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Sometimes furniture is just one piece that was purchased to fulfill a need. Some furniture is a part of a larger story. The man who lived next to my grandparents gave this china cabinet to me almost 17 years ago.
We were told by him the story of when he was younger and how, during the Depression, he and his siblings saved money to buy the cabinet for their mother. He brought the cabinet into his home to keep as a souvenir after his mother died. However, he didn’t have any children to pass it on to and never married. He had been living next to my grandparents for many years and had seen my cousins and me grow up. When he learned about my engagement, the cabinet was his ideal wedding gift.
The cabinet held our fine china for 14 years while we lived in the first house.
In 2015, we moved into our current home and discovered that our floor, our cabinet and our dining room set were all the same wood color. It was all brown and it made me mad. After a few months, the dining room was repainted and I painted a little buffet that my neighbor had left for me to paint. This meant that we didn’t have enough space to store the cabinet so it was moved to my craft area until I found a solution. It was eventually just part of the decor until my Craft Room Renovation! This sentimental piece needed a fresh look and new life. Here’s how it happened.
Matrials:
Folk Art Chalk Paint: Parisian Grey and Adirondack White.
Folk Art Home Décor Wax Clear
Large Paintbrush
Brush for small stencils
Stencil “Mine is the Folk Art Handmade Charlotte Moroccan tile Stencil”
Folk Art Wood Layering Board
Painters’ Tape
Soft, lint-free fabric
The Process
Step 1: Place a drop cloth on the floor and begin to disassemble the piece.
This piece’s hardware was not removable, but I could remove drawers and doors. I removed all the doors from the top and had no intention of putting them on.
Step 2: Paint the piece with the desired color.
I used a light grey exterior and white interior. This step is not dependent on the color you choose, it will take more than one coat. Be patient! You should paint one coat and then let it dry completely. You’ll ruin your progress if you paint too quickly. You can paint until you achieve the coverage that you desire.
Step 3: You can disassemble the piece as often or as few times as you want.
This can be done by sanding but I prefer to use paint. You can apply a thin coat of dark paint to your Wood Layering Block and then rub the block around the edges and other areas that will naturally see wear over time. We want the piece to look beautiful and natural as it ages.
Step 4: Stencil your back
Because the shelves cannot be removed, this was difficult to do. Although it took some taping and some contortion to make this look great, it’s still a lot fun. Keep in mind that stencils should be made with less paint to prevent bleed through. Check out my painting and stenciling tips.
Step 5: Apply a layer of wax.
To gently rub the wax on the surface, you can use a wax brush and a soft, lint-free towel. After it dries, polish it to achieve the desired shine.
Now it’s time to decorate the shelves. This piece is now in our living room, and it matches perfectly with the rest of our décor.
What did you think about the transformation? Listen to my podcast episode Furniture Makeovers 101 for lots of great tips and tricks on furniture transformations. I would love to hear about your furniture transformations.
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