Upcycled Terracotta Arched Cabinet
I found an outdated cabinet at a local charity shop for $10 and knew it had so much potential.
To help me take it from drab to fab, I’ve partnered with Dulux to celebrate the return of the Dulux Jelly Beans tin! I decided to give this cabinet a modern makeover by removing the existing cabinet doors and making new arched doors inspired by Ponce Berga’s Arched Cabinet (see my inspo photos below). I removed the rounded edges at the top of the cabinet with my jigsaw, and sanded it all over in preparation for priming and painting. After much deliberation and a vote on Instagram, I chose “Terracotta Chip”, which is a beautiful paint colour inspired by the Peach Dulux Jelly Bean flavour.
I always love to use existing hardware where possible, so I soaked the original knobs and hinges in vinegar then polished them, which blew my mind. The knobs were actually made from brass but the hinges were a little disappointing so I spray painted them gold. Following this I added raw timber ball feet, put the brass knobs back on and installed the new doors onto the cabinet. I’m usually a green and pink kind of gal, but I decided to try something new and I am so glad I did. “Terracotta Chip” is absolutely beautiful and will remain in my rotation of favourite Dulux colours. Read on to learn how to make your own Upcycled Terracotta Arched Cabinet!
And to see how this Upcycled Terracotta Arched Cabinet came together, make sure you check out this video!
Before & After
The Inspiration
Project Details
🕒 Project Time Estimate: 6 hours, not including paint drying time
💰 Materials Cost: $115 plus $96 for the paint
⚒️ Power Tools: Jigsaw, sander
👷♀️ Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate DIYer
Tools
Screwdriver
A spirit level or a long piece of timber
Materials
Pencil, string, ruler
White vinegar and bucket/container
Clean cotton cloth
How To
DAY ONE
The first thing I did was remove the original doors using a screwdriver. I put the knobs and hinges into a tub of white vinegar and set that aside overnight. I traced around each door with a pen onto a 16mm thick panel of MDF to get the exact measurements; the doors were not the same size so I am very glad I did this for each door. I cut each door with my jig saw and then I repeated the process with 3mm MDF panels, which meant I had four pieces for two doors. I drew an arch onto each door using the pencil and string method, and cut the arches out using my jigsaw. Then I glued each arch onto each door, clamped them together and set them aside to set for an hour.
Following this I removed the top edges using my jig saw to give the cabinet a modern profile. I sanded the cabinet using my electric sander and then I applied one coat of Dulux 1Step Prep, which I left to dry overnight.
DAY TWO
I started by checking on the hardware - the colour of the white vinegar was pretty gross, which was a good thing! It means the vinegar has helped to lift the dirt and grime. I took the hardware out of the vinegar and polished it using AutoSol Polish by applying a small amount onto each piece and rubbing it in with a clean cotton cloth. Gradually the gunk came off and I kept polishing the cream off until the knobs revealed a beautiful brass underneath. The hinges were disappointing however, so I decided to spray paint them gold.
I was inspired by the colours of the Jelly Beans and chose “Pinktone Half” for the Bubblegum flavour, “Terracotta Chip” for the Peach flavour and “Equatorial Forest” for the Kiwi flavour. I couldn’t decide which colour I would use so I put a vote out to my lovely community on Instagram and in the end “Terracotta Chip” won! So, that’s what I went with. I applied 4 thin coats and waited at least 2 hours between coats before applying the next; I learned it’s better to paint lots of thin coats rather than apply a couple of thick coats for my DIY Arched Doorway project. After the final coat, I let the paint dry for at least 24 hours.
DAY THREE
The last day was all about putting the pieces back together and praying the doors would actually fit once the hinges were on. I was so nervous! I installed new raw timber ball feet using my drill, I put the doorknobs back on and I installed the doors back onto the cabinet. I used the original doors as a guide to know where to drill the new holes for the hingers/screws into the new doors, so they would line up perfectly when they were installed back onto the cabinet. And it worked!
Ta daaaa! What a transformation…
I honestly cannot believe how much better this cabinet looks! New doors, restored knobs and hardware, a fresh lick of paint and new timber feet, it’s amazing what you can with a bit of TLC. I am also very happy with “Terracotta Chip”, it’s going straight into my rotation of favourite paint colours and it looks even better IRL. I hope this project has inspired you to see the potential when you stumble across an outdated cabinet at your local tip shops and charity stores. There are so many fun and clever ways to upcycle cabinets and I am already on the hunt for another one, because typically me, I already have another idea!
Want to get your hands on some Dulux Jelly Beans? Head to Bunnings, Mitre 10, Home Hardware and Inspirations Paint across Australia, and you’ll receive a tin (for free!) when you purchase an 8L tin of Dulux paint (until 31st October, 2022 or until stocks last). Best of all? Dulux proudly supports small business (like me!) and they have partnered with a family-owned confectionery manufacturer, Ferndale Foods. So go on, what are you waiting for? Upcycle a piece of furniture from your local tip shop or charity store, stock up on your favourite Dulux paint colours and get making!
This project is in collaboration with Dulux
