Looking for den storage cabinet ideas!

Discussion in 'Special Projects' started by S Barnhardt, Feb 20, 2020.

  1. S Barnhardt

    S Barnhardt Old, Crusty Barn

    While I don't have a "ton of stuff" like I know some of you have, what I do have, and the space I have for it to be, has added up to it being in the beginning stages of climbing the walls. It's not a problem yet, per se, but I want to see what I can come up with for storage "before" it does become one. My want would be an apothecary style cabinet with sufficient drawers to organize things with "identification" cards on the outside. Think some form of something similar to the old card catalogs libraries had before the advent of computer-assisted lookups.
    But actual old card catalog cabinets are sort of rare, usually too large, and pricey.

    So, I'm turning to you guys for ideas and/or suggestions.

    What have you done? What would you do differently? What would you suggest?

    Budget is a big ruling factor by necessity here!


    :thanks:
     
  2. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

    Keep checking Craig's list and stop in to your local thrift store. If you're patient, something nice will pop up.

    :eatdrink013:
     
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  3. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

    Also look for machinist chest or sewing cabinets

    Harbor freight

    94538_W3.jpg

    I hope this helps.

    :eatdrink013:
     
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  4. jimjo1031

    jimjo1031 never bloomed myself

    If you need space for cased sets, look around at thrift stores. I recently got this one at a thrift store for $4.00. It has brackets on the back to hang on a wall................

    20200220_111612.jpg
     
  5. S Barnhardt

    S Barnhardt Old, Crusty Barn

    An old machinist's tool chest like that was one of my first thoughts. The "gold standard", in my opinion, of that type chest, is a Gerstner. But used Gerstners are pricey, easily in the $300 plus range. Then I saw this one from Harbor Freight, which is a tad over $80 now picked up. But I got to reading the reviews for that particular one and there have been too many issues with theirs.
     
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  6. S Barnhardt

    S Barnhardt Old, Crusty Barn

    Another idea I'd had, and the one I ended up going with, was an apothecary style cabinet. Antique ones you don't want to know the price of, but I found this on Home Depot's website and sized right to fit the space I'm trying to work with, so I ordered them this morning. Both pieces ran me just under $118 shipped. The 9 drawer unit will set on top of the one with the larger drawers with a footprint of 13 " wide x 9 1/2 inches deep x 18 inches high. The small drawers, on top, will allow me to sort out blades, some razors, etc. with tags on the front with what is inside each drawer. Should have them by the middle of next week.

    apothecary dimensions.png

    :signs002:
     
  7. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    Old Kennedys turn up occasionally too, and not all that expensively.
     
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  8. S Barnhardt

    S Barnhardt Old, Crusty Barn

    Not familiar with the Kennedy chests. Are they wooden?
     
  9. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    No, steel with a textured brown enamel finish usually.
     
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  10. Tanuki

    Tanuki Well-Known Member

    My first cabinet was a floor-standing jewelry armoire off Craigslist. Recently I found an old flat file (for maps, photos, etc.) at a vintage furniture place. It is good for loose items. Cased items, not so much.

    86402998-8A21-414B-BDDE-40A0F4B992CB.jpeg
     
  11. S Barnhardt

    S Barnhardt Old, Crusty Barn


    This item, which I bought online from Home Depot, came. So far, I'm pleased. This is how it looks. I'm not sure how I"m going to end up doing the drawers, so I'll wait about "inside" pictures.

    den storage.jpg
     
  12. brit

    brit in a box

    very cool..
     
  13. Tedolph

    Tedolph Well-Known Member

    I have a rule: if it cant fit into the cabinet I can't buy it:


    20191124_191235_HDR.jpg
     
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