Trash to treasure Combine ‘past it’ furniture separates into a bespoke storage unit

Transform two ‘past it’ pieces of furniture into bespoke storage

2021-05-27 -

Trading websites are full of items that are a step away from the tip, but with a little imagination you can turn two unrelated objects into something special. With a few modifications and clever painting techniques, a dated bookcase and damaged door become a bespoke display feature complete with a hidden ‘boot storage’ compartment!

For you to note

A four-panelled door missing the top 2 panels was used for this project. If your door has all its panels, simply remove them using the same cuing and sanding methods in Steps 4-6.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Sand, undercoat and paint whole bookcase, including adjustable shelves, with 2 coats of Western Myall. Let dry and sand lightly aer each coat.

STEP 2 Use hammer and chisel to remove timber mouldings from around base of bookcase, and a drill to unscrew the mouldings from the top.

STEP 3 Use combination square to mark out sides of bookcase for openings to access boot storage compartment at base. Make width of openings such that adjustable shelf holes remain intact and the height matches the boom panels of the door.

STEP 4 Use circular saw to plunge cut openings. To do this, retract guard on saw, start it up, then plunge it into timber along cuing line. Stop cuts along each side of opening at corners.

STEP 5 Finish off cuts in corners where circular saw blade won’t reach using a jigsaw or sharp handsaw.

STEP 6 Sand cut edges of openings. Also use wood filler to fill any defects le at top and base of bookcase where mouldings were removed. Let dry and sand.

STEP 7 To make bookcase fit height of door, cut blocks of 90 x 45mm pine and sit them under the base, their faces flush with bookcase sides. For proportion, size blocks so distance from the boom shelf of bookcase to boom of the blocks equals height of the boom rail of the door. To aach, cut smaller blocks from

89 x 19mm pine, screw them to the top of the larger blocks, then screw through

them into sides of bookcase with 30mm screws.

STEP 8 Cut off part of top of door to beer suit height of bookcase. For correct proportions, make finished height of top rail of door about half the height of the boom rail of door.

STEP 9 Cut blocks out of 89 x 19mm pine to sit on top of bookcase, their faces flush with the sides. Make height of blocks so overall height of bookcase matches new height of door. Aach smaller blocks to side of cut blocks in an L shape. Predrill and screw down through these smaller blocks into top of unit.

STEP 10 Undercoat and touch up paintwork on unit to cover blocks, filled areas and openings cut in sides.

STEP 11 To make door fit width of bookcase, cut equally wide strips of Tasmanian oak that will aach to sides of door. Make width of strips such that their overall width, plus the door width, matches width of bookcase. Glue, predrill and nail blocks in position using 65mm nails. Make back of blocks flush with back of door, leaving a small step at front.

STEP 12 Apply 1 coat of timber stain to entire door with a paintbrush. Let dry.

CLEVER CUT-OUTS LET YOU HIDE YOUR BOOTS AND SHOES IN A NIFTY STORAGE SPACE BEHIND THE DOOR.

STEP 13 Apply 1 coat of Scenario paint to front, sides and edges of door, using a paintbrush. Apply paint randomly with light strokes so you end up with both areas of full coverage and areas where the stain shows through. Let dry.

STEP 14 Lightly sand paintwork to remove any raised brushstrokes and expose some of the stain. Also sand edges to expose timber to try and simulate wear and tear on the finish.

STEP 15 Apply wax to door using super fine steel wool. Polish to a so sheen.

STEP 16 Li door so it sits on bookcase, aligned top and boom and at sides. Predrill through bookcase into door to secure.

STEP 17 Predrill and screw antique-look handle to front of door using supplied screws. Fill shelves with your favourite objects.

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