I Brake For Yard Sales. That should be a bumper sticker, don’t you think?
Last summer I was driving along, minding my own business, and I saw one of those yard sales that practically makes you slam on your brakes and make a beeline over to see all the goodies. It was all antique furniture and junkin’ treasures, and it all needed TLC. Some of it was even a little too dirty and rustic for me. But this antique radio cabinet was one piece that caught my eye!
**Hey guys! It’s Furniture Fixer Upper day, so don’t forget to visit the other creative makeovers at the end of this post. 🙂
Someone had removed the insides and the back panel.
The whole thing was super glazed and the top was… weird.
And the veneer was buckling on the sides. We definitely had our work cut out for us.
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I smoothed down the top of the radio cabinet with my orbital sander and filled the crack with wood filler.
Mr. GITG started cutting some wood to fill the side gaps on the bottom shelf and in the meantime I was impatient and started painting the inside. (An old light blue paint sample from Lowe’s.)
He also cut a brand new shelf – it doesn’t go all the way to the front because I wanted some extra space there and I didn’t want the shelf to interrupt the pretty open view from the front side. The pieces were glued with wood glue and also nailed directly in from the outside (the nail heads would be hidden anyway).
The outside of the cabinet was painted in Raw Silk by Fusion Mineral Paint (the new-to-me paint I’ve been trying and liking lately).
I nailed a beadboard panel on the back, just like you’d attach a back panel when assembling one of those inexpensive bookshelves from Target or Walmart – just make sure to measure carefully.
I ripped off the buckling veneer and also put beadboard on each side of the cabinet, gluing with E6000 and then weighing it down and waiting about 24 hours before removing.
**Here’s how to weigh down super glue until it dries…. haha.
And here is the antique radio cabinet all finished:
Repurposed radio cabinet to bookcase…
I love that it’s neutral and can work in so many different rooms, yet it has that unexpected pop of blue inside.
What do you think? Would you have used beadboard or something else for the back and sides of this cabinet? I’d love to hear your thoughts in a comment below.
This will be available in my space at the Three Little Birds Market next month… and I’m still working on several more pieces too. The next two weeks will be very busy for me!
Friends, visit my creative Furniture Fixer Upper buddies and see what they’ve been up to…
Below are the Before photos – click the blog names under the photos to see the After and the full tutorial.
1. Confessions of a Serial DIYer
2. Petticoat Junktion
3. Just the Woods
4. Prodigal Pieces
5. The Interior Frugalista
Talk soon!
– Jen, Girl in the Garage
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
I would have stopped too! This is a gorgeous piece and you know I love old radios. what a save from top to bottom, Jen. Love it!
Marcie Lovett says
Beautiful, Jen! The blue is the perfect touch for the inside and the beadboard was a great addition.
Chris says
Hi! I’m visiting from Christy’s page at Confessions of a Serial DIYer. I got lost when you said you “ripped off the bucking veneer” and applied beadboard to the sides as well with the E6000 glue. I can see on the back that it was laid on and glued or nailed to the furniture but the sides look like they’re under the end moldings. Did the paneling slide into grooves? I’m not understanding how you got it to look like it was original to the piece without totally taking it apart. Sorry for being a beginner. I love the finished look.
Christy@Confessions of Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
That turned out gorgeous, Jen!! You definitely had your work cut out for you with that one. This would be pretty in a bathroom too for extra towels and TP if you had the space! XOXO
Marie|The Interior Frugalista says
If only they could see this cabinet now! I think the beadboard looks great and I love the pop of blue on the inside. I’m sure this beautiful cabinet will sell quickly for you, Jen.
kandice says
This is the prettiest bookshelf ever! Love the beadboard and the fancy weights lol
Kathy Owen says
This is gorgeous Jen. You know how I love vintage radio cabinets. Thanks for the idea about the bead board. I just rip off the veneer and paint over it. Awesome idea!
Susan says
Definitely a talent!! Looks beautiful ❤️
Jane says
Beautiful job
Just Justin says
The finished product looks like it was meant to be that way all along. It is an oriJENal. 😉
The beadboard is a great addition…I can’t think of anything that would’ve looked better! 🙂
Also, I’m glad I’m not the only one that uses books, hand weights, and other miscellaneous items as glue weights. I had my wife sit on something for a few hours once while she was reading and I was furniture flipping. 🙂
Rose L. says
Beautiful! You did a wonderful job restoring the beauty you saw in it.
Anna Edwards says
Love everything about it! Just curious as to why you would use E6000 to glue the beadboard down rather than wood glue and a nail gun?
Melissa says
You inspire me ! I love what you did .
Thanks !
Paula says
Great makeover, Jen! I can think of so many places that this could be used in a home.
PC says
I am looking for one of these for a bar – I let my sister have my parents’
Kathy says
I absolutely love this! I believe it’s my favorite repurposing project I’ve come across! And trust me, I look at these ideas for hours everyday trying to get ideas and just being jealous of all of you talented, creative people! This is exactly my style!
Karen Marie Kedzuch says
Jen,
You sure dressed up this wayward radio cabinet. Now it has a purpose and it looks pretty too.
Fabulous,
Karen Marie
Jen says
Aww thanks so much Kathy! Your comment made my day 🙂
Jen says
Thanks so much, Melissa! Inspiring people is my goal 🙂
Jen says
Great question! There are a few reasons… 1. The sides are too thin to use nails. 2. The wood glue we have expands when it dries, and I didn’t want it pushing the beadboard out and making it uneven in places. 3. I use E6000 quite often and it’s my go-to glue when the other options don’t seem like they’ll work out.
Jen says
Haha! Thanks so much Justin! Nice to know there are others with quirky tricks when DIYing 🙂
Jen says
Thanks Kathy! Some of the veneer was stuck and I didn’t want to mess with it. Haha. I’ve been wanting to use beadboard anyway 🙂
Jen says
Ha! Thanks Kandice! Now you know my secrets 😉
Jen says
Thank you Marie, I hope so – fingers crossed!
Jen says
Oh yes, definitely cute in a bathroom! Thanks Christy XO
Jen says
Hi Chris, thanks for visiting! The new paneling fit inside the existing trim on the cabinet. I didn’t completely remove the old sides, just part of the thin veneer layer that was damaged. With the new beadboard, the sides are pretty much flush now. Hope that helps to make sense 🙂
Jen says
Thanks so much, Marcie! I plan on using beadboard again when I can. I’m really pleased with how it turned out.
Samme says
The after pic just made me tilt my head, smile and sigh! ☺️ That piece is so lovely! I’ve got a new just off milk paint and a table calling my name! Thanks for the inspiration to this vintage market renter novice.
Jen says
Thank you Samme, glad you like it! Good luck with your project 🙂
Lora says
I’m so excited that I saw this! I have a beautiful 1930’s wood radio cabinet that I didn’t know what to do with! The radio has been removed but the cabinet is in excellent condition!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Oh awesome! I just love finding radio cabinets like this to redo, even though it doesn’t happen often! 🙂