One of my favorite things to do is to dupe an expensive piece I’ve seen from a high end retailer. I had been eyeing pricey metal curio cabinets for months when I had a great idea! Why not turn it into a DIY project and build one using an old glass and wood cabinet by adding legs to it?
I scoured Facebook Marketplace for a solid month trying to find something that had glass fronts and sides but with a wood frame. The color didn’t matter because I knew that I’d be painting it. I finally stumbled upon a glass hutch piece that I knew would be perfect!
- Christmas gift idea: a Hermès blanket dupe for less than £40
I flipped the cabinet over to start figuring out how I could attach legs to it. I knew I would need to create something for the “frame” of the legs to sit on so I had a piece of ¾” plywood cut to fit the bottom of the cabinet. I ironed on plywood edge banding to the exposed plywood edges. Then I started creating a frame for the legs. I cut each piece and laid it out before gluing and nailing together. I cut each leg to measure 20” in height and ran a cross piece to each leg, securing with pocket screws from underneath so there were no visible holes on the legs.
With the frame done I started the work of sanding the whole thing down, filling holes from the old hardware, and taping. So much taping!! The prep work far exceeds the actual time it takes to paint every time!
The shelf in the original hutch was glass and I knew that I wanted to replace it with a wood shelf so I cut a piece of plywood the exact dimensions of the old shelf and ironed on the plywood banding to the edges on this piece as well. love the look of a white backdrop inside a black cabinet so I also cut a piece of backer board to fit the back of the cabinet. I primed and painted that white and drew vertical lines on it to mimic the look of vertical shiplap.
- Keep reading: How to paint furniture the right way
After all that prep work I was finally ready to paint the cabinet and shelf. I sprayed on a coat of Kilz latex primer and let that dry overnight. I gave it a good sanding in the morning and sprayed the cabinet black using Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. I love this color. It looked perfect!
I let it cure for a couple of days before bringing it inside. I installed the shelf and used wood glue on the backer board and adhered that to the back of the cabinet. Lastly, I screwed in felted furniture feet so it wouldn’t scratch our flooring and finished it off with a beautiful and simple brass knob from Home Depot!
Join our newsletter
Get the best home decor ideas, DIY advice and project inspiration straight to your inbox!
All my weeks of hard work paid off after seeing it in my home styled to perfection! In my opinion, it’s a very convincing dupe of a much more expensive piece of furniture and I’m so happy I made it myself for a fraction of the cost!
Follow me @brookewaitehome on IG for more inspiring projects just like this!
I'm a mom of three with a passion for interior design and DIY! I am currently renovating a farmhouse along with my husband and running an Airbnb in our hometown. I would define my style as loving clean lines with a good mixture of old and new. I love a modern cottage look and have been very interested in vintage pieces as of late. When I’m not spending time with my family or dreaming up another home project, I love to read, eat good food, and binge-watch crime shows on Netflix!
-
What is color drenching? Interior designers love this bold trend
Color drenching brings dramatic results. Here's how to do it in a small space
By Sophie Warren-Smith Published
-
7 spring home decor ideas to refresh your home for the season
We've asked interior designers for their favorite spring home decor ideas
By Eve Smallman Published
-
How to hang a wreath on a door (without damaging it)
Hang a wreath on a door to pretty up your pad ASAP for the holidays
By Niamh Quinn Last updated
-
Before & After: 2 basic bookcases get a modern makeover
Talented furniture flipper shares how to refinish a cheap basic bookcase and turn it into a modern piece, sure to turn heads.
By Camille Dubuis-Welch Published
-
How to hang pictures and fill wall space with art
Knowing how to hang pictures on the wall, with or without nails, will let you decorate your space with art and stunning prints in no time.
By Camille Dubuis-Welch Published
-
How to dry flowers: 4 simple ways to preserve blooms
Tired of throwing away a bunch of beautiful blooms? Learn how to dry flowers so they last forever
By Sophie Warren-Smith Last updated
-
How to hide a TV on the wall: a DIY disguise with art
DIY a disguise for your TV on the wall with art and turn heads in your front room, for all the right reasons
By Claire Douglas Published
-
How to measure for curtains: a DIY guide for beautifully-dressed windows
Learning how to measure curtains correctly involves working out the ideal dimensions. Here, we drop it like it's hot
By Emily Shaw Published