Hello, friend! Things have been getting busier around here with my next market just over a month away, which means lots of projects in the works! Also I have been working on something really exciting behind the scenes which you will be hearing about soon. 🙂
But first, a new makeover! A repurposed record cabinet makeover. If I go a week or two without working on any furniture, it really gets me down. Transforming furniture is therapeutic for me; it’s definitely a stress reliever. Do you feel the same?
My sweet mom scouted this one out and picked it up for me:
*Friends, today is Trash to Treasure Tuesday with a few of my creative blogging girlfriends. You can see what they’ve transformed this month at the end of this post – and you can browse our previous T2T makeovers Here. Also, this post contains some affiliate links so you can easily find some of the products I use and recommend. Discover all my favorite tools and brands for doing DIY makeovers here.
Unfortunately it was really scratched and beat up, but that’s how I like to do my makeovers – turning someone else’s “trash” into a treasure.
Prep the Record Cabinet for Painting
It’s hard to tell from the outside, but this is actually a vintage record cabinet. I was deciding what to do with this piece and got a wild idea – I grabbed the saw from my mitre box and cut all the dividers out.
Now there’s so much more storage space inside.
I filled the holes with Minwax Wood Filler and then sanded them smooth. Very easy. (Update: Now I use this wood filler instead.)
If you’ve been following me very long, you know I love card catalogs – but they’re hard to find and usually expensive, so I like to make faux DIY card catalogs. See more amazing card catalog ideas here. 🙂
Repurpose a Record Cabinet into a DIY Card Catalog
I painted the cabinet in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite, measured the doors, and then Guy in the Garage cut rectangles out of thin craft wood from Menards.
Learn all about how to Chalk Paint furniture here – a beginner’s guide to Chalk Painting.
The panels were glued in place with my favorite industrial strength super glue which I use on all my faux DIY card catalog projects.
I always have card catalog drawer pulls on hand – these are from Amazon (find them here). Since the screws that came with them are tiny, I added a bit of glue first for extra adhesion. I don’t want anyone pulling a door open and having the drawer pull fall right off!
Finally, this repurposed record cabinet makeover to DIY card catalog was protected with Annie Sloan’s clear wax applied with a lint free cloth. Black wax would’ve also been a good choice, and would’ve slightly darkened the Graphite.
And here’s the end result…
I just adore making faux card catalogs. Even if it doesn’t fool someone, it’s definitely a unique piece of furniture to have in your home.
If you’re not familiar with the Chalk Paint color Graphite, it’s a mix between dark gray and black – like a chalkboard. I’ve been doing a lot of white makeovers lately so it felt good to pull out this can and use it again, and it’s perfect for this piece. (Curious about black paint? Learn all about Athenian Black Chalk Paint and how to paint furniture black in this Ethan Allen nightstand makeover.)
This one was really hard to say goodbye to! But it went to a good home. The new owner even sent me a photo of it in her house.
Here’s a look at the inside of this upcycled record cabinet to DIY card catalog:
Feel free to share or Pin this project so you can easily find it later:
As always, I’d love it if you left me a comment with your thoughts or any other ideas for transforming a record cabinet like this. I’d also appreciate if you’d share this project with a friend – thank you!
– Jen
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Now it’s time to see what my friends are up to for Trash to Treasure Tuesday, our monthly makeover group:
Below are the Before photos – visit the links underneath to see the After and learn how they did it.
1. Artsy Chicks Rule
2. Prodigal Pieces
3. Confessions of a Serial DIYer
4. Bless’er House
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Here are a couple other faux card catalog makeovers I’ve done:
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
What a sweet save, Jen! I love the color and the updated fun look.
Carol S says
Really cute and creative. I love AS graphite. It’s such a great color. Thinking of painting my front door that color. But back to the record cabinet update, I love your creativity. For me it would have been hard to get past giving up the great original pulls. Thanks for the inspiration!
Marianna says
This piece is awesome!!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
I LOVE it Jen! Now I wish I’d gone ahead and made mine a card catalog, lol. This turned out great. xo
Debra Wise says
Love this as a card catalog! It’s gorgeous!
MaryJean says
Oh, that is so cool Jen! And I love the color!
MrsSW says
Wonderful!
Robyn Wright says
I love it!
Marcie Lovett says
It really does look like a card catalog. I’d go up to it and try to pull the drawers open, no doubt! What a fun makeover, Jen.
Natalie says
Really nice makeover! However, I dislike having things used as decorative touches that only look useful – fake dormers, drawers/drawer pulls, curtains on walls when there is not a window behind, etc. I would have used either the original hardware pulls or a new pair for the same area… would be just as stylish and more appropriate to the piece.
Linda Henry says
So inventive. I have a half size of a record chest like urs. Thanks for the inspiration. Luv following ur page.
Lizzy Leff says
SO good! I must do this.
Lena says
I love this. I picked up a cute little side table with a cabinet door at an estate sale last weekend and I think I’ll try this look.
Carrie Schlottman says
Love it! I’m a fan of card catalogs too so this really caught my attention.
Cate says
What a great job! I so enjoy your posts and seeing your creativity! Kudos!!!!
Bonnie Hipps says
Wow what a great save. Love the color you used and it really looks like individual drawers.
M says
Love the look, I love card catalogs and the color is awesome!
Christy says
This looks amazing, Jen!! You sure know how to rock the card catalog! XO
Terri Hughes says
Nice job….I love it!
Melva says
Jen, I just love how you made over this piece. You breathed new life into it. While you changed the original style you made it fun and colorful. Great job! Thanks for the inspiration.
Barb says
I refinished a similar record cabinet like yours in 2016. I didn’t have quite the imagination you had, though. I painted the cabinet part white and stained the top. I put more contemporary door pulls on it and we use the table to store papers and magazines in, plus a lamp table between our two recliners. I love card catalogs, too, and you’ve done a great job imitating one!
Pam says
At first I thought, “Oh no, not another card catalog!” But it’s absolutely the greatest!! I will be on the lookout to find one and do this. Thanks. (And I pinned it.)
Rhonda says
I love how the cabinet turned out. The color is fabulous too. I’ll be Pinning this post for a little inspiration down the road. Thanks for sharing.
Missy says
My fingers just couldn’t pin this any faster? You are a genius. Love everything about it.
Marie says
Wow, you completely surprised me on this one! Was not expecting that and it looks amazing. Such a great idea and I love it painted graphite too. Pinned 🙂
Carol Claremont says
Jen, this is gorgeous. I love the color. You have given me an idea for a piece my daughter has. Thanks for the inspiration!
Cathy Klose says
Really cute! I’ll have this craft wood stuff. I can see a lot of applications for that.
Beth says
I Love it!, Really like the graphite color paint, adorable! You are an inspiration:)
Kathleen Walsh says
I have a very old cabinet with slots in it I have sm kitchen so I put Skillets and lids in it ,talk about perfect fot me gave me more cubbord room! I have a ? Can you get gold paint in a can ot spray paint ? I need it and cant find any
Kathleen Walsh says
By the way yours is beautiful,was that wood filler you used ? I don’t always reply haveing health problems ? trying to perk up ??
Kathy says
Sweet! I never thought it would turn out so well, as I saw the pieces your hubby had cut to glue on the front! Y’all are an impressive team!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much, Kathy! <3
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much, Carol! Glad you like it 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much, Marie! xo
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much, Missy!! <3
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you Rhonda, I appreciate it!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Haha, I laughed so hard at your comment! I do love card catalogs! 😉 And I just found a big wide dresser just like the one I turned into a faux card catalog last summer. Guess what I’ll be doing with it… Thanks for your comment Pam!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much, Melva! 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much Cate! <3
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
I appreciate that – thank you Carrie!
Nancy says
One of the nicest transformation I’ve ever seen. Beautiful job!
Maureen says
Thanks for sharing this Jen and all the details such as the card catalogue pulls. I love what you have done with this cabinet.
gwen says
so, i’m looking back at this one from the link on today’s post (1/24/19) and am wondering about the doors. the before doors appear to have some raised woodwork and i’m wondering if you just laid the square pieces of plywood on top of that, cause to me they would not have stayed level toward the center. or did you removed that trim work? i love the finished product AND the color!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
The doors were actually flat except for that little groove that kind of made a border near the edges. Once I figured out where the little panels would go, I used wood filler in the grooves but only in the areas between where the panels would be. I hope that makes sense. 🙂
gwen says
So they were grooves! Now that makes plenty of sense! Thanks for the reply!
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Jenn! I love this transformation! I just used Annie Sloans’ paint the first time and it seems like it takes a lot of coats to get full coverage. Maybe it was just the Chicago Gray. I bought some Aubusson and i can’t wait to use that. I love your work and you are a great inspiration. I was a day late to get the special pricing on your class to learn how to up my game with my booth. Will there be another chance soon? OK, so about this piece. If i was going to buy this i would be a little disappointed to find these were fake drawers but…..i would get over it because it has great storage and it looks great! thank you.
Cheryl
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Hi Cheryl – thank you! I offer a discount to VVA a few times per year. Next time will be in March or April. 🙂
Annie’s Chalk Paint usually takes a couple coats, but it really depends on the wood and if you’ve used primer. The lighter colors will need more coats for even coverage. Aubusson is really pretty, I think you will like it!
Tess says
I just found you on Pinterest. I can tell I’m going to enjoy spending time with you and picking up some inspiration for my projects. Thanks!!!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much, Tess – that means a lot! Happy to have you here 🙂