• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Repurposed Door Coffee Station

    Repurposed Door Coffee Station

    Published by Gail | Published March 14, 2017 | Updated February 13, 2023
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    How to make a door coffee station using bi-folds, and a dresser. Step by step tutorial will give you tips and ideas to make your own. #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #furniture #door #coffeestation #dresser via @repurposedlife

    Mid-way into this repurposed furniture project, it suddenly hit me that these bi-fold doors and dresser would make a perfect door coffee station cabinet. Originally I thought since it was a door project, that it should naturally be a hall tree. In any case it’s going to be a very functional piece for someone.

    How to Turn a Dresser into a Door Coffee Station

    At first glance the dresser (chest of drawers) doesn’t look so bad. It even looks like real wood until you take a closer look at the side. . .

    Cheap Dresser

    Look! It’s just paper. The dry brushed green and the gorgeous knots in the wood? PAPER!

    *This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission., read more here. *

    Cut the Dresser Down to Size

    The first order of business was to cut off the damaged portion on the bottom of the dresser. NOTE: Whenever sawing furniture pieces, make sure you’re not going to run into an screws or hardware. Because of some well placed screws, I had to change up where I made my cut with this circular saw.

    See? The bottom is in really rough shape, meaning some would have probably passed on this piece of furniture.

    Making a Door Coffee Station

    I grabbed a set of bi-fold doors out of my stash to see how they would look with the new dresser.

    Attach 2 Bi-fold Doors Together

    I decided to remove the hinges and give the doors a more permanent solution to hold them together. I used my Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes in several places down the door. These are hollow core doors, but there was enough on the edges to allow the pocket hole screws to connect. After securing the screws, I cut a board to length and used Gorilla Wood Glue and wood screws to hold the board(s) in place. One on the top, middle and bottom (back) of the bi-fold doors.

    If you don't have a pocket hole jig, you can use mending brackets (plates). However, if you do a lot of projects, I highly recommend you investing in one of these jigs. For more details see my post How To Use A Kreg Jig

    Now that the doors were permanently attached to each other, I needed to attach them to the dresser (chest of drawers). There was a cleat on the inside top of the dresser. I secured wood screws from the cleat, through the door, and into the back board (brace I added in the middle of the doors). In addition, I added wood screws through the door into the back of the dresser using my kreg multi-mark tool so I “hit my mark” with the screws. One last board was added on the underneath side of the dresser, securing it through the dresser, door, and into the bottom board (brace) I added.

    For added security, I also used wood screws through the back boards, doors, and into the cleat, and bottom brace (under the shelf). So, basically the screws go from front to back AND from back to front.

    Add Trim to Make Door Coffee Station

    I typically add crown molding to the tops of my hall trees, but I’m running a little low, so I chose to add a 1x for a top ledge, then some other simple molding underneath it. I glued the shelf, and “tacked” it with my nail gun, and then used the wood screws for a better hold. The small white trim was glued and attached with finish nails.

    add doors to dresser

    I’m glad I removed the hinges, I like it a lot better. Can you see how nice this is going to be as a coffee station? So much room on the surface, and lots of storage room. Originally this furniture had some fake louvered doors covering the shelves, but my neighbor Rodney used them on a hutch he made for his wife.

    Time to Paint

    It was time to pain! I used my diy chalky paint primer made with plaster of paris and latex wall paint.

    The Homeright Finish Max makes this job go quick. As always, I tip my piece back so that I can paint the underneath side of the coffee station first.

    Paint a Base Coat | Black

    painting with finish max

    If you have any paneled doors, using a Finish Max is the perfect way to paint them. None of that go this way, then that, paint the panels, then the outside, then the inside . . .

    Doesn’t it look amazing after 2 light coats of the chalky paint primer. I always do a primer so the frankenfurniture is all the same color. Until everything matches, it’s difficult for me to see what color it should be. I’m really liking the Beluga (black), and remember, this is to be sold—so I need to find a color that will appeal to the new owners.

    How to Get a Dry Brush Look with a Paint Sprayer

    BUT! I decided to add some RED! I’ve only done this technique a couple of times with red paint, but I wanted this repurposed bi-fold door project to be unique. It was stressful, and I didn’t take any “in progress” pictures. I used a custom red (that I made with some off color red and a little GREEN) and lightly sprayed that in my Finish Max. I did this with such a light spray to mimic a dry brush effect. I didn’t want heavy coverage.

    Seal with Wipe-on Poly

    To protect, seal and deepen the color, I simply used some wipe-on poly on a rag.

    This is the before and after. I imagine you could get the same look with wax, but my shoulder said NO to that! Winking smile

    Now for some finishing touches—single hooks from D. Lawless Hardware and a But First. Coffee sign, it’s now ready for it’s debut!

    Red Door Coffee Station

    repurposed door and dresser red glazed coffee station cabinet MyRepurposedLife.comDoesn’t it make the perfect coffee station cabinet? I suppose it would also be great for a baking center too.

    repurposed doors and dresser red glazed coffee organization station MyRepurposedLife.com

    Guess what?! I don’t drink coffee or BAKE! Smile

    Pin It!

    It really offers a LOT of storage. I hope it finds a new home soon! This was a fun project and came together pretty easily.

    gail

    See More Hall Tree Project Ideas Here

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
      Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
    • Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench
      Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench
    • Repurposed Furniture Old Dresser Ideas and Makeovers
      Repurposed Furniture Old Dresser Ideas and Makeovers
    • Old Door : Project Ideas
      Old Door : Project Ideas
    • How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After Photos
      How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After…
    • Chest of Drawers Makeover
      Chest of Drawers Makeover

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Rayne

      May 30, 2017 at 9:51 pm

      I am just getting into repurposing things since we are moving into a place after being in a camper for 3 long year!! Yess!! Finally! I have a few questions. I recently made my own chalk paint using flat paint and calcium carbonate I sprayed it on with a sprayer but I am wanting to distress and add some antiquing wax made by valspar. So my question is would you distress then add the antiquing wax before applying the wipe on poly?! I'm so confused and want my tv stand to come to life, it's red btw ????????????

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 30, 2017 at 10:28 pm

        Rayne,

        Sometimes it's easier to distress after waxing. But the Valspar wax might be more of a sealer, making sanding and distressing more difficult. You know I love red, don't you? 🙂

        Poly would be last, but I'm thinking you may not need it after the valspar. I think you'll know when you're getting there.

        gail

    2. Linda

      March 16, 2017 at 9:25 am

      This is soooooo awesome!! It came out great =0) Love your inspirational work and can-do spirit!! Can't wait to get back in the garage and get to work once the temps are over freezing. Maybe I'll bring out a portable heater and get started sooner ;0)

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 17, 2017 at 5:50 pm

        I'm anxious for warmer weather too Linda! I'll work as long as it's sunny and about 48-50. The garage is cold, but I work on the driveway where it's sunny. Hoping to get a couple of projects done this weekend.
        Thanks for your very kind comment about the coffee station cabinet!

        gail

    3. Melissa

      March 15, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      You have such great vision! One look at that particle board and I would have put it to the curb. I love that color.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 15, 2017 at 8:47 pm

        I'm sure a lot of people would have tossed it to the curb. I suppose that's why my neighbor gave it to me. 😉

        gail

    4. debbie Parrish

      March 14, 2017 at 11:19 am

      so cute. love the color. I would love to make one , going to pin it . thanks

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 14, 2017 at 11:41 am

        Thanks for pinning Debbie!

    5. Carole

      March 14, 2017 at 10:11 am

      Love how this turned out and that color is fantastic. I tend to welcome dark colors because they're calming. Now when I see cupboards like this I'll have to stretch my imagination, get out the skill saw and build fun. Awesome tips!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 14, 2017 at 11:42 am

        I rarely say no to any furniture but even I was wondering what I was thinking when I said yes to this! 🙂

        Sawing furniture is my favorite.

        gail

    6. Rachelmary

      March 14, 2017 at 10:08 am

      Love your work. Look forward to reading your blogs, posts anything you do. So very creative.

      Reply
    7. Susan

      March 14, 2017 at 8:51 am

      That was genius and the coffee station is gorgeous! I love the color you chose Gail. Nice work as usual, you are such an inspiration 🙂

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 14, 2017 at 9:19 am

        Thank you Susan, and I appreciate you pinning! 🙂

        gail

    8. Debra Morehead

      March 14, 2017 at 5:13 am

      You did a beautiful job !!!!!!! Really looks nice,

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure