DIY: Upcycle an old cupboard into a drinks bar

I wanted to create an elegant drinks bar set into an old cupboard, but I didn’t want to have to build something from scratch. My solution was to buy an old kitchen buffet found in a secondhand shop that had cupboards and shelving, and then upcycle it.

You will need:

An old buffet or bookshelf
Drill
Sandpaper or orbital sander
Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer
Resene EzyFill Quick, if needed
Hardware for drawers/doors
Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Swiss Caramel
Wallpaper for the backing, I used Resene Wallpaper Collection FOL301
Wallpaper glue
Hammer and nails

Step 1

Start by removing any cupboard doors you don’t want. Give the buffet or bookshelf a light sand all over to roughen the existing paint. I removed the doors and drawers to make this easier. Fill any little scratches or holes you find, allow the filler to dry and sand these areas again.

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Step 2

After you have sanded, give it a good clean to remove the sanding dust and any grime that wasn’t removed during sanding.

Step 3

Because my unit was already painted, I didn’t have to prime the entire unit, however, I did spot prime any bare timber with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer as well as filled in any spots with Resene EzyFill Quick. Allow to dry.

Step 4

Paint the unit with your Resene paint of choice. I used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Swiss Caramel. For a higher sheen finish use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel or, for a chalk finish, Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint from Resene ColorShops. Apply two coats, allowing to dry completely between coats.

Step 5

While the paint was drying, I removed the backing board, fitted and glued Resene Wallpaper Collection FOL301 wallpaper to the back of the unit and refitted it. This is much easier than cutting the wallpaper around all the shelves.