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You came by to see how I turned a regular old armoire found on Craigslist to an totally organized jewelry/makeup/t shirt cabinet. 
We bought an armoire almost a year ago on Craigslist because my oldest daughter had an overflowing walk in closet and she needed some space to keep her hair stuff. She does her hair in her bedroom because the upstairs bath she shares with her sister is small and couldn't hold all of her things. You'll understand why by the time you get to the end of this post.
The armoire was partially organized, but it was still a mess because she still didn't have enough space. It looked like this:
I took inventory of my daughter's things and felt she needed one more 1/2 shelf on the top part of the armoire and she really needed more shelves in the bottom of the armoire. She had well over 200 tops in the hanging part of her closet. It was so crammed that it was difficult to hang things up...so they ended up on the floor.
If her junk stuff in the bottom of the armoire could be put somewhere else, then the tops that could be folded, would fit in the lower section.
The first thing we did was order some adjustable bed risers so that the clear boxes would fit under the bed.
The previous owner of the armoire cut out the back for the TV and this had to be fixed.
So, Mr. Fanatic cut some a thin sheet of backer board, 2 full shelves and a 1/2 shelf & I painted them with some leftover oil base black paint.
Since it was so dark inside on the top and a girl needs to see what she's got, we thought it would be a good idea to install a flourescent light inside.
Here's what the top looks like now
Awhile back I ordered Bling-eez online and put them on the top left door. She still needed more room to hold all of her rings and bracelets.
So, I used a box lid for her bracelets(in back), and a divided tray for her rings and other miscellaneous jewelry. Yes, those are 4 sections of rings, plus all the ones on the left door! The girl loves to dress up.
She keeps all her curling irons and flat irons in one of the baskets, and hair products in the other basket. There is a switched outlet strip between the baskets, so she can leave the curling irons plugged in and just turn off the switch. I LOVE that! My daughter hooks the curling irons on the edge of the basket to cool.
We installed a mirror on the right top door so she can do her hair here.
Ah, much better!!!
The half shelf on top really freed up some space and doesn't cover up the things below because it's only 10" deep.
Here's what we did on the bottom...
There was already a shallow roll out shelf in the lower portion of the armoire which is perfect for my daughter's hair extensions. Yep, she's got a lot of hair!
We had some drawer guides left over from when we installed her closet several years ago, (yes, we keep EVERYTHING!), so I thought it would be wonderful to have the shelves roll out. This is important especially because the armoire is very deep.
All three shelves roll out.
I told you she had a lot of tops! Remember, these are only her folded tops! She has two hanging racks of tops in her closet! Tee, from Brown Eyed Belle doesn't call my daughter a "fashion plate" for nothing. You should see her shoes! But, that's another story.
Bottom Before:
Bottom After:
Top Before:
Top After:
Armoire Before:
Armoire After:
I really love organizing things and love when the project comes out being so functional and looks great!
Do you love organizing as much as I do?
Pam
update: my daughter has since moved all the way across the country and was unable to take her "command center" with her. The armoire is still in her old room waiting for a new purpose.
update: my daughter has since moved all the way across the country and was unable to take her "command center" with her. The armoire is still in her old room waiting for a new purpose.
P.S: the dimensions of the armoire are 68 1/2" tall x 21 1/2" deep x 38" wide.
62 comments:
This was a big project and I love the results. So must your daughter! For me it would just be nice to have all of my daughter's things out of the bathroom!
Fantastic job, Pam!
XO,
Jane
Looks great!! That is a scaringly large amount of jewellery though hahaha
Wow! This is wonderful!! Stopping by from Just something I whipped up :)
Looks great Pam! What a lucky girl, she has so many fun looking accessories too!!~ Happy Thanksgiving.
wow, you did a fabulous job with that! i wish my house was that organized!
Love the color of armoire. You did lots of organizing...looks great!
I know I have all boys but OMG! Can I have her armoire brought over here?? What a great job!
It looks great! What great storage ideas - thanks!
Wow, that even makes me feel great!! LOL... You had some great ideas with adding the extra shelf, light and fixing the back. I cracked up when I read the words Bling-Eez! Never heard of that one before! I love the mirror idea, that would have been smart for us to have done. All the way around it's a five star job! Let's hope for your sake she keeps it that neat! :)
Recently I stripped my daughters clothes out of her drawers and armoire and piled them on her bed, when she came home for a weekend we filled 7 bags up with clothes that went to Goodwill! She had two lives between college and home and after a while there was just too much she wasn't using anymore.
WOW!!! I'm still waiting on you to come help me get organized!
I also LOVE to organize! All your ideas were really great with the re-used armoire! I can't believe how much stuff your daughter has...guess I have that to look forward to in about ten years with my daughter!
Becky B.
www.organizingmadefun.blogspot.com
BOY! That is one tricked out armoire! You have thought of everything. Great job. So many neat accessories and clothes makes your daughter no fashion plate. She is the whole set of dinnerware. It looks like you girls have lots of fun together. Have a great Thanksgiving. Hugs, Ginger
Thanks for all the nice comments! I should mention that my daughter is 18, has a full time job(& goes to college) and buys her own things. She is both a bargain shopper & loves to splurge on some items, as well. When she decides to move out, she can take this armoire with her & she'll be all set for storage!
I hate organizing and I suck at it. Really. I am not lying in any way, shape, or form. Just ask my husband! I wish you lived close!!!!!! I would hire you in a minute!
I love it all organized! What a great job and very clever too.
This is fabulous!!! I love it!!! So organized and neat!
XO
Kristin
PS....Love your new profile pic, so cute
It looks great!!! I'd love to dig through that jewelry!!!
Nice job, looks like a display piece you'd see in a hip clothing store! I can kind of see my future here with my 9yo daughter :)
Wow! First of all I love your new profile pic you lovely lady! :-) Secondly, that armoire transformation is amazing! What a gift you gave your daughter to get it all set up like that for her. I could have some serious fun with all of those great accessories!
Vanessa
It's like having her own boutique right in her room. I'm sure she'll keep it all neat and organized after all your hard work.
Pam, as soon as I saw this link, I KNEW it was yours. It is beautiful yet wonderfully functional. I bet your daughter is stylishly gorgeous. With organized beauty supplies and baubles like this, she has to be striking everyday of the week. Ah -- if only you were closer, my friend! Yet -- I you're a wonderful teacher and each time I visit you, I learn something knew. This is a tremendous "bragable.
Brilliant! What a great way to organize everything. I love that piece of furniture.
Thanks for sharing!
My your daughter is so lucky to have two parents who just fix up her stuff so nice!
Looks good!
Looks great! I love all your daughter's fun accessories! :) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
What a great job you've done, very organized!
Suzy xxx
Great storage project, but looks like you might need another shelf if she gets anything else! ;)
Very great job Pam...your efforts are so fruitful that I cant imagine.... the whole look has changed... I really things in a organised way, it make life easier and comfertable..... very great Pam... Hope she will be happy with that..
http://www.craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah
Wow...what a great organization job. I'll bet your daughter is more than happy with it. She's very lucky having you show her the way!
xox
Nancy
Love how the colors play off the black. This is a teenager's dream!
Love it! If I only had a daughter...
Oh to be organized, I can only dream. Looks wonderful!
What a project! Well done!
Wow, that's beautiful! I would love to have that myself...just so I could stare at the organization of it all everyday LOL.
Laura
Love it! :) That is so organized! I am your newest follower! :) Erin
www.healthybranscoms.com
Oh, wow, that's amazing and wonderful. I'm going to have to make my own fashion diva one of these! She's only 9 .. and she could use one!
Wow, your daughter has too much stuff. Seriously seems like she's kinda spoiled. Your organization techniques are awesome, but maybe she should get rid of some of her things instead?
Anonymous, just so you know...my oldest daughter (whose stuff this is) has had a job since before she was 15. When she was 10 she was an entrepreneur. At 19 she is totally self supporting and lives 2500 miles away. So, if by spoiled you mean sheworks hard and is blessed, I would agree with you!
We have a Sauder tv armoire that the back is cut out like yours was and we gave the extra tv away to Salvation Army but kept the armoire. I have two ideas running through my head..#1 is to give the armoire away to SA and move my chest of drawers into his room, so I'll have room for a chair in my bedroom to sit and read in OR #2 idea is to do exactly what you all did, and use it as storage for blankets, pillows, throws, quilts and sheets and that would give me more room in the linen closet for towels and bath mats,etc. I don't know if the armoire didn't have that backing or he's put it somewhere not to be found again. Maybe I could call Sauder and see if they can sell me that part to match. They're great to deal with.
My Chest of drawers would match his bedroom furniture and right now I am storing tablecloths and picture frames that we no longer display but want to keep. I would rather let the chest of drawers go into his room and give away the Sauder entertainment armoire. He had Calif. Closets to install a system in his closet but he could use more drawer space. He doesn't want to get rid of the tv armoire but he plans to buy a new flat screen tv in a few months, and he thinks the old set will go there. Neither of us like to watch tv in bed, so what's the use to keep the old tv? We gave the other one that was perfectly good to Salvation Army, for the reason nobody watched it. We got it for the grandchildren to watch their shows when they used to spend the night with us when they were little. They are 19, 16 and 13..rarely come and spend the night anymore.
Betty, you have "no reply blogger" checked, so I couldn't email you back. I hope you see this. Don't call Sauder for the backing, just go to Home Depot or Lowe's or some other hardware store that has 1/4" thick hardboard backing...then paint it to match. HD and Lowe's will cut to side. A hardware store near you might, as well.
Hi Pam,
This is a GREAT idea and I'm wanting to try it, but I'm not sure where to start or what I need. Do you have a list of the things you used to do this? That would be very helpful! GREAT job!
Thanks again,
Hey taylorjamie, you have "no reply blogger" checked, so I couldn't respond. Hope you see this. I don't really have a list of things. This armoire is so personalized that it might not fit what you would use it for. If you have an armoire, the first thing you need to do is figure out what you will use it for. I added backing and a half shelf to the top part, and a roll out shelf(consists of a shelf and drawer guide) to the bottom part. Then a mirror on the right door and "Bling Eez" for the left door.
My daughter loves the color of these walls. What color is it? And what brand of paint? Absolutely love the armoire!!!! :)
Hey Kristen, you have "no reply blogger" checked, so I couldn't respond. Hope you see this. The color of the walls is "Lucent Purple" by Valspar. It is in the satin finish.
We have an old computer cabinet that I am now looking at to see if we can do something similar (my daughter is only 11, so she doesn't have quite as much as yours does - yet!) but she's been asking for an armoire... why not re-purpose what we already have?
Thanks for the insipiration!
Thank you so much!!!! :)
It's absolutely amazing! The prettiest thing I've seen all day!!
Where did you purchase the jewelry organizer on the door? I need something like that for my daughter's room?
Is there any way you would sell this beauty?
Where did you buy this armoire at? And where did you get the jewelry organizers on the door?
Such a cute idea(:
Michelle, I found the Armoire on Craigslist and the jewelry organizer is from Blingeez. Blingeez is available online.
Pam how did you secure the shelves so they would be sturdy. I'm worried that the outer walls of the armoire may not allow a long strong nail or screw.
Nidia, you have "no reply blogger" checked on your blog, so that I can't contact you via email, so I hope you see this answer. We didn't use nails to hold up the shelves, we drilled holes in the sides of the cabinet and used shelf pins.
where does your daughter get her hair extensions i really like the wave in them
I love this idea and I'm wanting to do it with an armoire I have. Where did you get all the jewelry organizers that are sitting on the shelves? Also, about how much will all that stuff cost (broke college student so I have to budget).
And I was reading reviews about the Bling EEZ… did your daughter have any problems with it falling off the door? Thanks for all the great ideas… I've used probably 4-5 of them so far and I can't wait to do more.
Savannah, I couldn't reply to your email because you have "no reply blogger" checked. I didn't have any problem with the blingeez falling off the door. Not once. When my daughter moved, I took them off the inside of the door, but it was really difficult and it left sticky stuff on the door. I bought the jewelry organizers at Marshall's, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods. I bought them one at a time as she kept needing more and don't remember how much they were...I'm thinking they were around $7.99-$9.99
Anonymous, I'm not sure where my daughter bought her hair extensions. The extensions come straightened; you have to curl them to get them that way.
This is fabulous! I love the pull out shelves on the bottom half. Such a smart idea!
what are the dimensions of this armoire
Good job!
Bt your daughter sure has a lot of stuff.......that's one crazy amount! I imagine she must have some hefty pocket money.
I love a good Refab of furniture! This turned out great and look at all that space!!!! I'm going to share over on my FB this morning. Great job :)
You did a FABULOUS transformation with this armoire. I also think that stocking the armoire with organizing bins that could be used again was so smart. Now that your daughter is so far away, she could find another armoire at a thrift store and make her own armoire --which would be a lot cheaper than trying to move the already built armoire so far away. Or maybe after college she's planning on moving back to your area.
I think in the meantime, you could use the armoire for your crafty stuffy. Plastic bins for paints, glitters, etc. a ribbon organizer strip on the door, chipboard with the holes in it to organize and store your tools in plain sight
--that's what I'm doing with my new studio area, and I'm going to buy one of those pint samples of a gorgeous colorful paint from Home Depot for under $5 to give the studio area some color) I'm going to use the organizing board in my sewing area, on the doors of my armoire to hold craft tools for papercrafts and decorative painting, ect.
I went to Target this past weekend, (10/27) and discovered that they had a ton of plastic organizing boxes, etc, from their "going back to school" area on sale because they were bringing in the Christmas storage bins. I've also gotten some fabulous deals on storage boxes from Big Lots.
I'm sure you can find a use for the armoire with all the crafty things you do. I love the idea of getting an armoire with a pull out desk top--great area to use while working with crafts and space to let items dry.
Craft On!
M
the artist in NC
I love this sooo much!! I have an armoire just like this.. I was gonna get rid of it.. but adding this stuff would make it so much more useful!! Thanks so much for sharing!! I'm a new follower.. I look forward to more fun ideas!! :)
http://daisygirlsartstudio.blogspot.com/
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