The exterior of it is laminate- which isn't that fun to work with. You can't sand it or distress it really, so you kind of have to work with what you are given! This was chipped and cracked in some areas, and another bummer about this one is that the very bottom right drawer is missing! Man oh man, that bugs me to no end! Even with its flaws though, it is STILL a card catalog- which means we STILL love it to no end!
BEFORE:
- Get lucky and find a card catalog;)
- Fill in cracks and chips with wood putty
- Bring one drawer to Home Depot and have them color match the black in Behr Ultra Premium Plus {we don't use any other type of paint!!}
- Use paint sprayer to paint CC
- Lightly sand to smooth it all out
- Seal it
- Smile because its a pretty rad card catalog {yes, yes, we know, we still like our other one way better, but we like this one too!}
AFTER:
 |
| I love that this guy has 4 of those pull out shelves |
So, what do you think?!We know its not quite as magnificent as the first one we did, but they- that quality of a card catalog original that we got was rare! We like this one a lot and hope you do too!! And, if you don't- well,oh well:)
<3,
Adri
Hi Adri! Ok so I too love what you have done but I seriously can't handle the missing drawer.. I am sitting here trying to think of what you could do to make it not as noticeable??? I would take out a drawer in all four corners. And then do something with the holes?? IDK? Like I said before, LOVE what you did. It's simple and not overdone. So are you keeping it?
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm visiting from Coastal Charm. I love card catalogs and you guys did a great job. It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love it. I've been wanting one of these since I went to San Francisco and saw a distressed card catalog at Anthropologie. Maybe you can make a faux drawer front for the missing drawer. Love it!
ReplyDeleteOMGosh, I ♥ that card catalog! Turned out great!
ReplyDeleteAdri...I love card catalog...so many great uses. Houzz has one on their site that was converted to wine storage.
ReplyDeletePlease add a link in your post back to Metamorphosis Monday so your wonderful readers will find the other participants for MM. :)
Thanks!
Susan
I am OBSESSED with these card catalogs! I want one so badly, but cannot find one in the Atlanta area.
ReplyDeleteYour two pieces have got me drooling over here. Great job!
xoxo
You had me at card catalog....AGAIN. Love what you've done to upstyle this one! Try to find a basket or container that will fit in the empty hole, but make the empty spot the very first slot at the top left, pull it out a little bit and have something extremely interesting poking out. Your missing drawer then becomes an asset. That's my take ;0)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for the compliments and even more for the ideas on what to do with the missing drawer! It is driving me nuts too, so we will have to figure something out!
ReplyDeleteJess- no, were selling this one at Modern Manor.
Susan- So sorry, I totally forgot to put it at the end!! Its fixed now. My mistake:/
<3,
Adri
I love card catalogs as furniture. So unique! Do you live in Tucson?
ReplyDeleteI adore this -- what a cool piece of furniture
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I would love for you to come link up at our Strut Your Stuff Party!
ReplyDeletehttp://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/11/strut-your-stuff-link-party-and.html
This is an awesome piece. Hard to believe it was laminate. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteI loved your other card catalog. It is absolutely amazing. This one turned out really well too. You have a real nack for these things.
ReplyDeleteI have somehow stumbled into your little world and all I can say is --- AMAZING. You have me drooling over a card catalog cabinet. I am wondering how long I will have to scour over Louisville in search of one. I am most definitely smitten -- or addicted.
ReplyDeleteCheers~
e
Great job! I love the change and the dark color.
ReplyDeleteSo cool. How did you find out about the auction?
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Blue Cricket's linky party. I am in love with your card catalogs!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out great! Happy VTT.
ReplyDeleteWOW it's gorgeous..great makeover!!
ReplyDeletethis is even better than an apothecary chest i was pining for...
ReplyDeletei am on the red hunt now...
there must be one here in chicago somewhere...
visiting you from blue cricket
Love it even with the missing drawer. What a fabulous transformation. What do you keep in all the little drawers? I would love to find something with all those drawers to keep my jewelry supplies organized, or....just as eye candy.
ReplyDeleteLovely....I love how it turned out. Happy VTT!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much everyone!!! You guys are so great!
ReplyDeleteChrista- no we live in Phoenix, I just did a drive to Tucson to pick it up:)
Dana- Thanks so much! I did link it up to your party!
Betsy- We already have one card catalog in our home and in it we keep: napkins, table runners folded up, serving silverware, coasters, bottles of wine {yep- they fit-at least in that CC they do!} and other dining room essentials, since it is in the dining room.
Good luck to you ladies in other states searching! Hope you find something great:)
<3,
Adri
That is one great makeover! Thank you for all the step by step instructions. I might need those some day! :)
ReplyDeletei've been *smitten* with card catalog file cabinets since i first stepped into a library many moons ago!!!
ReplyDeletegreat job!
Oh it's wonderful! Card catalogs are such amazing pieces of furniture- how lucky you've come across more than one! You did a great job updating it while still keeping the look original. Very well done! Visiting from Vintage Thingies Thursday at The Colorado Lady. Happy VTT!
ReplyDeleteThe "after" is so sleek and modern! You've done an amazing job! I'll be back to this blog for more inspiring DIY. :) Your blog is so cute.
ReplyDeleteWow, a job well done. It looks sleek and updated. I would never think of a card catalog piece as furniture until now. I too am bothered by the missing drawer. How sad, but it is still an awesome piece when finished.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Jeanne
Wonderful redo job!
ReplyDeleteHappy VTT,
Sally
very cool! not that you asked, but I think I would switch out the empty drawer space down in the corner for the top middle one and create a little vignette there in the empty space...
ReplyDelete:)Heidi
LOVE! I could see that in a mud room. Check out my salvaged vintage post office boxes...I use them for EXACTLY what you guys do in your first project...wine storage and cloth napkins!
ReplyDeletehttp://blueprintsofasouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-nemesis.html
I am totally obsessed with little boxes :)
Definetely a cool piece-don't see many of those around!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with this! First one I've seen, and now I want one..
ReplyDeleteThese are incredible and it does stink about the missing drawer... I love what you've done with em. I'd leave a drawer toward the center out, and use it as a decorative cubby hole, like put something vivid in it to draw you in.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your blog in a Google search for a DIY idea. I LOVE IT!! Had a thought about the missing drawer ... perhaps remove several drawers randomly, and put decorative stuff inside, like a candles? LOVE your and J's handiwork ... totally amazing!
ReplyDeleteOoh! You can put the removed drawers on top of it and put decorative little plants in them!
ReplyDeleteYou two are gluttons for punishment! It turned out great, though. :)
ReplyDeletePlease, where could I find one of these wondrful catalogs for a good price. like dirt cheap, we are college students living on top ramen... haha. did you contact a library or? They are wondrful! congrats.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness! im a complete dork. I comment before I read. im a picture person I guess haha. I see now that you got it at an action. :)
ReplyDelete