How to Update an Unusual Old Cabinet with Paint & White Glaze

This unusual old thrift store cabinet was a little different for me. It’s not the typical jewelry cabinet that I paint. I’m not sure exactly what it was… maybe a closet for doll clothes? I’m pretty sure it was handmade. I decided to update it with some turquoise paint and white glaze.

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Supply List for White Glazed Turquoise Cabinet

How do you like those wood burned details? Someone spent a lot of time on this old cabinet.

Here’s what I used on this DIY project.

• 2 shades of turquoise/blue paint– I used Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint, in Escape and Dark Denim.
• white paint – I used Everlasting.
• glazing medium
• spray bottle
• Metallic Lustre wax, in Gold Rush
• palette knives
• screwdriver (to remove hardware)

{{{See a complete list of what’s in my toolbox and supply cabinet.}}}

How to Paint with a Palette Knife

First, I removed the hardware and taped over the mirrors. When possible, I remove the mirrors before painting but these were glued in. I didn’t want to take the chance of breaking them to get them out. Any paint that gets on them can easily be scraped off with a knife-edge.

Then I started slapping on paint with a palette knife. No rhyme or reason, just wherever I felt like adding paint. Some of those grooves were a little tricky to get the paint into. But I really did the whole piece without using a brush!

Before the paint dried, I sprayed water on the top and let it drip down together.

HINT: Paint with the doors closed but open them a bit to let them dry. Otherwise, they’ll stick together. Ask me how I know that!

How to Use White Glaze

When that layer was completely dry, I thinned down some white paint with glazing medium, painted a thick coat on, then wiped it off before it was completely dry. The white glaze stays in the details.

I decided not to distress this like I did my previous turquoise drip jewelry cabinet.

The hardware was just updated with a little gold metallic wax.

I liked how the white glaze settled down into all the cracks and the wood burned details. It reminded me of sugar glaze on a pound cake!

More Thrift Store Makeovers

If you enjoyed this painted cabinet project, you might also like these:

• How to Create a Turquoise Drip Jewelry Cabinet, with a Cork Lining
• How to Create a Boho Chic Paint Finish on a Jewelry Box
• Turquoise Jewelry Cabinet with Ikat Decoupage Paper
• Turquoise Garden Bench
• 20 Thrift Store Makeovers for Your Home

Thanks for reading.  Hope this inspires you to paint something from the thrift store, too!

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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