I love my new DIY Cowgirl china cabinet. I recently posted a DIY article repurposing the top portion of a china cabinet.  I figured I should explain the DIY steps I used to also Cowgirlize the bottom half.  I don’t know anyone that complains they have too much storage space.  China cabinets have always been useful for storing entertaining pieces that we often only get out once a year.  My feeling on these items is a little different.  I believe if it serves a purpose use it, otherwise lose it.  That being said, you can’t have things locked away in your attic and expect to even remember you have them. So I use this cabinet as an entry way “depository” for keys, sunglasses,and my little dog ( It’s his favorite place to sit while he’s waiting for me to come home) and of course storage. A table is great for everything but storage.

This is a facsimile of the piece I started with from the 70’s.  Hey don’t laugh, there’s a lot of these floating around.  Just search “China cabinet” on Craiglist in your area.

I have already used a turquoise chalk paint on the top portion that I had turned into an electronic component/TV stand.

I painted the bottom the same way.  I gave it a 2 coats of turquoise chalk paint and a finish with dark wax after distressing.

I changed the hardware pulls to match the tv console and added tooled leather crosses from Hobby Lobby. These were actually resin that I first used Magic Fix putty to adhere to the wood.  Later, I drilled into the resin enough for a screw to take hold and attach from the inside of the cabinet door.

But I really felt I needed to make these 2 pieces more unified.  So I continued cowgirlizing it. (Yes, I make up words)

Step 1- I used the old method of tracing onto freezer paper the shape of the doors and drawers.  I then cut out the patters and arranged them on a calf-hide and cut them out.

I used spray adhesive to attach the hide to the doors and drawers in the same manner as with the TV console.  I had a couple of corner come loose I use a liquid tacky glue on those stubborn spots with a clamp until they. dried.

I then reattached the hardware., and applied the decorative crosses.  The crosses however, disappeared into the color of the calf-hide.

 

I solved that problem by taking some scrap turquoise ultra-suede tracing it slightly larger than the crosses and glueing it to the back of each cross before attaching to the cabinet.