If you've been following along on my living room, then you know that I had a dated corner cabinet that I wanted to take out and try to modernize. Well, after taking off the top part of the cabinet, we were left with holes in our drywall. Some were actual holes, other issues included torn drywall paper, and rough spots with the drywall. So, today we've put together a video tutorial for drywall repair showing you how to repair drywall in general, repair drywall using a patch, repair drywall using tape and just tips and tricks for finishing off the job so that it looks great!
I'm still not convinced that I can modernize the corner built-in even after repairing the drywall, so make sure to chime in on that part in the comments section! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the space in general... it's totally throwing me for a loop!
Video Tutorial for Drywall Repair
The corner cabinet in our living room has been something that has bugged me for years. Years and years ago, ok, like maybe three years ago, I worked on updating it with fabric.
Those are a bit embarrassing. Ha! I've been blogging a long time guys.
Well, I ended up with this:
As you can see from the flooring, this was before we had our hardwood installed. As you can probably tell from that picture, now my style doesn't mesh at all with what I had before.
So, about a year and a half ago, I took down the fabric and the shelves and the cabinet sat empty. Then, I decided that I was either going to modernize the cabinet and keep it or figure out how to install flooring to match underneath the cabinet when I ripped it out.
Modernizing the cabinet seemed to be the easiest thing to do so that's what I wanted to try first. After I took the top part of the cabinet off and the glass panels, I was left with large issues in the drywall.
Patching and mudding drywall isn't a hard job but it is one that you have to do in steps. We've done a few drywall projects before: how to hang drywall and how to mud new drywall but we've never talked about the best ways to fix holes in the drywall. Today's tutorial will walk you through the ways you can fix all sorts of drywall issues including holes in the drywall and tears in the drywall.
Before you are actually finished with your wall, you have to paint. We did that and it looks so much better!
The discoloration close to the seam of the wall is a shadow that I just couldn't get to photograph better.
So, now that I have my corner fixed and have been looking at my built-in... I still don't like it. I wanted to have a seamless look with a built-in top but I can't find a way to get the look when the cabinet is in the corner. I see lots of things that I like with a straight cabinet but the way to get the seamless look just isn't possible on a corner cabinet. The other option would be to put in corner floating shelves, but again, I think the corner part of it makes floating shelves look weird. So, if you were me... would you rip the cabinet out completely and have a hardwood installer come back out to reinstall hardwood in that corner? They would have to sand and stain and finish it on site because that's the type of hardwood we got. Sounds annoying, right?
I think just build out a straight cabinet to overcome the floor issue and you have the space to do so. I think corner anything is just going to look weird. Do you have a similar space on the other side of the room partition as it would nice to have matching cabinets cos you know - symmetry!
I agree that the corner anything is just weird! We do have a similar space on the other side. I'm going to google search and see if I can find an space that has builtins like that. Thanks for the idea!
Instead of hiding the remaining corner cabinet, have you thought about making it a feature? Painting it a deep blue or grey/black low sheen color may help it work with your style. Updating the trim would help. Certainly less aggravating and expensive than removing it and repairing the flooring on site!
I have thought about that. I'm not pleased with my room paint in the living room so I keep trying to make a decision there before I paint the cabinet. But, I do think you are onto something!
I think it's a major improvement! What if you did a wood top on in to match some of the other wood tones in the room, make it feel a little more like a piece of furniture? Also if there was a way to take off the side trims and do something different on the sides, I think they are part of what's keeping it from looking more modern.
Another option would be to cut it lower and make it into a little built in seat. Maybe extend it along the wall a bit, like a little reading nook?
Thanks Char! So, you can't see it in these photos but I did have a small piece of finished plywood that I laid on top to see if the wood grain would help and I think it helps but I'm not sure it helps enough. I was trying to salvage the original wood details because it was original but you may have something there. I'll have to think about taking those trim pieces off.
Having to replace the flooring does seem laborsome, and more $. Piggybacking on a commental anove, what about styling it to make it a feature. What about a bar area?
For sure! I like the bar area idea and if we didn't have a bar cart in the dining room ... I'd be all about that!
What about keeping it as is and hanging a pretty plant ( that dangles nicely) above it or a nice pendant lamp to kind of integrate it with the rest of the room?
I tried that before in the cabinet when I had the upper part but I should try that again. Thanks for the suggestion!
That is a tough one! It definitely looks more modern now. I think in a perfect world you would remove it and get flooring all the way to the corner, but yikes... good ideas above, maybe you could make it into an even bigger built-in but like a rectangular shape along the whole short wall? Might stick out too far. I think floating shelves above would be fun though, too!
When you said "drywall repair" I had scary flashbacks... there were SO many holes in the walls at our last house, every room! Here's just a bit of what we did: http://www.create-enjoy.com/2016/10/stanley90sreno-week-2-update-wall-texture-painting.html
Oh my, I've used one of those sprayers and it wasn't fun at all! I'm off to see if I can find a symmetrical built-in that might work on both sides of my wall.
I would totally do thick, chunky floating corner shelves - I don't see a problem with that at all. And find a cheap salvage piece of marble or quartz and put a top on the existing built-in.
Love love love the marble or quartz idea!! So smart!