Repurpose in a Way No One Could Have Guessed.

Radio cabinet repurposed as computer/home electronics storage.

This radio cabinet, a 1920s version of William and Mary, was abandoned and on its way to the ditch.

After fixing the walnut and burl veneer, reattaching the doors, and buffing it with our old friend #0000 steel wool, we had a serviceable cabinet that is used to house all of the wifi and computer equipment in the house.

We like the idea that this cabinet once held what was the apex of communication and information technology…

And it still does!

As an aside, this may be a project we get to revisit as the owner has been saying that he would like to have a small flat-screen television installed in it that folds out from the case.

Everything and the kitchen sink.

We have a strong anti-consumerist bias. Almost all of our work in the workroom – from the gutting and subsequent buildout of the five spaces to the installation of tables, desks, and lighting – was done using recovered and salvaged materials when possible.

The kitchenette area off of our offices was no different.

We found the perfect cabinets as the developers across the alley did their thing. Here is what we had to start with:

Original cabinets for kitchenette

Cabinets before we worked our magic.

After we finished reinforcing them to be hung, we reglued the joints, stripped them, primed and painted them.

After scraping and disassembly

Scraped, sanded, and taken apart.

The side of the molding had been crushed and broken away, so we needed to do one quick repair:

repair of moulding

Not bad for so much damage.

We used Behr brand porch and floor paint in latex enamel, brilliant white.
We then built out a support from the ceiling in the kitchenette area to make sure that this mass of wood and glass would be supported from the ceiling as well as the wall using 4 inch lag bolts with 3 inch support washers

We had some issues getting it up on the walls and plumb, so here was the solution:

How to level cabinets when you hang them yourself.

How to level and hang cabinets without help.

We used a wire shelving system on casters, shimming the cabinet up 3/8 of an inch at a time to get it level and flush before drilling in the lag bolts.

Cabinets on wall before finishing.

After the cabinet is fixed in place.

We then replaced the glass, doors, and trim and here we go:

Finished cabinet installation at Tchad workrooms.

Not bad. Not bad at all.