GRANDMA’S VINTAGE CHINA CUPBOARD IS NEAR TO MY HEART. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CHANGE IT BUT I LOVE IT MORE NOW THAN EVER. IT IS MY HAPPY CUPBOARD!
Disclaimer….I am HORRIBLE at taking before photos, and also PROGRESS photos. I love to jump right in to a project and usually remember half way that I didn’t get a before picture. Since this project evolved over many years (like 20 years), this post is NOT going to show any great transformations. It IS however, going to show some lovely after photos of my grandma’s vintage china cupboard. And also how I use it now…hint…not for china.
For years, I struggled with the question, ‘Is it ok to paint my grandma’s vintage china cupboard?’ I don’t know about you, but that was a tough question for me! You know…it is an HEIRLOOM after all!
I have had grandma’s old cupboard since she moved into the nursing home when I was in highschool. First it held my sports trophies in the basement just outside my room. After I married it was put back to its original purpose of holding china.
But, I never really loved it. It had glass panels in the door with a pressboard back, which you could see behind my pretty china. Ugh! And, it was made of stained mahogany. Now there might be some people out there who really love mahogany, but it was not my favorite wood…or color. I desperately wanted to paint it but it was a family heirloom and I had this idea that I had to preserve it the way it was.
The decision to Makeover Grandma’s Vintage China Cupboard
Finally, I got up the nerve to paint the pressboard back a nice light color and used it like that for years. Big improvement, but still, I never really loved it. You could always tell there was press board back there behind the china.
Then two years ago I decided I was either going to give it a makeover or I was going to replace it with a piece I loved. That was when I realized my grandma would be happier to know that I kept and valued her cupboard, even if I changed it, than to know that I sold it on the local swap. Grandma would have wanted me to love it and make it my own. So I did!
Steps to makeover My Grandma’s Vintage China Cupboard
So, being the thrifty farm wife and ‘mom of many’ that I am, I made-do with some materials I had left from other projects.
Remove the Glass Doors
First, I wanted the glass doors out because the pressboard was never really going to look finished. I had some pieces of left over bead board from a master bath makeover that were just the right size to fill in the doors.
I was very proud of my then 14 year old son, because he removed the doors, carefully took the glass out, cut the bead board to all align correctly and anchored it in place with the original wood strips that held the glass.
Prep and paint the cupboard
Second, I decided that I wanted it to be like it had been built for my house, much like it had been when it was originally built by a local craftsman to fit a specific space in my grandma’s old farmhouse. So I decided to just use my leftover wall paint, called Subtle Ivory, from my local Ace Hardware.
This would make it look more built in and it would be durable! It isn’t what I would traditionally use for furniture but it actually turned out just great and I didn’t need to put on a finish coat.
After removing the hardware I gave it a good cleaning with denatured alcohol. Also a light sanding to rough up the surface a bit, and a quick run over with a tack cloth to remove the dust before painting. First I primed it because it was such a dark wood, then I painted two coats of my satin wall paint with my favorite paint brush.
Give the cupboard some age
When it was thoroughly dry and hardened I then gave it a bit of texture and age by sanding down some strategic areas. I didn’t want it to look too worn, just used and cherished. I also painted the inside the same color to help with that built-in look.
Last, I put all the beautiful hardware back on. It is a beautiful hammered copper, which I have to admit I hated 30 years ago, but I truly love now. It just makes the cupboard and keeps it looking like the vintage cupboard it really is.
My Grandma’s Vintage China Cupboard Makeover Video
My Grandma’s Vintage China Cupboard has a new purpose
Now, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my grandma’s vintage china cupboard! And, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how it looks against my new shiplap entry hall faux wall that we built to hide our furnace air return. (See more about this project in upcoming posts.)
It is my happy cupboard! I use it to hold all my special treasures I enjoy in my farmhouse. Having them close at hand, beautifully arranged, makes me want to use them more often. I always keep the door closed, because I like an uncluttered look in my home, but I love to open the doors and just look in.
It holds my old mason jars, pitchers and collection of vintage flower frogs for cut flowers. Also my stationary supplies, gift tag, twine, and ribbon for gifts. And many seasonal decor pieces, candles, garden seeds, and more find their way in and out of my cupboard throughout the year. All the special things that I want to keep close at hand in one wonderful cupboard!
Would you paint your grandma’s vintage furniture?
I hope you enjoyed this little show and tell of my grandma’s vintage china cupboard and how I use it now. I know it was a hard decision to update this old piece, but I am so happy I did. Have you ever made over an heirloom? How did it turn out? Drop me a picture or leave a comment below.
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Tack Cloth – pack of 15 These cost less than a $1 each and work great.
Denatured Alcohol – 1 qt. This is a degreasing agent that removes surface dirt and stains. I use it to clean all wood furniture before painting.
Shortcut 2″ angle paint brush This brush is perfect for tight spaces and the paint glides on without leaving brush streaks.
I like the idea of storing year-round decor in a pretty cabinet at hand, rather than in an out-of-sight-out-of-mind plastic bin you have to excavate!
We were gifted a used bedroom set, and I’ve wanted to repaint it since! I just know it’s a huge project that could turn out sticky-awful if I don’t take the time to go slowly and do it right. Yes, I’m a perfectionist, so that just prolongs the project being on the to-do list. 😛
Yes, in plain sight is so much better and if I have a limited space it doesn’t get out of hand. We have been on a ‘clean-out’ mission this winter and Bill just found two totes under the house with small decor from years ago that I had forgotten about. There were just a few items I truly loved (my litmus test as to whether I should keep something) so the rest is going to the donation bin.