Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
HIS ’N’ HERS drawer hack
Turn basic cabinetry into an elegant bedroom solution for two
Do you need more bedroom storage? Then this is the project for you. It takes kitchen base cabinets and transforms them into a double chest of drawers, perfect for the master bedroom. All you need is timber, paint and a bit of elbow grease to create this high-end piece on a DIY budget. Plus, you can adapt the concept to suit your needs. Think dining room, hallway or anywhere else you need an elegant storage solution.
EASY STEPS TO YOUR REVAMPED DRAWERS
Measure to cut a top piece from 19mm pine, then measure to cut 2 side pieces plus 19mm. The side pieces will bu against the top to clad the cabinets flush with the edges.
STEP 2 Cut a top piece from laminated panel to be 18mm deeper and 52mm wider than the clad cabinet. Cut 2 side pieces to the same height as cabinet and 18mm deeper.
STEP 3 Use a roller to apply a coat of stain and varnish to all sides and edges of 19 and 26mm timber pieces. Leave to dry, then sand lightly and wipe off dust with a cloth.
STEP 4 Apply a second coat of stain to timber pieces. Leave to dry.
STEP 5 Prime raw board drawer panels and leave to dry. Apply 2 coats of acrylic
TURN KITCHEN CABINETS INTO GLAM BEDROOM FURNITURE IN A WEEKEND!
paint to panel faces and edges, and leave to dry aer each coat.
STEP 6 Remove 12 samesized mosaic tiles from sheet for drawer knob faces.
STEP 7 Cut drawer knob mounts from 19mm timber, 10mm smaller all around than mosaic knob faces.
STEP 8 Stain all sides of knob mounts, except the backs, and leave to dry. Apply Araldite to back of each knob mount.
STEP 9 Centre mount on back of mosaic drawer knob face and press down firmly, then leave Araldite to dry.
STEP 10 Measure, mark and predrill front and back of drawer panels for knobs.
STEP 11 Predrill back of drawer knob mounts.
STEP 12 Apply a bead of PVA glue to the back of each drawer knob mount.
STEP 13 Position each drawer knob against drawer panel fronts and secure through the back of the panel with screws.
STEP 14 Measure internal drawer bases to cut MDF pieces to size.
STEP 15 Spray MDF drawer bases with adhesive, then lay face down, centred, on wrong side of velour fabric and trim to size with 20mm extra all around.
STEP 16 Aach doublesided tape to all edges of MDF and pull off backing, folding over and securing fabric as you go. Make sure fabric is smooth and taut before aaching final edge.
STEP 17 To make pulls for drawer bases so they are easy to remove, cut strips of fabric and fold over, then aach to boom of MDF drawer base at the back with double-sided tape.
STEP 18 Measure inside of drawers to cut dividers from 19mm pine. Stain timber drawer dividers and leave to dry.
STEP 19 Insert fabriccovered drawer bases, then position stained drawer dividers.
STEP 20 Position cladding pieces on cabinetry and secure from inside cabinets with screws. Screw panels to drawers. Return drawers to cabinets.