Home office using old kitchen cabinets

Maria-THBD

Final Result

We transformed an office/guest bedroom using custom cabinetry from an old kitchen and materials from Bunnings. The bottom cabinets were painted with Dulux paint, while the old cabinet shells were cut, nailed, and repurposed into top shelving. We also repurposed old VJ roofing and added it to the back of the cabinets for texture. We added new timber benchtops, brass knobs and installed strip lighting under the shelves for a modern touch. The window was also repainted to complete the look. This creative and budget-friendly project showcases the versatility of Bunnings materials and a bit of DIY ingenuity.

Materials

• Timber benchtops
• Dulux Ultra Air Paint 
• Brass knobs
• Satin Rust Guard Enamel Paint
• Gilly's Cabinet Makers Wax
• Timber Trim pine
• Renovation Range Primer
• Wood Glue
• Painter's Tape
• Strip Light warm

Tools

• Drill
• Electric Saw
• Nail gun
• Brushes and rollers

Steps

Step 1

Painting Window-

• Clean window with soapy water and dry cloth
• Use the painter's masking tape to tape the edges of the window
• Use the primer to prime both sides of the window
• Give two coats of enamel paint

Step 2

Make the Top Cabinets

• Cut the old top cabinets shells (particle board) to new size with an electric saw 
• Glue and nail cabinet shells (we created 4 separate shelving sections)
• We added a sheet of used ply to the bottom of the cabinets (Leave a 2 cm gap between the wall and the bottom ply for the strip light)
• Cut VJ panels to size to fit behind each shelving unit, this is to keep them ridgid 
• Glue and screw each top cabinet in place 
• Paint the new cabinets with the Renovation Range Primer
• Give the new cabinets 2x coats of paint (low sheen or satin)
• Add strip light to the gap at the bottom of the cabinet

Step 3

Preparing bottom cabinets

• Lightly sand the bottom cabinets
• Give each cabinet a coat of Renovation Range Primer
• Give the cabinets 2x coats of paint (low sheen or satin)
• Add the brass knobs 

Step 4

Finishing

• Paint walls with a low sheen paint (same colour as bottom cabinets)
• Put the bottom cabinets in place and screw them to the wall
• Add a trim along the wall to hold the benchtop
• Cut and place benchtop on top of bottom cabinets
• Seal benchtops with Cabinet Makers Wax or chosen wood sealer

JacobZ

Hi @Maria-THBD,

Thank you for sharing your project and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

You've done a wonderful job reusing the old kitchen cabinets to create a fresh new space.

I love the beachy vibe you've created with the light-coloured timber, woven rug and the light blue paint.

The use of the VJ panels on the back of the cabinets is also a simple, functional, and brilliant way to create that little bit of extra depth in the room

Congratulations on a magnificent project.

Jacob