Breathe New Life Into Old Furniture
Have you ever stumbled upon a gorgeous, vintage china cabinet at a thrift store or estate sale and thought, “I have to have that, but what on earth would I do with it?” If so, you’re in for a treat! Today, I’m going to share how you can upcycle an old china cabinet into a stunning, functional piece of kitchen storage.
You see, my husband and I have been DIY enthusiasts for decades, and one of our favorite projects was transforming a 1980s china cabinet that we just couldn’t part with. We turned it into a farmhouse-inspired, built-in cabinet for our laundry room, complete with a sink, open shelving, and so much more. And let me tell you, the process was both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
From China Cabinet to Laundry Room Centerpiece
When we first got married, my husband and I purchased a beautiful, solid wood dining set that included a two-piece china cabinet. We loved that set so much – it was one of the first major furniture investments we made as a couple. Over the years, as our family grew, we ended up selling the table and chairs, but I just couldn’t bear to part with the china cabinet.
Fast forward to when we built our new home, and I knew exactly where that vintage cabinet was going to live – in our laundry room! The dimensions were perfect, and I envisioned transforming it into a functional, yet visually stunning, piece of storage and decor.
Inspired by a similar project we found online, we got to work gathering all the necessary components. First, we reached out to my mom, who had recently replaced her kitchen countertops. She generously offered us the leftover Corian piece, which ended up being the perfect size for our cabinet’s new countertop. We also found a galvanized metal tub that would serve as our farmhouse-style sink, and one of my husband’s friends even donated an extra wall cabinet that would fit perfectly above the washer and dryer.
With all the pieces in place, we set out to transform this outdated china cabinet into a stunning, custom-built laundry room centerpiece. And let me tell you, the process was not without its challenges, but the end result was more than worth it.
Reconfiguring and Refinishing
The first step was to reconfigure the china cabinet to fit our specific needs. We decided to remove the two drawers at the bottom to make room for the sink plumbing. Then, my handy husband added a piece of wood to the back edge of the cabinet base to extend the depth, ensuring a seamless fit against the wall.
Next, we got to work on the fun part – the refinishing! I absolutely love painting furniture, so I was giddy to get started. I used General Finishes Milk Paint in Linen for the upper sections and General Finishes Gel Stain in Java for the lower cabinets. The milk paint provided a beautiful, matte finish, while the gel stain gave the base a rich, dark look.
To add a touch of farmhouse charm, we decided to replace the glass panels in the upper doors with hardware cloth. This allowed us to display baskets and other decor pieces, while still maintaining a functional storage space.
Bringing It All Together
With the cabinet refinished and reconfigured, it was time to bring all the pieces together. We started by securely mounting the wall cabinet above the washer and dryer, then added the ledger boards for the open shelving. Next, we carefully placed the china cabinet base, making sure it was level and secured to the wall.
The Corian countertop was a dream to work with – my husband was able to easily cut the opening for the galvanized sink and pre-drill the holes for the wall-mounted faucet. Once everything was in place, we added the final touches, like the baskets, towel rack, and a chalkboard sign for a personalized touch.
A Stunning and Functional Transformation
The end result is a stunning, farmhouse-inspired laundry room centerpiece that blends seamlessly with the rest of our home’s decor. The dark base cabinet and open shelving provide ample storage and display space, while the Corian countertop and sink make this area both beautiful and highly functional.
I’m so proud of how this project turned out, and I know you’ll be just as amazed at the transformation. If you’ve got an old china cabinet tucked away in your basement or attic, I urge you to give it new life. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can turn it into a one-of-a-kind piece that will be the envy of all your friends.
And if you’re in the Aberdeen area and looking to tackle a similar project, be sure to check out ABC Home – our team of experts would be more than happy to help you bring your upcycling dreams to life. Happy DIYing!
