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    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Repurposed Dresser into Media Center (card catalog drawers)

    Repurposed Dresser into Media Center (card catalog drawers)

    Published by Gail | Published April 29, 2014 | Updated January 6, 2020
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    I'm so excited to share this media center project with you!

     

    repurposed-dresser-card-catalog-drawers

     


     Gotta Love Free Furniture

    free-dresserI love transforming pieces of furniture, and dressers are among my favorites, especially when said dresser is free. Smile

    Inspect and Clean Dresser

    I got this dresser on New Year’s Eve, and I’ve had it in storage ever since. It was in a friend’s neighborhood, and when she called me to tell me it was on the side of the road it was already dark.

    I just snatched it up, and covered it with plastic till the next day. It has some issues for sure, and there was a lot of junk inside all the drawers. That is candle wax all over the top of it.

    *this post contains affiliate links, read more here*

     

    Make a Plan of Action for the Media Center

    free- dresserWhen I dug it out of storage a couple of weeks ago, I started examining the drawers. Two of the original drawers were missing their guides, so I removed the guides from the top two drawers and decided to do away with them and add shelves.

    Then, I scraped all the candle wax off, and used some TSP and some sandpaper to get a good surface for painting.

     

    Replace Dresser Drawers with Shelves

    remove-drawers-thin-plywood-shelvesI cut some thin plywood shelves and used my edge banding on the front of the plywood to give it a nice edge. (this is just a dry fit)

     

    How to add Faux Catalog Drawer Fronts

    make-drawer-look-like-two-drawersDo you remember when I routed the drawers on the tall black cabinet? I recently saw Diane’s winning entry in the BHG Final Four Challenge and I was inspired to change up these drawers. By adding some thin plywood, suddenly one drawer looks like two!

     

    one-drawer-into-twoThen I remembered I had these small picture frames that I got from my sister a couple of years ago.

     

    add-plywood-to-drawerI played around with some configurations, sent jamie some pictures to ask her opinion, and we decided on this.

     

    transform-dresser-drawer-card-catalog-drawerI grabbed one of my drawer pulls that I used on that black cabinet to see how it looks. I’m liking it!

     

    gorilla-wood-glue-holds-frameI used Gorilla Wood Glue to attach the small frames to the thin plywood, while my combination square to make sure the sides were even all around.

     

    clamps-Gorilla-GlueI used clamps to hold the frames in place till the Gorilla Wood Glue dries.

    Epoxy Secures Drawer Glides

    drawer-guides-repairThe drawer guides were broken, and I was unable to secure them with staples or screws, so I used my Gorilla Epoxy. It stinks, but it WORKS!

     

    more-glue-clampsI also used the Gorilla Wood Glue to hold down the top shelves. NOTE:  I have removed the decorative piece on the bottom that makes this piece look like a dresser and added 1x6’s ripped to the proper size to allow the drawers to open.

    Use a Sander Instead of Stripper

    dreser-remake-media-centerI sanded all the drawer fronts to remove the original finish.

     

    dresser-to-card-catalog-media-centerAre you still with me? This is becoming one very long tutorial. I hope you’re learning something. Smile This is where I wish I had noticed something, and made a change. Can you spot it?

    I grabbed a bunch of scrap plywood pieces, and I should have paid more attention when cutting them that the grains matched better. Sad smile By the way, I used my nail gun to attach the plywood and the frame to the drawer.

     

    Stain Drawer Fronts

    minwax-stainThis is after 1 coat of Minwax Golden Oak, but I think they look too new. I was going for a more “used/aged” look.

     

    darkened-with-jacobeanI added some Minwax Jacobean all over, adding it a little heavier in some places, I like it better now.

    Quick & Easy Painting | Media Center

    homeright-finish-max-proIt was time for the dresser to head to the paint booth for it’s primer makeover with my Homeright Finish Max Pro.

     

    dress-rehearsalI was so excited to see how the drawers were going to look, I had to insert one just to get a look.

     

    behr-semi-gloss-paintI bought a gallon of a white semi-gloss in Behr Premium Plus Ultra.

     

    dresser-into-media-centerDon't you love the white and wood tones together?

    Choosing Hardware for Faux Card Catalog

    test-driving-hardwareI got these three options of hardware from my friends at D Lawless Hardware. The top left is Antique Copper Cabinet Label Holder, the top right is Matte Chrome Cup Pull  the bottom right is Antique Copper Cup Pull with Screw Heads.

    Again, I sent the picture to Jamie to get her opinion. We were both in agreement, that the Label Holder one best suits this piece.

     

    cabinet-label-pulls-hardwareI drilled tiny pilot holes and installed the pulls with some antique copper screws using my tape measure to the distance.

    How to Add Wheels To Dresser Media Center

    how-to-add-wheelsIn order to add these  wheels to the media center, I attached a small piece of 2x4 on each corner and used 1 ⅞” drywall screws to secure them. If you look closely, you can see that I drilled a pilot hole before inserting the screw.

     

    dresser-card-catalog-media-centerCan you believe that it is the same piece as that free dresser? It was such a fun project to work on, I can’t wait for it to find a new forever home.

     

    media-center-card-catalog-look-a-like

    Free Dresser Repurpose | Media Center

    repurposed-dresser-faux-card-catalog

    Save & Share on Pinterest

    Have you changed up a dresser into something else?

    gail

    you can see more dresser projects in my gallery

    sharing here:

    Becky's under $100 Party

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    1. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

      May 07, 2014 at 9:33 pm

      Now that's a transformation! I would have been tempted to pass on that one, but you totally saved it! And I love the label holder pulls too!

      Reply
    2. Becky

      May 07, 2014 at 6:16 pm

      Love and featuring tonight!

      Reply
    3. Pat

      May 01, 2014 at 11:42 pm

      Wow Gail!
      You did a great job on this one. I DO LIKE the wood and white paint. Jamie and you both have a great eye for detail...I like that hardware.
      2 thumbs up.
      Patricia

      Reply
    4. Judy

      April 30, 2014 at 2:24 am

      I love what you made this into. You give me so many great ideas. The only thing I didn't care for on this project was the wood and white combo. I would have painted the wood white or another color but it's really your great ideas that inspire me to look at things differently. I have a piece that I garbage picked from my neighbor that I was going to throw out. Now, you;ve given me so many ideas that I'm going to make it work for something. (It's a glass door bath floor cabinet that's missing it's top.)

      Reply
    5. girlfromwva

      April 29, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      love the white and the wood! looks really beautiful!

      Reply
    6. Sue Z.

      April 29, 2014 at 8:39 pm

      You never cease to amaze with your ideas, Gail! As Sylvia said - I'd love to give this piece it's forever home and would in half a heartbeat! I've always loved rich woodtones and with the white, they really stand out. Loving it!

      Reply
    7. Pam

      April 29, 2014 at 3:29 pm

      Love it....love the drawers. Great job.

      Reply
    8. Dee

      April 29, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Wow you sure are talented. I just love this piece. Wish I could turn an old piece of furniture into a masterpiece.

      I have once question: How do you keep gorilla glue from hardening?
      I buy the stuff use it once, make sure the air is all out, but when I try to use it again, it is hard as a rock....

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.net

        April 29, 2014 at 5:24 pm

        Dee

        Gorilla Wood Glue? I store mine for months before I go through the bottle, and I've never had it harden. I've had it dry up on the spout that I have to clean off, but that's it.

        gail

    9. Mindi

      April 29, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      So totally awesome!! The drawer fronts are genius, truly! I love love love it!!! Yea Gail!

      Reply
    10. Korrie

      April 29, 2014 at 10:52 am

      What a great makeover! Unbelievable that it's the same piece.

      Reply
    11. Stephanie@cre8tive

      April 29, 2014 at 10:34 am

      What a cool transformation you did on that Gail! I noticed the grain right away lol But it still looks awesome!

      Reply
    12. darrielle tennenbaum

      April 29, 2014 at 9:48 am

      Great Job! What an amazing makeover. Have a great week!
      Darrielle

      Reply
    13. Crystal @My Blissful Space

      April 29, 2014 at 9:43 am

      LOVE this transformation!!!! Great job!!!

      Reply
    14. Paige @ Little Nostalgia

      April 29, 2014 at 9:18 am

      !!!!!!!!!!!!

      That's how excited I am, I can only type exclamation points, haha. This is SO COOL. I still have a $10 dresser sitting in the garage from last summer that I never got to. Maybe I can bust that out when it stops raining!

      Reply
    15. Sylvia

      April 29, 2014 at 9:10 am

      I would be happy to give this fab piece a forever home. Too bad I live near Seattle. Another amazing make over!

      Reply
    16. Terri

      April 29, 2014 at 8:58 am

      Another great transformation...as always!

      Reply
    17. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      April 29, 2014 at 8:23 am

      Turned out great, again! The wood drawers with the white cabinet looks beautiful.

      Reply
    18. Cher

      April 29, 2014 at 8:20 am

      The dresser - er - media center looks great, Gail! So inspired!

      Reply
    19. Holly

      April 29, 2014 at 8:00 am

      This turned out beautifully! I love the look of the drawers! Great job. I love working with free things...it makes it easier to try something different and new!

      Reply
    20. Laurie M

      April 29, 2014 at 7:02 am

      I love that you upcycle, but next time when you glue wood to the front please make sure all the wood grain is running in the same direction. You are making my OCD come out front and centre!!!! Otherwise fun use of something that likely would have been dumped in a landfill

      Reply
    21. Susan

      April 29, 2014 at 6:42 am

      You are amazing girl! I love this and if I lived closer to you I would totally buy it. It looked like a lot of work... you have never ending energy that amazes me 🙂 Excellent, I think this is my very favorite thing you've created 🙂
      xo
      Susan

      Reply
    22. Lisa

      April 29, 2014 at 5:21 am

      I appreciate how you show all the steps! It looks great.

      Reply
    23. Doris Henson

      April 29, 2014 at 4:13 am

      Love this...and I love how you trimmed out the drawers and the pulls are perfect!! Great idea putting the wheels on these large pieces too....it sure makes for moving them around a whole lot easier for cleaning. 🙂

      Reply
    24. Kim (TheKimSixFix)

      April 29, 2014 at 3:31 am

      I love this! It came out beautifully. The pulls you picked are perfect!

      Reply
      • polly plum

        May 01, 2014 at 7:51 am

        This piece came out beautiful!!!!I wouldn't have thought of the white- natural wood combo, sometimes I get too 'matchy', but I have to try to curb that urge, because this combo looks great! thx for the picture frame idea!All the measuring, cutting, fitting together of pieces of trim are done for you, genius!I'll remember that one.:)

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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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