From Beast to Beauty

Thought I would share my china cabinet makeover with you today. I've never owned a complete dining room set before. Ever since I started following furniture makeover blogs it's been in the back of my mind that this might be the way to get a whole, matching set without having to sell a kidney (just kidding!). One day while perusing Craigslist I came upon this set. This is the actual picture from the listing.

I was immediately star struck! As fast as my fingers would work I sent an email to see if it was still available. It probably wouldn't be. Everyone on Craigslist must surely want this set! A few hours later, to my sheer delight, I found out it was available! A few text messages and a time for pick up was set. It was located 2 hours from me and due to schedule conflicts I had to wait almost two weeks to get it. Thankfully the seller was willing to wait! This picture really does not indicate how large this cabinet is. Trying to wrestle this beast into the back of the truck became quite a side show for the neighbors! The top actually got dropped! Luckily it only suffered minimal damage on one corner. By the time we got all these pieces loaded all we were missing was the rocking chair on top to look just like the Clampetts headed for Beverly Hills!

My husband standing in front of it gives you a little better idea of how tall it actually is!

Once we got it home it was time for dis-assembly. That wire had to go! I don't know about you but I had no intention of dusting my china :)

 

As I started preparing this post it came to my attention that while I was pretty good at taking before and after pictures, I was not so good about taking "during" pictures. I'll do better next time!

Here are the specifics. The whole cabinet got two coats of Benjamin Moore Super Hide Latex Eggshell in a custom tinted off white. Next came a dark glaze, followed by a coat of Miss Mustard Seed Soft Wax. The top part of the base and the hardware were painted with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.

So let's just skip to the after, ok?

I thought I could easily replace that wire with glass. "Not so fast" said the helpful hardware man. "We don't do curves. At least not that kind of curves. You'll need to contact a glass company and it will probably need to be special ordered." Bummer. That took the wind out of my sails . . . for about 2 minutes. Then my mind started wondering (sometimes is wanders but that day it just wondered) . . . people who do stained glass surely don't send all their pieces off to get curves cut. Maybe I'll just Google "cutting glass curves" and see what comes up. So I did. And up pops a youtube video. Five minutes long. I watched it. Then I went to the hardware store and plopped down 4 bucks for a glass cutter. Back at home I found a scrap piece of glass from an old project, watched the video again and gave it a try. And whatdayaknow? I cut a curve on my very first try! I went back to the hardware store (yes I did make THREE trips in one day!) and got glass for two of the doors (because that's all they had in the size I needed).

And there it is. A combination curve. Only one cut finger - happened during installation - and one broken piece of glass. Turns out cutting a straight line was the tough part! Now I have new skill thanks to this cabinet!

Curves, curves, curves.

This baby has curves everywhere you look . . .

 And I'm in love with them all!!

The Oil Rubbed Bronze hardware really pops against the off white.

And one last look at curves . . . my favorite ones on the whole piece . . . 

TA DAAAAA!

I can hardly believe this beast turned beauty is really mine. I'm still smiling every time I walk through the dining room. So, tell me what you think. . .  Are you ready to tackle your very own makeover? 

Till next time,

Julie (the DIYer) ;)

P.S. Up next . . . the chairs!!