How to Update a Vintage Breadbox [Quick & Easy]
Hi everyone! I hope you had a good week-end. I did some vintage “shopping” on Friday and stayed home all day Saturday finishing today’s project: how to update a vintage breadbox.
Vintage Oak & Stained Glass Breadbox
I’ve had this vintage breadbox for about ten years. It was still in good shape and I like the stained glass front, but I wasn’t fond of the orange-y finish on the oak.
I decided that a quick and easy chalk paint makeover would turn this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
Materials to Makeover the Breadbox
Note: This post contains affiliate links for [the same or similar] products used to complete this project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support my website, since I receive a small compensation whenever you click on a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you 🙂 See my full disclosure here.
- Vintage breadbox (here’s a similar new one)
- Chalk paint (I make my own, but here’s an alternative)
- Paint brush
- Painter’s tape
- Sandpaper
- Paste wax
- Cheesecloth
How to Makeover a Vintage Breadbox
Step 1: Clean
Wipe down your vintage breadbox with some soap water and after it dries, if it feels very smooth to the touch, lightly sand it so the paint will still better.
Step 2: Tape
Tape off the stained glass.
Step 3: Paint
Make your own chalk paint or stir the commercial chalk paint you bought for the project. Most projects like this take two coats to cover the orange-y wood. Allow the paint to dry in between coats.
Step 4: Distress
Sand back some of the paint to reveal the wood underneath (see above). This gives your piece a farmhouse or shabby chic look.
Focus your sanding on the edges and high points–the spots that would naturally receive the most rubbing.
Step 5: Wax
Apply a coat of paste wax with cheesecloth (or a brush), let it sit for about 10 minutes (or follow the product’s instructions), and buff it out with cheesecloth.
And here’s the final project, “dressed” for fall with a bowl of pears, some thermoses, and dried hydrangeas.
I’ve also painted and then stenciled a different breadbox that I know you’ll want to check out.
What have you been working on lately?
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Bye for now,
I’d love it if you’d pin me!
It turned out beautifully! Stained glass — so very cool.
Glad you like it Mary Ann 🙂
That turned out great – I like it painted better than the natural wood. I re-did a bread box last week. 🙂 Love the stained glass on yours. Never saw one like that.
Thanks Kim! I'm going to pop over and check yours out 🙂
How very pretty! Love the taupe color. It makes the stained glass really stand out!
Thanks Cecilia!
It looks so great! I like it so much better painted. I have original farmhouse cupboards and they've been painted so many times. Right now they're a heritage green colour. Painting kitchen cupboards is a lot of work but so much cheaper and easier than a kitchen renovation, and often it's all we need because it can make such a huge difference.
I think painting the cupboards will make a huge difference. I can't wait to get rid of the orange-y -ness of it all.
It looks awesome, Diana…and great practice for kitchen cabinets ;0
Thanks Linda–not sure I'm ready to tackle it myself…
That's a super fine update. I love the stained glass too!
Thanks Rita!
Painting it really brought out the stained glass. Great job.
Thanks so much, Audrey 🙂
The paint gave it a wonderful update. It makes the stained glass pop and it looks like a new breadbox! I am loving that color.
I appreciate that Dianne 🙂
I like your breadbox makeover. I find great satisfaction in recreating something I already own and that works fine so it feels brand new!
Tania
Wonderful transformation! I just love what paint can do. It is scary but painting the cupboards in my kitchen is the best thing I did when we first moved into this house. I have been updating the kitchen ever since! Just added new café curtains for Spring and Summer.
Paint made a huge difference! Great makeover!
looks terrific! The paint changed the whole look . Hugs P.S. I hope you will be sharing at the Thursday favorite Things blog hop ( you can link up tonight through Sat at midnight)
It's amazing what paint can do, isn't it!? That looks great with the fresh update!
Thanks for sharing with me each week for Something to Talk About!
Karen
Amazing what paint can do. Great job
Wow, paint makes all the difference! Your bread box is as good as new now! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week 🙂
Diana, I love the new color! The leaded glass is gorgeous. I can see why you wanted to save it. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I love it Diana. The color is perfect and that stained glass so pretty. Thank you for sharing it at Share It One More Time. Cathy
I like the clean look. Thanks for linking up at Thursday Favorite Things!