DYI: Flea Market Cabinets Makeover!

Since moving in our duplex back in April, I have been missing all of our books. There’s probably like 12 boxes of books in storage right now. I don’t really read much but for some reason when the books are in our home I feel like there is a warm blankie wrapped around the place and we are all cozy and safe. Ok, that seems odd. But alas, I yam what I yam.

So before I got too much further down that tangent, I’ve been looking for more shelving storage that I could use for books. Being that we are living in a little place and I’m squeezing every nook and cranny to fit our lifestyle, there was only two places left for bookshelf type furniture. And that was on either side of the china hutch. I looked and looked for weeks on Amazon, Walmart.com, and craigslist for two shelves that would match or almost match the height of the china hutch. I found lots of pieces that could work but with not knowing if we’ll be living in this duplex for 12 more months or for 3 years, I didn’t want to spend the $300+ for something I might only get one year’s use out of.

Finally, all my searching paid off and I found these on craigslist.  And these babies were only $30 for the pair! Ok, they are particle board, and yep, there were spiders and long since abandoned dirt dobber nests in them, and the top of one of them is really jacked up. But only $30!!! It was a gamble I was willing to take.

First, I cleaned them. Evicted spiders. Knocked out the dirt dobber nests.

Then I washed my hands – A LOT.

Second, I cleaned them again with Clorox wipes because they were pretty gross. Then I took off the doors and set everything up to paint. I decided to use enamel paint with a mini roller and two sponge brushes since it was veneer particle board and I just hoped this stuff would adhere properly to the surface. So far so good!

I did let all the piece set for over 24 hours before putting it all back together and moving into the house. I’m hoping our neighbor isn’t too annoyed at my little projects in our adjoined 4 car parking area(I don’t ever get on their side trying to be respectful). They might be betting on how many days until they see a car on blocks in the drive or some other redneck thing. Ha

Ok, so after I was sure it was all dry I brought the two shelves in and put them in place. That’s when I realized the back of each one was really messed up with lumps and bumps. I’m guessing from water damage. I noticed this before painting and was hoping that would mask it enough but it didn’t. Sooo I had leftover black and white contact paper from a previous project. This worked out perfectly since the china hutch is black and most of the dishes on display are white so it helps to subtly tie the shelves with the hutch.

And instead of filling these completely full with books on the open shelving I decided to take some boxed craft supplies out of a hutch with doors and put on the open shelving so it’s easier for the kids to get. Also the open shelving feels less chaotic than having different sized and colored books mismatched on it. Those books will now be going into a closed hutch in the living room area.

Tah dah! Here’s how they turned out…

What do you think?