Nice! Wow big difference between the before and the after. It went from imposing monster in the corner to a functional piece that fits in nicely, and is cute. Farmhouse rustic it is, good job. I think your use of the gray paint on the inside was inspired. You will find many uses for this piece. I have a hutch with a shelf similar to yours and I have used it in the dining room to store table linens, candles and serving ware. I have used it in my office holding books, paper, crafts, and printer. I have used it in my living room holding games, nicknacks books and emergency lighting. Have fun with it. Whenever I do a project like this I walk around going....hmmm what else can I paint?!

A good beginning would be to replace the walkway up to the house. A new brick walkway or stamped concrete in the same color as the brick on the house will pull all of the elements of the exterior of your home together. I made my walkway 3 feet wide with 2 feet beds on each side of the walkway in stamped concrete. Create the walkway at a distance from the house in an organic natural flowing pattern up to the house with planting beds flowing beside the walkway. Take the brick right up to the from door. Soften the entrance to your home by opening the planting beds up by the house into large organic shapes. That's what I did with my home and it changed it dramatically! It's a lot of work but what a difference!

the board is installed the wrong way to start with. it should be horizontal to achieve the rustic look. why do you need a painter for such a small job? try to remove the existing finish with mineral spirits or a heat gun. apply a coat of white acrylic primer and sand with 300 grit paper once dry. clean with vacuum. apply a coat of dark grey emulsion. dry. then spray a coat of white automotive laquer very lightly. usually thus dries quick in 30 minutes. very carefully sand with 400 grit on the grains and you will now have the desired finish. cost of materials approx 1000rs.

mostly Indians uses brown varnish paints for their main wooden doors....I even don't know why they didn't use other colors...even in my house doors are given brown color wooden texture...