In today’s video I’m giving this built-in desk area in my dining room a budget makeover, because my house was built in 1992 and there’s honey oak everywhere. It’s not in the budget to rip it out (and I’m still deciding what I want here long-term), but I was so tired of staring at that orange-y tone. So I cleared everything off, wiped it down, ditched the weirdest old knobs, and turned this spot into a cozy little coffee bar for about $85 (not including the decor). I walk you through what I used, what it cost, and what I’d do differently next time. The biggest thing: if you’re covering honey oak, prime first (I use Zinsser 123), and don’t skip protecting your painted “countertop.” I painted mine Pure White (semi-gloss), but I regret not sealing it—coffee splatters don’t wipe as easily and it scratches if you move things around. The peel-and-stick backsplash was the star of the show (super thick and sticky), and I finished it off with peel-and-stick gold trim, affordable gold knobs, and an appliance slider so I can roll my coffee machine out without wrecking the surface.