Furnishings Makeover: DIY Chalk Painted Wooden File Cupboard

I lastly completed the classic wooden file cupboard I’ve in my studiworkplace. It took a little bit of time to finish, however value all the hassle ultimately. It’s my favourite piece of DIY chalk painted furnishings now.

I made a decision to color it with selfmade chalk paint I made myself utilizing Calcium Carbonate Powder. I considered staining it, however the veneer was in dangerous form in too many locations. Plus, after I began sanding, the wooden colour was uneven. I didn’t wish to see all of the variation and patched areas by way of the stain.

I’m EXTREMELY proud of the way it got here out. It’s a type of initiatives that seems simply the way you envisioned and has you wishing you had finished it years in the past.

This seems to be like one piece of furnishings, however it’s really two separate and unrelated items of furnishings that I mixed to make into one very practical piece that matches completely within the area between the 2 home windows in my studiworkplace.

The highest shelf unit was a hand-me down from an uncle. The underside classic file cupboard was handed all the way down to Ed and me from his mother and father. I bear in mind his Dad telling me that it was from the Pennsylvania Railroad places of work in New York. It was made by the Remington Rand Firm – Library Bureau Division.

Two of our different favourite items of furnishings have been from his mother and father as effectively: Mantel and my crafts Armoire.

DIY Chalk Painted Furnishings Makeover

I painted the highest part (shelving unit) a 12 months in the past utilizing Sherwin Williams Alabaster in a satin end. I painted the file drawers with the identical paint, however I made it into chalk paint and used wax to convey out a delicate sheen on the floor.

I didn’t age the end with sandpaper or a darkish wax. I used clear Johnson Paste Wax. Many assume that chalk paint is simply used whenever you wish to misery and age items.

I do know you might be asking – Why would I take advantage of chalk paint as an alternative of the unaltered latex paint so the items would match?

If I used latex alone, I must use two mild coats of primer to verify the tannins within the wooden didn’t bleed by way of, plus two coats of paint.

Since I wished to maintain the drawers shifting freely – too many coats of paint would have made them too thick and they’d not shut easily. With the chalk paint, I solely wanted two coats, plus the wax end – the drawers now glide effortlessly open and closed and have excellent paint protection.

Keep in mind the Earlier than?

Beforehand I had used the file drawers as a part within the associate’s desk that I constructed for the room. I took that aside after I obtained a brand new desk.

I wanted extra storage within the room, however didn’t have the area – so I positioned the shelving unit on high of the file drawers to create a model new piece of furnishings. I purchased bun ft at House Depot over a 12 months in the past for it after which it sat identical to you see it above for the previous 12 months simply ready for its makeover.

A lot of you wished to know the way it was made or wished to see the drawers open. Just like the armoire within the room – the cupboard comes aside into separate items.

The veneer was broken on either side and on a number of the drawers. I wanted so as to add wooden filler to easy it out. I then sanded all these patched locations so the floor would look easy as soon as it was painted.

It wanted ft to boost it off the ground so it could not block the HVAC vent. The addition of the ft has given it a classy new look.

Methods to Make DIY Chalk Paint

I attempted a distinct ingredient to make the DIY model of chalk paint for this piece. I used Calcium Carbonate powder. It really works simply in addition to the Non-Sanded Grout or Plaster of Paris that I’ve used up to now. I posted about and used this similar recipe – simply changed the grout with calcium carbonate powder.

I used to be instructed the paint wouldn’t harden as a lot when calcium carbonate powder is added because it does with the grout or plaster, so I wished to strive it. You should buy it on the well being meals retailer. When the paint was dry, I waxed and buffed it to convey out a delicate shine.

I eliminated the unique {hardware} – pulls and label holders years in the past. They have been brown plastic and had a Bakelite high quality to them. They have been in dangerous form so I changed them with the brass.

Through the years the brass has aged properly – not extremely polished anymore, however a bit of pitted, tarnished with only a little bit of the golden glow peeking by way of.

On white card inventory, I printed out all of the file drawer names that I created utilizing Microsoft Phrase. I used the font – Engravers MT. Go to my Free Printable Gallery to obtain your personal labels.

I lower every label out together with a chunk of clear acetate to guard every label and slid each in a holder.

Methods to Add Bun or Wooden Toes To Furnishings

Including the wooden bun ft to the underside of furnishings is kind of simple.

You will want a Straight Prime Plate for every foot. They promote them at House Depot. Be sure you get the straight, not the angled kind – the packaging seems to be the identical.

The screw on the bun foot screws into the middle gap on the plate.

The plates get connected with screws to the corners on the underside of the furnishings.

Add one to every nook, flip the piece over and you might be finished.

It took me a 12 months to lastly deal with the makeover and get this piece finished. My studiworkplace appears a lot larger now that the cupboard is fortunately pushed again in opposition to the wall and the HVAC vent can stream freely.

For all of you which have requested – here’s a look inside what the file drawers appear like. Tabbed folders match completely within the drawers.

Would you prefer to see extra DIY chalk painted furnishings in addition to different furnishings makeover concepts?

Head over to my Furnishings Makeover Gallery web page: Furnishings Makeovers