Publications
• Look out for old cupboard doors at flea markets or on gumtree.co.za. Our doors were 370mm wide and 1 940mm high, which determined our measurements and material quantities; adjust yours according to the door(s) you choose.
• Remember to drill pilot holes.
• Sand the boards beforehand.
Hard labour 3/10
Skill level 3/10
Time needed 1 to 2 hours
Do it yourself for less than R2 000:
wood and screws R1 770,
hinges R200
(doors and varnish excluded)
You will need
SHOPPING LIST
- three sheets plywood, cut to: two 1 940 x 350mm lengths (sides)
- two 640 x 350mm lengths (top and base)
- one 1 904 x 640mm length (rear)
- five 640 x 300mm lengths (shelves)
- four 2 400mm lengths of 69 x 32mm planed pine, cut to: four lengths of 2 040mm (legs)
- one packet 6mm x 40mm screws
- one packet 6mm x 16mm screws
- one packet 8mm x 30mm screws
- two sets of 75mm flat hinges
- second-hand doors
- two magnetic door catches
- sandpaper
- plastic shelf support pins
TOOLS
• cordless drill and 3mm and 4.8mm drill bit
• pencil
• tape measure
• wood filler
• paintbrush
Get started: Build the cupboard
1. Using the 6mm x 40mm screws, attach the 640 x 350mm top and base between the ends of the 1 940 x 350mm sides to form the frame of the cupboard.
2. Lay the frame flat, place the rear piece inside the frame and secure it in place from the outside with screws.
3. Screw the four pine legs to the outside of the cupboard at each corner; this also strengthens the structure where the hinges will be attached.
4. Screw the hinges to the inside of the doors, then screw the doors to the front of the cupboard.
5. Attach the magnetic catches using the 6mm x 16mm screws. Measure where the shelves will be positioned and then drill the holes for the shelf support pins with the 4.8mm drill bit. Place the shelves on the pin supports.
Hard labour 1/10
Skill level 2/10
Time needed 4 hours
Do it yourself for R1 060:
three tins Annie Sloan paint R750,
waxes R310
You will need
SHOPPING LIST
• Annie Sloan chalk paint in Pure, Old White and Duck Egg Blue
• Annie Sloan Soft Wax: Clear and Dark
• masking tape
TOOLS
• paintbrush
• offcut piece of wood
• cloth
To best effect…
1. Remove the doorknob. Mask the glass panels as well as the hinges.
2. Using a paintbrush, coat the exterior of the cupboard with the colour Old White.
3. To paint the next layer, use the wooden block instead of the brush. Using the brush, load the block with the colour Pure and smear it onto the cupboard. You’ll notice that it doesn’t cover the first coat completely; this is what you want. Continue to apply the paint over the entire exterior of the cupboard using this technique. Let it dry.
4. For the next coat, use Duck Egg Blue and the same technique as in step 3. However, apply the paint in a more solid layer at the top of the cupboard and let it ‘fade out’ as you go further down. Let it dry
5. Apply the soft wax to seal the paint. Start with the Clear Wax and add Dark Wax in selected areas to make the paint look worn and old.
6. Remove the masking tape.
