Yesterday I explained why I tackled the hobby room as one of the first rooms in the house. Here you can see the reason with your own eyes. Imagine trying to do DIY in the rest of the house and every time you need a tool or a can of paint you have to rummage through boxes with stuff. And the thing you want is at the bottom of the box. Guaranteed.
So to save money and also to not add any more to the waste pile already outside the house, I salvaged most of the old kitchen units and reused them in here. They are NOT the prettiest but they will work well after some minor adjustments.
One of the adjustments being switching out those horrid old brass and plastic knobs to something less eye catching…
… such as these. Also cheap and plastic but in a better way. Unfortunately the brass knob surrounds left faint circles on the cabinets even after scrubbing really hard with Vim/Jif but I’ll live with that.
So, how’s this for paint storage in an old ugly kitchen cabinet?! I LOOOOOOOVE IT!
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Well done! I find that here in the States people often throw things out that could be used for something else. After living in Europe, I cringe when I see stuff like that happen. You have some very functional storage space now at virtually no cost and the landfill is a little less full. Kudos to you!
Posted by: wienerdoglove | May 10, 2011 at 02:16 AM
You know, I just love this! Hope to be able to do something similar when we move (only two weeks left now!). I also love that you tweet your blog links - it makes it so easy for me to get my daily diy and organizing fix ;)
Posted by: Älvan | May 10, 2011 at 02:47 AM
Brilliant!
Posted by: Anne | May 10, 2011 at 03:34 AM
Do you have Mr.clean cleaning Sponges in Sweden, they should remove the rings on the cabinet easily. I can mail you some if they don't sell them, they are very light to mail.
Posted by: Nicole | May 10, 2011 at 03:35 AM
yes please keep tweeting!
my folks (being european perhaps) were amazing at altering and reusing materials as they renovated. absolutely inspiring, i love that kind of streeeeeetch a dollar creativity. when diy and reduce reuse is simply How it's Done. now you have 'reclaimed vintage cabinets'. x
Posted by: elisa | May 10, 2011 at 03:43 AM
Actually the cabinets look pretty good, they're just the job for basement storage. Good work.
Posted by: Michelle | May 10, 2011 at 03:46 AM
My tips may be the same as Mr. clean (I don't know what that is), but I was going to suggest "magic eraser
http://home.howstuffworks.com/magic-eraser.htm, I know 3M makes them, but I have one from ICA or some other grocery store. Try in a small spot first!
Posted by: golla | May 10, 2011 at 03:47 AM
Ett tips är ju att tapetsera framsidorna av skåpsluckorna med nån tapet.. Om man vill få dem lite finare :) Snyggt och bra användning av dem hur som helst!
Posted by: Linnea | May 10, 2011 at 04:23 AM
How great to reuse those old cabinets. A great tip I saw on Äntligen hemma is to store the paint cans up side down. This way the paint itself work as a sealant and the paint will stay fresh longer. Don't know if it works, but a nice tip to try :)
Posted by: Anna - HappyAnna | May 10, 2011 at 04:53 AM
Inspirerande! Vi har också flyttat in i ett renoveringsobjekt och ska fixa köket i sommar. Helt klart ska vi också återanvända köksskåpen till hobbyrummet eller trådgårdsboden! Jag älskar din blogg som förenar även mina stora intressen, organisera och inreda. Alltid spännande att läsa!
Posted by: Susanna | May 10, 2011 at 05:00 AM
I'll try them but the problem is that the brass rings left a dent in the material and that's whats showing up...
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2011 at 05:08 AM
Not sure if I dare try that since I often end up denting the lids when I open them so I'm not 100 % sure they will close again perfectly...
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2011 at 05:10 AM
Skumt, jag skrev en kommentar som precis försvann! Jo, jag har varit inne på att klä luckorna med något och nu blev jag riktigt sugen på att hitta en kul tapet :).
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2011 at 05:11 AM
Recycling at its best. Knowing you, you will probably paint those cabinets at a later date when you are not busy with the rest of the house.
Posted by: Zosia | May 10, 2011 at 06:24 AM
wow looks great
Posted by: maj | May 10, 2011 at 06:36 AM
I love the use of the old kitchen cabinets. What great storage! I really miss having a room like this, living in a small apartment. I have followed your blog for years and am really excited to see what you make of the new house. You have such fabulous ideas on storage and use of space!
Posted by: Anna @ home | May 10, 2011 at 06:48 AM
The cupboard looks fabulous.. if a little 'sleeping with the enemy' ;o)
Jo xxx
Posted by: Jo | May 10, 2011 at 07:05 AM
How about trying to find some big washers with a small hole in the middle in the same finish as the new knobs.
You can cover the area damaged by the original knobs.. and if you like the look.. keep it AFTER you paint the cupboards.. and it will save you the bother of filling the marks.
Jo x
Posted by: Jo | May 10, 2011 at 07:09 AM
Great re-use for some not-so-hot old cupboards
Will you eventually paint or replace the doors, or are the new knobs enough of a long-term improvement for a utility/storage room?
Posted by: lisa h. | May 10, 2011 at 09:22 AM
You will be crowned the 'Reduce Re-use Recycle Queen' too!
Posted by: Hxx | May 10, 2011 at 10:29 AM
How do you keep your paint cans so clean? Mine always have paint smeared on them, even when I am very careful and wipe them right away. Do you have a special trick?
Posted by: Bride of COG | May 10, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Great work, even the paint cans are attractively arranged!
Posted by: Maddy | May 10, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I'd love to have somewhere like this to store our decorating stuff - I find it's shoved into several places and we're forever buying new rollers because we can't find the old ones! Well done for starting as you mean to go on! Really looking forward to seeing what you do with the place!
Posted by: Rebecca @ beautiful square feet | May 10, 2011 at 01:58 PM
After pouring into a tray I "wipe" the rim with the brush so the paint doesn't run. Also I wear those thin plastic gloves and as soon as they get too stickty with paint I get a new pair. They are great for answering the iPhone whivh I keep in the back pocket too, I just peel one glove off and put a new one on after :).
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2011 at 03:51 PM
I may but it's low on the priority list unless I get a really good idea on paint color, wall paper style or adhesive something... There are a MILLION other projects that definitley need doing first, such as the first floor living area which I haven't had a chance to get to at all because it's been completely filled with STUFF.
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2011 at 03:54 PM
this is really making me happy. go you.
Posted by: jeannette | May 10, 2011 at 05:19 PM
Doesn't organizing just make you so happy? Me too. :)
Posted by: r8chel | May 10, 2011 at 05:25 PM