🖼️
The project:
Entry consisted of storage cupboards, wife wanted a place to put shoes and modernise the entry so we decided to convert it to a mud room.
- Materials:
Melamine sheets, VJ paneling planks, timber top, draw runners, leather handles, paint for the draws and VJ paneling, hooks & MDF for the draw fronts.
- Tools:
Circular saw, drill, driver drill, plunge router, laser level, small hand tools, spirit level, paint brush & paint roller.
- Step 1:
Demolish the existing entry cupboards including the centre frame and shelving. I left the existing upper and out sides of frame.
- Step 2:
Measure cut and install lower draw frames. Decided to go with 4 even size draws. Cut and install timber top, went with a standard timber panel for cost and the centre section is one piece and the cupboard sides are a piece each. This way you can only see the join on either side and blends in with the draw joins. Made the draws with melamine to suit the space. Installed draw runners and then covered the front of the draws with MDF. The side draws are notched out where the skirting boards are for a clean finish. Also installed a full length frame trim as the existing couldn’t be used due to the centre frame being removed.
- Step 3:
Measured, cut and installed the cupboard inner sections. These were placed so the cupboard doors (which are the existing doors cut down) are flush with the side section when closed. Each cupboard has an upper shelf for storage. Also installed all the handles to see what it was going to look like. I used a laser level and marked up the holes to ensure they were even.
- Step 4:
Continued on with the upper shelf and put in 3 dividers, one in the centre for looks and to stop the upper shelf from sagging and continued with the cupboard inner sections to inside the existing upper frame. Then measured, cut and installed VJ paneling planks. This was carefully measured out as I wanted the V lines even and centred in that section. In prep for paint all screw holes were puttied.
- Step 5:
I removed the draws and sanded the putty, I painted the draw fronts in a gloss white and the VJ paneling in a light pale green. Draws were painted with a roller outside and the VJ paneling was masked up and also painted with a roller. After 3 coats on the draws and once dry the draws were reinstalled.
- Step 6:
The cupboard doors were then removed and sanded and painted in a gloss white. This was done with a roller outside. Once dry the doors were reinstalled. Then installed wooden hooks on the VJ paneling. Had to use a hollow wall anchor to ensure they don’t fall out with weight.
- Step 7:
All that was left to do was paint the frame trim which was painted in a gloss white. Once that was finished then the wife decorated it. Fill the cupboards with the items and all our shoes in the drawers (one draw each) and job done.
