As we were preparing to move from our house in Minnesota, I decided to sell the green art supply cabinet I was using. Selling my art supply cabinets seems to be a tradition when I move. I also sold THIS ONE when I moved from PA to MN. They are usually big, heavy pieces and it makes more sense to find a new one that is just perfect for my new creative space. I shared about my trip to Ekster Antiques when I spotted this amazing cabinet for sale, but I haven’t really featured it in my studio and shared how I am using it now.
I realized this when I was taking pictures of the completed painted studio and the cabinet just looked gorgeous! It was always a little underwhelming against the half-painted minty-green wall, but now it really looks lovely. This piece still might get stripped or a fresh coat of paint down the road, but right now we have more pressing projects to work on.
This piece was honestly bigger than I thought when I asked to buy it over Instagram. Even with measurements, I pictured it being shorter and not as deep. It barely fit in the van. I mean, just by the smallest of margins. But this is the biggest art supply cabinet I’ve owned. It’s a beast. I had a fleeting thought that it might be too big, but I decided there is no such thing regarding art supply cabinets.
The top drawers are a bit of a challenge for me to use since they open over my head, but I put things in them that I don’t need to use very often and that works well.
The labels are what makes all of these drawers practical for me. Trying to remember what is in each drawer would be pretty tough, especially since I’m not in and out of all of the drawers regularly. The label holders were painted over, so I used a craft knife to cut away the excess paint.
The other fantastic thing about this piece is the drawers are a perfect size for art supplies. I can fit large palettes, pads, panels, and also small tubes, tools, and materials in organizers. It’s very versatile.
I still need to fine-tune the organizing. I find that comes once I’ve used the space for a while. The first year or two is just getting things in a home and seeing how I work. I start to feel when I’m ready to reorganize a room or just a cabinet and then I can be more intentional about what I need where. I also didn’t buy any dividers, baskets, or cubbies specifically for this piece but just used what I had. That means some of them slide around when I open and close the drawers, so that is something I’ll fine-tune as well.
For now, though, it works very well. It holds a ton of stuff for all of the mediums and arts I like to play around with.
When I started shopping for furniture for this house, it was my mission only to buy pieces that felt perfect. With the exception of a couple of $40 pieces I’ve bought to act as placeholders until I find the perfect thing at the right price, I have done that.
This piece is definitely one of the pieces that contribute to having a house full of favorites.
21 Responses
I need one of those! I just finished attempting to purge and reorganize the storage closet in my apartment and didn’t feel I made much progress. This would have helped.
Such a beautiful piece! I loved the green one though, oh that was my green!
Such a great cabinet, Marian! I know you are going to love having it in your Studio. You are so organized! Have a great week!
Gorgeous! It looks like it was made for that space. 💙
If you don’t need the top drawer space can you pull them out and put a piece of wood in to act as an open shelf? It’s really nice for art stuff; my wire drawers aren’t all that pretty but they’re really sturdy when filled with lots of watercolor pads/sketchbooks.
That is a fabulous piece. I agree – no such thing as too big – I think it looks great right there.
You could maybe even fit a tiny stool on a bottom drawer to reach those top ones, but keep out of the way.
That’s what I do with my drawers underneath my washer/dryer – I am only 5 feet tall and can’t reach the upper
cabinets to get my soaps, etc., unless I use my stool. I happen to make it in high school. I had enough credits
to graduate my junior year so I took some fun classes for the first time. Woodworking was one of them. I loved everything I made except I was deathly afraid of the lathe. I asked for help with that one. It was quite intimidating.
Anyway – long winded way of saying I love that cabinet.
Your new cabinet was meant for that space. Perfect!
Marian, could you possibly let me know the dimensions for your cabinet? I think one like it would fit perfectly in my quilt/needlepoint/sewing room.
I was shocked to see how big that cabinet was! When you first posted the picture of it at the sale I though, oh it’s around the size of a small bookcase. I LOVE how big it is! I chuckled out loud when you expressed what you thought you were getting and what you actually got! Isn’t that the best surprise?! My luck is for it to go the opposite way! ha ha The dovetailing on the open drawer tells me it’s a well made piece as well!
It is definitely bigger than what it looked like in the vendor booth. It will serve you well. I was fortunate to be able to obtain two vintage metal brochure file cabinets, each with 24 drawers. Perfect for my fabric, ribbon and all the stuff. Gotta love a piece with drawers.
Rug grip works great in the bottom of drawers (or under cushions) to keep things in place.
Yes, I agree, it is a wonderful piece of furniture! I love its deep drawers. I was fortunate to be able to buy an old High School Library cabinet, about 5 years ago. We found it on Craigslist. It is lovely, made of oak and has label holders as well. I use it to store most of my craft supplies, and it sure keeps my house a little more organized. It is huge, not as tall as yours, but wider. Has twelve large drawers, four rows of three each. We bought it in Minnesota, and had to use our tractor to get it up the steps of the house! But all the trouble was worth it.
I agree with previous comments. It is a beautiful piece and fits the space perfectly! So glad you kept it.
Curious… do you know what the cabinet was used for in it’s previous life? You may have stated previously & I missed it. Love it!! P.S. have followed you since 2013 & once again enjoying you making this house your home. Best, Sandra
I think it’s a sort of file cabinet. It’s of a size that feels to me like it would’ve been used in a commercial setting like an office or store.
I LOVE this cabinet. Great find. I would love to find one…but not so big.
I am curious why on the new doors to the studio did you put a different style of door knobs on the doors? Is this a decor on purpose style? Did you just want to change it up? Or is it common or proper to make the bedrooms match but the rest be different? …..just curious.
I just wanted to change it up for these doors. The other knob plates felt perfect for dressing up the slab doors but felt a little overwhelming for these french doors. The knobs aren’t the same, but I feel like they “speak” to each other.
This piece is fabulous. I love the size. and the label holders add personality as well as function. It looks so pretty with your painted walls! Did you use any sort of special cleaner on it, it looks almost as if it has a fresh coat of paint
I just used soapy water on it and it did make a big difference!
I love your drawers. I have a set too, only mine are much smaller, more like a set you’d find in a library for cards. I have labels on my drawers (for my girls to locate things) but I prefer to play a game of ‘memory’ and see if I can find what I’m looking for.
That is a FABULOUS piece!!! Ten years ago I found an old dental cabinet that was retro, very cool but perfect for my pencils, tapes and paints. It weighed a TON! Like you I sold when we moved out of state and I miss it but would hate to have hauled it. If anything it is a good reminder to look for them, you just never know!!