A Facebook Marketplace China Cabinet Transformed This RV Kitchen
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The cabinets built into an RV are pretty standard and plain, save for the added glass or mirrored panels.
But RVer Bobbi Gearhart wanted beautiful cabinets that made a statement. She found this china cabinet on Facebook Marketplace for $50 and devised a plan to replace her boring old RV cabinets with something beautiful.
How to Install New Cabinets
Before you can install something new, first rip out the old!
DIY: How to Remove RV Cabinets Like a Professional
Bobbi’s new all-wood cabinets would be heavier than the RV-manufactured ones. To support the weight, she reinforced the wall with 2x4s.
After reinforcing the wall, she added beadboard. This would be exposed as the backing of the cabinet.
Read Next: 9 RV Wall Covering Ideas to Create a Unique Accent Wall
In order to install the china cabinet, a few modifications needed to be made. First, the back of the cabinet was removed. You can see that instead of the original mirrored backing, there is the beadboard wall and the RV’s control panel.
Second, the bottom and top parts of the cabinet were separated to be installed separately. This would allow a countertop space to be created.
And third, the two middle doors would be cut shorter.
The bottom of the shelf was lifted up to create more open space, and the two doors were cut down to size. Beadboard lining the sides made the adjustment look cohesive in design.
With everything cut to fit and reinstalled, the top piece was finished (for the time being!):
Installing the Bottom Cabinet
The bottom cabinet would need a bit of reworking. This part of the RV kitchen originally included the kitchen sink. In addition to cutting a countertop with a hole for the sink, the china cabinet drawers would need to be reconfigured.
Bobbi swapped out the existing drawer pulls for handles and waited to tackle the last piece of the puzzle: Painting.
The Final Product
Because of all the custom cuts to make the cabinet fit the space, Bobbi waited until everything was properly installed to paint. Paint takes weeks to fully cure, so this was a smart way to ensure the paint job didn’t get nicked or scuffed during installation.
The green Bobbi chose for her cabinets is a mix of two Behr colors: Jojoba (a light green) and Broadway (a dark grey).
All of the beadboard and trim added to the cabinet was painted green to match. It hardly looks like the top cabinet was cut at all!
Drawer handles and pulls were spray painted silver to all match.
Read Next: A Complete Guide to Painting RV Walls & Cabinets
What do you think?
This is one of the most outrageous kitchen remodels we’ve seen because of the sheer amount of work required to add new cabinets. What do you think of the final look? Share your thoughts in the comments!
See more RV Makeovers:
- This Vintage Airstream Remodel is a Trip Back in Time with All Antique RV Decor
- Vintage Airstream Transformed into a Coastal Chic Oasis
- We’re obsessed with the custom woodwork that turned this RV into a cabin on wheels!
Alyssa Padgett is the author of the best-selling book, A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV. She loves all things #RVlife and travels full-time around the globe with her family of four.
