DIY projects

From old to bold: Transform a bar cabinet with Resene paint

In this inspired thrift flip, clever upcycler Gretchen Lowe has given this second-hand bar cabinet a fun and stylish facelift using Resene paint. This Art Deco-style vintage piece is well crafted and opens up to offer storage for drinks, trays, mixers and glassware.

Gretchen opted to update the original mahogany timber finish with a striking new colour palette, incorporating Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel in Resene Elephant, Resene Undercurrent and Resene Tuscany, which she uses to create a cool checkerboard design. Her secret weapon: Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer. Using this as a base on previously varnished surfaces means you don’t need to sand anything back before you begin.

Gretchen is a very keen furniture flipper and has a great eye for vintage items to refresh and reinvigorate. If you’re keen to give the process a try yourself, Trade Me and op shops are great places to browse. Gretchen is also a fan of Cordy’s, a premier antique, art and collectables auction house. They conduct monthly antique and art auctions, with three estate and collectable auctions in between.

Read on to find out how Gretchen transformed this classic bar cabinet into a stylish and unique home furniture piece.

Drop cloth
General purpose cleaner
Clean cloth
Fine grit sandpaper
PAL Legend Angle brush
Paint pots
Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer
Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel (Gretchen used Resene Elephant, Resene Undercurrent and Resene Tuscany)
Pencil
Low-tack masking tape
New handles

1

Clean

Place your drop cloth down to avoid any spills and remove the handles and interior mirror. Clean all surfaces with a general purpose cleaner, wipe down with clean water and leave to dry.

2

Prime

Lightly sand varnished surfaces and wipe away the sanding dust.

Use a medium-sized paintbrush to apply a base coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer to the entire cabinet and leave to dry.

3

Let there be colour

Once your base coat is dry, apply Resene Lustacryl to the exterior, including the legs and feet. Gretchen used Resene Elephant, a chic and moody blue-grey green that works well with Gretchen’s interior colour scheme.

The semi-gloss finish of Resene Lustacryl is also the perfect choice here, as it allows the colour and detail to really pop.

4

Paint the inside

Use Resene Lustacryl to paint the inside of the upper cabinet. Gretchen used Resene Undercurrent, a brighter blue which creates a tonal dimension to the exterior colour.

5

Check mate

Add some visual interest to the interior of the cabinet. Mark off the edge of the mirror with your pencil then use low-tack painter’s tape to mask off squares, which will create a pattern around the mirror edge. Use Resene Lustacryl in a contrasting colour to create a square pattern. Gretchen chose Resene Tuscany, which she also used to paint the inside of the drawer to create a warm contrast.

6

Final touches

Reinstall the mirror and add some new handles to elevate the improved bar cabinet even further.

7

Display time!

Find the perfect spot for your snazzy new furniture piece and start filling it up with all your trinkets and treasures – drinks-based or otherwise.

Bar cabinet painted in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Undercurrent, Resene Elephant and Resene Tuscany.

More from Gretchen

You might recognise Gretchen from our series The Do Up, in which she and her husband Blair transformed their Kingsland bungalow, as well as her other chic and colourful thrift flips – check out her birdbath side table , record holder bookshelf, drinks trolley and console table made from terracotta pots. Gretchen loves colour and is not afraid to use it, and she gets a real kick out of breathing new life into much-loved pieces.

Gretchen’s top tips for budding furniture flippers:

Estate sales and garage sales are also great places to find vintage items at reasonable prices.
Look for pieces that are well-made and have good bones. Quality materials and construction will make the upcycling process more rewarding.
Check for structural integrity and make any necessary repairs before painting.
Retain and highlight the original charm of the piece during the painting process.
Explore various painting techniques beyond the traditional, such as distressing or stencilling.
Combine vintage aesthetics with modern elements for a fresh and unique look.
Enhance the functionality of the item during the upcycling process.

Bring your thrift flip project (or a photo if it’s a big piece) into your local Resene ColorShop and the team can help you with advice on how to prep and paint or stain it to bring your vision to life.