When Emily sent us her amazing china cabinet makeover we just had to share her before & after pics. Here’s her letter:
I’ve been following your blog and have been inspired to move away from a house full of dark furniture and lighten things up a bit! We had some dark $10 clearance dining chairs that we purchased last summer but we decided to give them an airy overhaul (we found discount fabric and payed a professional to paint and upholster the chairs and they still came in under $100 a piece!). We also had been on the lookout for a china cabinet to store all of our servingware (which was sadly being stored in our guest room’s closet) when we came across one on Craigslist for just $75. It even had a working light! All it took to totally transform it was some leftover topcoat and fabric from the chairs along with around $40 of primer, paint and brushes from Lowe’s. We just love the new look- and we hope you like it too. Keep up the good work! And thanks for sharing your lives! – Emily
Here’s the cabinet before the big makeover:
And here’s the same china cabinet with a crisp new paint job and some leftover chair fabric lining the back:
Isn’t that incredible? It looks like a $1000+ piece and it was just $75 on Craigslist. This is such a great reminder that old pieces of seen-better-days furniture can always be upgraded in any number of ways (new hardware, paint, fabric, playful paper drawer liners, antiquing, etc). There really is no limit to what you can do with a smidge of determination and a little elbow grease. Great job Emily- thanks so much for sharing!
Psst- Looking for a step by step furniture painting tutorial? Well look no further.
I hope she stops by soon. I really want details on that fabric. Gorgeous.
Hi Friends!
I couldn’t get in my car and home quick enough after work to write on here! Thank you Sherry and John for choosing me to be on your blog, I feel like a celebrity! Thanks to all of you for the sweet sweet comments!
The Fabric: Hancock Fabrics, last summer, I couldn’t find it on the website nor do I know the name! I will keep searching!
Application of fabric: HARDEST PART! I made a pattern with paper, cut the material then used an upholstery staple gun to secure it! I thought about glue, then what if it was crooked? The staple gun was quick and easy. Can’t see the staples for my junk!
Chairs: The chairs were purchased from this huge warehouse in Humboldt, Tennessee that is like a giant yard sale! They buy things from auctions, colleges, and hotels by the truck loads! The chairs were from a hotel conference room! I almost fainted when she told me $10 a piece, bought 6, then bought two different ones for the end chairs (also $10 ) If I can locate a before picture I will post a link to my blog http://emilygamble.wordpress.com/
Thank you all again!
Thanks so much for stopping in with that info for everyone Emily! You’re the best- and your makeover is seriously amazing.
xo,
s
Coincidently I just spotted similiar fabric on dining chairs on the Ballard Design home page but in green. They only have it in green and chocolate, and it costs $24 per yard. http://www.ballarddesigns.com/mercadoSearch.do?action=search&newSearch=true&freeText=domino+fabric&Search.x=33&Search.y=3
I know that isn’t any help to anyone who has their heart set on gray but if it is the pattern you are after and you don’t mind the price…
Oh, I love a good furniture refurbish!
Hi all,
I do believe that fabric is Robert Allen’s Cats Cradle. I just can’t figure out what color Emily used.
Great job on the makeover!!!
Thanks for the tip Mandy!
xo,
s
You’re welcome!
The sad news is that it appears to be discontinued. :-(
Beautiful! I love it!!
How did you line the back of the cabinet with fabric? Did you use foam board? Do you have instructions somewhere? thx!! :)
Hope she drops in with that info for ya :)
xo,
s