Sometimes the best makeovers happen in a pinch—and late at night! Last Thursday, my daughter moved into her new apartment and quickly realized she had a problem: not enough kitchen cabinet space compared to her last place. Her solution? Add a kitchen island.

So on Friday morning, we went hunting. After scrolling FB Marketplace, I found the perfect candidate: a sideboard buffet for just $59. It was an hour away, but totally worth the drive.

By the time we got home, I already had a plan in mind for how to breathe new life into it. My last words to her were: I can do anything to this I want, right? She gave me the go-ahead!

---

The Before

The buffet had good bones but some flaws. The top veneer was peeling on one side (definitely not worth replacing), and the back was just plain brown particle board—the kind you usually want to push against a wall. The paint was already a fun, chippy teal/blue color, and instead of sanding it down and repainting, we decided to embrace it. Even better, we thought it might work with her bright blue sofa, which would sit right up against it in her living room.

---

The Design Decisions

The biggest question was the backside. Since this piece would be seen from the living room, leaving it brown wasn’t an option. I debated between paint and wallpaper, and ultimately chose wallpaper. I had leftover scraps from last year’s entryway makeover—one of my favorite Rifle Paper Co. florals—and I knew the busy pattern would disguise any imperfections beautifully.

That’s when inspiration struck: why not bring the wallpaper around to the front? I carefully cut pieces to fit inside the drawer and cabinet insets, gluing them in place. Suddenly, the entire piece felt elevated—like it had been made that way from the beginning.

---

The Finishing Touches

To deal with the veneer on top, I glued down the loose edge and sealed everything with several coats of top coat. Since my daughter planned to use a runner across the surface anyway, it was the perfect solution—pretty and practical.

---

The After

The transformation was immediate. What once looked like a tired old buffet became a bright, joyful island with tons of personality. The wallpaper tied in perfectly with her space, the teal paint kept its playful character, and the piece now adds both storage and charm to her kitchen and living room.  And the project only took me a couple of hours!

It’s amazing what a little creativity, a late-night burst of energy, and $59 can do!

---

Here’s the lesson I learned: Don’t overlook the “almost right” piece of furniture. With a little imagination (and maybe a roll of leftover wallpaper), you can turn it into exactly what you need.