Upcycled Thrift Store Wine Cart

Hmmm, to buy or not to buy, that was the question when I spied this wine cart at the thrift store.

On the plus side, it was priced decently, had locking wheels, the tray was removeable for serving, it would be quick to upcycle for an upcoming show, and was in good shape. On the negative side, it is cheaply made, would be a pain to prep and paint, and was not anything unique or spectacular.

But, the need to get some things done for an upcoming show won out and I bought it. After a few tries, I came up with a plan that worked to upcycle this find.

I started by lightly sanding the cart, wiping it down with vinegar, and then spray painting it black. The bottom of the removable tray was a mess and started peeling when I sanded--problem #1. I decided I would add thin, reclaimed wood to the bottom because the peeling would show through paint.

One oversized can of matte black was not enough to cover it, problem #2. The following day I purchased another can, and it covered pretty well. I do not like spray paint--it is expensive and does not go as far as one might think, but I chose it because I knew painting the wine racks would be time-consuming. 

Because it was not completely covered after two cans, I decided to lightly sand the edges and then stain over the black--I love stain over black paint. BUT, the stain was removing the spray paint, problem #3 or #4? SO...

I decided to brush paint white over the black. The white was a primer and paint in one and it did cover fairly well. There were a few places that needed a second coat and I was right, brush painting it was not fun and took way more time than I had envisioned putting into this wine cart.

 I liked the look of the white over the black (after some sanding). After adding the reclaimed wood to the tray, i decided to add some to the back side of the bar cart. I painted the inside white, and in retrospect wish I would have left the natural wood color, but am still happy with the look.

I also added a handle for a towel and to push the cart made from a croquet stick.

I am happy to cross this project off the list. 

Please PIN ME!