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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Trash to Treasure File Cabinet Take Two {Monthly DIY Challenge}


{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

Welcome back to another Monthly DIY Challenge!   I could not be more excited about this month's Trash to Treasure theme.   If you have been reading my blog for any length of time then you know turning trash into treasure is right up my alley.



In case you're new around here, the second Wednesday of every month my favorite bloggy friends and I get together and share a project based on a particular theme or material.   We've done all sorts of fun projects including wood slices, Dollar Store Crafts, plumbing pieces, doors and now my favorite of all, Trash to Treasure!

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

Last February, my boss was updating our office and hired a couple guys to haul away a bunch of old office furniture and supplies.  I was on the phone while most of the items were getting hauled to the dumpster, but happened to glance over when an old file cabinet passed by my desk.  Unfortunately, the drawers had already been thrown in the trash, but determined to save the cabinet I did what any normal person would do.  I put a smile on my face, batted my eyes (okay, maybe I didn't go that far) and asked the nice gentlemen if he would be so kind and pull the drawers out of the trash.   Totally normal, right?!?! 

The first makeover I did on this guy included the addition of white paint and fun wallpaper.  Unfortunately, I was so excited to get started on this project that I failed to take a before picture and only remembered AFTER I had started painting.  #bloggerfail



wallpapered file cabinet

I loved how the wallpaper looked, but it was time for another update.

In order to turn this two drawer cabinet into an eight drawer specimen cabinet I had to create the look of multiple drawers.   In my opinion the best way to achieve this look is with balsa wood.   It's incredibly light weight, easy to use and perfect for craft and DIY projects, especially if you don't own a saw.   I was able to cut each piece easily with a razor blade then smooth the rough edges with sandpaper. 
Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet
After all my boards were cut I gave them a quick coat of my favorite Jacobean stain.
Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet
While the stain was drying I spray painted a bunch of wood button caps that I planned on using for the front of the drawers.
Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet
Once everything was dry, I applied a fair amount of wood glue to the planks then glued them in place.  
Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

I let them dry overnight then it was time to install my favorite part, the wood caps and hardware.  I knew when planning this project that I wanted to use my favorite cup pulls from D.Lawless Hardware.  I used them for a previous project and love their quality and affordability.  These particular pulls come in a variety of colors and are a total steal at $0.60 a piece!

Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet



{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

{Trash to Treasure} Turn an ordinary file cabinet into a faux specimen cabinet

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  1. I can't even come up with any words to express how incredibly impressed with this makeover. Your best yet!!!

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  2. Oh my gosh I LOVE this. Everything about this is completely brilliant and looks like something you'd find in a high-end store! Such a genius idea to use balsa wood - I'll have to use that tip for a project I've got in mind since I definitely don't have a saw! I seriously just want to come to your house and steal this ;) haha

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    1. Thanks girl! You can stop over anytime; although, there may be a fight for the cabinet, ha! :)

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  3. WOW! That looks awesome! Great job, girl!

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  4. How absolutely amazing is this, Katie!? I am not a fan of filing cabinets but this makes me want one! Love it! Your ideas always rock!
    Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com

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    1. Thanks Kendra! I was never a fan of them either, now I wish I had more!

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  5. cool as all get out love it xx

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  6. Totally normal to ask the nice man to go garbage picking for you haha. This is seriously awesome, Katie!! Our balsa wood covered file cabinets can be friends :) Now are you going to remember which handle opens the bottom drawer??

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    1. Ha, I never even thought about that and totally laughed out load at the thought of me trying to open the bottom drawer from the wrong pull!!! I guess I'll just have to remember to pull from the very bottom :)

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  7. This is the best file cabinet makeover I've ever seen! I seriously love it, Katie! It doesn't even look like a file cabinet. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  8. Lovely transformation, I found you on Dwelling Gawker today (along with my family room transformation). Love your project. Shared on my FB page today and readers love it! Congrats on your feature!

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    1. Thanks Jeannette! I'm so glad you stopped by an I really appreciate the share! Off to check out your family room.

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  9. NO way! This is absolutely amazing. Katie, I'm totally in love with it!

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  10. This is amazing, Katie! Love the makeover, and great choice using the balsa wood! Love it!

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  11. This looks awesome. I love it.

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  12. This is amazing! Now, I want to go thrift shopping and find a file cabinet to makeover. lol Your cabinet is stunning and inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing. I will be pinning this for later! :D

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    1. I'm so glad I could inspire you. Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning, I appreciate the share!

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  13. This is fantastic! Love your project.. Pinned and sharing on FB as well!

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    1. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing, Wendi! Glad you liked the makeover.

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  14. I love that so much! I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for an old filing cabinet to make my own!

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    1. Thanks Anne! The hunt of finding the perfect piece is always my favorite part.

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  15. Wow, what an awesome update!!! I absolutely love how it looks <3 Stopping by from Craft-o-maniac!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you're here and like the makeover!

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  16. Great tip on the balsa wood. I didn't know about that, perfect for those of us who don't use power tools! I love how this came out! Thanks for sharing at Pin-Worthy Wednesday, you'll be featured this week!

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  17. Stunning!
    Found you through Burlap & Babies - thanks for sharing

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Shelly, glad you enjoyed the cabinet!

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  18. LOVE it! Great job!
    I would love for you to stop by my blog and join our Something to Talk About link party!
    Have a great week!
    Karen

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    1. Thanks Karen! I'm all linked up to the link party, thanks for the invite.

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  19. This might be the most clever makeover I've ever seen! Thanks for linking up with Creative Spark; I'm featuring your file cabinet today. Please stop by to grab a featured button and link up again!

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    1. Thanks SO much for the feature Emily! I'll be sure to stop by and grab a button to add to my "features" page.

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  20. Sooo awesome! I love everything about it!

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  21. This is soooo cute. I did a really similar make-over a year ago using a pair of bedside tables. You can see it here: http://thepaintedhive.net/2014/07/re-love-project-before-after/. It's actually funny that you used button screw covers as the "handles" because I bought some for just that reason though never ended up using them.

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    1. Thanks Kristine! I love all your projects and have featured many of them on my blog! You always have the best furniture makeovers! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  22. Katie, that is amazing!! What awesome vision and execution for your dumpster dive! :) I love the stain color! Thanks so much for sharing at Best of the Nest!

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  23. What an amazing project! The outcome looks gorgeous and sounds pretty simple to do. I have a three drawer cabinet I might have to try this on. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  24. This is awesome Katie! I just saw it at the Get Your DIY On party. Now that's a file cabinet with some style! Pinning to share.

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  25. I absolutely love how creative you are! I'm hoping to recreate a similar look on an old office credenza. Do you happen to know what size wood button caps you used? Thanks again for sharing!!

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    1. Thank you! I believe they are about 1/2 inch in diameter, maybe a tad larger. Good luck on your upcoming project.

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  26. hello

    this looks really good! what was the cabinet made of originally, wood or laminated chipboard? what did you use to paint it white?

    thanks

    valeria

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  27. The wallpaper look was lovely but this one is magnificent, Katie. It looks so realistic, I wouldn't know which drawer to pull! So much better than the tired laminate file cabinet it started out as.

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