The old Album storage cabinet switcheroo

My 'partner in crime' and I love to hit the thrift stores, second-hand shops and rummage sales for some unique pieces that have done their duty as what they were built for but need an update to be used for a current need or they go to the dump where we're desparately trying to save them from!
So here's one I've almost completed and think looks pretty cool, if I do say so myself. :)
Back in the day, we had 12" vinyl records, in cardboard sleeves. That's right. Try explaining to a teenager today what 'You sound like a broken record' means and well, that's why I say 'back in the day'.

We found this diamond in the rough at a St. Vincent de Paul second-hand store and we immediately picked it up, happily paid for it and placed it in the van. A great find!

No one needs an album storage cabinet anymore, unless you have a collection you just can't part with, but with the growing popularity of vintages and spirits and the need to store them was the idea behind the new life and new purpose of this great cabinet.

Here she is before, sanded and ready for her makeover!

Check out the before. We saw potential in this baby!

First, a rough sanding to take all the finish off making sure there was no shine left to it. Then, a smooth sanding to give it a smooth surface for painting, using a tack cloth to remove any dust. After 3 coats of high-gloss white enamel (you need to use a 'hard' paint to avoid chipping from getting bumped around so avoid latex for walls, get the right stuff for furniture - more expensive but totally worth it in the end) and using painter's tape, I taped off random widths and created some striping with a high-gloss black enamel.

Old album cabinet becomes new Wine and liquor cabinet 

After that, using my hand-lettering skills I learned in college years ago (I had the BEST 1st year teacher in college doing EVERYTHING by hand.Thanks Vinnie!) I created and hand-drew the lettering and then applied a silver leaf. It didn't work out as well as I had hoped so will add some fine brushed outlines to the letters to give them a smooth-edged finish.

All that's left to do is to add the 'x' boards for the wine storage on the right side and a little shelf to hold wine glasses and tumblers in the middle section.

'Almost finished' wine and liquor cabinet

A good photograph of the final finished product to come! Yes, I'll use a good camera and proper lighting for that one. These pictures were shot with my iphone so a little to be desired!

So if you have a dresser, cabinet or bookcase in the garage screaming for an update so you'll bring it in to your house and actually use it, there are loads of possibilities!  The next post will be a dresser with mirror and cool tree design on the front. Check back soon for that makeover!