Credenza Makeover-How To Make Outside Furniture Weather-Resistant

Credenza Makeover-How To Make Outside Furniture Weather-Resistant

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I recently refinished an old credenza I found in my neighbor's garbage. My grandma used to say things like credenza. I guess I should also call jeans dungarees now too since I'm using the word credenza. But I really don't know what else to call it. So anyway, I took it out of the garbage and it looked like this.

and with a little sanding, painting, and waxing I made it into this!

I wanted to have something on our deck that I could store some things in for impromptu snacks, drinks, etc. Not really a bar, although I'm not sure what else to call it. But I will put napkins, paper towels, plastic cups and plates, utensils, etc. in the bottom for those times the kids want a picnic or we end up with a gajillion kids over to play. 

I knew I wanted to use it outside so I wanted it to be rustic and maybe even a little nautical. And I wanted to spend as little money as I could to get it looking that way (hence the rope-knot handles in lieu of hardware).

I sanded it down smooth and stained the top. Once that was dry I taped it off from the rest of the piece. I used Valspar spray paint in red.

Then I just used some sand paper to rub a little of the red paint off.

I rubbed some dark walnut stain on and then rubbed it right off just to darken the paint a bit.  

I knew I wanted it to be a little more weather resistant than just varnished wood so I gave it several coats with a marine grade (boat) varnish. I chose Rustoleum Spar Varnish and it went on so nicely. No drips, smooth application, and a nice semi-glossy finish even though it says glossy.

The doors on either side don't open so I wasn't worried about hardware. I used some white rope and it works just fine!  We kept extra soda in it yesterday during Ellie's birthday party and it was quite handy!

 Hope you had a great weekend!

Cheers!

Jenny  

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