First things first, I  needed a workspace that would not only accommodate my new “x-carve”,  but  I also wanted to start to get acquainted with my new tool.  What better way to do that then to build it a kick *ss shrine that would hold all of it’s gadgets, and  let me start learning how to use it!?  So today,  I am showing you how I pulled together a awesome Inventables workstation out of OLD CABINETS!!!

Let’s dive in, shall we?  I started with these two old cabinets I inherited from a old school renovation.

 I needed to create enough space so that the X-Carve would have plenty of space,  so I put the two cabinets back to back.  That created enough width,  but I still needed length… so  I went into my OLD garage and pulled out a cabinet I had made for my previous shop.  It would be perfect for the end cap of the “cart” I was making, plus it had plenty of storage for all the accessories  you can purchase for your X-Carve!

(In case you were wondering, yes, I did need to modify the depth of one of the cabinets in order for the two  teal color cabinets to meet the same width as the end cap cabinet. See image below.) 

Next, I wanted this  X-Carve workstation to be mobile. So with some help I flipped this thing over and added some beefy castors.

Next up counter top!  If you are interested in how I make my counter tops I go into more detail on that here. Now is the fun part!  Really  tricking it out with features specific for the X-Carve. With the X-Carve  you can cut into sheets of plywood, MDF. acrylic, metal, plastic, corian…  you get the picture. (Want to see what else it can cut? Click here!)  It can cut a TON of different materials, so I decided to build a shelf that would house all my specialty materials!  I just made sure to build my counter top was large enough that is would over hang on one side giving me enough space to mount my materials shelf.  Next  up?   The X-Carve is controlled by computer, so NATURALLY  my X-Carve table NEEDED a place that would house my computer… So I took out one of the drawers……AND modified it to fit my computer!  I just gave it a flat surface that I could easily access, and beefed up it’s drawer glides.

Another feature the X-Carve has is a dust collection arm!  You just hook it up to a shop vac and you are good to go!  So NATURALLY I wanted to have my shop vac built into my table… naturally. So I took out some shelving, drilled some holes for access and airflow and this puppy was ready! 

That  just about does it for the logistics… now for the fun part!  Like I said, this was my first attempt at using the X-Carve,  I wanted to start simple,  because lets face it, I had no clue what I was doing!  So I hopped on EASEL. Easel is a FREE program you can use to easily design just about anything you can imagine! Seriously,  head on over and see what you can design in just a few minutes of playing around.  For my first project I appropriately decided to finish up my Inventables X-Carve table with something straight up pretty!

For the finishing touch I added this beauty! It was amazing how simple it was to design and I was blown away at the precision and detail this machine can produce!  I was able to create the crowning jewel of this table in a little over an hour… of the machine doing the work for me! NICE.  

So without any further ado, I give you the beginning of a beautiful relationship  between my X-Carve and I!!!

My “Inventables” workshop table. 

Doesn’t that sign  just complete this project!??! I simply stained it, and mounted it with some black hardware and this sign steals the show!  I can’t wait to start and use this thing EVERYWHERE!  Until then,  check out the rest of this beauty.

 Plenty of storage for accessories, and projects, and you can see the far end where I made the material storage. I simply added a strap of thick elastic and attached it with screws and washers. Its easy to get materials out, but yet they won’t fall out.  win/win

Now, remember how this island was created by putting two cabinets back to back?  There is still plenty of storage on the other side too! Booyah! Well,  there you have it folks.  I have a new tool,  which always makes me happy,  an organized space to use it.. and my brain is straight up swimming with fun new ways to use this things, so stay tuned! You aren’t going to want to miss it!

Take Luck,

 Corey

The post Workshop Table for X-Carve (Using OLD cabinets!) appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

Hey all!  You all KNOW I love a good furniture makeover/upcycle/re-purpose project right ?  Well, if you didn’t I am telling you now! (You can check out my other re-purposed furniture projects here.)  There is something about the challenge!  (As a builder it is normally easier for me to start from scratch.)  I love working with something  plain ol’ Jane and giving it a very satisfying transformation.  Admit it, you love that part of Fixer Upper, Princess Diaries, etc…  For today’s project I am teaming up with the great folks at Kreg,  to show you, you don’t need to be a skilled craftsman to add  the “WOW” factor to those old pieces of furniture gathering dust ! So let’s do this, let’s give this old cabinet a makeover!

Disclosure: Some of the links provided  are affiliate links. By purchasing through these links it supports this site and helps keep content free. You can read more about how we do this with no extra cost to you.

Cabinet Makeover 

Supplies I Used:

• Old Cabinet in need of a facelift
• Materials for Faceframe (1″x 3″ and 1″x 2″ boards are common)
• Chicken Wire
• Concealed Hinges
• 1/2″-3/4″ Plywood (for constructing the drawers)
• Heavy Duty Stapler (attaching chicken wire to interior of doors)

Tools I Used:

• Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
• Steel Prybar  (I used this to remove original the original face frame)
• Miter Saw
• Drill
• Kreg Drawer Slide Jig
• Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig
• Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig
• Heavy Duty Stapler

 Step 1. The Carcass

Ok,  I know “carcass” may sound a little morbid, but  not worries, I am not loosing my mind to the nature channel. “Carcass”  is what cabinet makers refer to the base of  a cabinet. (Now you will sound official should you ever need to contribute to conversation at a woodworkers convention. You’re welcome.) Moving on.

Alright this part is not always necessary, but for the vision that I had for this, it would make it easier. Which leads perfectly into …

Step 2. Building  a Face Frame

Making a Face Frame is once of the easiest things you can do totally  change the entire look and function of  a piece.  I was able to use part of the original face frame and simply add a few rails. (“Rails” are the wooden pieces that run horizontally. As opposed to “Stiles” that run vertical.)  Look at you, learning vernacular  like a beast!

There are a lot of methods to making a “face frame”, my preferred method, (and by far the easiest in my opinion) is using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig. They are very user friendly, and make it possible to join the rails and stiles perfectly!

Step 3. Attach Face Frame

Alright, now we are ready to re-attach our face frame.  There are several ways to do this,  you can use Kreg Pocket Hole Jig or  you can use wood glue and clamps. 

Step 4. Bring your “A” game! (Add drawers)

Remember those “rails” we added?  This is why I did it… I wanted to add drawers!  Never made a drawer ? It’s not hard , you are essentially  making a box!  The one thing that always  freaked me out about adding  drawers was installing the glides!  Am I right ? Seriously they left me cursing and then breathing into a paper bag. ( I can do hard things, I can do hard things!)  Kreg  must have heard my cry of obscenities, because they  created a jig that would save me time and bring my shop talk back to G-rated…  Well, that’s a lie, but  it was definitely closer to a PG-13 level.

They created these beauties!  GAME CHANGERS.

These Kreg Drawer Slide Jigs level, measure, gives you an extra set of hands, and makes dinner. Ok,  maybe not make dinner, but you get what I am saying,  these things help me get it right the first time!  These jigs clamp right in place and have tabs that hold it perfectly in place. Seriously, game changer.  But wait there is more!  They not only  help install the glides to the cabinet, they perfectly allow you to install the slides to the drawers themselves. No more adjusting and drilling a hundred tiny holes and praying you get it right.  The drawers are positioned for perfect alignment.  

Step 5 . Add Doors

Another great way to bring your makeover to the next level is to add doors!  I wanted to have something that would give it character,  not just a paneled door.  So,  formed two empty frame doors.
 It is a very simple build that only requires adding  Kreg Pocket Holes to the rails. Clamp them down and screw them in place…Phrasing.   Now for the hinges…  Installing hinges use to send me running for my  paper bag. Not anymore!  I used the new Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig.   You just clamp it in place and drill, then repeat.   Perfection. 

When it comes to adding the doors I like to put them on a board that rests on the ground and then attach the hinges to the interior of the cabinet.   This little trick will ensure that the doors sit perfectly with no wonky business going on.

Step 6. Add Drawer Fronts

Next I made my drawer fronts from a piece of 1’x 10″  pine.  I measure so that the drawer would be 1″ wider AND taller that the opening for the drawer. (This will create a 1/2″ overlap all the way around.)  I picked my hardware and was ready to install. Again Kreg ingenuity to the rescue.   They have create a Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig that allows yo to adjust the exact placement of your drilled holes, and has preset notches for standard width handles, pulls, and knobs!  My favorite part, is the steel collar that allows your drill to essentially  become a pseudo drill-press.  The collar ensures that the hole is drilled STRAIGHT! ( I am ashamed to admit I have had my kitchen cabinets hole placement have a little bit of crazy-eyed action going on.  No more! 

Now that the drawer front  has the pull/handle  installed,  I was ready to attach the drawer front to the drawer.  I used clamps to hold the drawer front in place and used

I like to use the same tip to add my drawer fronts as I did my cabinet doors. (See step 5. )

Step 7. Finishing Touches

I wanted to give it a little height and some farmhouse character, so I added  some screw on legs right before I painted it.  (  I removed the drawer hardware so that I could use a paint sprayer to apply the paint.)

  While that was drying I took the back ( that we already removed), and cut it up!  Yup, I cut it up into about 5.5″ strips, sanded the edges, and then painted them white as well.  This will create a fun shiplap look for the backing. Once the strips were dry  I reattached them to the back with wood glue , and reinforced with 1″ finish nails. 

I also added some trim  and a wood  slab to the top to add balance to the top. Also, I really wanted this to be a two-tone piece (paint and stain combined in the same piece).  The new trim and top slab of wood, would allow me to create the “two-tone” look.  

The only  thing  I needed to do was re-attach the doors and add “chicken wire”  to the inside of the doors and this baby was done!

  Ta-Da! Mind BLOWN! #micdrop

 Well there you have it folks, yet another win for re-purposed projects everywhere!

Take Luck,

Corey

The post A Cabinet Makeover that will turn heads! appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

It all started on a HOT Fall Florida day. My good friend Sara and I went and hit up the community garage sale.  Let me tell you, we were victorious!  I found this wood dresser in decent condition and they only wanted $15 for it. SOLD!  
What intrigued me about this piece is that it was symmetrical, (the sides naturally) but also the top and the bottom of the unit were the same! Peculiar right? Well this unique piece ended up in my garage and began collecting dust. That was until Elisha from Pneumatic Addict extended a challenge, the “Organize Build Challenge”. Challenge Accepted!

The premise of this challenge was to create a piece that would help with organization, and also included building elements.  Lucky for me, I had this dresser just itching for a nice makeover!

…and when it comes to makeovers no one does them quite like HomeRight!  I am so excited to partner up with HomeRight on this  project,  it is through  great companies like HomeRight and affiliate links that I can continue to provide all these tutorials at zero additional cost to my readers! So a big thank you to them!  (More info. available here.)

So, let’s dive in, shall we?!

How I turned a Dresser into a Mini Mudroom

I started by throwing caution to the wind and went a little crazy!  I removed the drawers and flipped it on it’s end. MIND BLOWN, right !?

  I knew I was going to need better access to the inside of the dresser, so I removed the back.  I also removed a secondary face frame from the unit. (It just made it look too bulky.)  Next, I beefed up the base using 2×3’s. 

The reason for beefing up the base ?  I wanted to be able to add some base trim, and also give it a little bit of visual weight.  I then proceeded to do the same to the top, first by adding the 2×3’s as a base to attach the trim to.

Naturally, next I added the trim to cover up the 2×3’s on the top of the unit.  After it was trimmed out,  I went a little crazy.  I cut out some of the  divider/supports! Crazy, I KNOW! ( Don’t worry I had a plan! *fingers crossed*)

Next, I constructed a series of shelves that would be inserted and attached to the dresser.  I decided to do staggered width shelves. First for visual interest, and second  I wanted to use them for… wait for it… SHOE STORAGE! Gasp, *shock and awe*.  I know, right!?   The staggered widths would be perfect for my shoes,  boots, and would also be perfect size for my kids shoes . Also with the shorter shelves  they wouldn’t need to go fishing to reach them out of the back of the cabinet.  Once the shelves were attached, it really started to come together! *phew* Next, I needed to add doors. So, I used what I had!  I removed the faces from the old drawers.

  I definitely did not want this to look like a dresser that  I had flipped on it’s side. So, I decided to cut grooves in the panels to give a more rustic apothecary feel. Worked like a charm!

Once the panels were all sanded and prepped, I was ready to prime!  So I busted out my handy HomeRight Finish Max Sprayer and got to work!

I was able to prime both my cabinet doors and the dresser/cabinet in just a few minutes!  Part of this dresser was oak so it had a really deep set grain,  so it required two coats of primer and then it was ready for paint!

There is something about spraying on paint that I find so rewarding!  Seriously, look at how quickly I knock out this board, with ZERO brush streaks!

Once all of my painting was done, it was time to bring it all together! I decided that I wanted to add feet, so I simply  added some adapter plates, and then you screw the feet in!  Easy Peasy.

 Next, it was time to face my  aversions to hinges and install the doors.  Thank goodness it went smoothly!  Also at this point I added a piece of wood to the back of  the doors to bridge the gap. (Remember we removed the dividers earlier.)  You may ask “But Corey, Why? This seems counterproductive!”

 Well my friends this part of the reason. I wanted the two drawers/doors on the left side to be one continuous space…   it would serve as a place to hang jackets!  I even installed a pull out coat rack and key rack so that you can easily  find everything! 

  The reason I cut out the divider bar on the other spaces, is because I wanted to have easy access to the shoe storage below. ( I really didn’t want a bar right in the middle!)

Side note: I had not originally planned to have open shelving. I had installed all the doors and was preparing to install those last two, but I kept staring at it, and ultimately decided  I liked it, and that it gave it character. So  I 86’d  the two last doors.   And there you have it folks, my alternative to a mudroom! It has a place for jackets, keys, shoes, and even extra cubbies for glasses etc!  All -in – all, I will call this a success!  Thanks for stopping by and make sure you see what others did for the “Organize Build Challenge” !

Make sure you check out these other awesome bloggers!

For sneak peeks of my upcoming projects be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow me on Pinterest to get tons of projects plans from all around the web!

Take Luck,

Corey

The post Dresser Makeover into a Mini Mudroom appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

 Hey All,  I hope everyone is recovered from the back-to-school mayhem.  I feel like we are back in the swing of things, I have only  walked out the door without school lunches twice… so obviously we are way on top of things here in the Sawdust 2 Stitches household. 

 In the event you are like Me, and could use a little help keeping mornings less manic, then I might have a beautiful solution!  Granted it won’t make the kids lunch or make sure they brush their teeth (both top and bottom), however  it can keep the all the essentials organized!

About 17 seconds before we are suppose to be in the car, I am yelling to no child in-particular, “Do you have your shoes? Where is your book bag?”. Wouldn’t it be miraculous if there was a central location for all the essentials?  What if I were to go a step further and say all organized, AND a beautiful addition to your home for a minimal cost !?!  Say what ? Here is the tale of how I did just that.

  I am sure you have seen old TV cabinets similar to this before. It was in pretty rough condition and had several layers of thick paint. It was a bit of an eye sore, but it was solid wood, with some elbow grease I was sure it had potential.  So I picked it up from a garage sale for $10.  I wasn’t entirely certain what I was going to do with it, but I knew I needed to take off the decorative pieces.  Regardless of the end goal, it would simplify sanding and painting.
After trying to remove the many layers of sloppy  paint, I decided it would be easier to just break down the whole piece and pull out the “big sander”.  It was then that I started to really  get a clear image of what I wanted this piece to look like.

 I wanted there to be  ledge that stuck out for seating. So I cut into the boards so that it would create a ledge.

I then began to re-assemble the piece, only this time I added supports for where I would put my bench seating.   I also decided  I wanted this piece to sit a little higher, and I wanted to give it visual weight on the base, so I beefed it up with some 2×3’s.
  Once  the cabinet/locker was re-assembled and stabilized I started on the aesthetics.  I added all sorts of trim and face frames to five it a nice finished look.   I knew I still wanted it to have more height, and I thought an “x” frame  box was the perfect way to do just that!  I then used 1×3″ boards to create the bench. It was a cheap and easy option that would add the rustic feel I was trying to create.
 It then needed some molding to really finish the piece, and a piece of thin paneling to close off the back.  I made two customized crates that would fit in the top section of the locker.  I did this for two reasons, I wanted it to have added storage, but I was also planning on staining the bench portion of the locker and wanted to carry the stain color  elsewhere on the piece.

   All that was left to do was the finish work (prime, paint, and stain), and then re-installed the doors, and added hooks.    There you have it!  A perfect combination of form and function!  Booyah! 
So do you have an old cabinet sitting around begging for a makeover ?

Take Luck,

Corey

The post Media Cabinet Makeover into a Locker appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

For my project I decided to take on the dresser that was banished to our guest room. It has been slowly falling apart and definitely needed a little lovin’ … Let’s dive in, shall we ?

DISCLAIMER: Let’s be real,  this is NOT a detailed build plan, it is  more of a basic breakdown of the process I went through.  HOWEVER… here is general list of the tools and supplies I used.

Tools Suggested:

• Table Saw
• Nail Gun
• Drill
• Kreg Jig

Materials Used:

• 1/4″ wood paneling (4’x8′)
• 1×3″ boards
• Wood Glue
• (3) Ice Box Hardware Kits- Available at D. Lawless Hardware
• (1) Ice Box Sign
•  Sandpaper

Alrighty, I started by dismantling that sucker!  I kind of took it down to the bones. It had a decent frame, but it needed some MINOR improvements.

Once dismantled,  I started constructing a frame out of cheap-o 1×3’s. (Pretty sure that is their technical term.)  I made two of these frames (see image below) one  for each side.

I then cut and attached a piece of 1/4″ paneling to the sides. I wanted to be able to give the exterior a nice stained finish. So I slathered it up with wood glue, and then tacked it in place for good measure.  I then attached the newly constructed frames to the sides. (On top of the freshly installed paneling.) 

After the side frames were attached, I then needed to make it look pretty. It needed a face frame.

Looking prettier already!

Going into this project, I knew I wanted to give this dresser some additional height. (Hence the constructed frame.)  The reasoning?  I wanted to create a lower shelf.  I wanted to give it a rustic look  AND  I am also cheap, so yet again I turned to 1×3’s.

Now I needed some doors on this sucker.   I made shaker style cabinet doors.  Its just a little more work and a lot-a-bit of math.  The only  thing that is different about these shaker style doors is that I needed to route out a lip on the edge to accommodate  the specialty hinges.

Pretty right !?

I then added the hardware and a center board that would  make it APPEAR as if all of these doors work independently. (Spoiler Alert: They don’t )

Now it is time for the GORGEOUS hardware. I  got mine from D. Lawless Hardware, and honestly it is the best price point I was able to find anywhere!

(So… you may have noticed in the mean time I stained my cabinet…I ran out of materials and my son was napping… ) Now for the cool part. Time to reinstall the drawers. I spaced  my  drawers a little differently than they were originally placed.

I then added my drawers. (I did decide resurface the drawers fronts so that it would all have a cohesive look.)

  Last step: It needed a top!  I scored a 1″ x 12″x 6′ from the 70% off section at Home Depot.  Using a Kreg Jig I joined the boards together. I cut them down, and then routed the edge to make it pretty.

    Then I  attached and stained that bad boy!

Thanks for reading and Take Luck,

Corey

The post Dresser Re-Purposed into Antique Ice Box appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

 

   Does this cabinet look familiar !?   You may  recall me making a nearly  identical cabinet into a  MEDIA CABINET. 

Well, I  picked up both of these cabinets at a garage sale for $5.00!  They weren’t in perfect shape, but they were made of decent wood, and I  knew  I would have definitely spent more to make them  from scratch.  It really was a no brainer for me.

This was definitely a  play it by ear sort of project.  I dove in with reckless abandon.  I just started  ripping  that sucker apart.

Using the shelving I removed  from the unit, I  built this little cubby system. Why?

• A.) To give it a little character.
• B.) To take up and dead space in between the two garbage cans.    Fit like a glove. (Phew)   Once, I  had all the internal components mapped out, I started on the exterior.  The frame of the  cabinet  was very  sturdy, but it had more dings and blemishes than I cared to try and buff/sand out.  Instead,  I used  leftover paneling to cover the exterior. (Notice I used all  my scraps, made evident by the fact that they are all different. I knew I was painting it, so it didn’t matter) ! $0 spent

Once the paneling was all in place, I began adding some bulky trim pieces.  I used primed 1×3″ and 1×2″ finger board.   I then made some custom  trim to trim out my cubbies. 

Next I needed to build my cabinet doors.   This is in NO WAY, SHAPE, or FORM, a complete tutorial, but rather  brief synopsis of my door making.

 This is when it really  started coming together!

I primed and painted the back of the doors  before I proceeded to install them. (Using hinges)   

  Next,  I added castors and legs to the island. I wanted to be able to easily  move it, but did not want it to serve as an amusement park ride for my sons. ( Keep reading to see why I wanted it mobile.)

  I was then ready for the finish work. I filled holes, sanded, primed, sanded, and then painted it.  I used Behr “Ultra Pure White” Glossy,  it is the same color as my cabinets and cleans up nicely.  I then installed my pulls.  I actually  purchased a TON of these from Lowes when they were discontinuing them for cheap!

 I was of course making this whole contraption to fit the garbage cans I had,  and this cleat system is what worked best for me.  I only used one side of the cleat, and attached it to the inside of the cabinet door.

  The lip of the garbage can rests on the cleat, making it easy to remove and the weight of the can holds the door shut when not in use.  I then connected a chain that ran from the interior of the cabinet and connected to the door.  Ensuring that  I did not have  landfill on my  kitchen  floor.   

It took me a while to decide on a finish for the top. Ultimately I opted for Jacobean by Minwax, with a Satin finish. ( I was not planning on using it as a cutting board.)  As an afterthought I added this towel bar.  It was the perfect finishing touch.

 That pretty  much sums it up! It hides the garbage can, and I no longer need to take 312 daily  trips to the garage to access the recycling. SO NICE!

One last feature,  as you recall I put casters on it because I wanted it to be moveable… and this is why. I don’t have a huge kitchen and was always afraid a island would be too bulky and get in the way.  Well,  I made this island to the dimensions that it would fit in the small hallway between the kitchen and the front room!  So if I want  it out for mopping, or entertaining guests, its no big deal!  Just wheel her away!   It’s love people.

So, that is the basic premise of how I turned a $5.00  garage sale cabinet,  into a kitchen island!

Thanks for reading and take luck,

Corey

The post Cabinet Transformed Into A Kitchen Island appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

Picked  up this beauty  at a garage sale for $5.00 a  while back.  It wasn’t much to look at, but it was all wood, and a decent size and shape.  In all honesty I had no clue what I was going to do with it, but I couldn’t just pass it up!

After a few weeks of walking past it in my  garage,  I started getting some ideas, and I really wanted my garage space back! So I  jumped right in.

This is not really a tutorial per-Se ,  but you can follow along  and see the steps I took to get there.

I started by dismantling the doors.

  I then removed all the hardware. ( There was metal shelving brackets.)

Next,  I removed the back panel, and then sanded down the entire unit.          I beefed up the base and the top to give it more visual weight.  ( You can see more details about the basic premise here.) 

  I then  started  trimming out all the corners and edges. (Again,  you can see more details about this process, here.)

 Next step was the doors.  I opted to go with the “Apothecary Cabinet” style.  

 They are  just  faux drawer fronts, made to look like functioning apothecary drawers.  

See look how pretty!  I used concealed hinges so that it would hide the fact that  they aren’t real drawers.  If you want more info on installing the doors you can see my
“Apothecary Cabinet” tutorial.

Instead of making the entire cabinet hidden, I  decided to add some exposed shelving.   

  I also added interior shelving , for practicality purposes.

Now it’s time for the finishing touches.  I stained it Jacobean by Minwax, and then added pulls that  I found at Michaels!  Nice, right ! ?

 I decided it needed a few last finishing touches.  It needed crates!  Just a couple of 1×2’s,  1×3’s  and handles! Voila, custom made crates.

Look  how pretty!  With lots of great hidden storage!  Perfection!  

Cost Breakdown :

• Hinges $10.00
• Pulls $6.00
• Trim Pieces $25.00 (Approximately,  I had some on hand.
• Cabinet $5.00

Total Cost $46.00!  I flipped it, and sold it for $375. 00

  Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

Corey

The post Garage Sale Flip appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

Ikea Cubbies into a Rustic Apothecary

Materials Used:

• Old Ikea shelf or something similar
• 1×2’s
• 1×4’s
• 2×4’s
• 2×10’s
• Wood Trim
• Gorilla Wood Glue
• Minwax Stain
• Foam Brushes
• Drawer Pulls
• Flush Mount Hinges 4(sets) total of 8
• Casters (4)

Tools Suggested :

• Nail Gun
• Compressor
• Table Saw
• Miter  Saw
• Sander

1.) Build  Up the Base-

I began turning my Ikea cubbies into a rustic apothecary by adding 2×4’s as a base.   This will give it an additional 1.5″  in the overall height, and give the base some visual weight.

2.) Trim Out Base–

I added trim around the base,  I made the trim pieces wide enough to completely  cover the  edge of the cabinet as well as the 2×4.  When adding trim I would suggest creating mitered joints.  Secure in place by  gluing and reinforce with nails.

3. Trim Out Top-

Repeat the same process on the perimeter of the top edge.  Again, miter the corners,  Gorilla Glue’d  that sucker in place, and then reinforced with nails.

4.) Add Corner Trim Pieces- 

Cut trim pieces to fit.  Beginning with the front edges, and following on the side trim pieces. Again, glue and then nail in place.  I then added paneling on the side.

5.)  Trim Out Remaining Edges-

At this point I covered all the remaining exposed  laminate  edges.

6.) Add Top –

I used 2×10’s on the top. I decided to rip down the 2×10’s so there would not be as much over hang.   By using 2×10’s  it will give the top and additional 1.5″ and  give the piece visual balance.

Ikea Cubbies into a Rustic Apothecary – The Doors

7. ) Make Doors-

I used a 1/2″  plywood for my doors. The  doors will  need to be able to sit WITHIN the opening. I  simply measured  from the edge of the opening  to the support/divider

8.) Attach  Doors-

I wanted my doors to be inset ( flush with trim) so that it would not really  look like a door.   In order to achieve this look I needed to use these : 

I am not going to sugar coat it,  I have only  used these one other time.  They are  a little tricky when it comes to getting everything perfectly  aligned.  I don’t  have any great words of wisdom,  except  persevere!

Ikea Cubbies into a Rustic Apothecary – Staining

9.) Stain/Polyurethane –

A big thanks to the folks over at Minwax!  I use their Jacobean Stain and finish with their Clear Satin polyurethane.  I love this finish!

10.) Add Hardware-

When it came to picking hardware I knew I wanted the traditional “Label Pull”, but they don’t really  sell them at most hardware stores.  Lucky for me I was  in the wood craft section of Michaels and lo and behold,  look what I found!

 They carry a 4 pack for only $1.99! Seriously,  I was ecstatic!

 There were a LOT of pulls to install so I  made a template.  I HIGHLY  recommend it.  The last thing you want after all the time and effort is for your  hardware to be installed all wonky.  The template will help keep  everything aligned.   I  just  cut a piece of card stock to the dimensions of the drawer fronts.  I then  found the desired placement for the pulls and punched two small  holes where the screws would go.  Easy peasy.

   The last thing I added for aesthetics  was metal  castors.  I found these ones at Home Depot for just over $5.00 a piece.  I was in love.  They were a little too bright for my taste,  so I dusted them with some Oil Rubber Bronze Spray Paint, and they came out perfect! I did make this a while ago, and I believe they  still carry them at Home Depot,  if not  they  have them on Amazon.
Overall,  I LOVE the way it turned out.

So pretty.

 Thanks for reading!

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