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How to upcycle a change table into a mobile coffee cart

Coffee cart with coffee maker and mugs and dog standing next to dinner table.

Overview

Be your own barista with this upcycled drinks station for making and serving your hot brews. To make your mobile coffee cart, build custom timber drawers for your baby changing table and give it a makeover with paint.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Prepare the cart sides

Measure up for drawers, allowing 13mm either side for runners. Dismantle the cart, sand the parts to be painted and clean with sugar soap wipes. Apply primer and two coats of cabinet paint, leaving to dry after each. Spray-paint the handle. On the sides, position pairs of runners 20mm above fixed shelves, predrill with 2mm bit to secure with supplied screws.
Painted cart sides being predrilled for drawer runners.

2Make the rebates

Using a mitre box and handsaw, cut lengths of pine for the drawer fronts, backs and sides, adding 50mm each to allow for mitres. Clamp to a workbench, then mark 10mm in from the edge to make a 9mm-deep rebate using a trim router with a straight bit. Flip and use a round-over bit along the opposite edge.
Pine drawer pieces being rebated for drawer base using a trim router.

3Cut the drawer mitres

Mark the drawer frame pieces to exact length, mitring the ends at 45° with the rebate on the inside. Sand to remove breakout. Position and tape together as a template to mark drawer bases on 7mm plywood, with 10mm less each side, then cut using a circular saw with straightedge. Dry-fit to check the bases fit in the rebates.
Drawer front, back and side pieces being cut with angled ends using a mitre box and handsaw.

4Assemble the drawers

Apply adhesive to joints and rebates, assemble and tape around the frame, wipe excess and leave to dry. Tap nails into mitres from the sides. Sand the drawers, wipe away dust and apply tung oil with a cloth. Position drawer guides 20mm up from the base, predrill to secure with supplied screws. Reassemble the cart, then install the drawers.
Drawer base being inserted into rebates in drawer frame.

5Keep in mind...

  • When using power tools and painting, always wear the recommended safety gear and work in a well-ventilated area.
  • Keep all paint and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
  • Do not place food directly on a painted surface; always use a platter or plate.
  • Paint colours may vary on application.
  • *Timbers vary by state and territory; contact your local store for further information.

6For more easy D.I.Y. updates

Check out our furniture & upcycling projects.

 

Photo Credit: Jonny Valiant, Dieu Tan

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.