Farmhouse Style Kitchen Cabinet

I'm back from a little blogging "time out", and ready to share a fun project with you all today! 

Isn't this cute? 

Every room sort of has that thing (or several) that bugs you every time your eye lands there, right? In our kitchen, this is the thing. 

The garbage can sits at the end of the cabinets right where you enter the kitchen. I've tried moving it to other spots, but this is really the only place that makes sense. The recyclables tend to land in this spot for a bit, as well, before making their way to the outside bin. 

It just seems like a lot of real estate being taken up with something so ugly! 

Last summer I saw this post over at Frugal Ain't Cheap, and I fell in love with the idea of re-purposing a piece of furniture to make a cabinet to hide the unsightly garbage can and gain a little extra counter space as well. 

Yesterday, I decided it was the day to finally get this project done-farmhouse style.  

About a year ago my oldest daughter gave me this little dresser when she and her husband moved to a smaller apartment. She had rescued it from a friend who was throwing it away, and had been using it to hold supplies in her craft space. 

I pulled it up from the basement, and this is what I did to transform it into a cute and functional farmhouse style cabinet for the kitchen:

It is really not made very well, which actually worked to my advantage for this part. I removed the three large drawers and was able to easily pop out the two middle strips of wood with a hammer. 
At this stage my mind starts racing with all the possibilities for this piece, but...stick to the project at hand, Jeanette!

I had actually pitched the idea of turning this piece into a kitchen island for a friend, but realized after some messing with it that it doesn't seem sturdy enough for that. I do have another idea for that project :) 

Sometimes you just have to make do with what you already have to work with. I sure don't have money to spend to hide a trash can, so I painted it with the only paint I have on hand- Valspar contractor's "high hide white". Nothing fancy, but perfectly fine for this project!

{what's up with the huge fancy watermark ^ on a photo of my trash can?? haha}

Yes, this will stick out past the end of the wall here, but it's not really a problem for me. The only time you'll see that back edge is when you come out of the half bath, to the right of the closet door shown in the background. I did paint the back of the dresser, as well, so at least it has a finished look on that back corner that shows. 

I added these cute iron bird drawer pulls that I've had for years. I cut a little curtain from some faded brown ticking stripe fabric from my stash, and hung it across the front with a tension rod. 

I'm so happy with the way it turned out! 

Plenty of room for extra garbage bags, the hand broom and a few recyclables on their way out.  

Of course I had to add a few cute things on top for the photos, including my french farmhouse caddy from The Shoppe at Somerset. I'm still deciding what this extra space will be used for. Maybe our coffee setup? 

From start to finish, this dresser-to-farmhouse-style-cabinet project took about two hours (not counting time for paint to dry) and cost absolutely nothing! You know this is my favorite kind of project :) 
No more ugly trash can, and a little bonus counter space. Love it! 

Take a fresh look at the things you already have available.  You might just have what you need to fix that "thing" in your space. 

Click here to see the rest of the farmhouse style kitchen updates. 
Thanks so much for coming by today!

Jeanette


Sharing this week, over at
Junkers United Party at Knick of Time
Sundays at Home at Thoughts From Alice
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Thrifty Life Thursday at Revisionary Life
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Under $100 Party at Beyond the Picket Fence
Before and After Wednesday at The Dedicated House What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict