Don’t know what to do with your outdated drawers and cabinets? Antonio Bellusci shows us three creative ways to transform them into beautiful, yet practical pieces for your home.

Shoe cabinet

Materials & tools:

• Older dresser
• Masonite boards/thin press board
• Construction adhesive
• Filler
• Sand paper
• Primer, paint and painting tools
• Cutting tool – hand saw or jig saw
• Extra flat wood stock

Method:

Remove dresser drawers.
Remove toe kick/plinth.
To modernize the cabinet, replace the toe kick. To do this, cut new toe kick/plinth from flat stock and glue in it place with construction adhesive.
Remove tracks/glides from drawer cavities (some dressers have centre tracks for drawers to slide along).
Cut masonite/press boards to fit base of each drawer cavity, and glue it in place with construction adhesive.
Fill edges/seams with filler.
Prime, sand and paint cabinet – use a bright colour for interior cubbies for a pop of colour.

Approximate cost $30 – $40

Wall cubbies

(For lightweight items)

Materials & tools:

• Dresser drawers
• Flat stock – ie. poplar wood
• Cutting tool
• Construction adhesive
• Small L brackets
• Filler
• Sand paper
• Primer, paint and painting tools

Method:

Remove handles.
Cut flat stock to form shelves and dividers.
Secure the cut flat stock into place with construction adhesive and L brackets.
Fill edges/seams with filler.
Fill removed handle holes with filler.
Prime, sand and paint cubbies.
Optional: Consider adding a mirrored tile, cork board and or hooks for added functionality.

Approximate cost $30 – 40

Curio cabinet

Materials & tools:

• Old Curio cabinet
• Foam core
• Fabric
• Stapler
• Masonite boards/thin press board
• Trim/flat stock wood
• Construction adhesive
• Filler
• Sand paper
• Primer, paint and painting tools
• Cutting tool – hand saw or jig saw

Method:

Remove glass door and glass side panels. Be sure to dispose of this immediately.
Remove and save hardware/handle.
To modernize the cabinet, reface dated raised panel door fronts with masonite boards, which should be cut to size and framed with flat stock. This will all secured in place with construction adhesive.
Fill edges and seams of door fronts with filler.
Prime, sand and paint cabinet.
Create fabric back panels using foam core boards, fabric and stapler.
Position fabric panels in place and reinstall glass shelves.
Reinstall cabinet hardware or replace with new hardware.

Approximate cost $50 – $75

Courtesy Antonio Bellusci
www.antoniobellusci.com
@abellusci