Hi friends, today is Themed Furniture Makeover Day again! This month’s theme is Pottery Barn Inspired and my project is a faux apothecary cabinet makeover. (See all the previous TFMD themes HERE.)
Here’s my inspiration piece – the Andover Cabinet. The top row has 4 drawers but the rest is actually two doors with faux panels made to look like an apothecary cabinet. This normally sells for $799 but is on special right now for $639. (See it on the Pottery Barn website HERE.)
And here’s the cabinet I bought a couple weeks ago. I think it used to be used for record storage. I almost didn’t buy it because it was kind of large and bulky, but at $10 it was hard to pass up.
This post contains some affiliate links so you can easily find the products I use and recommend. Discover all my favorite brands and tools for doing DIY makeovers Here. Learn all my best advice for how to prep furniture to paint Here and learn how to Chalk Paint furniture Here.
The inside had been gutted… a complete blank slate.
First I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite (this is the first coat… I know it looks awful here LOL), and used one of my favorite paint brushes.
Then I had a shelf cut at the hardware store. It ended up being about a half inch too long so I had to cut it again myself. Boo.
The shelf rested on some braces that were already on both sides, and I hammered some nails around the sides to secure the shelf in place.
Looking better…
How to Make a Faux Apothecary Cabinet
For the faux panels I bought some basswood at Hobby Lobby (you can find similar wood at home improvement stores). I knew I wanted my panels to be 4×4, so I bought four of these pieces and marked every 4 inches.
I cut the basswood with my miter box and saw. It’s an inexpensive (less than $15) option and perfect for smaller projects when power tools aren’t the best choice, like when you’re working indoors or in a small space. Not a fun job, but worth it in the end!
I also found these unfinished wood pulls at Hobby Lobby – if I had bought similar “real” pulls from a hardware store, they would’ve cost me $1 each and then I would’ve had to measure and drill 20 holes for all the pulls. Here are similar wood pulls online.
I glued the panels and knobs on with E6000 – it’s the best industrial strength super glue and always works really well. Let the glue dry for at least 24 hours.
I added more Graphite and then protected it with both clear and dark wax by Annie Sloan (the dark wax will make the Graphite paint look more like a true black).
And here’s the final look…
I left it with kind of an unfinished, distressed look.
I’m really pleased with how it turned out… it might be hard to let it go, but I’m taking it to my booth probably next week. (Update: I decided to keep this awesome faux apothecary cabinet makeover!)
Here’s a Pinterest-friendly before and after:
Let me know what you think of this faux apothecary cabinet makeover! I’d love for you to Pin or share this project with a friend. Then go visit my friends’ awesome Pottery Barn inspired makeovers below. 🙂
Jen
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Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Totally love this transformation, Jen! You took a bland and ugly piece and gave it spunk. Psst…I’ll take the camera off your hands if you’d like! 😉
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces recently posted…Pottery Barn Trunk Knock-Off {Themed Makeover}
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
LOVE your piece! I have the perfect place for it in my home too 🙂 Using the basswod for the faux drawer fronts was so smart.. Great job! Pinning and sharing 🙂
Wendi @ H2OBungalow recently posted…How To Add Fern Images On Candles
Karen says
LOVE LOVE LOVE the transformation…..absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!!! What a KEEPER!
Jen says
Thank you so much Karen! 🙂
Kimm at Reinvented says
Wow, what a transformation! Love the dark color. This would look great in my house! 😉
Kimm at Reinvented recently posted…Aged Metal Outdoor Table-Themed Makeover Day
Jeanette says
Okay, this knocked my socks off! I really like the painting too! Great job. Sharing and pinning. Jeanette
Jeanette recently posted…Sign For Mom
[email protected] says
Wow! If I saw this in your booth, I would really think that it had individual drawers, not two doors with faux drawers. You version is a great makeover.
[email protected] recently posted…Pottery Barn Inspired Media Console Makeover
Crystal says
Love how it turned out!! I can’t believe how you transformed the $10 piece into an apothecary cabinet. Awesome job!! Love it!!
Breanna says
This is fabulous, Jen! I love the worn, distressed look it has and I would definitely have a hard time parting with it too!
Breanna recently posted…Pottery Barn Knock-Off File Cabinet :: Themed Furniture Makeover Day
[email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
This is awesome, Jen! What a great find for $10 too!
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer recently posted…Pottery Barn-Inspired Coffee Table
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
OMGaw I love how creative this is. I was reading thinking how were you going you make the drawers. It was a nice surprise and great Pottery barn inspired project. Pinning!!
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins recently posted…DIY Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Plates for less than $3.00!
Jen says
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
Jen,
You did a great job! I need to go try that wood at Hobby Lobby!!! Love it 🙂
Christy @ Our Southern Home recently posted…Pottery Barn Inspired Desk Chair
Lara says
Once again, you rocked this! What a beauty!! You’re amazing & an inspiration to me girl!!
Mari says
Jen it looks amazing! Love it
[email protected] says
Great idea. I think this is the easiest PB transformation I have seen yet for a catalogue cabinet! I am your newest follower.
[email protected] recently posted…Coffee Table Make-Over #2
Jen says
Thank you so much, Tabatha! Glad to have you here! 🙂
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge says
Wow, Jen. You’d never know this was the same piece! Awesome makeover. And I love the camera!
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge recently posted…Chalkboard Painted Pedestal Coffee Table Inspired by Pottery Barn
Jen says
Thank you Angie! I just got that one – I’m working on my antique camera collection 😉
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Wow! Super impressed Jen!! That turned out great!
Nancy
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule recently posted…Decorating with Baskets (Functional & Decorative Storage Solution)
Tami @ Curb Alert! says
Jen, I love your apothecary cabinet and the hidden storage is such a bonus! Great job girl!
~Tami
Tami @ Curb Alert! recently posted…Pottery Barn Inspired Trunk Side Table