Build this apothecary media cabinet based on free plans. A simple modification and painting technique gives this media console its unique character!
A few days ago, my friend asked me when I was going to share my DIY apothecary media cabinet on the blog. I said – “but I made this so long ago, I don’t even have the step by step pictures.” That got me thinking too… I HAVE to share this with you! Its a project really close to my heart! I mean all my projects are, but this one is especially close… more on that in a bit.
So, here is my DIY (Faux) Apothecary Media Cabinet. I modified the original and free plans for the Benchmark Media Console from the amazing Ana White. And yes… I guess I kinda have a thing for Red 😉
Let’s talk a bit about the history of this beauty and why it is so important to me. This was my first major woodworking project. I had only built one little kids table before this and done a really simple green makeover of my little shelf. But that is NOT the only reason – the week I bought all the lumber for the project, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I started building the console but the combination of morning all day sickness, a full-time job and a 3-year-old toddler made it a reeeeeally long project. I am so glad I didn’t give up on it and finally completed it when I was 7 month’s pregnant… whew! So this media console is kinda like my middle child 🙂
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Materials needed for DIY Apothecary Media Console –
- Lumber per the list provided by Ana White in her plans for the frame
- 3/4″ plywood for the doors
- 1/4″ thick Balsa wood – 5.5″ wide.
- Miter Saw
- Kreg Jig and 1 1/4 pocket hole screws
- Brad nailer and 1 1/4″ finish nails. I didn’t have a brad nailer so I just used a hammer 🙂
- Knobs – Mine are from Hobby Lobby
- 4 Euro style hinges
How to build your own Apothecary cabinet –
- First – build the frame exactly per the plans all the way to step 10 (in the plans).
- For the doors, cut 3/4″ plywood to size and the balsa wood to the sizes needed to create the Faux Apothecary drawers. Use wood glue and 5/8″ finish nails to attach them.
- Mark the centers and positions for the knobs and attached them.
- Attach the doors to the body using the hinges.
- Make one hole each on the top back side for the wires. I used a 2″ hole saw for this.
- That’s it!
Paint/ Finish of the Apothecary Media Console –
- For the Body, it was painted using home made chalk style paint from my favorite recipe that I have used many times since. The color is Burnt earth by Bher. For the Glaze – I mixed black craft paint with tintable glaze and wiped it on. To seal everything – I wiped on Furniture wax and buffed it. Imagine a VERY pregnant lady laying on the floor wiping on the wax… well I digress… and sorry for leaving you with that picture but I couldn’t resist 😉
- For the top – It was stained in Kona and finished with 3 layers of gloss Poly.
It is not perfect – the doors are a little misaligned but I learned so much from the whole process! I still love it as much as I did the first day it was born done 🙂 What do you think about my Faux Apothecary Media Console?
Oh and those knobs…. I am crushing on those even today!
Dina says
I’m first seeing it here! Many kudos to you for its beauty, simplicity and function. Kinda helped that you were pregnant! Fearless woman!
Anika says
Thank you, Dina! I am so glad I started it before I was knew I was pregnant… if not, it would have probably never been made! 🙂
Tracy King says
I think you did a beautiful job with building and finishing. Thanks so much for sharing.