine hutch for the kitchen eating area, I thought I would end up selling this antique step-back hutch. It was too skinny for the wall in the kitchen behind the table and I didn’t think I had anywhere else to put it. But, we scooted it into the dining room as a temporary holding spot until I decided what to do with it, and I liked it there! At least for now. It gives me some more storage in that room and fills up an empty space. I’m not sure if it’ll be there long-term, but it’s a good solution right now.
I bought this piece for our basement family room in Minnesota and never even put things in it! We decided to move just a few months after I bought it and, for some reason, I never moved in. I intended to use it for games and puzzles by a round oak game table. You can see the basement family room HERE if you missed it. I was a little sad that I never had the chance to fully finish that room. Despite being in a basement, it was an awesome room. Anyway, when I was sorting out what to keep and what to sell, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to enjoy this hutch, so I decided to bring it along. I also love pieces like this that offer a ton of storage and/or display yet have a small footprint.
I removed the doors when I was using this piece in the kitchen so I had some display space and decided to keep the doors off in the dining room as well. The hutch needed a little refresh, though, and it has needed that since I bought it. So, I finally decided to take the time to rub some oil on the spots that were dried out from old water damage.
I still had a bottle of Hemp Oil in my stash so I got that out. If you weren’t aware, I sold the Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint brand in 2020 (you can read about that HERE.) The product is now called Milk Oil, but it’s still hemp seed oil, and you can purchase it HERE.
Hemp Oil is a product I always have on hand to use on antique wood, painted finishes, metal, leather, and more. It’s one of those products you can use in hundreds of ways. HERE is a blog post about some of my favorite uses for Hemp Oil. In the case of this hutch, though, I am giving it a one-minute refresh. I simply wiped it down with hemp oil and a microfiber cloth.
And, bingo, the hutch is revived. It doesn’t matter how many times I use hemp oil on a piece of old wood, I’m still impressed at how quick and simple it is and how well it works.
I’m often asked how long this miracle cure will last and that really depends on how you use the piece as well as your climate. If you’re in a dryer climate, you might need to use it a bit more frequently. But, I’ve had pieces I hemp oiled years ago and they still look every bit as good and I’ve never needed to reapply.
For now, the hutch holds my blue and white pieces on the open shelves and extra table linens and serving pieces below.
I’m planning to paint the dining room walls in the next few weeks (I need to finish the foyer and work on a few other things first.) We’ve been living with primer on the walls for months, so it’ll be nice to get them properly finished.
But, for now, it’s not a storage room and that’s an improvement.
Working on a home is definitely a marathon. Sometimes, in my head, I think that I’ll paint one room after the other, organize the basement in one day, squeeze in sewing in an already full week, and things will be done in no time. But, I’m not quite as fast as I used to be and I value slowing down more than I did ten years ago. I want to enjoy the spaces we’re creating and not be in such a hurry to get everything finished.
Instead, I’ll just work on one thing at a time and celebrate the small projects that can be checked off the to-do list, like making an antique hutch look a little bit better…
22 Responses
Oh my goodness it looks so much better! And the blue and white looks beautiful in there as well. Curious about the door to the kitchen…would you ever take that door off or do you want to be able to close off the dining room?
We are going to keep those doors. I like having the option to close off the dining room if I want to.
Oh my goodness it looks so much better after the help oil! Your blue and white dishes look gorgeous in there as well. I do love those cabinets with the simple sturdy lines. This is a beauty. Curious about the door to the kitchen. Would you ever take that door off or do you want to be able to close off the dining room?
Whoops! Sorry about double posting! Feel free to delete one!
I think the cabinet is a perfect fit for that corner of your dining room. It doesn’t protrude too far into the room, adds the perfect spot for the blue and white dishes, plus a dash of charm. Who could ask for anything more:)
Love all you do!
I love that piece. It is the kind of piece I always think of for you. And, that lady painting will forever be my favorite.
I too, feel the slowing down on projects…..and I am glad you mentioned it. I was getting worried about myself!!!
I love this hutch. I love Hemp Oil too!!!
Have a good productive week.
The cabinet looks beautiful! We have the same situation in our dining room. My husband used some flat molding on the door rather than have the doors in the house tossed in a landfill. I like being able to close the door especially when I broil fish. I can’t wait to see the color you use in the dining room.
I have an oak hutch, very similar to yours. I think it has some kind of poly or varnish on it. I don’t think hemp oil can work its magic without removing it…am I wrong?
I still have a couple bottles of MMS hemp oil stashed away – amazing stuff. Since the hutch didn’t get a proper “MMS reveal” in the MN basement/family room, perhaps keep it for your future basement project.
Thinking of your studio doors and how you want to keep the dining room door, I envision a French door. It would look beautiful when closed with the glass panes allowing light to pass through between the 2 rooms. A complement to the nearby upper glass door cabinet and minimizing the solid door to the basement. Also can hang art/decor to that part of the DR wall that would be visible through the glass when the door is open.
Can’t wait to see how this room will unfold with your magic touches!!
Does the hemp oil work on refurbishing an older used leather couch thats a bit worn?
It looks lovely and I love how your transferware looks against the darker wood. I’m going to have to try it on some of my 25 year old stained baseboards that are looking a little unloved.
Yes, you’ve been concentrating on your kitchen, but that’s what happens when you are in process, isn’t it. It’ kind of consumes your time and thoughts, but it’s worth it because it’s just simply beautiful and it’s beautiful in the best kind of way, homey, cozy, comfortable, functional and still beautiful. I love when it all comes together like that.
ALL of the projects you’ve been showing in this house are just as lovely as your last one and I’m sincerely looking forward to seeing what you come up with the rest of your lovely home.
I can’t blame you for sliding some mural wallpaper into your thoughts, some of them right now are just gorgeous! In any event, thank you for sharing your projects, your processes and your thoughts. I’m truly enjoying them all and I am thrilled for YOU and your family to be creating and curating such a wonderful home and haven for your family to live and grow in.
I believe she would paint the mural by hand, as in her last home, if she decides to have a mural…
Yes, watching your kitchen remodel has been both fun and interesting to watch. Your planning certainly worked amazingly well, and the finish is stunning, as well as comfortable and workable. You will enjoy living with it for years to come, as you move on to complete finishing touches to other rooms, working out all those details that will make it uniquely your own. I’m sure we will be back in the kitchen again before too long, as you make small adjustments, adding and subtracting. Nothing is ever finished.
I’d like to add…. in my wildest dreams, I could never imagine Marian using mural wallpaper to decorate in her home. 🙂
Oh Marion…we would love to see your videos while working on your murals! I remember thinking in my mind….if I had a mural like yours ( in your old home) – wouldn’t ever move… Excited to see what’s going to be your next project.
Can’t wait (and curious) to see what color you paint the dining room. I have a small apothecary chest that needs *something *. I think I’ll get out my bottle of hemp oil and give it a rub! I used it on an old bread board a few years back and it looks really cool.
After following you for a few years, I am well aware that comments are always composed of effusive praise, but I just have a tiny suggestion. In photos of the filled hutch the second from the top shelf is bowing. In the side-by-side pic of the hutch empty and filled it is also shown. If the stacks of small bowls were swapped with the beautiful sugar and creamer on the bottom shelf the aesthetic balance would be maintained and the weight relieved on the upper shelf.
Oh, I’ll take a look! I didn’t take a ton of time arranging that shelf, so I could probably spend some more time on it to make it better. Thanks for the observations.
As a PS, I actually don’t always get glowing comments! 🙂
QUESTION: how long after applying hemp oil would I have to wait to be able to put a fabric dresser scarf on the furniture so it would not get an “oil” stain?
BTW, looks LOVELY!
I would suggest waiting 30 days until it’s fully cured. You can always test with a piece of paper first to make sure all of the oil is absorbed.
Hi Marian, I am a new follower. I just found your blog! You have amazing content. I hardly know where to start. I love the hutch and what you have done with it. Can’t wait to see more!