Our existing entry had a cupboard to store shoes, and a hook on the back of the door for coats, it drove me crazy that we had to sit on the floor to put our shoes on, especially with young kids. I had been designing the layout for the upgrade for quite a long time but didn't quite have the skills to build the drawers and cupboards myself. I saw a Transform Small Spaces article in Bunnings' magazine. I used some of the hacks listed there and voila!
Steps
Step 1
1. Empty Space
Step 2
2. Paint all walls. I repainted the walls to freshen them up. The colour is Dulux Muriwai half.
Step 3
3. Wallpaper
This was the first time I had wallpapered. This was also the most expensive part of the makeover so I was pretty nervous. The pattern repeat was quite big, I discovered after I papered the first drop. There were two and a half drops in total. I found it both harder and easier than imagined; harder because I did not have the correct tools (big brush, large bench, sharp craft knife) it was easier than I imagined to apply and manoeuvre to get the join and pattern aligned. Overall super happy with the wallpaper!
Step 4
4. Paint all flatpack parts.
The Bunnings 'hack' I had read about in the Autumn magazine said to use Dulux Aquanamel which I purchased in Muriwai Half to match the walls. It didn't mention primer! So after sanding, I applied a coat which of course didn't adhere at all. Fortunately, I had a bucket of primer from a previous paint job.
I did three coats of Primer and three of the Aquanamel.
4a. Assemble the flatpacks and put them in place.
I think this one is self-explanatory. I did have a parts failure, one of the drawers had two left runners instead of a left and right. Since I'd already painted the drawers I couldn't take them back for a return 🙁
Step 5
5. Re-upholster cushion cover
I took apart the cushion I had purchased from Bunnings. using it as a pattern I cut out my Tropicana fabric. I used the original piping and zipper. It turned out pretty well.
Step 6
6. Cut benchtop to length and affix to wall
I'm good at cutting things straight even with a hand saw, It's my secret superpower. So cutting the benchtop was smooth sailing. I used some masking tape to stop frayed edges.
Step 7
7. Put upper storage on top of the bench and affix it to the wall
I used the brackets that come with the flatpack to attach the cupboard to the wall.
Step 8
8. Create space for extra cupboard. The space was longer than the standard storage cube, so I added an extra cupboard. I purchased an extra cupboard insert. I used the end piece as the base so the cupboard would be the same height off the ground as the others. There is a join but it's not really noticeable. I used the extra shelf from the open cupboard to be the last divider.
Step 9
9. Skirting, and corner cap. The corner of the existing cupboard kept getting banged up with high traffic, so I replaced it. I added skirting to the edge of the open cupboard that sits on top of the bench.
Step 10
10. Paint all skirting and doors, and make a cover for the power box.
The doors and white skirting needed a spruce up.
I wanted to hide the unsightly power box. I made a box using a 4.5mm mdf sheet. I ended up using paper tape and wood glue.
