Monday, February 22, 2010

I bought a what?

Yes, I did pick myself up a gun cabinet at the thrift store a few weeks ago.
Why?
Because I have seen one redone and I thought it was really cool.
This thing was really, really dirty.
I had to first hammer out the gun shelf and then place thin wood over the bottom where the guns fit.
It's really a well made cabinet.  I felt bad about painting over wood, especially when my primer fizzled and splattered all over, ruining the future paint finish.
I gave it some crown moulding, it always makes everything look a little fancier.
 Plus, I'm getting pretty good at cutting it.
I also added three shelves, because I want it to be a bookcase to go in the office.  
I thought I was going to use my mistint that I found for two dollars, but it was a  too dark.  I ended up choosing one of Martha's gray colors. There's quite a bit of gray in my home, so I think the cabinet will fit in nicely. 
I do need to tell you about these incredible rollers they are selling now.  I believe they are called smooth surface rollers.  They don't leave bubbles and the edge is foam so it can roll right into those tight spots.  Maybe I'm the last to know about these, but I really like them.   
Next I distressed and glazed with black.  I had to cover my crummy prime job and this seemed to do the trick. 
The cabinet came with doors and my first instinct was the get rid of them.  Then my mom told me to save them to keep the dust out.  
Here it is decorated with a few things. 
  
 


The glass doors were not very pretty, so I picked up some frost paint at Home Depot and attempted to make square patterns. I wanted to frost the doors because this cabinet is in the office and I have a ton of not so cute books I would like to hide.

I used extra contact paper, because I didn't have any tape with the right width on hand.  I first made a grid with dry erase marker so I could align the squares evenly. 
Here's the glass all sprayed.  This stuff is really tricky.  I wasn't very careful and it dripped and left dots, then when I went to pull the paper off, some of the paint pulled up.  Luckily it scrapes off really easy with a sharp blade.  I did spray on the inside, so little hands aren't tempted to scratch away! :)

I don't know if I really like it that much, but I can always remove them....or the paint. 

This cabinet fits nicely in the office. My decorating skills need some improvement.....I'm better at making things than decorating them....:) Do you think I should keep the glass doors? 
 


****My mom gave me her opinion on the finished cabinet.  She thinks the square pattern in the frosted glass fights with the square pattern in the wood of the cabinet.  I think I agree.  If I keep the glass I think I will frost the entire thing. From what I can tell from the comments so far, the opinions are mixed.  I do have to say overall- it does look much better than when it started, glass or no glass !


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51 comments:

Adventures in Dressmaking said...

What an amazing transformation! I didn't know those gun cabinets could be used for anything else, and who wants a gun cabinet? Eew. This is a total inspiration!

Tony said...

Looks great and I really like the doors, which will save time in dusting.

Beth said...

Well I loved the cabinet before the doors. It looked so elegant! I don't think I'm opposed to the doors, just not crazy about that particular pattern on them. You did an amazing transformation on that gun cabinet! If you had posted the "after" without telling what the "before" was, and asked people to guess I'm not sure they would have ever figured it out! Well done!

Teri said...

I like the doors. While you can't really see into the cabinet with them on, you could use it to store things that aren't that visually appealing (like project notebooks). Behind the frosted glass you'd not see the details.

DeeAnna said...

I love it! You did such a nice job, I see gun cabines at the G-Dub all the time, but I never thought they could look so beautiful!

Jess said...

That turned out awesome. I love the doors.

MuseBootsi said...

I think the glass doors turned out awesome! All that work, you don't want to get rid of them!

Handbags*and*Pigtails said...

WOW! What a great transformation. Id have never seen the potential in a gun cabinet. You have an amazing eye. Thanks for sharing:)
Sarah
handbagsnpigtails.blogspot.com

Brenna said...

Wow! I love it. Didn't know a gun cabinet could clean up so nicely!

Mama Thompson said...

It looks great...I like the pattern on the glass...but I am not a glass fan, so I would leave it open...but that's me. Of course, if I bought a gun cabinet, my husband would fill it with guns before I could get to it with some paint:)

Clean Mama said...

Love it! I love the doors!

Carrie said...

very cool. hubby wants a gun safe and now i know what could happen to his cabinet!

Enchantresses Three said...

Oh my glory!!!! Your cabinet looks AMAZING!!!!! Hugs, Sariah

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

That is a remarkable redo--love the glass!

Alden Lane said...

This is a great makeover. My personal opinion is that I like it better without the doors. Plus, you can't see your excellent job of accessorizing with the doors covering it up. Either way, you've inspired me!

Janine said...

love the cabinet! Amazing!!
Don't care for the glass.... JMO!

Carrie said...

I like the doors...less dusting!!! Looks great both ways...change it seasonally!

Backwards SuperMommy said...

I love it! Doors and all!!

Taija said...

I turned a gun cabinet into a book case about 10 years ago...but yours is WAAAAAAY more beautiful. I think I'll redo it again!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Who knew a gun cabinet could turn out so beautifully. I actually like it without the glass. But if you are gonna use it mostly for storage, then I guess the glass would hide it all. I think the way you've decorated the shelves without the doors is just lovely. Books on the bottom shelf only or hidden away in the bottom. No matter what you do, the transformation is fabulous. Many blessings, Tammy

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Wow - look at that! I would never have thought a gun cabinet could look so good! My favorite part are the doors - I love the pattern. Awesome!

XOXO
Jen

Trista said...

Love the glass doors, but your mom is right.

Lei said...

Woooooooooow. That is exactly what I said. No glass door, in my opinion.

2sisters said...

It turned out great! I actually like the doors with the squares on. I think it makes it look decorative and hides things at the same time. Just my humble opinion.
teri

Shirley said...

Love the redo of the gun cabinet but I wouldn't use the glass doors. It is so cute without them.

autumn said...

awesome!!
wow. it looks fantastic, and i really like the choice of paint color.
it's gorgeous. i can't believe it started out as a gun case.
ps--your thrift store rule! i go several times a month to the surrounding thrift stores, and i never seem to find anything as cool as you find!

Jacinda Vandenberg said...

I think I'd do without the doors. It looks amazing! Never would have thought about using a gun case as a display! Very original :)

Rachel said...

It depends on where/for what I want to use it, but I like the look of the frosted glass. Nice!!!

Allison Shops said...

Wow-I never would have guessed that was a gun cabinet in its previous life. Great job! I vote for no doors and agree w/your mom.

I followed you here from Met Monday - been a busy week! lol I hope you'll swing by AtticMag and tour my home; Alabama Stone Cottage Tour.

http://www.atticmag.com/2010/02/alabama-stone-cottage-house-tour/

Allison

Cottagecheap said...

I say hang the doors someplace for decoration....and keep them off. I love the look of it decorated. Of course if you want to put unlikeable things in there... but I might keep your eyes out for mullioned windows for the top...or make those doors look like an old window...would SO work with teh style.

Decor To Adore said...

What a wonderful piece of furniture! Love the glass doors.

I hope you will stop by my blog and enter my giveaway.

Sarah @ Hennessey House said...

wow wow wow. keep the doors! beautiful redo here.

Stacy said...

beautiful! I love the color choice, too. I'm in the no glass camp. I agree with your mom that the square pattern is too much with the bottom cabs and they are just so bold that your eye lands on them rather than the cabinet itself. also love the trim around the top. Nice job!

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

What a gorgeos cabinet!! No one would ever guess what it started out as!

Megan Gunyan said...

It turned out wonderful! Great job. I like it without the glass. Your decorating skills are great! I love 'em. Maybe you could use the glass for another project?

Heather said...

Love it!!! Keep the doors, frost them completely.

Connie in Hartwood said...

I can't believe this was a gun cabinet!! What a wonderful piece, now that you've done your thing with it.
... Connie

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Oh wow!! It looks amazing... great job! I love the color!
~Jennifer
http://www.studiojru.com/

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Fabulous! I'm in the no door camp myself. I love the open shelving that allows you to see that beautiful backer board detail without glass glare. But either way, it's a stunning piece.

Thanks for linking up to SNS!
FJ Donna

Donna Rafferty said...

This is just fabulous. The color is perfect! I like it without the doors so you can see what's on the shelves!

Unknown said...

It's hard to believe this was a gun cabinet. It's amazing. I think I like it without the glass, however, what you did on the glass is really a cool technique. I'd keep it on if you were storing things you want to hide. But since your display is so pretty, I like it open.

Michelle
www.TrashToTreasureDecorating.com

Molly Anne said...

That turned out beautifully!

Low Tide High Style said...

Wow, what a transformation! I actually like the glass doors, but completely frosted would be pretty too, and I love the color you painted your beautiful new cabinet. I would never have guessed from the gorgeous "after" pics that it was once an ugly gun cabinet!

Kat :)

jen @ the inspiration studio said...

I LOVE how it turned out! How creative to turn a gun cabinet into a hutch! (or maybe it's called something different?) I personally like it better without the glass, but that's just my opinion! Either way, great job!

jomymother said...

You did an amazing job! What a difference a day makes! (Or however long it took you.) Great job.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

You get a big WOW from me. What a transformation. I will certainly never look at a gun cabinet the same way again. I like it better with the doors off. It looks more like a gun cabinet turned shelf with the glass doors and the piece looks a little dated with them on. I will say, I love the design, though. You need to use that on another piece.

Kimmie @ Hello Mess said...

Congrats on the win over at Miss Mustard Seed's blog! YAY for an awesome transformation. I love it without the doors- and the added molding is genius. SO gorgeous.

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

Candace... I don't know HOW I missed this, but I did! I saw it today on MM FFF recap. OH my goodness, girl you are good! It looks fabulous! Love the crown, the color, the decor. Not so much on the glass. I understand the need to "hide" but this piece needs pretties on it. Not books you need to hide... my 2 cents! :)
have a great weekend!
gail

Kolein said...

Amazing transformation! Love the color. Love no doors! It looks like another room inside your office!!!

Did the cabinet have key holes or did you make them?

Found you from MMS today 3/5

Arlene said...

Beautiful. I see these at GW all the time. I love the color. I personally love it without the doors. If I kept the doors I would spray the whole thing. I'm not a big fan of the pattern. I think it takes away from the beauty of the cabinet. But you did a wonderful job. I LOVE it. I think you do a great job decorating.

Shayna @ Texas Monkey said...

I just wanted to let you know that I featured your cabinet on my Dream Book Furniture edition post, feel free to stop by and check it out and pick up my I've been featured button.
http://texasmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/04/dream-book-furniture-edition-1.html

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