Red Cabinet with Tin Back

This old cabinet had seen waaaayyyyyy better days.  Like way, way better.  But I’m not one to give up easily.  I found it on a pick.  I’m pretty sure the guy threw it in just to get rid of it.  It was definitely weathered, more from the ground up AND the top down.  But I saw potential.  Lots of people have room for a cabinet this size.  Whether it’s for a bedroom or front entryway or extra space in the kitchen, this size can go just about anywhere.

I don’t think I had the blogging bug yet when I tackled this piece, otherwise there would have been more pictures.  Pictures of the warped and broken down top.  Pictures of the rotted bottom shelf.  Pictures of the backing that I had fun kicking out, lol.  You get the idea.  It was a hot mess.

Let’s Get Started!

So, to start with, I had my builder replace the rotten bottom shelf and put corrugated tin on the back.  I think he thought I had lost my mind when I brought him this piece.  But he has learned to just go with it and tell me later how crazy he thought I was.

After the new pieces were on, I sanded the whole thing and even had to use a little wood putty on the top (I would show you what that looked like, but again, I did not think to take enough pictures.)

Once the wood putty was dry, and then sanded smooth, I washed the whole piece.  Once completely dry, I put on the first coat of Dixie Belle’s Barn Red.  If I had it to do over, I would have waited to put the tin on the back until after it was painted.  That would have made things a lot easier.  But I didn’t, so it was very tedious trying not to get paint on the tin.  Please learn from my mistakes. ?

It took two coats of the red paint.  After letting the paint sit overnight, I came back the next day with  Miss Lillian’s antiquing glaze in Black Walnut.  I applied it with an old, soft rag.  Load the rag with a little glaze and then wipe it back off.  Then you can lightly start wiping it on the cabinet.  Go gently.  You can always add more.  If you get it on heavier than you would like, just take a wet rag or cleaning wipe and take it off and start again.  Just know that if you need to take it back off, it needs to be done sooner than later or you may not be able to. 

Once the glazing step had dried completely, it was ready to be sealed.  I used Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat in Satin. 

I truly wish you could have seen what a heap this was!  It is definitely living it’s best life now!

Supplies

This list contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I make a commission, your price stays the same.

• Tin
• DeWalt Orbital Sander – https://amzn.to/38x0vK7
• Sanding Discs – https://amzn.to/2wkKWqG
• Wood Putty – https://amzn.to/2SNPzkE
• Dixie Belle “Barn Red” – https://amzn.to/31YnFXp
• Paint Brushes – https://amzn.to/2OXrgQ3
• Miss Lillian’s Antiquing Glaze “Black Walnut” – https://misslillianspaint.net/miss-lillians-antiquing-glaze/
• Old Soft Rag
• Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat Satin – https://amzn.to/2SuoHqV