How I Updated a Vanity to Look Like Inset Cabinets

The guest bathroom has been waiting for a facelift. Let me show you how I updated a vanity to look like inset cabinets.

We renovated our house about 5 years ago, and stopped short of redoing the guest bathroom. The tile had been redone by a previous owner in a white marble, and since I didn’t hate it, I figured it could wait.

When you are a DIYer, there are always projects on deck. Our home was a custom build from back in the 1950s. Everything was quality, but some things were dated and tired. This is what it started out looking like.

I was hoarding a really nice vanity one of our contractors had taken out of a home that was really lovely and high quality, that he gifted me. After having it in the way for too long, I finally sold it and decided I would rework my plans of ripping out the current vanity and come up with a low cost solution.

I had been estimating a new countertop and sink and the price was more than I wanted to spend. Time to be creative.

Scalloped trim was the inspiration

I was inspired on Pinterest by a few different cabinets that I had seen with scallop trim. Figuring that was the perfect look for the guest bath, as the overall style was leaning very shabby chic. What could be cuter than scallops?

I searched one day on Etsy for someone who was selling laser trims, and found this one. I ordered two pieces of the trim, making plans to rework the cabinet I had. The trim promptly came, then sat inside my garage for over 9 months, until one day.

The inset cabinet look

When we redid our kitchen, we used inset cabinets. I love the look and they fit the aesthetic of the house, which is a Cape Cod.

So when I was planning to upgrade the look of the cabinet in the guest bath, I decided to try to make it look like the inset ones I love so much. The old 50s cabinets just weren’t giving me vibes anymore.

Enter, me and my saw. The best part about this change is that it could be achieved by adding some wood trim and a few other details.

An update on a whim

One day recently, I finally decided to just do the project. On a whim, I headed to Home Depot to buy the necessary trim, spending less than $40.

I had already hung new wallpaper a few years back, but this space definitely still needed an upgrade.

The project was one of those “figure it out” as you go types. Here’s what I did…

Trimming the edges near the cabinet

Since I was doing this on a whim, and working on a tight budget, I decided to just deal with the hinges that were already there.

The hinges were low profile enough that I figured I could cover them up when adding the trim in between the drawers and cabinets that make it all look like insets.

So I began by trimming some of the edges of the cabinets. I used a table saw to do this.

I trimmed quite a bit off the bottom of the cabinets to accommodate the scallop trim I had purchased. This created an edge when you open the cabinets, which I don’t mind at all.

I also sliced off the beveled edge on all sides but the ones facing the hinges. The hinge side would get covered up enough, so I made it work for what I had.

Adding a flat trim

I then added a 1/4″ thick flat trim that is 2 inches wide to give the cabinet fronts a shaker style design. This trim is sold in lengths of 4 feet and would make the shaker cabinet detail that I was looking for.

I mitered all the edges and attached the trim to the cabinets with construction glue and thin brad nails.

The scallop trim was added to the bottom and I was getting excited. I knew it was going to look so cute!

Trimming out the alleys in between

Placing a 3/4″ thick trim in the alleys between the cabinets and drawers was really going to give it that inset look. I cut all the lengths, then needed to carve away the space where the current hinge would sit.

I measured, made my markings, and removed the wood in the area where the hinge would sit with a multi tool. It went pretty quick, and 6 hinge areas were done in no time!

If you do any sort of DIYs, that multi tool is a must have! Just when I am wracking my brain about how to do something, I remember ‘oh, the multi tool!’ and it handles everything.

A bit of finishing

Since I was updating the cabinet, I decided to order a few other items like new lighting and a new faucet. I also made the decision to trim out the mirror because there was this weird hex tile that I hated.

I will show you how I did that next in another post. Let’s not get confused.

After filling all the holes, and sanding, I began painting. I used my Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint and mixed a custom color.

I mixed the color Subway Tile, which is a soft white, with the color Tea Towel, a light blue. This created a paler blue that matched the drapes I have in the room made from a Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic couture floral linen fabric.

I purchased glass knobs for the cabinets for a pretty and vintage look.

An updated vanity to look like inset cabinets

Now that everything is all done, you’d never know that I had those original cabinets from the 50s in here. The added detail has really elevated the space, and I am loving the scallop detail!

Every time I walk by the bathroom, I have to stop in and stare at how cute the cabinet is now!

I’m on a roll, and can’t wait to move onto the next project soon! Next I will be sharing how I covered some ugly hex tile around the mirror and made a frame. Stay tuned.

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