IKEA Hack Rustic Bar with Galvanized Metal Top

When it comes to fashionability, IKEA isn’t always tops on the list for a high-end look. But when it comes to DIYing the high end look, IKEA pieces can make for a great sturdy starting pieces! Our guest today picked up an older IKEA piece for $25 at an antique market and put some love and elbow grease into it to turn it into an amazing rustic bar (with a metal top, too!):
 DIY Rustic Bar from an IKEA Cabinet - love the metal countertop!

Starting with an existing piece of furniture (IKEA or other) can save so much time on building from scratch! Lisa has the details of her bar below, and if you have a boring piece of furniture needing some love, try these:

media center makeover remodelaholic.com
cube shelf to console

 

Inspired? Good! Here’s Lisa:

DIY rustic bar, hacked from an existing cabinet, topped with metal

Upcycled Rustic Bar with Metal Top
by Lisa from 2Perfection Decor

Hi I’m Lisa visiting today from 2Perfection Decor Blog. I’m so excited to be back here at Remodelaholic with yet another Upcycled furniture transformation.  I am so honored to be here for a second time (see the first here).

Rustic Bar with Galvanized Counter Top by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Reodelaholic

Today I am showing our Rustic Bar transformation, using an Ikea Varde Kitchen island as the base.

Rustic Bar with Galvanized Counter Tutorial by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
I believe our bar was once this!! A Ikea Varde Base Cabinet! Not bad for $25! 😉IIKEA Cabinet Hack by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
My philosophy has always been if you can’t find it, build it! So that is exactly what we did to make our Bar. Our Bar transformation was was a true labour of love and I couldn’t have done it without some handy help from my hubby. I was the vision and he was the strength behind creating our perfect Bar.
How to Upcycle a Cabinet into a Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
First it started with ‘the HUNT’.. I was on the lookout for the perfect bar for months, I sourced everywhere, All the comparables were around $1500-$2000 so I searched local thrift shops, antique markets and my local Re-Store until finally one day I was talking to a local Antique dealer about what I was looking for and she said she didn’t have anything like what I wanted ‘exactly’, but she did have this old unit missing a top that was the size and dimensions I was looking for, but needed a lot love. It definitely wasn’t the look or height I was going for but it did have 3 working drawers, open shelving on the back and the width and depth were perfect, so I was sold! And hello the price was only $25!! You could NEVER build a ‘BASE’ for that kind of price.
Rustic Wooden Bar Before by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
For the bar we knew we needed to add height, add some sort of counter overhang and it needed to be rustic look to flow with the rest of our basement. The inspiration came from these great vintage barn doors that I picked up at an Antique sale last summer.
Using Reclaimed Wood for a Rustic Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
First we added an additional base using 2×4’s.. they would all be covered with planks soon enough.
How to Upcycle a Cabinet into a Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Then came the fun part of adding horizontal planks of Cedar wood on the sides and front of bar. Once we had the base planks screwed in. We framed the edges with more cedar planks creating a ‘Picture frame” effect. for the front of the bar, we went with a arrow design similar to what you would find on old barn doors. Now it was looking like the rustic Bar I had envisioned.
How to Repurpose a Cabinet into a Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
We decided to stain the cedar in a grey tone like the doors and went with Minwax Classic Gray.
How to Make a Rustic Wooden Bar with Galvanized Counter from an old Cabinet by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
We went back and forth of counter top material options but finalized our decision on Galvanized steel. We found a local Sheet metal shop and gave them the dimensions and for under $80 they were able to create a custom galvanized metal counter top for our bar. But before my hubby could install the new counter top. He had to essentially build a whole new top to act as a base to create our much desired over hang, for our future bar stools.
How to Make a Galvanized Counter Top and Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Once he drilled in the 2 pieces of plywood for a thicker counter top base, then we used construction adhesive to attach our newly custom moulded to fit Galvanized Steel counter top. It totally completed the Rustic industrial bar look we were craving.
DIY Bar using an IKEA Cabinet and Reclaimed Wood by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
We then added 3 inch casters to make it bar height and the added option of easy mobility. So great to move around for summer parties.
Wooden bar with casters by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Lastly we drilled wood fronts to all 3 drawers with new industrial 6 inch oil rubbed bronze pulls from
DIY Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
How to Upcycle an Old Cabinet into a Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
DIY Rustic Bar with Galvanized Counter by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
The plan is to add a pipe foot rail down the road.. hopefully coming soon!
How to Upcycle an IKEA Cabinet into a Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Rustic Bar with Galvanized Counter Top Tutorial by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Total Cost:
Ikea Base from Vintage shop – $25
Cedar wood planks $ 100
galvanized steel counter top $80
R.H Bronze Hardware pulls x3 $30
construction adhesive $5
Minwax Classic Gray Stain – $20
Misc. (screws and nails) $10

For approx $270 we now have a custom looking, rustic barn inspired Bar. This bar could easily be a kitchen island as well.

How to turn an old cabinet into a rustic wooden bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
If you liked our bar you may want to check out my Blog master bedroom or our Full Basement post Reveal HERE.
Basement Remodel with Rustic Wooden Bar by 2Perfection Decor Blog featured on Remodelaholic
Thanks for taking the time to read my post today, Have a great day!

————————————–

Thanks, Lisa!

Head over to 2Perfection Decor to see more of Lisa’s home, like her new sofa table and her master bedroom and ensuite bathroom.

2Perfectiondecor-MasterBedroomReveal1

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Lorene has been behind the scenes here at Remodelaholic for more than a decade! She believes that planning projects and actually completing them are two different hobbies, but that doesn't stop her from planning at least a dozen projects at any given time. She spends her free time creating memories with her husband and 5 kids, traveling as far as she can afford, and partaking of books in any form available.

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17 Comments

  1. Love these hacked pieces! The link for the casters was “page not found”. Do you by any chance have the name, brand, etc.?
    Thank you, Hope

    1. The link is working for me now, but they are EVERBILT Heavy Duty Swivel Casters (from Home Depot, but it’s the Canadian site so maybe that is why you get an error?)

  2. I am in love with the galvanized countertop!! Was that a DIY project, or did you purchase it as is? I’m building an island for my own kitchen and the countertop is still is flux. This is perfect solution!!

  3. We are building a bar and have purchased the galvanized tin for the top as well. How did you wrap your corners and lip?

  4. How much over hang is the front counter top,please?
    My son and husband are almost done constructing this bar.
    Thanks for the idea!!

  5. This is awesome! I love how the metal counter top and stained gray base go with your floors and house paint color. Do you know the color and brand of paint on your house walls? Love this look! Great job!
    Michelle

  6. I wanted to show you the bar my husband built after seeing yours. It was definitely not a beginner project, but we love how it turned out. We’re waiting for the metal top to be finished and plan to stain it like yours. Thank you so might for posting. You are an inspiration!