Furniture Painting

New Life to an Antique China Cabinet

As I had promised in my Tea Time Gossip post, I have been working on updating a small china cabinet and I just finished it.

I have always enjoyed breathing new life into old furniture. Sure it takes a little time and patience, but in my experience, so worth it. This china cabinet has had a complete 180 makeover and I am thrilled to share how I did it in this post with you today.

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The Story

There is a bit of a story with this china cabinet. Let us start from the begining.

I had been searching for a china cabinet for a whole year. I had my heart set on an antique piece but it had to fit a very small wall in between a set of windows and a slider door. Sure I came across plenty that I loved but the dimensions were always to big for my space.

So the search continued, until one fine day last fall, I came across this china cabinet on Facebook Marketplace. I loved everything about it and to my surprise it was the perfect size! I immediately contacted the owner to buy and pick up.

My husband offers to go and grab the china cabinet with the help of my father. God bless them! You will understand in a minute.

I received a phone call that they are on their way back but that the cabinet is infested with bugs. Not just any kind, cockroaches! I can deal with spiders, termites, beatles, whatever. But cockroaches, hard nope! I also must tell you that both of them often play pranks on me and this was not my first phone call like this.

Sadly, it was not a joke. When they arrived, and were lowering it from the truck, I saw a few cockroaches running off of the cabinet. I will be honest I wanted to puke! I had never actually seen a cockroach till I moved to the south and I do not think I will ever get over how gross they are to me.

Clearly, I was not going to get rid of all the bugs, so I told my husband and dad, they would have to. My husband got the yard blower and explained to my dad, he will blow them out and they can step on them in the driveway. My job was to stay up by the garage door and make sure none of them get near the house.

When it rains, it pours

Oh did I mention at this exact moment it began to downpour outside too? Yup! So now my poor husband and dad are soaking wet outside in the driveway, there are cockroaches to kill, and the poor antique china cabinet could possibly get horrific water damage too.

So this clown show begins! Man, my neighbors must have had quite the show to watch. I would have if I was them. So entertaining, even for me who was watching from the garage.

They begin blowing them out and stepping on them in the rain. I counted 35 cockroaches! I am sure there were a few more that got away. I get the chills just thinking about them.

Don’t you think for one minute that I was going to bring the china cabinet into my house after that. So we brought it out of the rain into the garage and I dried it off with a towel. The thin wood applique around the glass doors bowed from the rain but the rest of the cabinet was actually okay.

Well, okay in the sense it did not have too much water damage. Not okay with the fact the bottom of the china cabinet smelled so bad and was filled with cockroach feces. I was beginning to think maybe this was not meant to be and to wash my hands of this entire project.

But I must have an antique furniture sickness, because I had such a passion to help save it, despite everything.

Disinfect and Clean

While still out in my garage, I sprayed the inside with roach killer, to ensure there were no more hiding. There was of course a few. I realized that the bottom left backing of the cabinet had come unattached and that was where the cockroaches were coming and going from. Like their front door. Gross!

The very next week, I had my husband fix the back paneling to the cabinet and remove all the water damaged wood applique on the glass doors since there was no way of saving it.

Then with a bucket of warm water, dish soap and a bit of bleach, I began scrubbing the inside cabinet with a scrub brush. Took me 3 hours to remove all the cockroach feces and the stains that came along with it. Of course I wore gloves and a face mask!

The Inspection

Before we could bring it into the house, I wanted to thoroughly inspect every inch of the china cabinet. I wanted to make sure there was no chance of any more bugs or feces I may have missed.

Ever hear of checking things with a fine tooth comb? It was pretty much exactly what we did. We took a flat head screwdriver and gently had to run it around every inch and cranny of the cabinet. We even laid it across a table, so we could make sure no cockroaches were hiding underneath.

After a very thorough inspection, it was finally coming inside!

A Very Long Pause

After this china cabinet was brought inside, I was so anxious to get started on it. But the holidays were closely approaching. I was way too busy finishing up all my fall posts and starting my Christmas posts, that I had to put this project on a long pause.

Fast forward to mid January, and I finally have some spare time to get the wheels moving on this project. I began by lightly sanding the entire cabinet by hand with a 180 grit sandpaper to prep the surfaces. Next, I prepped the glass doors with painters tape, to avoid having to scrape a lot of paint off the glass.

Another long pause! Busy with my family………….. It is now end of February and its first on my project list to check off. So do not ever beat yourself up about projects, have patience, It will happen eventually when the timing is right. Family first!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I can see in my mind how I want it to look and it’s time to make it happen!

I primed the entire cabinet using a Valspar stain blocking primer. I used two coats for both inside and the outside of the cabinet. Paint primers for the most part work wonderfully at covering darker stained furniture or cabinets. When dry it has a rough chalky paint feeling to it, which the new paint grips to, nicely. I have always had great results using stain blocking primer and figured it would be a good choice for my cabinet.

A couple days after the primer, I began painting the outside of the china cabinet in a latex soft gray. It was a gray I had on hand that was previously used in my Inviting Entryway. I did two coats on the outside only. Then I painted the inside of the cabinet with 2 coats of latex white paint.

When I paint large pieces of furniture, I like to use a mix of paint brushes and mini cabinet rollers. Hands down paint brushes are needed to paint the smaller areas. But the rollers work out amazing for larger areas and leave no paint strokes. Looks so nice!

Finishing Touches

I was almost in shock that my little china cabinet project was finally coming to a end. I am happy I did not give up and was able to breathe new life into a piece that desperately needed it.

I fell in love with the original antique hardware and decided to just clean and put back on.

I also ordered pretty scented drawer liners for the china cabinet drawer. Orange scented. Smells so amazing!

It was such a wonderful feeling to finally have a proper place to put some of my great grandmother’s dishes and tea sets. Now they do not have to sit in a box in my attic. I just recently released a post on How to Style an Afternoon Tea Tray using her Lusterware set if you want to take a closer peek.

I am excited to now have the ability to change out and decorate the top half of the china cabinet with several different looks throughout the new years to come. But with Spring around the corner, I pulled together assorted white and green thrifted dishes and serveware. Then added in some moss covered balls with small white climbing bunnies on each shelf.

Let Me Keep Inspiring You

I am thrilled with the way this once cockroach infested china cabinet has come out. It really tested my patience but I feel it was so worth the headache. Happy I was able to share this project with you! I hope you enjoyed my china cabinet’s little story and it even gave you a good laugh.

I would love the chance to inspire you weekly with DIY decor, furniture painting, decorating ideas, gardening and so much more.

It’s easy! Just sign up for my weekly email subscription and I will take care of the rest.

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Love The Space That Surrounds You Everyday!

-Meagan-

Featured Here!!

Life as a Leo Wife, Crafty Creators Link Party #59

This Is My Everybody, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

French Ethereal, Share Your Style #381

26 Comments

  • Rachel

    BAAHAHAHAH!!! WHAT?!?!? GROSS!!!! I would have thrown that thing AWAY!!! But, you saved it…it’s SO PRETTY!!! You chose the perfect color and that HARDWARE is gorgeous. I didn’t know that scented drawer liners were a thing. That’s so neat!! Amazing job, Meagan!!

    • mtrento

      I know right! It was horrible! I hardly believe that I went through all that trouble. So worth it in the end! Yes my friend you must get some scented drawer liners.

  • Marsha Banks

    Oh.my.gosh!!! I haven’t come across many roaches in my life, but just the thought makes my skin crawl! I wish you’d had a video of your husband and dad blowing away and stomping on those things! You’d probably get tons of followers on whatever the cool kids are using now!

    But, the hard work really paid off! Your new china cabinet is gorgeous! I love that you painted the interior a different color than the outside. I have a hutch which I think is bigger than a china cabinet. Our dining area is so small that I often tell Mike we should probably get rid of the hutch and table (it’s a harvest table with six chairs) and buy something more suited to the space. But, when the holidays come, we use that table! And, the hutch is stuffed with all of my holiday things and other decor I’m not currently using. I would love to paint it, but Mike says no way. I guess I’ll have to live with the golden oak…oh, yes, I said golden oak dining room furniture! It’s solid oak and cost quite a bit when we ordered it back in the early 90s. I’m hoping it will come back in style some day! Maybe, you could take a little trip to Indiana and give me some pointers on “dressing” it!!!

    I hope you’ll come visit Thursday and Friday for link parties! Friday is 10 on the 10th!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    • mtrento

      Marsha, let me tell you, it was really something with this cabinet from the start. I wish I made a Youtube video but I was frozen scared and grossed out in place! I am just so happy to finally enjoy it and not cringe when I look at it anymore.
      Oh yes the famous 90’s oak furniture! I feel ya on wanting to paint it all. I would love to visit you! I do not know if we would get anything done but chatting away.
      I will be sure to visit your parties. Can not wait!

  • CoCo

    This looks AMAZING, Meagan! I know this piece tested your patience and your skills but you totally nailed it. It looks fresh and French and so, so beautiful. I love the color you chose and the way you styled it and everything. Great job sweet friend. It’s fabulous. Hugs, CoCo

    • mtrento

      Thank you so much CoCo for your sweet compliment! I am over the hill happy with how it came out. Have a great weekend.

  • Kristine

    Meagan – I was so happy to see this post on the Country Road 407 link party! I am about to start my very first furniture painting project, and your post was a big help. The step-by-step commentary AND photos were a fantastic guide. I have all the things you listed, and with your help and feeling a little more confident abou this project. It’s not anything as beautiful as your china hutch; it’s a funky old 3 shelf table that I found in the garage one day. And I truly have no idea where it came from. Regardless, we have been using it for years because it’s a great size and shape and holds all kinds of things: remotes, glasses, and coasters on the top, and the bottom shelves hold books, kleenex, my lap top…etc etc . But it is banged-up mess – a perfect candidate for a new coat of paint.

    Those cockroaches….ugh! I think I read that they have been around for centuries! Even on a singular leve, they really are nasty little beasts; I cannot imagine dealing with a few dozen of them. All kudos to you for moving forward, even though they would have been an understandable deterrent! Your china hutch turned out beautifully, and I know the feeling of joy being able to display and store beautiful china and dishes. The FB marketplace for my hutch did not take a year (you were VERY patient!) but I know it takes a while to find exactly what you want.

    • mtrento

      Welcome Kristine! I am so happy to hear that my post was entertaining to read and has given you the confidence to try painting a piece of your own furniture. I am sure your update will turn out fabulous! It amazes me what a little paint can do. Good luck and please if you need any advice, do not hesitate to reach out.
      I can not believe how many cockroaches were living in that cabinet! It was so gross, but now I have a beautiful China Cabinet, that I can assure you no one else probably would have dealt with. Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful weekend.

  • Cara

    What a beautiful transformation Meagan. I see so many dishes inside it that I am obsessed with! Thank you for sharing with Whimsy Home Wednesday.

  • Anna

    Holy smokes ! What a crazy story! I can’t believe you guys killed 35 cockroaches. Despite all that challenges – the cabinet looks stuning! You did a fabulous job giving it new life.

  • Niki | Life as a LEO Wife

    Girl you were committed and it turned out beautifully! I would’ve been totally committed to it too. Who wants to waste money?! Nope, not in today’s economy. I’ve been looking for a china cabinet myself. Now I have great inspriation when I find one! I’ll be featuring your epic journey on tomorrow’s Crafty Creators. Congrants!

    • mtrento

      I know, it is quite the story! It is almost hard to believe when I walk passed it everyday, but I refused to let the bugs win. Plus I had already paid for it. lol. Excited to be featured tomorrow. Thanks.

  • Donna

    All I can say is Wow!! What a crazy story! I’m so glad you survived the cockroaches and gave new life to your amazing china cabinet! You are right, it is perfect for that space and your dishes look so good in it! Love the Spring touches you added with moss and bunnies! Great job!!

    • mtrento

      All I can say was, it was quite the experience Donna! I really did not think the china cabinet had a chance, but I am so happy to be stubborn! Thank you!

  • Barbara Chapman

    Ewwwwww, grooooosssssss! Meagan, if I’d read this BEFORE I shared to SYS, I’d have shared your pain in there! Glad I didn’t, though… Ewwww! Okay, when we lived on Oahu, Hawaii back from 1970-1974, I was doing math homework at my little desk in my bedroom during 5th grade, when I felt a squish… Yep, killed a BIG cockroach between my toes! I could not wash my foot enough… Freaked out!

    I’m better now as they were living all over our last school (that elementary I worked at for the past three years; now I’m at a clean middle school). They don’t bug me as much. Glad you got rid of them all, though! Ew. Anyway, all that said, I was happy to share your china cabinet’s beautiful transformation with everybody this week at Share Your Style #381 for you! <3 I'm glad you have a place to share your great-grandmother's lusterware. I have a couple of pieces friends gave me over the years plus Gini, my MIL, found at a thriftshop before she moved from CA to TX to be near us (and get away from Gov. Newsome and his politics!).

    Hope all is well and enjoy your beautiful cabinet,
    Hugs,
    Barb 🙂

    • mtrento

      It was quite the show Barbara! I have never seen so many cockroaches in my life. I can not believe you killed one between your toes. I would be washing my foot with bleach. Funny stories, so happy you shared them with me.
      Thank you so much for the feature. I really appreciate and I am glad you found the story so entertaining.

  • Barbara Chapman

    Okay… One more quick cockroach story. You’re going to love this one! Still in Hawaii, we were getting ready to move to California, so it must have been during the winter/spring of 1973-1974, and we’d gone out to eat at a restaurant in downtown Honolulu. My youngest brother Tommy was still in diapers and he said, rather loudly, seeing a cockroach outside of our booth on the other side of the plate glass window sitting on a rock, “Mom, there’s a cockroach!” DEAD quiet in the restaurant. My mother was mortified! I think we left shortly after that. It’s funny in retrospect. 😉

    Those are my gross cockroach stories for you and your family,
    Many clean hugs,
    Barb 🙂

    • mtrento

      hahahaha I can picture this whole scene! Great story Barbara! I guess your not living if you do not have a cockroach story to tell. To funny! Thanks for visiting and sharing!

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