Bringing old furniture back from the dead
You may remember this sad little cabinet that I found at a yard sale several weeks ago. It was in pretty bad shape with peeling veneer, loose glass, and a completely detached back.
In spite of all that, there was still something very charming about it. But it definitely needed some love!
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Luckily none of the veneer was actually missing, but it was coming off in quite a few places. I used basic wood glue to reattach all of the loose veneer and then stacked some heavy boards on top to hold it down while the glue dried. (These glue injectors make it super easy to get the glue into even the smallest spaces.)
Luckily the back wasn’t missing, it had simply fallen off. I tacked it back on with small brad nails. And I filled in a few cracks with wood filler and then sanded it smooth. I removed the interior trim piece and the glass. And finally, I cleaned the piece well and it was ready to paint!
Honestly, a lot of times getting a piece of old furniture prepped takes way longer than the actual painting!
For the paint on this piece, I used my favorite primer: Zinsser cover stain oil primer. This is my go-to primer for furniture projects because it sticks to anything and does a great job of sealing in old finishes so they never bleed through onto your fresh paint job. After the primer dried, I sanded lightly to get everything nice an smooth and then painted.
For this makeover, I used regular old latex paint in a couple of my favorite colors: Valspar Cooled Lava on the outside and Behr Peacock Feather on the inside. (Yep, you can totally paint latex paint over oil primer without a problem. It’s painting oil over latex that tends to go poorly.) I did use a few tricks to get a perfectly smooth paint job without using a paint sprayer.
First, I added Floetrol to my paint. Floetrol is a paint additive that reduces brush marks when painting. The other trick that really helps give a crystal clear glass finish – using a small foam paint roller for the flat surfaces and a high quality paint brush to get in the corners and details. (These paintbrushes are my current favorites.)
What a transformation! She looks about 1000 times better than the before. And I am really liking the modern colors with the vintage shape.
At first I was a undecided about whether or not to reattach the trim piece in the door. I love the little legs and detailing on this piece. But I was worried the front may be a bit busy – and it will look even more busy once it is full of dishes or books or whatnots. Perhaps it would be more polished without the detailing in the door?
In the end I like it both ways, but it just seemed like a shame to lose the character of that original trim so I added it back. I’m really happy with how it looks in the end – wouldn’t this piece look amazing full of all white milk glass or ironstone pieces! What would you have done if this were yours? With trim or without?
oh no no no! MUST have the detail. White dishes, books without covers. flower vases. ANY COLLECTION will look so awesome!! PLEASE leave the front!
I like the front detail as well, but it has to work for you. How’s that for wishy-washy?!
ps- great job on the redo!
Oh, definitely with the detail!
I love the detail! Love your choice of colors, too.
It looks great love the color combination. I like the detail but I’m thinking that when you fill it with dishes and accessories it may look busy like you said. I’d have to see it but I’m leaning towards without because of the white dishes.
Keep the detail – it’s lovely, though I think you may like it better if you can put it in front of the glass. My china cabinet has the detail behind the glass and it drives me nuts b/c it makes the fake panes so obvious. Fill it with white stuff like ivenad suggested and it won’t compete as much.
Definitely keep it! It gives the piece so much character. You did a beautiful job!
If you remove the front piece save it somewhere safe so you can use it in the future. I love it ‘on’ the door.
Love the colors & the details, please keep them. Maybe if you think it’s too busy you can just open the door?
Simply elegant! Your newest follower stop by for a blog visit.
Simply elegant! Your newest follower stop by for a blog visit.
I think I may be the only one voting for the “plain” door! I really like that look if you are planning to show off some treasures in there. Really beautiful transformation!
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I love this makeover! You did an excellent job. Please leave the detailed front. It adds to its charm and with well chosen items inside it would continue to look beautiful! I promise!
Hi! Honestly I think it looks lovely both ways but you definately have a point about the busy-ness of the detail. I guess it depends on what you want to put in the cabinet. Maybe, you can take the detail off and save it somewhere in case you want to put it back on? Good luck!
Cas x
That’s a beautiful cabinet! I love the colours you chose!
Wonderful cabinet! I love it with the detail!!!
What a super job you did with this cabinet. I LOVE the original detailing of the door- don’t remove it!
i like it without… and i love the blue you used inside!~ : )
With for sure!
With for sure!
I have found that my tastes change from time to time. I like options. If you like it without do it without for awhile. Put it away for now. If you change your mind and want a different look, put it back on. From my point of view, I would choose without.
Lovely cabinet… I am surprised that at the rough shape that it was in that the detailing was still intact! I have seen lots with less damage with some of the detailing missing.
with with with!!!! i love those details in front and i LOVE the fun colors you chose!
with with with!!!! i love those details in front and i LOVE the fun colors you chose!
I gasped when I saw this…gorgeous! I like it both ways (how can you lose with those colors?!)…but even more WITH the door.
I vote with. Love your pop of color on the interior. Fabulous rescue!
Beautiful job. I vote “with”, but I really like them both.
So pretty!! Would LOVE it if you would share this project at my turquoise lovin’ party going on right now!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/09/turquoise-lovin-4.html
I love this! Great re-vamp. I’d remove the inner moulding if it were mine, but I’d probably hang up that part as art!
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Beautiful! You did a great job transforming that little gem. I get what you’re saying by removing the details but…it’s just so charming. Whatever works best with your decor.
Love the detail! Just edit your display until it works. Can you move the shelves? I love the color and the interior surprise,great job! Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Love that black! Love that blue! LOVE this piece!! FABULOUS up-do!!
I’m with the crowd on this one. I LOVE the detail on the door. Someone said white dishes – so true! They would look stunning in it. You did an fantastic job. It’s really beautiful!
I love the details. But I think it depends on what you’re going to put in there. Good luck deciding!
Plain door. The detail is beautiful, but with the inside color and even the most simple pieces inside it’s too busy.
I definitely think you could use it alone to accent something else beautifully.
Great make-over!
OK, you don’t really need another opinon, but I feel I must. KEEP THE DETAIL! Without it, it’s just another cabinet. WITH it, it’s a beautiful cabinet. PULEEZE say you’ll keep it!!!!!
OMG- how beautiful..Love it..Hello there.. I’m following ya /linking per beyond the picket fence hop..Lovely blog you have here.Can’t wait to read more.. Hope you can stop by & visit me sometime / follow back.. TY So much.. Have a great week.Marilyn from http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com
Oh, I love the detail! It is what makes it look so unique. Keep the accessories inside simple (similar colors, etc) and it will look wonderful.
Great choice for the interior color, too.
“with”
awesome color choice! love it! i’m featuring it today at my blog! http://beachhouseinthecity.blogspot.com
I liked it with the detail until you posed the idea of plain door==much more industrial. The detail is busy, but nice. Could you put in over the blue back panel, to offset it against the blue, and to preserve its beauty, and to be able to save it, at the same time? This is a perfect sized apartment cabinet, by the way!
I like it without the detail! So Pretty!
This is beautiful! I like both ways! And the peacock blue is stunning! Just found your blog.. I’ll be back:)
Love what you’ve done to her! I prefer her with! But, you have to be happy. Found you via Primp. Toodles, Kathryn http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/voice-studio.html
This is a beautiful cabinet! Your color selection was perfect -and my choice is “without.” :)
Shari @ turnstylevogue.com
Hi Carrie, love the cabinet, the colors are great! I think I would take the front details off, it take’s away from the beautiful cabinet.
have a great weekend,
Regina
p.s. I am your newest follower, would love for you to visit my blog!
what an amazingly great piece! I love when the before picture is so sad and then the after is so so wonderful—you are the best at that! And this piece was SO wonderfully finished :o) I just LOVE coming over to your site and checking out what you are up to! :o)
Jaime from crafty scrappy happy
Gorgeous! Please keep the front piece!
LOVE this furniture redo. This is truly from trash to treasure. If only the people who sold it to you could see it now (they would probably pay you big money for this)! Just wanted to let you know that we featured your cabinet on Sew Woodsy today!
hi! I found your blog through searching furniture redo with veneer on google. I love what you did with this cabinet! I just got an almost identical cabinet from the curb but it’s in pretty poor condition. the veneer is peeling and chipped, the door is not in great condition (it has a similar insert detail like this piece) and has the same legs! No shelves in mine either, but it does have the back still in pretty good condition – I think. I can’t decide what to do with it or even how to start! I am a newbie and trying to get some pieces for our future home that we hope to buy. Could you share more detail as to how you worked this miraculous transformation? I would love to salvage the piece I have and make it look as amazing as yours turned out! Thank you!