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A Corner Cabinet Reborn

March 22, 2009 By Rhoda 149 Comments

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Edited to Add this to Edie’s “Painted Wood” party, so if you’re coming by from there, Welcome! You can also see the cabinet decorated here in this latest post about this painted corner cabinet.

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I’ve determined that I’m in the “trading up” stage in my life with decorating. Let me explain that. When I started out about 25 years ago decorating my first house, I took whatever I could get. Hand-me-downs were just fine. I just wanted something to eat, sleep and sit on so I wasn’t too picky about what came my way. Whatever I could afford or what someone wanted to give me was OK by me. I slowly then started to trade up on things. Sofas, bedroom furniture, rugs, and many other things, I was able to buy better quality and make my house more me and what I loved. Some things you pick up and live with for many years and don’t even think about them. They serve a purpose, are pretty nice to look at, but not exceptional and not what I would buy now.

Case in point…my perfectly fine corner baker’s rack that I picked up more than 10 years ago to fill a spot in my old kitchen. I needed something small there, something that wouldn’t take up a lot of room, but would give me a little extra storage in an already small kitchen. So, that metal baker’s rack was found and used, even repainted once along the way and it came with me here to AL, where it again landed in the corner of the kitchen. Certainly not my favorite piece, it became background to me, I didn’t even think twice about it. But, now that I’ve got the bones of my house in place with many furniture pieces that really mean something to me, I’ve started looking around at the things that have been with me for many years that could use a little “trading up”. Not more expensive necessarily, but just better looking, more interesting and even more functional. So, my quest for a real corner cabinet began…and it didn’t take me long at all to find it.

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You won’t recognize it now! From old and tired….

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to new and fresh and bright! The corner cabinet has been reborn for a whole new look and now it looks right at home in my house. With just a fresh coat of paint, a little extra molding, new knobs and painted burlap backing, what a difference this small change makes in our kitchen.

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I wanted to just show you the cabinet before I start filling it up. Not even sure what will go in here yet, but I want to make it pretty.

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You can see what I did with the burlap. I decided to do herbs and they were traced and painted onto the burlap. I used my electric staple gun to hold the burlap in place, when my plan of just pushing those black tacks in there, didn’t pan out like I had planned. The old wood backing was hard as a rock and I had to hammer in the tacks.

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And I’m really just thrilled with how the cabinet came out. If y’all would like to know more about the whole process of putting this together, let me know and I’ll do another post on how I did it.

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You can see that I also added 3 puck lights too, which really makes it come alive. I love cabinets that are lit up. These were easy to install and I figured them out without any problems. I had to drill small holes in the backing and then get them plugged into the outlet.

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The new knobs from Hobby Lobby are perfect on here.

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Cloves and Chives. The burlap isn’t perfect, it’s a little saggy in spots, but I’m happy with it all the same.

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Basil and Garlic

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It’s adorable!

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The fleur-de-lis knobs are on the bottom doors and here you can see the picture molding I added, which gave it much more detail too.

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Now, I’ve got a whole new area to use for storage and you know we can’t have too much storage in a kitchen, can we? I’ve moved some things around in the kitchen, so I’ll show you later. Might even wait until I get the granite installed and do a whole kitchen post on it all.

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So, how about you? Do you have some things that have been with you for awhile that you’re ready to trade up? I think I have a few more things, come to think about it, so those are the small things I’ll be on the lookout for.

Breakdown on this piece: I paid $125 for it at the antique mall

$12 for knobs from Hobby Lobby (using coupons)

$6 for burlap (Hobby Lobby) and tacks (Lowes)

$20 for the puck lights (from Lowes)

$10 for the molding on the doors

Not bad for under $175! What could you buy new for $175? Probably something made out of MDF without much character. I love these older pieces that just need some tender loving care to bring them back to life.

Simple, yet beautiful.

Edited to Add: Guess what? I’m going shopping with Layla today and can’t wait. Of course, I’ll tell you all about it when I return.

I’m also adding this post to Susan’s Met Monday, so go by there to check out more renovations. Happy Monday!

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Filed Under: Paint Project, Projects and How-To 149 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cynthia says

    March 23, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    OMG are you talented! I will be saving this post. Cindy

    Reply
  2. Marya says

    March 23, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    You have a beautiful, inspiring blog! I never seem to find time to decorate but it sure is fun to visit someone who does!

    Reply
  3. Martha says

    March 23, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Your new cabinet is so much better than your old — can’t wait to see it filled! Great job!

    Reply
  4. DESIGN BY CATHLEEN says

    March 23, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Hi Rhoda,

    Love your Hutch, it looks nothing like it did! LOL

    Your a WINNER! Come over and check it out, Congrats!

    I will need your e-mail and address!

    xoxo,
    Cathleen

    Reply
  5. Cathy says

    March 23, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    I had an awesome time with you and Laya today Rhoda..it was so very nice to meet you! I hope we can do it again soon.

    {{Big Hugs}}

    Cathy

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    March 23, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Hello, that’s a great transformation on that cabinet. Very inspiring.

    Susan.

    Reply
  7. rosecottagegardensandfarm says

    March 23, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Love, love, love anything painted white!! You hit a homerun with the corner cupboard–both with the vintage find and the creative ways you gave the cupboard a new look.

    This is the first time I have stopped by for a chat and won’t be the last.

    Blessings,
    Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

    Reply
  8. ~Kelly~ says

    March 23, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Love the cabinet! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I love stopping by your blog!

    Kelly

    Reply
  9. Kathy's Red Door Welcome says

    March 23, 2009 at 10:11 pm

    I love everything about your cabinet. Love the painted herb names on the burlap. I have a china I need to light. Were your lights easy to install? I love the fleur di lis knobs on the doors. Very charming. You are a very creative person. This is my first time to you blog. I will be back for sure.

    Reply
  10. Laura @ the shorehouse. says

    March 24, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    Oh, YES!!!! {insert sounds of applause and whistles here}

    😉

    What a wonderful makeover!! Well played, Rhoda.

    Reply
  11. Marya L says

    March 24, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    Would you do a tutorial on how to paint old furniture? It looks so awesome and I have some things I would like to paint, but I am too scared and don’t know what to do. I would LOVE a tutorial. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Shannon says

    March 24, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    lovely! I have a question…the fruit plates pictured in your old baker’s rack…is the fourth plate (it’s facing away from the pic)a peach? If so, I have one, too. I’ve never seen others like it an d I always wondered if it was part of a set…thanks for humoring me!

    Reply
  13. Maureen says

    March 25, 2009 at 8:27 am

    You did an amazing job!

    Reply
  14. Laurie - Decorating Fanatic says

    March 25, 2009 at 10:58 am

    AMAZING tranformation! Love the burlap & tacks! Plus the satisfaction of taking something not so great & transforming it to a beautiful piece that would go for many $$$ in a home decor store and you did it yourself for under $200! Just love it!

    Reply
  15. melissa says

    March 25, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Rhoda,
    this is just amazing! I love what you did and am looking forward to the burlap/spice tutorial. Have a great day~

    Reply
  16. Lisa Ross says

    March 25, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I love it! I just picked up burlap yesterday for a project and found that it sheds. Did yours keep shedding? Is it just because of the unfinished cut edges?

    Reply
  17. Connie says

    March 25, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    That looks so nice and really lights up that corner. Love the fleur de lis knobs. Always fun to see what you are up to…I still want to do the mirror framing in my bathroom one day! Connie

    Reply
  18. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    March 25, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Thank you all SO much for your very kind words. Of course, I’m in love with this cabinet now. I’ll be posting a tutorial on it Thursday, so come back for that.

    Lisa Ross, yes, that burlap does shed, but once it’s cut, it does pretty well. It will ravel on the edges, but now that it’s up, it shouldn’t be a problem.

    Reply
  19. 3 Peanuts says

    March 25, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Your blog is great. this is a fabulous project. It looks greta in your kitchen. LOVE that green paint in there too:)

    Reply
  20. Cote de Texas says

    March 26, 2009 at 2:54 am

    140 comments – wow!!! the cabinet is beyond adorable – and the burlap is what really adds that special touch! what a great idea!!!!!! love it!!!!!!!

    Reply
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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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