I’m all about bringing out of the box ideas to fruition, on the cheap!
My most recent attempt at this came in the form of old run of the mill file cabinet that had been sitting in my hall closet, for um, ever! At least 6 years, I kid you not. Worst of all it was empty! Sadly I stacked stuff on top, but kept nothing in it. Not practical or smart considering that my son’s video games were in desperate need of a home.
If you’ve visited Chase the Star at anytime, you’ll know I’m not one to leave well enough alone, like ever. A black metal file cabinet would’ve fit in the playroom just fine. But ‘just fine’ ain’t gonna cut it!
Take a look at what he looked like before:
I don’t have too much experience working with metals so this was a new endeavor for me. However, I knew that I wanted blue and I wanted chevron, and that would be easy with a couple of cans of spray paint and a lot of patience!
Luckily I had all of the materials I needed, just had to pick up a can of Rustoleum Ultra Cover in Lagoon and a skinny vanilla iced latte from Starbucks to get started.
Our Pinteresting Family says
It turned out fantastic! Love the colors. Megan
Chase the Star says
Thanks Megan!! I’m loving this color combo alot, wonder what I can use the left over paint on..hmmm! :)
Marilyn Clark says
Love how it turned out…it’s now that punch of color piece for your room!
Chase the Star says
Thank you! It’s in my kid’s playroom, works really well in there with all their bright colored toys :)
Our Delightful Home says
Amazing transformation! I would love for you to link up to my linky party via: http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/2012/05/live-linky-party-14.html
Mrs. Delightful
http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
Chase the Star says
Thanks!! I will check it out!
Katie Goldsworthy says
Great makeover! This turned out awesome! I love the SBucks cup in the middle of the painting supplies! That would totally be me!
–Katie
@ Creatively Living
Chase the Star says
Thanks Katie! I was waiting for someone to notice the SB cup! Seriously can’t function unless I have some form of caffeine in the a.m.!!
Hani@Craftionary says
wow.. Your chevron file cabinet is being loved by So Many people.. It’s been already pinned 70 times from my board.. :) Thanks for linking up!
Chase the Star says
Wow, that’s so cool! Thank you very much for pinning it Hani! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Julie Marling says
That looks so great! I wish I could be so crafty! Found you from hop! Love for you to follow back when you can!
http://naptimeshopper.blogspot.com
Chase the Star says
Thanks Julie! I’ll stop by your place!
Brooke @ Inside-Out Design says
I love it! It’s so bright and fun now! You’ve got me eyeing my sad, beige file cabinet now….
Chase the Star says
Thanks Brooke! Now I want to see what you do to the beige file cabinet!! :)
the cape on the corner says
what a seriously fun “after!” love it!
Chase the Star says
Thank you!!
Katherines Corner says
looks great. A can of paint and your imagination and taa daa!! Thank you for linking to the Thursday Favorite Things Hop. I appreciate your bloggy friendship xo
Chase the Star says
Katherine, thank you for hosting! Grateful for my bloggy friends!
twelve-O-eight says
Love this redo! You are very creative :) Tanya
Chase the Star says
Thank you so much Tanya..so sweet of you!
Decorating Insanity says
Barbara. Love it!! Makes me regret not picking up a cheap old file cabinet at the thrift the other day. Thanks for linking up to Furniture Friday and if you ever want to guest post, let me know.
mONICa
Chase the Star says
Hi Monica! Thanks! I’d love to guest post! Let’s talk!
Vanessa says
Hi, Barbara
I love the file cabinet. It looks great!
Vanessa
Chase the Star says
Thanks Vanessa! It was alot of fun sprucing it up!
Candy says
You’re soooo very creative. Love the file cabinets.
Chase the Star says
Thank you so much Candy, you’re really sweet!
PitterAndGlink says
I love this! Great job! :)
Chase the Star says
Thank you, thank you!!
Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says
Barbara, This is the cutest file cabinet…great job!
Chase the Star says
Sherry, thank you so much!
Sherry says
Beautiful transformation! I discovered you on Happy Hour Projects and I’m now following. I would love if you could follow back! Tx
Chase the Star says
Thanks Sherry, for stopping by and the follow! Welcome! On my way to check out your blog!
Tracy Jensen says
New fan from the west coast hop…..LOVE this…I have a file cabinet that needs a makeover…THANK YOU!
Tracy
Dear Life from a mom of boys
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says
Love the color combo, so much more fun now!!
PS – Thanks for linking up to the blog hop!
Chase the Star says
Thanks Rebecca! Love your blog hop weekly!
Sara says
This is way cool! Would LOVE it if you would link this project up at my brand new Trendy Tuesday party going on right now!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2012/05/trendy-tuesday-1.html
Chase the Star says
Hey Sara, thanks! I linked up to your blog, thanks for the invite!!
Jennie Larsen says
LOVE LOVE LOVE AND DID I SAY LOVE? I shared this on my COM-FB page. winks, jen
Chase the Star says
Jennie, thank you!! Saw it on your FB page before I’d read this comment, it was a very cool surprise!! Thanks again!
Have a great week!
Paula says
What a difference a little paint makes. You took an ordinary object and made it extraordinary!
Chase the Star says
Thanks so much Paula! Spray paint can transform anything!
Danielle Wagasky says
Hey lady! I just wanted to let you know I featured you on Blissful and Domestic today. Stop by and snag a button!
Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/05/lovely-features-4.html#more
Chase the Star says
AWESOME thanks!!!!! I’m so flattered Danielle!!! xo!
Karla says
Woah! You did a great job with these. I love them!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by my place. I’m following you too. :)
Chase the Star says
Thank you Karla!
Meredith Hilton says
This is SO on my list of projects! I’m so glad I got to see this! New follower!
Mer @ http://ablessedandblissfullife.blogspot.com
Chase the Star says
Thank you Meredith! I’m on my way to your blog!
Molly says
I LOVE this makeover! So much that I featured it today, go check it out and make sure you grab your “I’ve been featured” button :) Thanks for linking up to the Get Creative party!
-Molly
http://www.justalittlecreativity.com/2012/05/get-creative-party-features.html
Chase the Star says
Thank you Molly!! I put this on my FB page! So cool, thanks so much!
Heather Kaluf says
Just wanted to let you know that I am featuring you today! Come on over and grab the feature button, its at the bottom of my blog :)
xoxo
Heather
http://www.heatherlyloves.com/2012/05/sunday-round-up-11.html
Chase the Star says
Thanks Heather!! I’ll grab a button, yey!!! Posted about this feature on my FB page! :)
Jacinda says
I love this! I actually have a big beat up filing cabinet sitting in my garage that I want to paint and you’ve shown me I CAN! Thanks for sharing!
Jacinda
http://www.yellowcloth.com
Chase the Star says
I’m honored to offer a little inspiration, so thanks so much for saying that Jacinda! XO, Barbara
Joan@chocolateandmore says
Love it!!!!! Makes a cheap old metal cabinet look like a million bucks!
Chase the Star says
Thanks SO much Joan!
Stacey says
Pretty colors and pretty chevron – love it!
Thanks for linking up!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Evelyn says
I love the chevron, your free hand is so much better than my stencils any day of the week. From boring to fun! Thank you for sharing on Freedom Fridays and hope you week is just going marvelous! See you on Friday (but I’ll be back before to see what you are making next:)
Chase the Star says
Thanks very much Evelyn! Great to have you here!
gail wilson says
barbara–love your file cabinet makeover! the colors work great together.
gail
Chase the Star says
Thanks Gail! Really appreciate the bloggy love!
Jennifer says
Love it lady!! I am wanting a 4 drawer one and would love to make it over!! Great work!
Thanks for sharing at Show & Share….featuring this in tomorrow’s party!
Chase the Star says
Woo hoo! Thanks for the feature Jennifer!! Honored:)
Stacey says
Featured you this week! Yeah you!
Come by and grab a button!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Chase the Star says
Stacey, thank you!! I’m on my way to grab a button!! Very excited:)!
Jalema says
Great article about File Cabinet. I really like your blog very much and also share this article with my friends and keep it up
Rory Fugerson says
Doing a makeover in your filing cabinets wouldn’t be that easy but with that kind of result in the end, you would really feel that all the things you did is worth it. Good Job!
Jelli says
Barbara, this looks great! I don’t know if I could be patient enough to measure out the tape line placement to make it perfect, but I’d be up for the freehanding technique any time. What a great way to upstyle an ordinary file cabinet. Following you from CHQ.
Box Designers says
I recently used this site to get some designs. I was really impressed. I will definitely use them again.
Sarah @ An Inviting Home says
This is a REALLY fun idea! It looks great! My husband and I made a DIY desk using two filing cabinets (http://www.aninvitinghome.com/2013/01/a-diy-desk.html) and doing something like your idea to them would make it even snazzier. I’m going to pin it for others to see…fun!
~Sarah
Barbara @ Chase the Star says
Thank you so much Sarah! I love your desk!!
Barbara @ Chase the Star says
Awesome, thanks Sarah! Your desk is fabulous!! Pinning it!
Diana @ Project Inspire says
You are one talented girl! Looks great. :) XO
Barbara @ Chase the Star says
Thanks Diana!! You are too kind:)
Betsy says
How many coats of paint did this take?
Barbara @ Chase the Star says
Betsy,
It took two coats of the Lagoon blue and of the white as well.
Hollie @ I'm Busy Procrastinating says
I’m curious how the blue spray paint has held up over time. I have some metal stools that are powder coated blue from the manufacturer, but the blue is too dull for me. I’d really like to spray them a cobalt blue, but I’m worried about the paint getting scratched as we sit on them and put our feet on the rungs.
Barbara @ Chase the Star says
Hollie, thanks for your comment! My file cabinet is holding up beautifully! The paint hasn’t faded or chipped a bit. It sits in my kid’s playroom where it’s used and abused, and there is no change in the paint at all. I definitely recommend a sealer if it’s used for sitting. A spray sealer probably would work best. Good luck!
Allie says
How do you put the wheels on?