Before and After: Freebie Cabinet

I came across this cute little cabinet on Craigslist for free about a month back. Did I have a *NEED* for a new cabinet? No. Could I leave it helpless on someone’s curb? Hell no. Ha! Okay, maybe it wasn’t that serious, but I’m a furniture nurse and this little lady had a long road to recovery with no health insurance. I couldn’t sit idly by!

Luckily for me, the previous owner did most of the stripping/sanding; there was very little left to do! I think this used to be some kind of mid-century built-in cabinet because it had some oddities. For one thing, the top only had an overhang on one side, and not on the other. It also had a notch cut out on one side. I bought a new top and got a fancy little trim to hide the old edge.

Since I didn’t have a *NEED* for this cabinet, I painted it a neutral black hoping that it could be used in different places until I settled on the right spot. Doesn’t mean it can’t be a little fun on the inside! I used my favorite Rust-Oleum Ultracover2x spray paint {with comfort nozzle}, and in retrospect wished I painted the inside yellow. Oh well.

I tend to move my furniture around a lot – so I added casters so it would move more easily, and because who doesn’t love casters?

Made a little brass cleaner with household items to shine up the ultra-cool lion-head pulls.

Primed with my new favorite Zinsser primer {seriously heavy-duty primer!}, and painted with Glidden’s Satin Black.

So, remember the before?

Here she is, discharged and thriving:


Let me know you stopped by »

1. Stacey McCarty

Love this and thank you for the caster idea! Great work!

2. Camille Garrison

you’re awesome. someday i’ll be coming back to all of these ideas and stealing them.

3. deborah mccullough

oh, brooke!
great work! I love the blue interior and the snazzy lion head pulls. saving the world, one thrift store (or in this case, Craig’s List) cabinet at a time.

4. April

I like the blue on the inside! Good work!

5. Megan Hunter

so cute. Love the blue & love the little girl asleep in the sink!

6. Shanna C

I’m glad you didn’t paint the inside yellow…I REALLY like the blue best with the black.

7. susan

lovely, brooke. i love the surprise of blue inside. great job!

8. Enid Ballard

lovely, brooke. i love the surprise of blue inside. great job!

9. Lara

Love it!

10. beth

It’s beautiful! I love how you added the casters too.

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