Revamp-It...

This is a new type of post I will be doing throughout the year called 'Revamp-It'. I want to share with you some of my personal projects I've been working on around the house and provide some easy 'how-to' instructions :)

We all know that money is tight right now, so revamping common household wares and flea market finds makes so much more sense than buying something at full price (AND it typically is more unique and environmentally savvy.) So, put on those work gloves and roll up your sleeves - it's time to get revamping!

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Revamp-It #1: Revamp Blah Filing Cabinet

We all have one sitting in our office, garage, or basement - that metal filing cabinet from the 80's or 90's. Mine has been quite useful over the years (I couldn't stay organized without it), but it was so boring and, well, ugly. With our newly renovated and designed office/library I wanted to update its look. And I wasn't about to spend $150+ bucks on a new cabinet when this one worked perfectly well. So, I did some research and experimented - here's what I came up with.

Before: (I totally forgot to take a 'before' photo, but here is a similar example)



After:

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What you will need:

- filing cabinet
- drop cloth
- new drawer pulls
- spray paint and spray primer
- fine-grit sand paper
- damp cloth or towel
- small piece of press board or mdf
- drill with metal bit
- measuring tape
- pencil

How to get started:
1. Take your metal filing cabinet outdoors and place on cardboard or drop cloth - something that will protect your grass/walkway from paint.
2. Remove drawers and hardware
3. Select new hardware (pick something fun and unique - vintage is always a good choice).
4. Using a pencil, lightly mark where your new holes will need to be drilled on drawer front. Be sure everything is straight and lined up correctly!
5. Using the correct size metal drill bit, drill through both penciled marks (and press board - see below.)
6. To cover the old holes, I used a 1/2" thick piece of press board (you may need extra shims depending on how long your screws are) and placed it on the inside of the drawers, directly opposite of the new hardware. Be sure to drill the exact same hole measurements on press board as it will be utilizing the new holes & screws for attachment purposes. (see photos below)


7. Once you've got this figure out, be sure to remove all the new hardware and shims because you are ready to paint!

Painting:
1. Thoroughly clean the cabinet (especially the parts you will be painting) with warm water and mild soap and let dry.
2. Use a spray paint primer and apply one even coat. (Hold can at least 12" away from the object and slowly spray the paint in a back and forth motion. You don't want to let paint pool or streak!)
3. Let primer dry for several hours or as directed on paint can.
4. Once dry, lightly sand the cabinet as tiny bumps or streaks may have developed. Be sure to wipe down cabinet following a sand!
5.Use a quality spray paint meant for metal applications (color & sheen of your choice). Again, hold can at least 12" away and use same technique as given in #2.
6. I typically let dry overnight.
7. Repeat step #4 if necessary.
8. Apply a second or third coat, if needed. (I needed 3 as I was painting a black cabinet white.)
9. Don't forget to spray paint your press board that will be covering up your old holes!
10. Let dry completely - overnight is best.

Now for the fun part - putting it all back together!
1. wipe down cabinet with damp cloth and let dry.
2. Attach press board to inside of cabinets using new hardware screws.
3. Attach new, fun hardware - be sure to screw it tight as the press board will be attached on other side!
4. Place drawers back into the cabinet et voila!

Seems like there may be a lot of steps, but it really goes quite fast. Just be patient when spraying - you don't want a yucky paint job. Now you should have a fresh new take on a metal filing cabinet that nobody else will have :) Fill it back up with papers and you're off!