Console Radio Rehab
by
Tamie
3 Materials
Broken down radio cabinet brought back to life - and even plays music!
I had been wanting a more stylish way to have a bluetooth speaker in my kitchen, that didn't involve plugs and take up space on my countertop. After months of searching garage sales and thrift shops, I found this old console turntable/radio at a thrift shop for $15. It still had all the non-functioning old stereo equipment inside, and the finish was in fair to bad shape. BUT, the cool fretwork in the doors was intact, and all the hinges and drawer slides were functional. I gutted it, but saved the radio knobs and front. That's the stage I was it for this picture. I knew I wanted to use a glaze over paint finish, so I didn't bother stripping it.
Next time I'll take some "during" pictures, but I'm pretty psyched with the after! The left hand door is stationary and there's a hole in that door, so my bluetooth speaker is hiding back there. The right hand door opens, which is where albums could be stored. I added an extra shelf in there, and now that's the , stamps, stapler, coupons, take out menus, etc., mini office. The drawer where the turntable used to be now holds a letter basket for incoming mail. My favorite part, though, is the radio. I reattached the radio face and glued the knobs on, then mounted an LED light inside the cabinet behind it. The bluetooth speaker and the LED light are on the same power strip, hidden inside the drawer, so when I turn it on, the light shines through the radio face just like it would have 70 years ago!
There are four coats of paint on this, because it had that red finish that bleeds through even Killz. So I sanded it, put on two coats of Killz, then two coats of Benjamin Moore Simply White that I had left over from the ceilings. The glaze is an ebony cabinet glaze that I mixed with some copper craft paint and a smidge of Simply White. In person, it has a coppery glow that I just love, but that doesn't really show up in the pics.
In case you're wondering, the frames above the radio are 70's plastic mirrors, with a coat of spray paint to match the fabric in the radio. Then I cut sheet metal with a tinner snips to replace the mirrors. I used foreign coins from trips we've been on, glued to magnets, to make two magnet boards - one for me, one for my husband, for notes, tickets to events, lists, etc.
Super happy with how this turned out.
Next project: 70's octagon with copper leaf. Just need the copper leaf to be delivered!
Comments
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3 of 5 comments
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Wow! Great find for $15.00. Fabulous makeover. thanks for sharing.
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Fantastic makeover!
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