Unless you’re my mother, or one of the 20 readers I had back in 2011, you probably don’t remember the antique cabinet that I found at a thrift store for only $8.
A few months later we moved into our current home, and we converted the cabinet into a bathroom vanity when we remodeled one of our bathrooms.
At the time, we didn’t do too much to the cabinet. I wanted to leave the original, totally scuffed up finish on the body of the cabinet. I did sand off the finish on the top, repainted, distressed, and sealed it, then my husband cut a hole and installed the sink.
It had a lot of loose and missing veneer, but that’s what you’d expect in an $8 thrift store find, and it made for a very inexpensive bathroom vanity with a lot “character”.
Well, it’s been over 3 years, and since then I made the mistake of putting a soap dish with a metal base on top of the vanity, and it made a rust ring on it that won’t come off. I love rust when it’s on metal, but I don’t like it on my bathroom vanity, so I decided it was time to strip back the top and repaint it.
While I was at it, I decided I would repaint the entire cabinet. The scruffiness wasn’t as appealing to me anymore, and it really just needed some freshening up.
My husband removed the sink and brought it into the kitchen, where I could work on it more easily. I liked the Valspar Chalky Finish Paint (my review here) and it’s similar to the original paint color, so I used it on the body.
I think this pretty blue really freshens up the look of the cabinet, without detracting from the age look of it.
I still have to finish sanding and repainting the top, but now that the body is painted, I think I’d like to dress up the doors a bit. I’m a horrible free-hand painter, but I have a stencil that I thought might look pretty on them. Rather than risk hating it and having to repaint the doors, I painted a few pages of card stock paper with the blue paint, then stenciled them, so I could tape them on the doors and decide if I like it, and I do!
I’ll be finishing it up tomorrow, and once my husband puts the sink back in and gets it back in the bathroom, I’ll show you how it looks finished. Wish me luck with the stenciling!
By the way, I want to thank you all for the comments you left about my recent magazine feature. Even though I’m not likely to meet you, I feel like I have some really special friends “out there”, who cheer me on and encourage me, and it truly means so much to me!
If you missed any of our Room Remodels, you can see them all HERE, or click on the photo below.
If you’d like to see more of my Furniture Makeovers, you can see them HERE.
Pretty, Angie! I’m looking forward to seeing the stenciled doors!
I love the color and the stenciled door! I’m the one who would have just stenciled straight to the door haha!
Can’t wait to see the finished product!
I’m too lazy to paint it twice if I didn’t like it, Laura!
Lovely makeover!
Love the new colour and that paper is beautiful!
Hi Angie! Love what you did to revitalize the vanity for your bathroom! I like it much better! Look forward to seeing it all complete with the stencils!
Looks much nicer now…can actually see the legs which were nearly invisible before. NICE legs!!! I kind of like the stencil pattern…subtle and the color looks like it would fit the room nicely. You truly do have a good eye for décor!
Renee
Treasures by Renee
I was one of those original 20 people….and I love the new look…some color is good. The stencil is lovely….it’s always nice to change things up. I am going to do that in the next few weeks myself.
LOL – I’m surprised any of my first 20 people have stuck around that long Karen, so thanks for letting me know!! 🙂
It is so much prettier now. All the distressing took away from the beautiful lines. The stencil will look lovely. Great job. I do love to read your blog. RoseMary
Thanks Rosemary, if the top wouldn’t have gotten the rust mark on it, I probably wouldn’t have bothered to repaint the base, but I’m SO glad I did now – I’m liking it so much more!
Thank you for your kind words back to us on your feature. I just love to see people do well and succeed at things they love to do….it is inspiring to me (since I am a late bloomer to this blogging biz). I agree the cabinet was an awesome find and look great scuffed and chippy, but you have really made this little gem come to life with the fresh look you have given her. I love it.
I just love that blue…sooooo pretty! And that pattern you plan for the doors is really going to knock it out of the park! It was beautiful before, too…but this is a different kind of beautiful, you know? I can hardly wait to see it all put together!
I just went on a tour of all the rooms you have finished and have to say I love the “farm house” you have created. Between your husband’s skills and yours a beautiful home is being created. I will admit that I am trying to think of how I can use some of your ideas to spruce up my bathroom and kitchen. I love checking my email daily to see what “Knick of Time” has been up to.
Keep up the good work and keep sharing your ideas transformed in to reality.
Thanks so much, Betty! Every update we make on our house is done as inexpensively as possible, so I love sharing frugal ways to get the “farmhouse look” without spending a fortune to do it. I’m so glad you are enjoying seeing our updates. My first recommendation is always to start with PAINT. It’s the cheapest update you can make in any room, and gives you a clean slate to work with!
Love the color and the stenciling will really add to it can’t wait to see it,Angie smart idea to think before you leap,i wish i were more like that.
What wonderful choices. Love the stencil you choose and can’t wait to see the finished result!
Oooh, love the light blue and the stencil is awesome!
Thanks Julie! I’ve got both doors done now, and I really love how they look!
Ooh la la! Found a chest we will be converting some day “soon”. Was thinking white but now blue? White? Blue? Gee thanks Angie!
That is the cutest little cabinet, Angie! I can’t decide if I like the “scuffed up” look or the new look best, tho’. I guess I like them both. And for $8.! Aren’t thrift shops wonderful? It will really “make” your bathroom when it’s finished. Thanks for showing and sharing it!
I’m a new follower and I’m going back and reading your posts… and this really caught my eye. I’ve been dying to refinish my bathroom with an old piece of furniture instead of a builder’s grade cabinet. This is perfect inspiration! 🙂
Love the ‘new’ old cabinet! Can’t wait to see the embellishing on the fronts.
Love your blog! 🙂