A few months ago, Jeff and I made a cupboard around a pair of reclaimed doors I bought at an antique market for $40. They hung in my dining room for a few years, but I always thought they would be perfect in a custom-built cabinet.
The full tutorial will be available on HGTV.com at some point and I will link to it when it is.
I must admit, this cabinet gave me the “building bug” and now I’m ready to do a lot more designing and building.
You know…with all of my free time.
Anyway, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to paint the doors initially, so I didn’t. I figured I would leave them alone and live with them unpainted for a while.
After just a couple of weeks, I knew I wanted to paint them. The cupboard didn’t feel cohesive to me and I felt like the finish looked streaky more than distressed. It was okay, but I just wasn’t loving it.
So, last week, the entire cupboard got a fresh coat of Farmhouse White, our newest MMS Milk Paint color that will be available in early 2016.
And I like it so much better. It feels more cohesive and I like how the paint is gently worn, now. I made a “mid-project” decision to paint the hardware as well. The catches and the latches were two different pieces, so the metals didn’t exactly match. Painting them unified the mis-matched pairing and I think you can see the details better with a light sanding to rub the paint off some of the high points.
I lightly knocked down the edges with a medium grit sanding sponge and I left the paint unfinished. (I didn’t apply a wax or oil to it.)
The inside is painted in a custom-color mix, a pale greenish-gray. I left it as a contrast to the white.
Now this piece feels right…
42 Responses
Did you use bonding agent with this piece? Just beautiful!!
I didn’t. Since it was raw wood, it wasn’t needed. I didn’t use it on the doors, because the finish was old and dull and I didn’t mind if it chipped. it ended up adhering just fine, though.
Love the colour! I can’t wait for it to become available.
Love how you styled the last photo! I think it is move-in ready!
Wow, I just rescued a secretary that I can’t decide if I should paint it, but after seeing your new color Farmhouse white I can’t wait for the color to be available! Could you give the recipe for the inside color of your cabinet, PLEASE! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
It was a mix of Layla’s Mint, Kitchen Scale and Grain Sack, but I don’t know the ratios. I just mixed them together until I liked the way it turned out.
Perfect! I think I want this for Christmas. 🙂
I love it! It does look much better with everything painted. I don’t usually care for painted hardware but with the mismatched tones of metal it was a great choice. It all just works 🙂 I have the building bug too! I have several pieces waiting in the garage to be finished. And the last photo gives me so much inspiration. That dry sink is so amazing I can’t even handle it!
I’m with you on the painted hardware. I usually think it looks lazy, but it really worked on this piece, so I went for it.
I prefer the look now with the doors painted… love the wash on the inside as well. Very pretty.
Sigh. You “get it” like no one else I know…..I would love to live inside your head for just a day or two…..you continue to amaze us!!!
Perfect! Can’t wait for Farmhouse White to come out! You should make that inside color one of your paint colors…..so pretty!
You made the right choice! I love it and can’t wait until 1. The tutorial is available and 2. The paint is for sale! As always, you are awesome!!!
It is beautiful ! Yes, with the unpainted doors it looked unfinished–I love it.
Marion, you kill me with what all you get into!!!!! You are also fortunate that your husband backs you(I don’t know what it’s like behind the scenes-but you’ve mentioned him helping you with several projects since I’ve begun reading your posts) and helps in so many ways-along with your parents. I just forwarded some past emails to a friend so she can see your paint and your work. Keep up the interesting and informative emails. Carlotta
Marian,
You’ve inspired me again. I have two old leaded glass doors that a girlfriend gave me 15 years ago. I’ve always wanted to make a cabinet out of them. Also, I went to a tag sale this weekend with my 10 year old son and thought of you. In this $625,000 home built in 1910 I found an old “Iris” small pitcher in the basement. Its got some light browned discoloration on one side and has a beautiful detailed handle. The cashier said, “Oh, its got a slight crack. You can have it for free”. I bought a dozen yellow roses cut them 1/2 down and the pitcher is holding water and looks divine.
Kelly
Awesome! I love that. I’ve gotten ironstone for free, too, because it’s missing a lid or discolored or cracked. It’s all valuable to me. 🙂
Good score, Kelly! Don’t you love it when that happens?
Marian, the cupboard is beautiful. So much better with the doors painted, too. Looks all-of-a-piece now.
Really nice! I love that you lived with it for a bit before deciding to paint the doors. Sometimes that can be really helpful in the overall process.
Yes, I do that a lot. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to do, but other times I need to wait for inspiration to strike. I’ve learned to wait until it does instead of forcing it.
I love the farmhouse white! The cupboard is gorgeous . . . Nice job!
I’ve been browsing around for cupboard plans for a while now, wanting to build one to house the husband’s liquor stash 😉 and this one is gorgeous!!! Will be anxiously awaiting the tutorial…and that paint color!
Can you please tell me where the super market sign in the last phot came from or did you make it? Thanks! Love it!
Actually, I am going to be sharing the source on Black Friday. Stay tuned for details…
That cupboard makes my internal carpenter itch. I love the white finish enormously. It is all very cohesive as you say and for that, especially lovely!
I wonder if you snagged that wonderful wine bottle rack/dishcloth drying rack from any place that sells them? Or was it one of your one of a kind lucky finds? If an available product, would you be willing to divulge its source?
Much love and happy family time to you in the upcoming holiday (and sales) times.
Xxoo.wendy
Wendy, I actually found it at a local antique store. The booth I bought it from had a lot of pieces that were made out of old odds and ends. I love the color of the wood and the rack itself. They actually had another one when I went last week, but it was red, so I didn’t buy it. I should’ve though! It’s at the Black Rose in Hanover, PA, if you’re anywhere near here! (I don’t think you are, though, if recollection serves.) I’ll see if it’s still there next time I go. I could sell it online.
Love how this came out. So pretty. We’ve gotten on a bit of building bug here. By we I mean royal “we” Luke builds and I refinish 😉 I do want to get better with power tools in the new year though.
LOL…the royal we. I love that expression. 🙂
love it now also. gorgeous.
So ya’ll just built a cabinet around the doors!? That’s just amazing, and what a great piece! I love the way it all came together. I usually think painted hardware looks a little lazy too. … but this couldn’t be more perfect with the way you knocked the paint down, the hardware has so much character. I really like the way the colors look natural and soft and vintage, and that one shot with the two cabinets and the chippy board, and super market sign is so great, the colors are all beautiful together…
Cindy
Marian! Love that cabinet, and your cautious, thoughtful steps to get there! I’m always amazed at the way you offhandedly mention such accomplishments! A project such as that would take for EVer at our house!!!
I’m re-painting a chest, and it is taking me weeks just to decide on the finish to use over the off-white: clear or light glaze/wax, or a dark wax finish! And I spent hours removing thick, chalky white paint from its handles, but these are old, original and now yummy antique brass, that’s lovely from age! I like the look …
But my question is this ~ the metal basket in the first picture of the cabinet looks like a dark grey, chipped, with white showing from underneath?! I have a green metal basket that’s a “good copy” of that one! Can you tell me if yours is an original/oldie, or if you painted a new one like mine (teehee!) and if so ~ what color is the paint?
Thanks for always inspiring us! And I’m ready to make a decision now … it needs a darker glaze, highlighting the appropriate spots, to go with its darker handles! Hugs, k
WOW!!! IT’S JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!
You are so talented – this cabinet is gorgeous! Would love to own it. Love that you are taking time to answer comments despite how busy you are.
I like this version so much better! The other was too contrasty. Next you can get your dh to make the doors and then you can sell plans for them!
I love it! You are lucky to have a husband who is able to help you build the vision for those doors. I wish I could get over my power tool phobia and do more design and build projects myself.
I can’t wait to see the new colors you have coming out for 2016
Can I just say that the cupboard seems to blend into that white wall behind it. Would look so much more beautiful if there was a contrasting color behind it.
Thank you for sharing. Love your blog and can’t wait for the next post!
I’ve been getting better about being brave with power tools. I’m still scared of the table saw and router, but I’m working on that! I’d like to do more building on my own, since Jeff isn’t always available to help me.
Yes, I agree about the cabinet. I’m in a rented space, though, and I’m not allowed to paint the walls, so Antique White they are. I would definitely paint them something that would set off the white better if it was in my house.
Love the cabinet. My husband and I did something similar only with built-ins in our dining room. Have a look if you get a minute( I know how busy you are!) at defoeandcompany.blogspot.ca. Happy Thanksgiving and keep up the great work.
Happy Thanksgiving! You and your husband make a great team. The piece looks like an antique. Will have to show my hubby for inspiration. :0)
The piece looks great!! I kinda liked it with the non-painted doors but I can see why you painted them. I like it now that way too and I liked how you painted the hardware!
Nice piece as usual 🙂
Lauren Baxter | Lovely Decor
xx
Great cupboard, I look forward to the how to video, I have 8 cedar leadlight doors to use up 🙂
Love love love it!! What color is the dry sink? I am debating on a color for a marble top (mostly white but some grey) dresser for a bright yellow guest room. Farmhouse white or grain sack…
Is there a link to the tutorial available?