Monday, April 07, 2008

The China Cabinet Makeover

Pin It Now!

Even though I have everything in it and it looks finished it's not. It's painted but I still need to sand it, distress it (a little) and wax it. That will happen Friday but I just was too excited with how it turned out that I had to share it with you! Once I get the paste wax on it it will tone down the stark-white look it has now.
I bought this off of Craigslist for only $125. It's from the 1960's and it's a really good quality piece of furniture (dovetail drawers, etc). I couldn't decide which photo I liked best so I put them all on here!
Here is the before photo. I forgot to take a picture before it was separated into two pieces and there wasn't anyone around to help me lift it up so this is what I have to show...
Below is what it looked like after I stripped the finish off and I was in the middle of sanding it. Some of sanding I do with a power sander and some I do by hand (and my tendinitis in my elbow is killing me)!

Friday I'm going to have to empty it out again. Get it back outside and finish it up!

59 comments:

a pink-bee said...

WOW ~ that is perfect for your home ~ lots of work but, such a amazing makeover ~ great job :).
crystal :)

Anonymous said...

I have really enjoyed your furniture projects! You are very talented!

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy-
You told us what you had to give for the china cabinet. Did you say what you "stole " the armoire for? lol I would like to find one like it, just wondering what I would have to pay....
Thanks!
Ruth

Anonymous said...

Wow Cindy!! The china cabinet turned out beautiful!! You are a fast worker. Like a little busy bee. Where are you going to put your beautiful bird table now? Hope you still have room. Be careful now with that tendanitis. That's painful.

Debbie Kay said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, just like its new owner. Cindy, you are amazing....

Love,
Debbie Kay

Anonymous said...

Cindy, it looks fabulous and what a deal!

Manuela

Anonymous said...

Great job Cindy! It looks wonderful!!

tina

Anonymous said...

OMG it turned out so beautiful! this post makes me want to go looking for old furniture to fix up. you did an amazing job!

Donna Kay said...

Wow - you have been busy - and what wonderful pieces you have to show for it!!!
The armoie looks incredible - and the hutch is just gorgeous - I wish I had your energy!!
As always you continue to be such an inspiration to me.
Thanks

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful, both it and the amoire.
You are so hardworking and talented!

Anonymous said...

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.!!! I can see why you are so excited! Fabulous job, as always.

I know why Debbie from NJ was asking about your bird house table. She not-so-secretly covets it and we had an email conversation about it a few days ago. She'll gladly take it off your hands! LOL! :D

And yes, please do be kind to your elbow. What started out as "tendonitis" in my shoulder turned into a torn tendon. Not fun! After 3 months of excruciating pain and barely being able to use my arm, I'm just starting to become active again.

Mary said...

Wow, what a tremendous job -- it looks great!
xoxo,
Mary

Glenda said...

Very nicely done. Now if I could have as much energy as you I'd get my cabinet done.

You always inspire.

Glenda

Sharon~heartsongs said...

Looks great.
If I did that it would probably be done in about a year!

Anonymous said...

What a b-e-a-u-tiful piece of furniture. You did a great job and I can't wait to see it after your are completely finished! I just love shabby-chic!

Julie said...

It is a perfect fit with the rest of your favorite pieces of furniture! Great job.

javajunkie said...

The china cabinet looks amazing! I love how quickly you complete a project. You inspire me to get busy.

Jessica said...

I love it! It looks beautiful and I can't wait to see it totally finished! You display your things so beautifully too!

Amber said...

It turned out beautifully! (even though it isn't quite finished yet!) :) Don't you just love how you can take a piece of furniture that isn't very pretty but has good solid bones and just needs a little TLC and turn it into something that looks like new, but with extra character?!? I do! :)

Lisa said...

This looks spectacular with all the other pieces. How I wish I had your energy and devotion to all these projects.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh - you are amazing! I can't believe how quickly you get things accomplished! Well it looks spectacular! Is that little moo cow creamer I see inside the hutch? I have one, too... And I also have a 50's birdcage on a stand... And with all that white furniture...Could we be long lost sisters by any chance? LOL Love it all, Cindy! ... Donna

Debra from Bungalow said...

It's lovely! You are the Diva of painting furniture! :)
DebraK

Paul and Cathy said...

Hi Cindy,
I was curious...where do you do all this wonderful sanding, stripping and painting? I know you are in an apartment...how do you manage? By the way, you are amazing, love all you accomplish. Bravo,
Cathy

Rhondi said...

Hi Cindy Your china cabinet looks great. You sure don't waste any time getting going on a project! That was a big job but it yielded big results! It looks fabulous. You really have a talent for decorating Cindy. It's always so much fun to see what your latest project is. Your home just gets more charming all the time.
Rhondi

Heidi said...

Hi Cindy. Your china cabinet makeover is fabulous! You are a pro at furniture makeover! I'm glad you showed all the photos...more fun for us!
*Heidi*
Everyday Cookies blog

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Hi Cindy....I found your blog and have been checking in, love your projects, I do the same thing I have to try it out before it's done!!! Believe it or not my decorating style is primitive I do so enjoy all that you do for your beautiful home.

maggie said...

Wow! Another wonderful makeover. How do you manage to get it done so quickly? And do you spray paint, or use a roller and brush??? All your projects work out so beautifully that I'm anxious to try one myself.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy,
Ok you are just making me feel lazy now.Just kidding.It looks so beautiful- well done.
TFS
Chris

Jackie said...

Absolutely beautiful...I just found your blog spot and just love. You are so talented.

Anonymous said...

Love you furniture painting,,just wonder how you buy so many things being a single Mom and living in a state with such a hi cost of living.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful transformation!! Just love it. I have been thinking about all your projects. I would be interested to know-- Where do you do your work? They seem like such big tasks to me. I'm envious!!

Becca M. said...

It reallly looks great!! Even without the distressed look, although that is coming from a person who would live in an all-white house! :)

PattieJ said...

Cindy, As usual, It's GORGEOUS!!! I don't know how you find all the time or energy for these big projects... I LOVE your new China cabinet!! I want a china cabinet so bad, I've been checking Craigs list all the time but haven't found any deals yet or any that I would even want . I hope I find one soon... I'm getting jealous of all these awesome new painted furniture pieces of yours! LOL. ;)

Pattie

The Feathered Nest said...

Cindy, you are so precious!!! Bringing your beautiful cabinet inside and loading it up so we can see it's beauty!!!! You are such a sweetie. I can't wait to see it after the final steps...but it is already beautiful!! I've painted many a piece of furniture and I know how physically hard it is sanding and preparing it for paint. Finshing, etc., is equally hard....can't wait to see it Cindy! xxoo, Dawn

Simply Me Art said...

Cindy, Great Job! Wow, It looks Stunning... I Love it all acessorized already too. I would do the same thing, I'm like a kid in a candy store , I just cant wait.Jamie

Amy said...

Your refinishing work is just amazing. I love to see all the wonderful thrift store finds you have and how you turn them into such beautiful pieces. This hutch is so great and I am sure it is the focal point of your dining room. Just lovely! Amy

Irma's Rose Cottage said...

I love how your piece of furniture turned out. The white is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Oh my... that is a lot of work.... but so worth it ... it looks PERFECT in your home... love they way you have your china... isn't it fun playing with your china.. in a hutch
HUgs
Linda

Paul and Cathy said...

Thanks for the answer Cindy! I have a back porch as the only place to do any painting...it has been raining here for several days...we need this rain badly so I will not complain, but it made me wonder what you would do if weather was a consideration. Now I know...you work fast! Which is actually a good thing!
Oscar is all over it seems, Cathy

Anonymous said...

That is so beautiful.
I used to always read knitting blogs,but you got me hooked.
I still don't understand why the people on the do over shows refer to white furniture as little girl furniture.
Your place is so pretty.

Rosemary said...

Love it Cindy!! You are at it again.
Thanks for sharing,
Rosemary

Anonymous said...

As FABULOUS as all your other work!

~elaine~

Devonia said...

Cindy, It's a wonder you still have any prints left on your fingertips after all that sanding! I say that because my own are tingling right now from doing non-stop furniture projects this last three weeks. It's killer work! But oh sooooo worth it - that china cabinet is 2-die-4~
My bests,
Devonia

Essential Oil Premier University said...

Y O U are AMAZING!!! I can't believe you finished two huge projects in such a short time-frame. They are beautiful!!

You are good Cindy, really, really good.

Take a break now and rest that elbow :)

Blessings,

Sher

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning. I'd be ecstatic, too!

Elzie said...

This is just beautiful. Will be nice to see it finished too LOL.
Have a good day.
Love Elzie

Victoria Lynn said...

Whew! Not one, but two new pieces of furniture that look so pretty in your lovely home! It's so satisfying to get one large project done - you must be ecstatic! Now take some time in that dining room to enjoy a cup of tea...Hugs, Victoria Lynn

Anonymous said...

Everything you paint just turns out gorgeous.

Can I ask what you mean by waxing? What do you use and what does it do?

BTW - my husband Rick just got a cortisone shot in his elbow today - Really helps with his chronic pain.

Donna Lynn said...

Fabulous!!! Cindy, your furniture transformations are so inspiring, I love looking at the before and afters!!! Thanks for sharing your projects with all of us.
Donna Lynn

Adrienne said...

Oh, it's just perfect! I'm sure you got tired working on this big piece but it was worth it. It looks just right in your dining area. I couldn't wait to see it - the wait was worth it. Thanks for inspiring me to get on with my painting projects. ~Adrienne~

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Looks great, Cindy. I'm amazed at all the pieces you are finding. Those older all wood pieces are great for painting, so you can't go wrong with them. Much better than the old pressed board stuff that's out there now.

Rhoda

linda t said...

Oh Cindy!! You continue to amaze me with your energy and creativity!!
You sooo blow me away by your talent for tranforming furniture!!
WOW! You go girl!
You should be so proud at what you have done over the years! GOOD FOR YOU!

A Cottage Industry said...

Cindy, it's fabulous! And I love the touch of the sham on the open door. So charming. I bet you smile every time you walk in the room and look at it, I would.
Tracey

Unknown said...

Wow Cindy, the before is exactly the color of the china cabinet that I want to change. It's from the 1980's, I think. The rest of my dining room set is cream color. So there might be hope for that little china cabinet yet. Thanks for showing this, you do such a great job.

Betty said...

I am so glad you showed the before and afters of this project. I have been wanting to paint my china cabinet white for years. My hubby keeps telling me that I don't want to paint over oak. He also said my plates wouldn't stand out against the white. I have a very similar cabinet and he is so wrong! I love the way yours turned out!

Dawn-Hydrangea Home said...

Cindy - that hutch came out beautiful! You find the greatest pieces. Congratulations on your recent magazine feature too!

Rue said...

Wow Cindy! That looks beautiful :)

rue

Rue said...

Wow Cindy! That looks beautiful :)

rue

Anonymous said...

What a lovely china cabinet. you, like me, loves to paint furniture. I have a small booth in a flea market and guess what sells the best, yip, that's right, painted furniture.

If you don't mind my asking, what color white to you use and what is the brand?

Linda