Drawers Galore!

As seen in
Decorating Spaces
magazine
Maybe it’s the fantasy of getting organized or just curiosity about what’s inside, but whatever the reason, we can’t resist little drawers. And whether it’s country store spool cabinets or library card catalogs, flea markets are packed with drawers galore!  And since all those cubbies earn their keep as storage, you don’t have to stop at just one set. After all, the drawer the merrier!

©2009 The O’Neil Sisters, All Rights Reserved
©The O’Neil Sisters 2008
There’s just something about a cabinet loaded with drawers!
Tip #1: Check for locked drawers.
Unless you’re a locksmith, even a stunning set of drawers is useless if they are all locked. To keep from getting shut out, try opening the drawers first and if any are locked, ask about the key (and try it yourself!). With a set of locked post office boxes, at least you can use the cubbyholes in the back to sort your own mail.
Spray Painting Primer
1.Prep Your Space: Choose a well ventilated, wind-free area (preferably outside), lay out a tarp, and put on a protective mask.
2.Prep Your Piece: Remove the knobs and any other hardware. Sand any rough or rusty spots. Then clean the item thoroughly and pull out all the drawers. Prop the item up on small blocks of wood so it doesn’t touch the tarp.
3.Prime and Paint: Coat the item thoroughly with the spray primer first, holding the can vertically. When that coat is dry, spray on the color. To avoid runs, spray at least eight inches from the surface, do multiple light coats, and keep that can moving!

Fortunate Flaw: Don’t worry if that charming chest is missing a drawer or two—just use that flaw to get a deep discount. You can always use the empty space as a cubby.
Weighty Decision: You may be excited that your find has so many drawers, but beware: all that hardware weighs more than it looks. You may want to skip that eighteen-drawer, oak filing cabinet. Unless, of course, you shop with weightlifters.
Buttoned Up: To give a set of drawers a dashing new look, try vintage coat buttons in place of the knobs. Simply feed a wire through the loop on the button, poke it through the drawer front, and press the ends back. Secure inside with a staple gun. How handsome!
Top Drawer
This skinny stack of diminutive drawers is the perfect home for household hodgepodge. To give this piece a fast facelift, just get out a screwdriver. You can swap those humdrum handles for nifty new knobs in a jiffy. Then organize your markers, rubber bands, and thumbtacks. You and your junk drawer never looked so smart.
Tip #3: Check the drawer size.
A Chinese apothecary cabinet is an auspicious find, but its tiny drawers limit what you can store inside. Before you haul that treasured chest home, consider its intended use. Think inside the box: pens and scissors for deep, narrow drawers and pushpins and paperclips for itty-bitty square ones. Just use a little common sense—even the loveliest flat file makes a lousy jewelry box.
Tip #2: Check for sticking drawers.
A cabinet full of screechy drawers can be worse than having no drawers at all! So open and close every one to make sure they slide smoothly. If one sticks or squeaks, you can rub the edge with a little wax or a bar of soap. But if a jammed drawer just won’t budge, walk on by. Who needs the noise––not to mention the frustration?!