Howdie folks, I am on a bit of a roll. Today I am ready for another craft room reveal. I’ve got storage. Glorious wonderful storage space. Just waiting to be filled!!
Just a few days ago this is how it looked like in my craft room: an empty wall, a cupboard waiting to be hauled to the dump and junk everywhere:
This is how that corner looks today:
Tada! I built a storage unit from pallet wood and I decided to repurpose that little cupboard after all.
The storage unit has been in the making for a few weeks now. I worked on it of and on. It wasn’t that much work, I just didn’t have enough time to commit to it.
It began with some simple pallets that got dismantled and sanded.
See, it was nice, warm weather then, so I could do the sanding outside (oh sun how I long for thee).
After cutting the planks to size I gave them a quick wash with white paint (sorry no pics of me painting, just imagine me brush in hand and covered with white paint spatters).
And then I screwed it all together with an assortment of screws. (sorry no boring pictures of me holding a cordless screw driver either. Just use your imagination).
That’s basically all that it took.
I love the rustic look of it. The roughness of the boards, the visible screws, the irregularities, the simple design.
I designed measured it around the library card unit I love so much. I love how the painted wood and the brown wood look together now. The combination enhances them both.
The baskets are actually those ‘hanging on a shelf’ kind of baskets (like Ikea has), I found for next to nothing in the thrift store.
My boards were to thick to use them, so I cut the hanging bit off and screwed them to the underside.
And look at that little cupboard, just fitting in perfectly in the corner.
I was so ready to say goodbye to this baby, she was practically on her way out the door.
Until I realized she fit perfectly next to my new unit under the slanted roof and I could use some hidden storage too. So I figured I could just give her a little makeover to fit in with her new position.
Remember how she looked before?
All pink and girly. This IKEA hack is the first ever tutorial I did on my blog. I gave an already-old-then Ikea cupboard makeover with a cottage look with fabric and chicken wire.
And look at her now!
Who would have thought that replacing the fabric with burlap coffee sacks and changing the door knobs for some black ones, would have such a big impact. She doesn’t look girly anymore at all. Now she looks tough and industrial. Love it.
So glad this project is finished. Can’t wait to fill it all up and put it to good use.
So have you uncovered some hidden treasures among your furniture? Ever repurposed pallets into storage? And do you agree that my little cupboard has lost all her girly charm and instead now oozes industrial goodness?
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Katie @ Wildwood Creek says
Love your new storage area and the card catalog is fabulous!
Suesan says
Your little cupboard has a lovely industrial feel to it. I love it! Nice save. The craft area is shaping up nicely.
Marianne@Songbird says
Thanks! Yes I am really happy with the way things are turning out too. If only I could finish it already.
Michele says
Where did you get the card catalog? I love it
@mpv61 says
I don’t know where she found hers, but I found one on Craigslist. Check the Craigslist of any area you’re willing to drive to and also check eBay. Look for “card catalog,” “card file,” “library,” “index file,” “oak file,” etc. A couple of the brands are Remington Rand and Gaylord, but there are more and sometimes it’s worth searching for the particular brands, especially if you find a brand you like (for instance, Gaylord Bros card catalogs are modular which is convenient).
Another thing is where you will put it. I needed one that was 5 drawers wide or less to fit in a certain spot. The 6-wides are usually about 33″. Happy hunting!
Marianne, I love the whole look there!
@mpv61 says
Sorry, I meant the 5-wides are usually about 33″! Big error!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thanks for your help in answering Michele. I found my cabinet in the basement of my in-laws. So I wouldn’t have been of much help.
Marianne@Songbird says
I found it in my in-laws basement. So I’m not much help here. But I see that you got a wonderful comment from Melanie. Good luck in finding your cabinet.
Carol says
You are definitely on a roll! it looks amazing!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thx!!!
Laura Putnam says
Really well done – thanks for the inspiration – I have slanted roof lines in my office as well.
Marianne@Songbird says
Thanks. Yes those slanted roofs make things really difficult. But okay, they add charm too. Shall we leave it at that? 🙂
mary says
What a great use of this space! I love the little cubby with all those darling drawers! I don’t know what it is with me and little drawers but I love them!
Looks so neat!
bee blessed
mary
Marianne@Songbird says
Don’t know either, but I love drawers too. Must be the rythm they give a piece and the promise of organisation.
marian says
Ziet er mooi uit. PPFF duurde ff maar heb je eindelijk weer toegevoegd aan mijn bloglijst….. gelukkig maar.
Liefs van Marian uit heet Thailand
Marianne@Songbird says
He welkom terug. Ik heb al af en toe geneusd in je nieuwe thuis, volgens mij begin je het daar al aardig voor elkaar te krijgen. Hier is het nog behoorlijk koud, maar ik heb begrepen dat er nog hoop is.
Deborah says
Lookin’ good! I love the wood of the card catalog against the white. Your little cupboard is perfect for that spot. Love her new attitude! I see things on blogs all the time, then turn around and look at my own stuff in a new light. Inspiration begets inspiration!
I hope to get more done on my own craft room this week. Other things have taken front seat for a few days, but I shall prevail!
Have a great week!
Deborah
Marianne@Songbird says
Yes you will!
Yeah funny isn’t it, that when you start shuffling things and combining them differently they take on a whole new persona. I love my card catalog even more now.
Pat says
Well, first of all…HOWDIE back at ‘cha!
I think your little craft room looks quite industrious. Ooops! Industrial.
An awfully good start– at you being industrious.
Love the pallet wood shelving. I have some of those hanging baskets — that don’t fit so well, and are quite a nuisance. I never ever thought of cutting that piece off and just mounting them so they are stationary. Very Clever girl you are!
As to the little cupboard. I thought it was useful when you were thinking of tossing it. So glad you gave it a make over and are getting some ‘under the eave’ use out of it! Another great idea.
Lastly, all the white… makes it looks wonderful. you almost hate to craft in there for fear of messing up the place.
Pat
Marianne@Songbird says
Thank you! Well it will be some time before this room is ready for some crafting action again, and don’t you worry I’ll mess it up in not time.
But thanks for your compliments. I love the idea of being industrious in my industrial room.
Susan says
Marianne I love this! Great job, I love the baskets, white wood and the dark wood card catalog! Beautiful!
Susan
Homeroad
TJ says
Wonderful! That’s beautiful craft room storage!
mary says
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT
joanne says
marianne, you have done a wonderful job….i LOVE it !!
Debra@CommonGround says
Hi Marianne, great job, of course LOVE that old card cabinet. It looks wonderful with your new pallet shelving! Nice save on the IKEA cabinet!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thanks! Yeah, can you imagine I almost got rid of her. I love her all over again now. And some storage behind closed doors is a good thing too.
Beth says
I really like the dark card catalog contrast with the white. The typewriter is sweet. Very inspiring!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thank you! It did turn out quite good, if I say so myself 😉
Lynn says
Very nice job! I love using the pallets for different things, Looks great! Hugs, Lynn
Tina says
Your little corner in your craft room looks awesome Marianne. Great storage space. Love the little cupboard with all the drawers.