Upcycled: Old Chest of Drawers to Wine Bar
Once she finished, I started monkeying around with some LED light strips we picked up from IKEA a few years ago. (Want to know how I really feel about IKEA? Click here.)
I wanted a bar of lights across the back and on each side. What to do with the cords though?
I could have drilled a hole. That was my first instinct. Got a problem? Drill a hole in it! Almost always works. Handan had other plans. She suggested I cut a groove in which to lay the cords. My babes wants a groove? Who am I to say no? I retrieved my hand-held crosscut dovetail saw, and cut a groove.
The next steps involved final assembly, but this thing was going to be heavy when built, so Handan and I carried the carcass up to my office, where final assembly would happen.
While I got ready to attach the bar tops, Handan worked on the drawers. Since they would be holding precious cargo, we decided to make a padded base. I first cut pieces of 1/4 inch plywood to the interior dimensions of each drawer bottom. Handan then cut and glued a piece of foam to each piece of plywood.
She secured the foam pad with clamps and let it dry.
When dry, she laid the foam pad over some velvet fabric we bought at Hobby Lobby. I’m no fabric expert, but I know at least two things about the fabric we chose:
- If I were a king, I would make all of my clothing, including underwear, out of this fabric.
- You really need to be a king to afford this fabric.
I strolled up to the cutting counter at Hobby Lobby with a 5 foot roll of this heavenly textile and started waving it around like I owned the joint. The girl with the scissors appeared.
“Hi there. How’d you like to slice me off a couple yards?” I glanced around with sly smirk, then winked at her. [Pfffft. Please. -Handan] Just then, I noticed the price-per-yard at the end of the roll. My eye un-winked. My mouth un-smirked. “Oh God, Handan’s gonna kill me!”
“Excuse me, sir?” the young lady asked, oblivious to my manly charms and husbandly terror.
“Nothing. Never mind. Just cut it quickly!”
Where was I? Ah yes. The fabric on the board. Handan stapled it in place.
We laid them in place at the bottom of each drawer, and I carried on with the bar tops.
Before installing the bar tops, I waxed and buffed them.
I placed the lower bar top in its place and drilled pilot holes for the screws.
Next I used a countersink bit followed by the wood screws. I wanted the bar top to be removable…just in case.
I cut small strips of double-sided tape to mount the LED light strips. My initial plan was to mount the back light to the underside of the upper bar top and mount the side lights to the side walls of the bar.
Once the lights were installed, I secured the upper bar top to the frame using a thin bead of construction adhesive. There was no easy way to screw it on, so I decided to use adhesive. If I ever need to remove it, a quick bop with a mallet should do the trick. I used some heavy books to press the bar top into the adhesive. Then I decided that I wanted all of the lights to be mounted to the underside of the upper bar top, so I yanked the lights off of the sides and stuck them under the bar.
While that was drying I installed the drawer pulls we got from Hobby Lobby and put the drawers into their places. And then, 10 months after I started, I found myself staring at my completed wine bar. I was done. Done! Holy crap!
Here are some close-ups of the wine labels. There are some gorgeous wines represented by these labels. One is made by my friend, Elaine Villamin Blackaby!
A few closeups here and there.
“But wait!” You’re saying to yourself. “It’s supposed to be a wine bar! Where the heck is the wine?” Fair point, madam. Wonder no more.
But, you know what? It looks even better when the sun sets.
Did you notice that banjo clock a few pics back? You did? Oh, you’re an observant one! That’s my next post đŸ˜‰
Turned out good Greg but I am going to say something you probably don’t want to hear. It would have been perfect in black! But the stencil in turquoise is beautiful. Love the choice of nobs also. So glad you didn’t rough it up to give that aged look everyone is doing. It looks good and you get the gold star this week buddy!
Thank you, Kat! I also think black would have looked great, but I love the combo of old white and mahogany, too! đŸ™‚
It turned out great! Love the touch of turquoise.
Thank you, Cecilia!
Creative idea Greg, it looks great! Looks like you have fun doing the shoot!!
Thank you, Sandra! Yes, the best part about using a glass of wine as a prop is drinking it at the end đŸ™‚
(And the bottle, too…)
Wow. Before I tell you what a great finished product you did, I have to tell you something I have been wanting to write for quite a while. O.M.G. DO NOT ever give up this blog unless you go pro as a comedian! I laugh till my face hurts! I swear, between the dialog and the pictures I think I will explode from laughter! I not only love the work you and Handan do, I adore you both for your approach to all you seem to do. You talk my talk, you walk my walk!!!
yes what she said xx
Thanks, Chris! đŸ˜€
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Linda! Comments like that keep me going! đŸ™‚
Ditto what Linda said. Great way to start my Saturday morning! You need a warning at the top though that reads, “Warning: Do Not Read While Drinking A Beverage”, my computer monitor got a coffee spray. Clever dresser upcycle and gorgeous bar!
LOL! Thank you, Marie!
Once again, you both did an amazing job. I absolutely adore this wine bar. Handan, you’d better get the baseball bat ready to keep the neighbors away. đŸ™‚
Thank you, Susan! No neighbors yet, but Handan is on the lookout! đŸ™‚
You did a fabulous job. What vision you have to come up with this fantastic piece of furniture.
Thank you, Debra! đŸ™‚
Greetings from East TN! I’m visiting this morning from “Inspire Me Monday”. Y’all did a fabulous job upscaling an old dresser to a wine bar. I always enjoy seeing how inventive others can get with old furniture. đŸ™‚ Have a good week and I invite you to hit the dance floor with Curious as a Cathy with sci-fi theme mewsic from my favorite TV shows!
Thank you so much, Cathy, and welcome! I love the music from Stranger Things…and what a great show!
Wow! A lot of work but well worth it. Looks awesome! Visiting from Creativity Unleashed party.
Thank you! Yes it was a lot of work. Too much, really. But, now that it is done, I’m enjoying the result! Thanks for stopping in! đŸ™‚
That really turned out great. I love those wine label collages.
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Thank you, Kimm!
Love this post and the wine bar turned out gorgeous! Love the blue stencil and the labels. It is certainly a beautiful one of a kind piece you should be proud of. Loved reading this post your writing style is so much fun. I think if I would have held up a router and let out a primal scream it would be because I dropped it on my foot. Great job.
Thank you, Melissa! đŸ™‚
You just crack me up! love your style and your projects always turn out awesome sauce! I would like to invite you to share your pieces and sense of humor at my weekly furniture party Fridays Furniture Fix over at my place!
Thank you so much, Brenda! We’ll see you at the Furniture Fix!
Great job you guys. It’s perfect for storing all that precious cargo and thank for the heads up about the turd color. That did not look good
Thanks, Michelle! Yeah, that color was the worst, but Handan found a way to make it awesome with white wax!
What a difference!! (And I think Greg was having too much fun!! LOL) I’m a little behind but I wanted to stop by and thank you for sharing on last weeks Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party
Thank you, Helen! đŸ™‚
Awesome project. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared
Thank you!
Very creative ….both the bar and your writing style. Great job.
Thank you, Denise! đŸ™‚
This turned out awesome! I love to see great upcycles! Great post too!
Thank you, Cassie!
That is a might fine looking wine bar and what a story to go with it – I had to read it all lol
Thank you, Amber!
Awesome project! Thank you for sharing at Ravenwould.
Thanks, Kileen! đŸ™‚
Love the turquoise stencil, where’d yo find the stencil?
Thank you, Yvette! I found the stencil just searching online. I was hoping to email it to you, but now I can’t find it on my computer! I’ll see if Handan can find it on hers tonight.
I have laughed so hard reading this post! I’m so glad someone else does stuff like we do! The wine bar is absolutely beautiful! You have a new fan!
Thank you, Susan! If you like to laugh, you’re in the right place!
Perfect post to cheer me up for the night. Honest, you could just start going to open mic nights at some comedy lounges and telling your stories, Greg. If you can recount them as well in person as you do on paper, you’ll be a hit. Just reading the stories behind every (frankly gorgeous) piece you and Handan make is what really sets your work and blog apart from the many others.
And then the final products are mind-bendingly beautiful like this wine bar. Would have never believed it was that old chest of drawers!
Thank you, Jay! Hmmmm….DIY standup comedy…you may be on to something, lol!
Wow, nice job. I’m building a wine bar in a vintage television console and did a search to get some ideals. May I ask where you got your lights. I know it’s been a while. You do beautiful work and love all the steps you show…big help to me.
Thanks, Lois! Those are LED light strips from IKEA.