Vintage Record Cabinet to Sleek Nightstand

Vintage Record Cabinet Makeover

Because I LOVE a good before and after picture!

This project may be my least expensive and most instantly gratifying makeover yet! 

As I continue to makeover my guest bedroom, I was looking for a nightstand to match the custom bed I was making. I stumbled upon this little beauty at the Habitat for Humanity Restore. It was $20 dollars! I instantly saw the potential in it, I even kinda liked the little lion pulls on the front (though I knew I would change those too, cause I always change EVERYTHING). When my mom saw it she said "You know what this is? It's a vintage record cabinet." I thought..."Well I am about to sand the vintage right out of it!" So, I brought it home and it sat for months in my garage. I wanted to first build and finish the bed for the guest room so I could match the stain. 

Here is how I did the quick makeover:

Before- Beat up, but charming.

The inside- what makes it a "record cabinet".

First, I dusted the piece pretty well with a wet rag. Then I started sanding with my orbital sander. 

I definitely used my mask for this project, especially since I am allergic to mold. You never know where vintage pieces have been. 

I continued to sand, sand, sand...

The gold detail came right off with the sander.

To get into the corners, I had to use my "mouse" detail sander. Then again, I knew I was staining it very dark, so I was not too picky about getting every single spot off. 

After sanding it looked something like this:

Then I vacuumed it clean and wiped with a wet rag to remove all of the sawdust. 

I started staining with this stain:

Ebony Stain

Go with the grain of the wood.
And wear gloves otherwise you will get a very dark "sunless tan".

I coated the table with two coats of stain, waiting one day in between. 

Then I added two coats of Minwax Poly- Acrylic protectant in clear satin. 

Use a paintbrush.
Make sure to clean up "clumps" and "globs" and "drips" of the poly.

I sanded VERY lightly, with a very fine grit sandpaper block in between coats of poly. It goes on in a milky color, but turns clear quickly. 

Then I added new hardware, I think they were $3 each. 

Showing the new hardware, though the old lions were charming too!
I'll use the lions for another project, I'm sure. 

If you are wondering about the inside of the cabinet, I just cleaned it out, this was a time sensitive project and the inside looks great the way it is.

Here are some more afters:

In my "Jewel Box" Guest Room

Ohhh.. BTW- I found the "matching" record table online- looks like someone else saw the potential in this little cabinet "The Poppy Cottage"- She sold it on Etsy!

My cabinet's twin- somewhere out there. 

Hope you like this quick makeover. It's so fun to find something cheap and then make it into something beautiful!

Thanks, 

Kristen