Repurposed Hutch Top into a Coat Rack Shelf

It’s amazing what you can create when you look at old furniture with fresh eyes. This repurposed hutch top went from forgotten to functional with just a few simple changes. What once sat collecting dust is now a stylish wall shelf with hooks, perfect for adding charm and storage to any room.

Sometimes I’m a little slow to process ideas. Today I’m going to show you a project that I have been waiting for years for it to speak to me. I finally made this repurposed hutch top into a coat rack shelf.

How to Repurpose a Salvaged Hutch Top

My friend Cathy gave me the top piece of her china cabinet a long time ago. It got somewhat buried in my shed. I recently dug it out and decided I must do something with it.

This hutch top is considered a pediment. Pediments are decorative architectural pieces often salvaged from old furniture or buildings. You can find them at thrift stores, architectural salvage shops, flea markets, or even online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy.

Start With Primer

Often, when I’m unsure what a piece should be, I paint it. I think making the color uniform helps me to see what it can be. Look again at the before—you can see that once it’s all the same color, it is easier to talk to.

It’s at this point that I decided to make it a coat rack shelf by trimming off a little on each end, adding some new lumber for a shelf, and extending the bottom to accommodate the coat hooks.

Trim the Over-sized Hutch Top with a Saw

I clamped the piece onto my compound miter saw and trimmed some off each side. I chose to do it right beyond the smaller hole—less to patch.

Add Extension Piece to Hutch Top

To accommodate the addition of hooks, I would need to install a board at the bottom of the original hutch top.

For a long time, my Kreg R3 Jr. was my favorite, but I have found the Kreg Jig K4 to be much easier on my bad shoulder. It’s also much quicker to drill several pocket holes back to back.

Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

You can see I used the pocket holes to attach the bottom board to the lower portion of the original piece.

The Repurposed Hutch Top Becomes a Coat Rack Shelf

If you look closely, you can see a small indentation that is perfect for the addition of a shelf.

I added more pocket holes to attach the shelf. I seriously don’t know how I ever built anything without pocket holes. It makes projects quick and easy, while also providing a strong, secure hold.

By the way, I had a visitor while I was doing this—a nephew. While he was watching me drill these holes, a neighbor stopped by. I think both men were a little jealous of my Kreg Jig!

Gorilla Wood Glue for Strength

You never know what someone might put on this shelf, or who might try to pull up on it. For extra strength, I supplemented my pocket holes with Gorilla Wood Glue. The pocket holes are under the shelf, and the screw are screwed into the original piece. I staggered the holes to prevent interference with the screws/holes from the extension piece. Do you see that little mark by the pocket hole? I always mark my spots during a dry fit.

Updated Hutch Top Mantel Coat Rack

What do you think? The repurposed hutch top is really turning out better than I imagined.

I mixed up some DIY chalky paint primer and gave everything two quick light coats.

I’ve seen this dresser on Pinterest for a while now. I’ve always loved the paint technique, but never had anything with enough detail to pull it off.

Well, I sort of followed the directions. I didn’t have the paint they did. I did a clear coat over the entire shelf.

(You can see a bunch of hooks in the background. Then,  I was trying to figure out which hooks to use for the coat rack.

I brushed on some black paint and wiped it back. Honestly, I can’t say that I immediately loved the look.

I was testing out the hooks I had. Then, I realized I needed shorter hooks, but I didn’t like the silver—brushed nickel.

Make a Hutch Top Coat Rack Shelf

I went back to my stash of hooks and found these oil-rubbed bronze hooks from D. Lawless Hardware.

The paint technique didn’t turn out as I had hoped, but I’m okay with it. I have the repurposed hutch top coat rack hanging on my plank wall, above my kitchen cabinet window seat.

The small REPURPOSE sign is a tile that was made for me by a blog reader many years ago.

The color of the repurposed hutch top is much darker than the inspiration piece, but it’s growing on me.

What would you have done with this piece? Would it have taken you 4-5 years to complete?

gail

see more coat racks here

Woohoo! So excited to have this project featured in the Spring issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Magazine!