A mum has shared how she transformed an old wooden cabinet in a few simple steps – saving herself hundreds of pounds.
Amanda Vernaci, 29, a content creator from Michigan, US, wanted to elevate her space while on a budget and turned to Facebook Marketplace for inspiration.
She found a glass-fronted wooden cabinet, which she purchased for $15 (£11.43) but as the item was slightly scuffed and worse for wear, she decided to put her DIY skills to use.
“I found this cabinet and had a space in my living room that was in need of a cabinet,” Amanda, who lives with husband TJ and one-year-old son AJ, told Jam Press
“When I found this piece, I knew I could turn it into something beautiful.
“First, I took off all the hardware, nails, screws and glass, before cleaning the whole piece from top to bottom.
“I decided to close in the sides of the cabinet and keep glass on the doors.
“I used a thin backer board to fill in the space left by the glass and enclose the cabinet sides.
“Next, I filled in the holes and caulked all the seams, before I prepped the cabinet for paint.
“I sanded the inside, as well as the outside and then used ‘Grizzle Gray’ by Sherwin Williams to paint the whole cabinet.
“I used a paint sprayer to get a clean, even look and once the paint was dry, I installed the original hardware for the doors as I loved the character they added to the cabinet.”
She used thick plywood to build the shelves, as she needed to support the weight of the items she would place inside.
After measuring and cutting the plywood, she added a pine board to the front of the shelves for a “cleaner” finish.
She said: “This makes a more professional look, as plywood has a raw, unattractive edge and I also stained the shelves before installing [this.]
“I created cleats along the back and sides to support the shelves and brackets with pine boards and used wood putty to fill in the holes.”
She spent $110 (£83.85) on brand new glass panels and $93 (£70.89) on wood and other materials.
Finally, she added custom glass to the doors which she measured and had cut at her local glass shop for $11 (£8.38).
In total, the transformation took three days to complete and cost only $218 (£166.17).
Best of all, thrifty Amanda believes she’s saved herself hundreds by “flipping” her furniture – having found similar items online for between $500-$2,000 (£381.12-£1,524.47).
She added: “I absolutely love it. It fits our space perfectly and is completely custom.
“I used the original hardware to keep some of the same character and charm that it originally had, but with more of a modern feel.
“It’s a fraction of the price of buying a new one.
“When looking at furniture, don’t let the first impression scare you away.
“Look at the bones of the piece and if you can see potential, know you can turn it into something that fits your style.”
She decided to share her revamped masterpiece with her 1.1 million followers on TikTok and has received 30,000 views and over 1,700 likes on the post.
In the clip, she begins by showing the old wooden cabinet, which looks worn and scuffed.
As the voiceover says: “It’s not terrible, but what if it was like…” the clip cuts to show the final piece.
The grey cabinet is accented with greenery and gold decorative items, and sits in the corner of her minimalistic living room.
“That two tone is [fire emoji], gorgeous upgrade!” one viewer commented.
Another person added: “Amazing transformation!”
“I love it!! I wish I was talented like you!!” someone else wrote.
One person said: “I love it!”
“Gorgeous babe,” another viewer commented.
Someone else added: “The glass looks great finish!!” followed by a love heart emoji.
