Dry Sink Drink Station Makeover
Today, we’re turning a dry sink into a drink station for the Bliss Barracks Lanai Makeover and sharing one of our most versatile pieces of furniture.
It’s hard to believe I’ve had this dry sink for so many years. I bought it for my booth at the Picker’s Market way before farmhouse style was even trending. The Picker’s Market was in a very coastal area though so when it didn’t sell, I knew I could bring it home and put it to good use.
Over the years, the dry sink has been painted several different colors from Lamb’s Wool…
to Duck Egg…
to White…
…where it has happily served as a folding station in our laundry room since 2016.
We haven’t finalized all the details for the laundry room makeover yet, but we have plans to make it more functional this year. So, when my Mom decided to give the lanai at Bliss Barracks a refresh, I knew we could easily turn this dry sink into a drink station.
The first step was to change the color from white to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen because it’s one of my Mom’s favorite colors and it works well with most neutrals including grays and browns. This is after one coat of paint.
I try to remember to show the first coat of paint whenever I’m using chalk paint or milk paint because it can be scary to work on a piece and think the final coat is going to be streaky like what’s pictured here. In fact, my Dad was like “You’re not going to leave those streaks like that are you?”
Most of the time things really start to even out and come together after two coats though.
As with the French Farmhouse Baker’s Rack if you’re using a chalk painted piece of furniture outside, according to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint website it is recommended you seal with a water-based exterior varnish with UV protection to prevent color fading, stains and to help the finish last longer. There is no need to wax.
To help keep drink, water or ice spills contained we purchased a panel of cork to line the inside of the dry sink.
This will help keep things more functional no matter if my parents are using the dry sink as a drink station when hosting parties or using it as a makeshift buffet when serving afternoon coffee and tea.
This dry sink drink station is also great because it has a drawer,
as well as a closed storage option which could house anything from plant pots to barbeque supplies.
It’s so hard to believe this is the same dry sink I brought home to use as a folding station in our laundry room so many years ago, right? It totally has a new lease on life now which is fun to see.
I don’t know if you can tell it or not but there is a seating area on the other side of the dry sink drink station which means you can actually see the back of this piece of furniture. I haven’t done it just yet, but we plan to paint the back with chalkboard paint for the littles.
There are only two big pieces of furniture left to paint so we’re making great progress on this project. My Dad is going to rebuild the dining room tabletop and I need to repaint the hutch and the buffet sometime next week. Having a to-do/priorities list is definitely helping to keep us all on track since we all have different jobs!
See you guys back here tomorrow. I’ll share scenes from our week, a few menu ideas and all of our favorite things from around the web! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Many blessings,
CoCo
I picked up one of these without the top shelf at a garage sale, my son happily uses it as a mini-bar. He put locks on the lower cabinet doors and re applied some slate as a carefree surface on the top. Super for entertaining. Loved seeing your transitions.
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Sandi, and what a great way for your son to use a similar piece too. That is such a great idea! It’s been fun to work on this project this week and although I know we still have a ways to go, I am excited about our progress so far. I hope your week has been a fabulous one! Hugs, CoCo
I love your dry sink! Love them in general but alas, no longer have one.
Nice post.
I really appreciate it, Vee, thank you so much. I had no idea how versatile they were until I bought one and I swear we’ve found so many fun ways to use that one piece of furniture. Hope you guys are having a fun week! Hugs, CoCo
CoCo – this dry sink has had so many makeovers and they are all gorgeous finishes. We are so happy that it has a new home on the lanai. Your idea of a chalkboard on the backside is genius! Much love!