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    Home » Repurposed Items » Old Drawer Cabinet

    Old Drawer Cabinet

    Published by Gail | Published March 4, 2016 | Updated June 23, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Hello! I am happy to be back here at MRL! For those of you that may be new, my name is Mindi, and I blog at MyLove2Create. I love being one of Gail's contributors. 🙂
    Can you believe it is March?! Time is speeding up, and spring is just around the corner, which always makes me glad. With the onset of spring I have been doing a little de-junking, which leads to my project today...An Old Drawer Cabinet.

    Old drawer and trim into a nice cabinet MyLove2Create for MyRepurposedLife.com

    I guess I have been doing MORE than just de-junking...I have been taking it and making it into a treasure!

    old drawer repurposed into a cabinet MyLove2Create for MyRepurposedlife.com

    It is amazing what a little imagination and paint can do!

    old drawer to be turned into cabinet

    It all started with this drawer. I have had it for about 4 years, and I got it for free off of Craig's list. It has been patiently waiting for a makeover and a new purpose in life.

    Removing drawer face from old drawer

    The drawer front was split and cracked on the sides and because I wanted to make this into a cabinet, I decided it needed to be removed. I used a crow bar and slowly pried it off.

    gluing in drawer bottom

    The sides were loose from the drawer bottom so I added some Gorilla Wood Glue and clamped it. You can also see I removed the drawer slides as well.

    old moulding to make cabinet door frame

    While the glue was drying on the drawer I picked up some left over trim that I had removed when I did my teen boy's room makeover. This would be the frame for my cabinet door. I cut one end at 45 degrees on my miter saw and then measured it to the drawer to make the second cut.

    making drawer cabinet face frame

    I did this all the way around until I had all four sides cut. Then I used wood glue and my nail gun to attach them at the corners. Note: I recommend using nail in fasteners on the corners if your trim moulding is too thin for pocket holes which is the best method, I was out of fasteners which is why I used nails, but I find it a weaker joining method on mitered corners...just saying.

    adding trim shelves into drawer

    For the shelves inside the old drawer cabinet I used some more trim from the same pile, it was a little wider than what I used for the frame. I cut it to size and glued and nailed it on the sides and the back.
    I just made two shelves, but you could add as many as you want!

    trying out trim door on old drawer

    This is what I had at this point.

    Cutting chicken wire for cabinet door

    Part of the reason I wanted to do this project is so that I could us some of this chicken wire I had picked up from the side of the road. I have been wanting to use it on something for a LONG time, so I was super excited when I was cutting it to fit my frame. 🙂  I used wire cutters, making sure I had enough to overlap for attaching later.

    filling holes in drawer with spackling

    Next up was filling the holes with spackle, if I was staining I probably would have skipped this step. I wanted to paint so I knew I need cover up the holes so they wouldn't show. I also sanded the drawer and cleaned it with TSP.

    painting old drawer cabinet

    Now for paint! I used a homemade chalk paint with white for my first coat, and then added another coat of white (non chalk paint) on top. Tip: For a smoother finish make sure to sand with fine grit paper between coats.

    old hardware for cabinet,

    I rounded up some hinges and a pull that I got off of some shutters...at least I think that is where they came from... I started by attaching the hinges to the old drawer cabinet first.

    stapling chicken wire onto door frame

    Then I attached my chicken wire to the back of the frame with staples, and screwed the door to the hinges on the cabinet. Last I added my pull. Oh, and I do want to note that I sprayed the chicken wire with oil rubbed bronze spray paint to darken it up a little.

    adding DIY door magnet catches

    When I got to installing the door I realized I needed a magnetic door catch. I didn't have any...so I made my own. I used some button magnets and a small scrap piece of wood. I hot glued them in the top and bottom corners so the magnet was flush with the top of the drawer. Then I hot glued on these metal plates into each corner. I think they were part of a magnetic catch system at one time...

    top close up of cabinet repurposed from a drawer

    They keep the door closed perfectly, and that is it. Done. Of course then you have to decide where it is going...I put felt pads on the bottom for now so it can stand on it's own, but I may add d-rings to the back and hang it in my bedroom. Decisions, decisions.

    old drawer cabinet with chicken wire door MyLove2Create for MyRepurposedLife.com

    I love how it turned out, simple and just cute!

    close up of cupboard door

    How fun is that chicken wire?! Ahhhh. 🙂

    old drawer cabinet with figurines

    Because this was such a narrow drawer it can only hold small things, and I think figurines would be perfect inside.

    Front of old drawer cabinet,

    Really it could go in any room. The bathroom, the kitchen for holding spices, or even in the kids room to hold lego miniatures. I also have been debating adding cup hooks and turning it into a jewelry cabinet for my bedroom, wouldn't that be fun!

    Turn an old drawer into a cabinet MyLove2Create for MyRepurposedLife.com

    This was a super fun project, and so easy! I guess I am happy I started de-junking and got side tracked...can you see why it is hard for me to throw anything away!?
    Have you made any treasures from your trash lately?
    Thanks for reading and feel free to stop by to see more great repurposed projects!
    Mindi

    See more of Mindi's Repurposed projects here on MRL below:
    [categorythumbnaillist 274]

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    About Mindi

    Mindi is a wife, mother, runner, dancer, and a lover of all things fun and DIY.

    A few years ago she discovered blogs and fell in love with the idea that she could do things she had always dreamed of doing. Like build furniture from pallets, and make cool projects for her home.... Mindi was inspired by other bloggers that empowered her to create.

    Mindi decided to give back and possibly reach someone out there that has a desire to create like herself. She believes we all have that desire in some form or another, and we all DO create in our own way, every day. Whether it be crafty or not, even creating happiness in others is a gift that many share.

    Mindi loves to learn and use that knowledge to make beautiful and useful things for her home.

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    1. Kristen Mcilrath

      September 03, 2020 at 10:20 pm

      I love it, great job.

      I refinish a lot of furniture and have my own power tools too, but the thing I am most afraid of is adding hinges. My husband says it's a pain ( that you have to notch out wood etc.) so now I am terrified.
      Can you show how with close up photo's please. It can't be that hard, can it?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 07, 2020 at 6:37 pm

        Kristen,

        This project is from my friend Mindi. But when you place hinges where they are visible, there's no notching necessary. Your hubby must be a trained wood worker. I have NEVER notched for any hinges.
        Here's an example of where I used a piano hinge https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/mirror-jewelry-armoire/
        A window cabinet with small hinges https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/window-box-cabinet/

        There will generally be a small gap, but in my opinion, it only adds to the charm!

        let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

        gail

    2. dawnmastersonphotgraphy

      August 21, 2020 at 5:57 am

      Hi love this project. We want to make the doors for our kitchen cabinets. We are wondering how you finished off the wire on the inside so it was pointy or sharp? Would love to see the back of the door.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        August 23, 2020 at 1:08 pm

        This project is from Mindi, she was a long time contributor to My Repurposed Life. You can visit her blog here, and leave a message for her on this post. https://www.mylove2create.com/2016/12/turn-drawer-into-cabinet.html

        I have done similar projects and understand your issue. I've never found the perfect way to get past it myself.

        gail

    3. linda posey mize

      May 17, 2018 at 1:14 pm

      Thanks for sharing your fun ideas! I just bought SEVERAL old drawers from a dear lady who was leaving most of her crafting to be able to travel with her husband. I am sure at least one will be used for this pretty cabinet:)

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 17, 2018 at 1:32 pm

        So awesome! I'm happy you're inspired by this project from my friend Mindi! Drawer projects are so much fun!

        gail

    4. Hannah

      September 28, 2016 at 11:11 am

      So creative and such a great tutorial

      Reply
    5. JaneEllen

      August 17, 2016 at 12:32 am

      Will have to come back sometime tomorrow to see more projects, you two are very busy talented ladies. Am loving all the re-do's, now if I can only get hubs to make couple of them for me. We have to work outside so it's not best situation in summer. No garage, basement or carport, have to be out in heat. If I would ever get all the "stuff" out of shed could use it eventually.
      Was going to clean shed out this Spring but was so cold and rainy no chance. Hope Fall will be more cooperative and my allergies don't go crazy. We lived in KY for 5 yrs., had nice garage to work in but allergies, asthma and arthritis were so bad had to move back west. Still have allergies but not to extent they were in KY, thank heavens.
      Enjoy rest of week.

      Reply
    6. Robin

      July 09, 2016 at 12:39 pm

      Great looking cabinet I also love repurposing! I just love that cabinet.
      Robin
      http://www.lifeonblackerryroad.com

      Reply
    7. Pearl

      May 15, 2016 at 12:44 am

      I love this! And I was thinking if you turned it into a jewelry cabinet or if you wanted to use it as a floor cabinet, some decorative furniture legs or the bun feet would be really cute on those too. Just a thought, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Sharleen Mehemed

      March 06, 2016 at 12:04 am

      Wow!
      You make it you look so easy!
      I have never tried any of these types of projects.
      But one day....

      Reply
    9. girlfromwva

      March 05, 2016 at 6:03 pm

      awesome!

      Reply
    10. Laurie

      March 04, 2016 at 10:22 pm

      Do you just use finishing nails to nail the shelves in? Not screws?

      Reply
    11. Sarah Pickering

      March 04, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Love it!! I also have those bicentennial Mason jars full of the same things in my bathroom 🙂

      Reply
    12. gail@myrepurposedlife.com

      March 04, 2016 at 12:39 pm

      Mindi,

      I love this repurposed drawer project. I have so many drawers in my stash... hoping to make something fabulous soon. yeah...because I need to do some de-junking too!

      super project and great tutorial!
      gail

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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