How do I 'dress up' this cabinet??

15 years ago

I am using an older stand alone kitchen cabinet as a breakfast bar between my kitchen and dining room. It is working out great except that it is a little plain. The entire back and side that are showing are just plain white. Any ideas what I could do to this cabinet to give it some more life? I actually thought I would tile it but now I am nervous about that. Any thoughts? The rooms are a mixure of yellow, orange and blue. (Oh and please excuse the mess, we have everything torn up right now trying to do a quick update on every room in the house!!!)

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Comments (7)

teacats
15 years ago
Simply paint in a great bright but deep blue. Perhaps you could even decoupage a great modern artwork poster or print right onto the front?

If you are tiling it -- perhaps add a border of glass tiles around the main area on the front? Not sure about tiling myself -- but there are some folks here that have tackled it!

Add modern silver barstools -- maybe ones with different colored seats?

Then add yellow and orange and blue glassware -- perhaps a large glass bowl on the main part with fresh fruit?

Could you add pendant lighting above it?

Or perhaps simply plug in a great-looking lamp in silver and blue?

Here is a link that might be useful: art.com -- Abstract artworks link
yborgal
15 years ago
How about covering the surfaces with contact paper or wall paper? Or you could glue trimwork in squares or rectangles to give some dimension.
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I like the plant there, but I don't think you really need anything else. To my eye, the clock balances out the plant. I originally thought a basket or pottery jug might work, but I think it would compete with the clock and risk looking cluttered. However, if you feel you need something else to personalize the space and add a pop of color, a long, low profile sign might work, probably propped up on a plate stand or something. I think I'd try to avoid anything tall enough to obscure the trim, though. Maybe cut out paper to get a visual on what size works, then find an etsy seller who does custom work if you don't find anything you like. Here is a link that might be useful: Etsy sign (only, more colorful, perhaps)
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Probably far & away the most common thing done in this situation is to put fake door panels on the side. These door panels are the same as your other cabinet doors. However, some people have been more creative and created things like a "message center"...by hanging a calendar or a full-length chalk board or magnetic board on the side. If you have a few inches (even as few as 3"), you could build a message center with shallow shelves to hold Here are some ideas: This is an example of what I meant for a chalkboard. Yes, this is on Julie P's/jjcpink01's refrigerator door, but it could also be on the side of a cabinet: http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2005/06/julie-ps-kitchen.html http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2005/09/jjcpink01s-kitchen.html Door end panels on the side can be seen in Gibby3000's kitchen (check out the "New Kitchen After Photos" album): http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2005/09/kansaskathys-kitchen.html If you check the Finished Kitchens Blog, you'll find many examples of what people have done... Good luck!
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The not reason it concerns me, well not concern lol! But... is because it’s the front of the house. You can beef up the trim but there’s not a lot a room between each window. Do you want to add a window on each side of the three you have. Will that be too much? I was initially thinking just keep it and add some lights up there and maybe planters to the window sills. But it’s a hard spot to get to. Maybe fake flowers? Vines? Hard to tell the style of the house also. So if this is MCM , well uh that wouldn’t work. I’m thinking it’s farmy casual , chill vibes. And that’s why I suggested the above. What do you think?
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marciagaye
15 years ago
Build a plywood box for around it and stain it....
budge1
15 years ago
I like it as it is. I think it will look funny if you do anything to it. But what do the rest of kitchen cabs look like? dining room furniture? It has a real modern European kitchen look to it which is great, just wondering if the rest of the room goes with it.
Ideefixe
15 years ago
You could do a sort of super-graphic on the back with those wall stickies or decoupage. Check out Apartment Therapy for some ideas, as people are always messing around with this sort of look.
divadeva
15 years ago
you can see how the panel is bolted in. I'd replace the panel with something more fun...a panel from ikea (hot red?!), or a plexiglass panel from TAP Plastics. Or, if your look is post-modern you could stretch a faux crocodile "pleather" across the panels (again, taking it apart and using the existing bolt holes. If you want the green/alternative look then I'd toss the white panels and bolt in bamboo panels instead. Personally, contact paper has never worked for me.
The value in this piece is in the metal frame, so be bold.
tyboyz
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow great ideas, this has really got me thinking!! Can't wait to see what else comes up!!

Budgel, funny thing is my kitchen has oak cabinets so not very modern. This cabinet was originally supposed to be temporary but we now like the modern look. So much so that we are trying to merge old and new!! Right now we have the attached dining room more on the modern side.

Divadeva, I hadn't thought about changing out completely. I definitely have to look into what Ikea might have for that!!

How do I 'dress up' this cabinet??

Comments (7)

teacats

yborgal

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marciagaye

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How do I 'dress up' this cabinet??

Comments (7)

teacats

yborgal

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marciagaye

budge1

Ideefixe

divadeva

tyboyzOriginal Author

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