From Ama:
I bought this piece of furniture at a garage sale a year ago and have left it all this time in the game room without knowing exactly what I wanted to do with it. A few weeks ago, I realized it would be perfect in the dining room… it was about time!
I removed all the moldings (door and above), and I also removed the base and put new feet. I sanded it lightly — it's veneer so I had to be careful. Then I stained it dark brown, and I finished with a transparent acrylic varnish. I added the missing shelves, made a door, changed the handles and put a nice paper as background. It took me one week to restore it working 2-3 hours a day.
Ama's cost breakdown:
Cabinet: $50
Stain, varnish, and handles: $35
Plywood for shelves, new door and feet: $23
Paper for background: $12
Total: $120
For more photos, check out Ohoh Blog.
Thanks, Ama!
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(Images: Ama Ryllis)
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Not bad for $120!! Congrats, it looks great.
Ah...I love it. The polka-dot background really gives it a great feel.
Snazzy!! I'm inspired.
YOU MADE THE DOOR!? Well, you rock in my book!
Great job... it looks like something you would pick up at DWR for $3,000.
Nice work! :) What a transformation - it looks great!
Great job, looks awesome!
Fantastic; it looks like you paid a lot for it. Very cleverly done!
Fabulous! I see these kind of cabinets all the time at thrift stores! Thanks for the inspiration as to what to do with them. LOVE.
What an excellent return on your time and $$ investment; this is a piece to be very proud of - its beautiful.
Super duper. Although, on my monitor, this "dark brown" stain reads as more of a dark slatey greeny gray. I would adjust my settings, but I think I like it better that way!
Off I go to the thrift stores with a re-inspired eye for rehab, once again. Thanks!
Great job. I prefer the original door though.
Truly wonderful transformation. Looks sprucy-blue/green to me which I like. Polka dots nice touch of whimsy. And I concur that making your own doors to unify really pulls it all together. Kudos!
Great transformation! I love the updates!
Fantastic transformation and putting in the extra effort to add the door on the upper left and replace the shelf on the upper right made a world of difference! How I wish I were motivated and skilled enough to do the same with the cabinet that's been hanging out in my living room for the last few years. (One of those pieces that's just "passable" enough to make it through the front door, but could be so much better with some serious TLC.)
This is spectacular! What an eye!
Le chic! A stunning transformation. It's nice to see that you have a good eye for good bones in a piece of furniture and are able to give a great makeover.
Beautiful job...so sleek looking! Plants always complete a look, don't they?
Well done!
This turned out really nice and useful!
Inspiring!
Great re-do, and so nicely styled too!
wow... didn't see that coming. I would have never looked at the first pic and think this could be the end product. Very nice!