Before & After: A Bar Cart Worth Toasting

Written by

Tara BellucciNews and Culture Director
Tara BellucciNews and Culture Director
Tara is Apartment Therapy's News & Culture Director. When not scrolling through Instagram double-tapping pet pics and astrology memes, you'll find her thrift shopping around Boston, kayaking on the Charles, and trying not to buy more plants.
published Feb 11, 2015
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Metal bar cart with two shelves on wheels, placed on dark wood floor, labeled "Before" in red.
(Image credit: Shannon Acheson)

Despite its peeling handles and faux wood shelves, Shannon had plans for this thrift store bar cart. With a little love and crafty touches, it now shines:

(Image credit: Shannon Acheson)

Besides polishing the brass, she painted and stenciled the faux wood, and wrapped the peeling handles with patterned tape.

From Shannon:

Before the holidays I found a beat up little bar cart at a local thrift store. It was a little grimy and had lost its luster. Not to mention the ugly faux wood shelves and peeling handle grips. But with a little paint, patterned masking tape and some Brasso, that neglected little bar cart became a modern focal point. Filled with glass and glam it now sits proudly in our dining room.

For more photos and details, check out Shannon’s blog, AKA Design.

Thank you, Shannon!