Repurposed Door Blanket Chest
PIN IT!
Last year I promised to make my niece Missy a small chest to keep her purses in. I had a set of 3 panel bi-folding (hollow cored) doors. I cut each door into three sections. Not ever having cut a hollow core door, I had no idea that it was totally hollow on the inside. I used some scraps to fill in the hollow part. I glued and clamped them. I then proceeded to try to make a box. The size configuration of the two small squares did not match up with the rectangle sections. I gave up and decided not to make it.
For over a year I have been shuffling these 6 pieces around my garage.
This picture is from early Spring before I cleaned the garage. There are the pieces of door with the black arrows. I recently dug them out and decided to make something with them. At first, I could only find 3 of the large pieces. Somehow one of them had gotten separated.
Here are all the pieces. If you look closely at the small pieces you can see how I added the scraps to give the hollow part support.
At first I thought of making a small shelf, however since I only had 2 smaller pieces, that wasn’t going to work. Can you see the scraps here?
For some reason I had put primer on one of the squares! I do not remember that at all.
You know I have this habit of trying things right side up and up-side down. Still trying to figure out what this wants to be. I decide to make it into a box/chest. But then I remember why I never finished it last year. It won’t work! hahaha
Since I work alone and I only have 2 hands, I decide to use bar clamps to clamp it and see if I can figure out what the problem is. Oh, there it is! The sides are too small to make a box. The box is smaller than the bottom, which means it will also be smaller than the top.
Yeah, this clearly isn’t working. At this point I pretty much have figured out a way around it. I have learned a lot in the last year. When I built my media center I used something called front facings ???
This is the media center, see how the 1x’s finish off the mdf. They encase it, and give it a wood look. Below I'll show you how this same technique helps me out with this blanket chest.
I start putting the box together. Because of the overhang, I want to make sure my screws are in the right place. I used the speed square to see where the side lined up.
I slid the speed square along the edge to make sure my screws were in the center of the side of my box.
Now the box is right side up and I’m wondering why that hinge cutout is showing! Why didn’t I put it on the bottom? I’ll tell you why, because while I had it clamped the bottom was the top. But I didn’t want to unclamp or try to turn it right side, so I started putting my screws in. It wasn’t until I turned it over that I realized the hinge cutout was showing! I had only been dry fitting it, but it worked, so I started building before I was ready.
As always I used glue and my nail gun.
Here is the finished box. The top also had a hinge cut out that I had to patch.
Here you see my handy dandy caulk gun and my spackling. There were some cracks that needed filling in with the caulk. I used the spackling to fill in the mortises.
So, you can see there is overhang around all the edges now. It makes it more cohesive.
I painted this with Behr premium plus paint. It is Black Suede, Sarah’s favorite (Thrifty Decor Chick) It was included in my swag bag from the Hop & Shop in Indy.
I hope you can see here that the lid and the bottom extend past the “box”.
I chose to paint the inside white, for a cleaner, crisper look.
I am NOT a fan of hinges. Those of you who follow my tweets and Facebook fan page, this is the piece I was talking about last week when I was complaining about hinges!
I am NOT a fan of hinges. Those of you who follow my tweets and Facebook fan page, this is the piece I was talking about last week when I was complaining about hinges!
HERE
gail
Check out other door projects here
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Priscilla stouffer
I have the bi-fold doors with the louvers
Do you have any ideas how I can incorporate those into a chest
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I would suggest using the bi-fold louvered doors in an upright cabinet like one of the ones in this collection of shutter projects.
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/shutter-projects
Mary
I really appreciate that you include such detailed pictures. You are inspiring me to think " Well, maybe I CAN do something like that!" Of course, I don't have all the tools so I'll have to start out small. Thanks for the great ideas!
Diane
I bought a bunch of doors at the Habitat Re-Store last fall. Now I have an idea for the small ones. Thanks.
Hope you are behaving in your recovery. I can't go without your blogs. I've got all the tools now, just waiting for warm weather. Below zero again.
girlfromwva
Loving it!!!
Susan
You are amazing Gail... that is all there is to it 🙂
Pam
Love it for sure...
C
Hi Gail, I really likey...your work is AWESOME! Carlotta from Ohio
Gail Wilson
Thank you Carlotta! 🙂
I do love what I do.
gail
Cali-Juicy
Wow! I love it! I wish I was handy like that!I'd definitely make me one of those.
spontaneousmoment.blogspot.com
Suzanne
I don't have enough fantabulous adjectives for your posts. Once again -- it's incredible!
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence
Gail, I love this and I actually have door pieces I have had for years for this exact same project. You have inspired--might just happen this summer!
Titti @ Shoestring Pavilion
Love the box! Wonderful execution and result. Now I want one too...
Ms. Bake-it
Hello Gail,
I love your blanket chest! What a fabulous job. I just cannot get over the fact that you made it out of an old door! Very clever!
~ Tracy
Chari at Happy To Design
Hi Gail...
My friend, your blanket chest is fabulous! Ohhh my gosh, I just can't believe all of the planning and work that went into this project but you made it work and it's a gorgeous piece!!! I would have never thought to use doors such as these for a chest...GRAND idea, my friend!!! I love the black finish that you put on it as well!!! What a creative and talented gal you are, Gail!!! I just love, love, LOVE your blanket chest!!! Thank you for sharing this fabulous project with us...and all of the "how to's"!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Prior
This turned out so nice... It would be perfect for my Prior Lives Party. Lezlee
Paige (Final Clothes-Out)
That's so cool!
My bro-in-law has a coffee table made out of a door from an old insane asylum.
Mandy
Amazing! You did a great job!
Jill
This is incredible. You are so creative. I'm always in awe of your brilliance. 🙂
Bonnie@Creative Decorating
I am traveling over from Transformation Thursday. I would never have thought doors could end up looking so great! Love it!
Katie
I absolutely LOVE that chest!! So freakin' clever, and it turned out so cute. Will have to bookmark this incase I ever attempt one myself. Or just to go back and drool over yours :).
P.S. I love the tip about using wax paper to store candles. Bet it also helps to keep them from sticking together!
Lorie
What a great project! I am going to feature it on my blog tomorrow!
La Bella Vie
Are you kidding me, you don't do this for a living? I have to say girl, I think you missed your calling, this site and your work is truly wonderful!
Thank you for coming by La Bella Vie, I love finding a following new blogs myself and really like it when people are interested in my finds too.
Stay tuned my friend for the bed reveal...just needs paint now but our rain hasn't stopped long enough and its freezing out!
Terry
Maggie Mae
I love your blog! If I lived close by, I would beg you to let me be your apprentice. I have two questions: Where do you sell the pieces you make? How do you decide what to sell them for?
Suzanne
I'm with "Kathy @ Gone North" -- I'd like to camp out in your backyard and just watch you work for a week or two!
La Bella Vie
Ok so this is wonderful and I love renovations that make something functional again. Would love to have you come by my blog to see our project "EASTLAKE TRANSFORMATION PART ONE" I think its going to turn out really fun and functional and would make you proud of us that don't do this for a living:) I would love any input you may have.
I'd also like to extend the invitaion to come be a FOLLOWER on my blog if you would like. Its fun to see all the little smiling faces up there when I log on:)
Terry
Makalani Adolpho, PLC
Wow this is great. You are so creative and talented. U inspire me, fo' reals.
Andrea
WOW! This looks awesome! Great job!
Mardell
Wow! I love it. Alot of work went into that! I voted for you yesterday, but I tried today & couldn't. Must be you can only do it once? Well, you're ahead this morning (169) & the spools have 163!
Denise
The blanket chest looks great, I am sure you will figure out the hinge issue you are a very clever girl!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that is awesome!!!! i have 2 old doors still. maybe i will get brace and try that. it will mean i need my dad's tools and guidance, so that depends on his summer sailing schedule, but maybe in the fall. i will have to star this project- love it!! it would make a great toy chest, too!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that is awesome!!!! i have 2 old doors still. maybe i will get brace and try that. it will mean i need my dad's tools and guidance, so that depends on his summer sailing schedule, but maybe in the fall. i will have to star this project- love it!! it would make a great toy chest, too!
Patti
WOW!! Great chest! (sorry,) I mean blanket chest.
Kathy@ Gone North
Oh My... Can I come & spend some time at your place & just watch you in action?? I want to learn how to do all of that...
Beautiful so far!
You are one amazing girl!
A Pretty Pastime
It looks really nice as it is. I can't wait to see when you have it finished!
Granny J
I believe the hinge cuts are called mortises. It looks great. Amazing what you can do with scraps isn't it? I'd put a piano hinge on that. It is the simplest way to go for that type of box. No chiseling out for the hinges and it will close smoothly.
Proper Prim
Rose I am with you on that one... I don't think my eyes are wide open just yet... It sure looks like a box to me and if I might add a darn nice box...
you can do hinges on the inside then they would be hidden... just a thought.
Can't wait to see this one done. I bet you are too...lol
Hugs, Deb
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic
I think I need more coffee...I had to go back a few times to look.
Can't wait to see how it looks all finished!
Rose