Coffee Bar from Repurposed Radio Cabinet
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This project has been almost 4 years in the making.
Build Your Own Portable Pallet Bar
This is the original state of this old radio cabinet. When I showed it as a recent find (way back when), my friend Rose emailed me pictures of one that she had just like it. We called them Two Peas in a Pod. We agreed to repurpose them and do a crossover post highlighting how we each made our own unique new piece.
I decided it wanted to be a secretary/desk, with a drop down leaf. However, I ran into design problems.
It got set aside for a long, long time
Earlier this summer I dug it out from all of that mess to give it another go.
I decided this ole gal’s fancy footwear needed to go.
To get a good line, and help with splintering I used some Scotch Blue painter’s tape around the bottom.
I used my circular saw to get the job done.
And it’s d.o.n.e.
I love refinishing tops of pieces…the easiest way is to sand it down instead of stripping.
To get this project ready to paint I taped and papered the top to protect it from paint, patched the knob holes and recessed lines. I used Minwax Jacobean stain on the top.
plus a couple of coats of Minwax Wipe-On Poly in satin.
To cover up the very shiny surface I first used some diy chalky paint as a primer, and then some Wipe-On poly on the outside, and regular latex paint on the inside.
I used the original hardware, but sprayed it with some silver spray paint.
I added wheels for easy mobility.
I installed a shelf in the middle of the unit. I added Luan to the back, and spray painted it with the same silver spray paint.
I brought it in the house to take pictures. It’s so difficult to get a good picture of black furniture and stained tops outdoors.
I think it makes a great coffee bar.
I would have loved to repurpose it into a new microwave cart for me, but I couldn’t get the dimensions to work in my favor.
I love how the doors open all the way to the side, completely out of the way. It’s very roomy inside, lots of room for cups and more, with even more storage space below.
Rose didn’t repurpose her pea in a pod, she ended up setting it out to the curb. Have you ever come across this piece? What would YOU have done with it?
gail
It’s lovely. And wood is just that. Wood. Not gold bullion and not a priceless religious artifact. You can do with YOUR furniture whatever you damn well please. Nice job, you can tell you put a lot attention to detail and doing the job properly.
Thank you Meg for your comment! It seriously was not a family heirloom. ๐
gail
I love it!!! you did a great job on it. you took something and made it into a piece that the owner loves!
Wow, you did alot of work on this one! I love it! Some things just need painted!
I love it as a coffee bar! I would have repurposed it but I would not have thought to make it into a coffee bar. You are awesome!
I love that you turned this into a functional piece of furniture. I’m certain the photos don’t do the piece justice and that may be what sours people to its new look. Opinion will differ but my belief is if it is my piece than the choice to paint it/take a saw to it is mine. I’m a fan of mixing stained wood with painted as you did here!
I enjoy looking at your finished projects and get many ideas for old pieces of furniture. You are very creative and have given a new purpose to pieces that many people have tossed for junk. I love your coffee cart and will be searching for a piece to repurpose. Keep doing things “your way” not what other people think you should do…you are truly talented!
Thank you Edie! ๐
This gas gone to a loving home to live a long life.
gail
Good Lord, Gail ~ you’d think, what with the two gripers here, that you sneaked into their house and stole *their* furniture, as opposed to refurbing *your own* property, LOL!
Well, as the kids say, ‘haters gonna hate.’ The rest of the world? Well, we love what you do and appreciate your sharing it with us.
hahah Connie! I like the way you put it.
Thanks for being a friend of My Repurposed Life! I appreciate you.
gail