Trash to Treasure Filing Cabinet

I am the reason we do not have nice things.


 I rebuilt and made over this thrift store filing cabinet after breaking the old one too many times.

Why? Because I snapped the plastic, handle off this filing cabinet drawer almost as soon as we got it home.

Uncle Bob?

My Green DIY Diva powers came to the rescue! I spiffed up a set of sturdy second hand cabinet handles with paint, attached them to the drawer fronts, and Bob’s your uncle. 

• A little later a drawer broke; Husband kvetched we need a less flimsy cabinet. I fixed the drawer.

• A year later the bottom drawer broke, Husband kvetched we need a less flimsy cabinet. I fixed the drawer.

• A few months after that the top drawer broke, Husband kvetched we need a less flimsy cabinet. I fixed the drawer.

A drawer broke again. I agreed. We need a less flimsy filing cabinet.

Husband and I think a larger and sturdier filing cabinet will contain the paper explosion in our office. Participating in the Apartment Guide Holiday Organization Blogger Challenge is the shove I need to get this party started. I’ve been putting it off for far too long.

We lucked out at the Habitat Restore and found a wood filing cabinet. After a rousing game of It Won’t Fit The Space, Oh Yes It Will we bought the filing cabinet. I’m determined to prove Husband wrong that the cabinet fits the space (I hope.)

Filing Cabinet Before

This cabinet needs a little love before she goes into service. There’s a nice ring on the top and a big faded patch on the side. That’s why we got the cabinet so cheap.

The back and bottom is missing on the second drawer and that’s why we got the cabinet even cheaper. No biggie. I have a compound miter saw and I’m not afraid to use it.

I measured and cut a new drawer back and bottom from wood I already had. I used wood glue and a few nails to attach the pieces to drawer.

 I didn't paint the new pieces. You won't see it once I add the hanging file folders.

Now to do something about that faded side and general scuff uppidness with paint.

I love this little guy!

I removed the hardware and sanded the cabinet with my Mouse sander. I like the Mouse because it has a point that allows me to sand in the corners of furniture unlike a round orbital sander.

I  painted the cabinet with two shades of low VOC paint I had on hand. I used the Dutch Boy Refresh in Twisted Knot I had leftover from painting the kitchen and a tester of Martha Stewart Interior Paint in Sultana. I went with a simple two tone paint job because I don’t want a design on the cabinet to compete with the patterned office walls.

I’m generally not a fan of oil rubbed bronze (sorry ORB lovers, it’s just not my thang) but I think the original handle color works with the greens in cabinet. It stays.

I reattached the hardware and marveled at my new treasure.

 This is the cabinet’s temporary home while I reorganize the office.

For the record, I was right. The new cabinet fits the space. Heh.

$100 AmEx Gift Card Giveaway!

I am giving away ONE $100 AmEx Gift Card as part of the Apartment Guide Holiday Home Organization Blogger Challenge. That’s right, 100 smackers FOR YOU. What are you waiting for? The giveaway runs November 16, 2010 – December 4, 2010 12 midnight EST. Go enter!

Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.

 Disclosure: Apartment Guide is owned by Consumer Source, Inc. Apartment Guide partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Holiday Home Organization” Blogger Challenge. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the “Holiday Home Organization” Blogger Challenge. Apartment Guide and Consumer Source believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.