Chimney Cupboard-Inspired Bar

This piece was designed to fit in a fairly small spot but still maximize storage. I had eyed (amish/shaker?) chimney cupboards before, but thought a solid top would be too bulky for the spot. The result is an open top that can still store annoying glassware and allows for some drinks to be prepared on the tabletop. I also made an over-sized drawer to handle add’l glassware / various bar tools. I still have to make some dividers, but I wanted to wait and see exactly what would be going in there first.

This is my girlfriend and my second attempt at a distressed paint look. We’re still refining the technique, and took some pointers from rivergirl to use a light coat of stain on top of the scuffed paint. The result is subtle but a definite improvement. The door still needs a knob, the one we bought looked a bit off. I should have grain-matched the walnut top better, but my stock of walnut was quite low. Still, it all came from one board so it looks pretty good. All comments / questions / critiques are welcome.

-- Dan Chiappetta, NYC, http://www.9x7woodworks.com