skip to main content

Repurposing old built-ins

7 years ago

We put a room addition onto our 1920 worker's cottage that will house a laundry room, office and powder room. We'll have a couple stained pieces in there, so the cabinets that we put over the washer and dryer as well as the desk should also be stained and period-appropriate.

I've been scouring CL for a while, and just bought a pair of cabinets that used to be bookcases with colonnades. We've got ~6' of width, and they're 33"x48", so they're the perfect size.

So here's a photo:

OK, here's the main problem. They are HEAVY as all get-out. I don't think the wall will support them. There's a whole lot of extra structure in them used to build the bookcase plus put the finished back and sides (1 side each). All that extra bulk makes the inside shelf depth only 8", which detracts from the utility as well.

Here's a close-up of the finish. No, it's not real oak, it's faux-finished pine.

So I don't think it's advisable to try a refinish/cleanup.

Can I/should I just remove the face frames and build new cabinet boxes that are deeper and way lighter? I might be able to re-use the wood paneling from the sides and backs in another built-in of some kind too.

I'll post this in woodworking if needed, but I know that a lot of you old house lovers have dealt with this as well.

Thoughts/advice?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

User
7 years ago
Using just the face frames(fronts) and building new boxes would be the best way to utilize those. However, you will be hard pressed to match the finish or extend it to the edges on the front.

Seems to me building all new cabinets/shelves with period correct wood(same variety as the rest of the house and getting the stain/finish close would be better, easier, and safer.

The only gotcha will be the grain of the new wood will probably be different(old growth versus new growth). And, if the present wood is chestnut, I doubt you will find any, much less enough. It very well may be mahogany, walnut, white oak, or a variety of pine.

And the finish is probably shellac. Which is good, because there are still easily found colors of shellac, which means approximating the finish color will be easier.
PRO
Sombreuil
7 years ago
Read it again handymac, that "oak" is paint over pine. That is awesome graining, BTW. Totally fooled me.

I don't know what the answer is, short of learning how to do oak graining. Any alteration is going to be for the worse in terms of making the finish match.
Related Discussions
Old Brass Apartment Built-in Mailbox Keys
Q
Comments (1)
A good (old) locksmith may have what you are looking for. Have you checked around? We used to have an elderly locksmith, and I think he probably had everything...was one of the best I believe, and collected locks and keys to everything.
...See More
Old house smell in built-in drawers?
Q
Comments (15)
I appreciate the responses. There are no mouse droppings anywhere in the house -- not even the basement. The only insects found have been the Asian Ladybugs that come inside when weather turns cold, but I've not found any of them in these drawers. I've seen no bed bugs anywhere, as that was my first concern in a drawer. The walls of the bedroom are plaster, but I've found no moisture/mold accumulation in the drawers. It's really odd because some of the drawers are fine, but three emit the odor. Until I can take these outside to remove the contact paper and air out, I've used Clorox wipes in the drawers and that's helped. If I can't get all the goo off the drawers, I'll line them with something, but not repeat the problem by using more contact paper.
...See More
Carpet installers: work around built-ins over old carpet. Help!
Q
Comments (6)
Carpet installer should be able to tuck directly to the built in with no problem and it shouldn't be noticable. We do it all the time if a built in was originally installed over carpet. No worries!
...See More
What to put in place of old built-ins that flanked fireplace?
Q
Comments (3)
I would have bottom cabinets built into both sides. It looks like perfect placement for a TV, so skip the shelving and mount your TV on one side of the fireplace and put artwork on the other side. Or the TV on one side and the wood shelves on the other side. Remove the mantle completely and leave the fireplace as is. You can paint the cabinets the same Greige as your cabinets, or the same white as your trim, depending on your furnishings. It might look nice to make them white and put your deep green color from the island on the backs of the shelving area.
...See More
User
7 years ago
I saw that(first paragraph). The advice was concerning matching the wood in the rest of the house. Guess I should have been more specific.
weedyacres
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
No worries about wood in the rest of the house. All the trim is painted white, and the kitchen cabinets are white shaker.

It's just this room. Door to outside, sideboard and armoire/linen closet are wood, so the desk and wall cabinets need to be too.

Casey: it fooled me too, from the CL photos. It was a bit of an impulse buy ("these are perfect, call the guy, drive down today before someone else takes them") and it wasn't until we got them in the house that I looked more closely at what we had bought.
User
7 years ago
That looks a lot like the veneer on a hope chest I am going to rehab. There is a chip on the right top corner of the door in the second picture. I've started trying to remove the veneer, not having much success.

Related Stories

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Passionate Repurposing in a Heritage Home

By Heather Merenda

Reclaimed and distressed furniture mingles with art, memorabilia and vintage finds in a couple's 100-year-old Canadian townhouse

SALVAGE 12 Ways to Get in the Spirit of Old Stuff Day

By Becky Harris

Vintage heads into the limelight on March 2. What pieces could you cast in a different role?

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: 800-Year-Old Walls, Modern Interiors in Provence

By Vanessa Brunner

Old architecture and new additions mix beautifully in a luxurious renovated vacation home

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Old-World European Flair in Oregon

By Louise Lakier

Custom woodwork, stained glass and Arts and Crafts touches create warm, earthy interiors in a ranch-style home

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: From Old Stable to Minimalist Guesthouse in England

By Vanessa Brunner

Its interior bays once held racehorses, but now this all-white and wood home holds fascination as a modern part-time home

DECORATING GUIDES Old Tools Come in Handy as Decor

By Becky Harris

Repurpose vintage wrenches, wooden pitchforks and even toolboxes as conversation-starting pieces for your home

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: Men of Steel With a Passion for Repurposing

By Robert Burns

These Portland homeowners use metal, found objects and DIY know-how to create a home with an artist’s aesthetic

BUDGET DECORATING Dumpster Decorating: Furnishing Your Home With Repurposed Pieces

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Whether you call them reclaimed or recycled, these furnishings honor our pocketbooks and our planet

FURNITURE 10 Forgotten Items to Repurpose as a Standout Feature

By Rebecca Gross

Transform a vintage find into a highly functional piece of furniture

11 Ways To Repurpose Shutters

By Becky Harris

Weathered, chipped and peeling paint? Yes please!

Sponsored

Winks Remodeling & Handyman Services

1 Review

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County

More Discussions

1920 house: Before and After kitchen - long! Lots of pics!

27

Source for fluted glass?

7

Help with lighting & arranging small, dark, narrow living room 1840's

1

Hardwood floor transition piece

4

Counter overhang variation - acceptable?

7