Creating My Custom Coffee Bar

Now that I have my book room I decided I wanted a coffee bar. My aunt’s old Hoosier cabinet was a perfect for the space that I have, so my husband and I started restoring it. It was a long process, but totally worth it!

The Before

So obviously we had a ton of work to do. Structurally it was in decent shape. The only part we had to replace was the bottom. Cosmetically it needed some help. It had been stored in an old house for years. The grime and dust was intense. It took us almost a day just to get it cleaned up and ready to sand.

The Process

There was so much sanding involved in this restoration. There were several layers of paint that we had to work through. I’m pretty sure I still have dust in my sinuses. It also took hours to get the wallpaper off the doors. And under one of the doors we found an old, beat up mirror. We debated on replacing it with wood or glass, but ultimately I decided that I liked the mirror.

The After

It’s amazing what a little elbow grease and paint can do. I absolutely adore this cabinet. It was such a fun restoration. I’m happy to have a little piece of my family’s history in my book room. I’m really glad we decided to paint it white. It has the perfect retro look that I was going for. We were also able to use all of the original door pulls. They have a little rust on them, but it adds to the character of the piece.

So this is the finished product. I finally have my dream coffee bar. My husband also bought me this little Coca Cola fridge that I adore. And of course I had to add a plant. I figured this was the perfect spot for my Raven ZZ plant. I’m also going to work on displaying my tea sets, but I haven’t moved them yet. I can’t wait to have a cup of coffee with a good book.