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    Armoire turned Computer Cabinet

    By Stacy 35 Comments

    We are probably the most un-tech savvy family ever. Everything we have is old. I just got my first cell phone a year and a half ago. And we still have a land line. So it was big deal for us to upgrade and get a new computer!

    Our computer was almost 10 years old which in computer years is like 12,587. Sheesh! No wonder why it didn't work. My hubby and are were not super picky but we definitely wanted something with a lot of storage. Between taking pictures of my 4 kids to the blogging pics, I need STORAGE baby :) We got an HP and I am still trying to get used to Window 8 though. Please tell me it grows on you!

    So our new computer was going to need a home.....

    007

    When I finished my office over a year ago, the plan was to turn our old armoire into a computer hutch. Yeah...... It has sat there this whole time, almost empty. Why are the little, easy projects the ones I always put off? Getting the new computer was a much needed kick in the pants to get this project done.

    This armoire was the very first piece of furniture my husband and I bought together. We had been married for a month. We used it for clothes since our tiny apartments had tiny closets.

    Ever since we moved to this home (about 6 years ago) it has been kind of useless. It held random things. So I am happy to have it actually functioning now!

    before-and-after-computer-hutch

    The only thing I really had to do was add a sliding shelf for the keyboard and cut a hole in the back for cords. Easy, right?

    I cut a 1"x12" board to the right width, stained it to match, and added drawer slides to the sides. The drawer slides are about a ½ inch each so I subtracted an inch from the width of the inside of the hutch to figure out the width of the board.

    One easy change and it has a whole new function!

    COMPUTER-DESK2

    I also decided to add some magnetic paint, chalkboard paint, cork board, and dry erase vinyl to the inside of the panel doors.

    chalk-board-paint

    (See our home phone? We are probably one of the last people in America to still have a land line :P)

    The chalkboard section I put at the bottom because I figured my 3 year old would want to use it too. It is right at his level. I try hard to not be on the computer during the day very much, but if I am, he can be a little helper.

    magnetic-paint

    I happened to have some dry erase vinyl on hand but they also sell dry erase paint. Rustoleum is the brand, which is also the same brand as the chalkboard and magnetic paint. I had to paint 6 or 7 coats of the magnetic paint to get it to hold the big heavy magnet clips.

    computer-armoire

    The baskets on top and the file folders (I painted them blue) are from IKEA and the chair is the chair I painted. It has held up really well! The drawers hold printer paper an other supplies.

    I am sure as I use this more and see what works and what doesn't, that I can make little changes. But for now I am having fun with my new blogging space. I love that I can close the doors and the mess and work is hidden. I am kind of OCD like that, hence the desk with nothing on it! What about you? What is your work space like?

    computer-hutch

    Full disclosure, Staples provided me with this computer. The words and opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. To see the full line of computers visit Staples.com.

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    Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Furniture, Home Decor, Painting 35 Comments

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mel

      March 27, 2013 at 7:31 am

      I like your rustic armoire. And I'm with you on the landline. We cannot get a cell signal anywhere in our house, and it will likely be years, if ever, before there is a tower close enough to change that.

      Reply
    2. Jess

      March 27, 2013 at 8:30 am

      I love it! I've been looking for an armoire for a while now...they're so hard to find!
      We have a landline too.

      Reply
    3. Jess

      March 27, 2013 at 8:31 am

      Oh, and where is the computer tower?

      Reply
      • Stacy

        March 27, 2013 at 9:04 am

        The tower is behind the screen :) The front faces the side with the blue magazine files. That way if I need to put in an SD card or something I can access it.

        Reply
        • Jess

          March 27, 2013 at 9:34 am

          That's where I thought it was.

          Reply
    4. Chelsea

      March 27, 2013 at 8:38 am

      I love what you did with this amore! Your entire office looks awesome! Would love to have you show it off at our link party:
      http://www.marriedfiling-jointly.com/2013/03/give-me-goods-party-1.html

      ~Chelsea @ Married Filing Jointly

      Reply
    5. Nanalie Knotts

      March 27, 2013 at 8:45 am

      This is awesome Stacy! I like closeing the doors on mess too. Makes the room instantly clean. You always get the wheels in my head turning on how I can make that work in my house too! Thanks!

      Reply
    6. carissa

      March 27, 2013 at 9:15 am

      I love it. the teal is such a fun accent. where did you get the magazine files?

      Reply
      • Stacy

        March 27, 2013 at 9:18 am

        Oh! I forgot to mention that. I will add it to the post. I got them from IKEA. They were white so I painted them to match my office.

        Reply
    7. Denise... On A Whim

      March 27, 2013 at 9:27 am

      I love this. We have a vintage armoire that I was planning on doing something similar with. Yours is fantastic!. :)

      Reply
    8. Laura @ Laura's Crafty Life

      March 27, 2013 at 10:09 am

      I love this! I am thinking of doing something similar for our computer because right now it is out in the open in our living room and it drives me crazy! I was going to ask about the tower as well, but I see you already answered where it was hidden! So clever! :)

      Reply
    9. annet

      March 27, 2013 at 10:13 am

      How is it to sit at? Don't your knees bump against the drawers? Just curious cause I love the idea but not sure it would work for my long legs.

      Reply
      • Stacy

        March 27, 2013 at 12:00 pm

        I am 5'5" and I don't have a problem. But I will ask my 6'3" husband and see what he says :)

        Reply
    10. Kara

      March 27, 2013 at 12:05 pm

      Holy wow, I love it! As I'm sitting here in my cluttered craft room, I'm wishing I could move in. Everything is gorgeous!

      Reply
    11. Alissa

      March 27, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      Thanks so much for your post. I love how it turned out. This might be just what I'm looking for in my living room! We're putting the computer in the front room and I want it somewhat hidden. Our house is very small and I just had to give up my craft room/office for one of our children. So, I need somewhere to store office supplies, and a better look to where our computer is. Thank you for posting this, you just gave me a great option!

      Reply
    12. Heart and Haven

      March 27, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      I absolutely love this idea! I had to look and look to find your computer tower, love how it's hidden behind your flat screen monitor :-)

      Hubby just recently set up a computer in the playroom for our kids (my 5 year old uses for his "Reading Eggs" computer homework). Currently, the computer is set up to use the tv as the "monitor" - but it isn't positioned ideally. I actually have an armoire in our garage I may be able to repurpose something similar. I love functional pieces, that are also beautiful in form, and hide all the electronics when not in use.

      BTW, we are "techie" type people in our household. And while we don't have a landline, we do still have "dumb phones", lol!

      Reply
    13. Midsommarflicka

      March 27, 2013 at 4:21 pm

      That's a wonderful transformation! Gorgeous!
      But i would worry as well, how you sit there. I need to stretch my legs while sitting at the computer…

      Love, Midsommarflicka

      Reply
      • Stacy

        April 02, 2013 at 9:17 pm

        It pulls out 12 inches and allows for leg room in a normal sitting position. There are drawer slides that come all the way out and would allow for much more leg room.

        Reply
    14. Janet

      March 27, 2013 at 4:38 pm

      Great job on the armoire. BTW, we still have a land line, too :-D. Hubs won't give it up,, lol.
      Janet

      Reply
    15. Jeannie

      March 27, 2013 at 6:00 pm

      Great job! Did you know that if the power goes down, you will only be connected to the outside world with your land line? Those cell phones do not work without those towers.... No power for towers, no cellphone!

      Reply
    16. Cath

      March 27, 2013 at 8:23 pm

      Your office is so charming; love the color scheme. Great looking cabinet. Someday I need to put in slides. Right now the keyboard shelf just slides on two strips of wood--vveerryy low tech. Interesting to read about all those paints with special properties. I think I'd be tempted to put a sheet of metal in the cabinet instead of so many layers of magnetic paint. Re the land line: I still have one AND I still use my old rotary phone from the days (for you young folk) when we used to "rent" phones from the phone company (and I bought mine when they stopped doing that). It was built to last, and has. (I also have a touch tone because the rest of the world works that way.) And I'm still holding out against buying a cell phone. My DH told me what a friend of his pays in service fees for all his technology (cell phones, computers, etc). It's about four times what we pay. Technology is wonderful and amazing, but it does cost a pretty penny.

      Reply
    17. Maureen

      March 27, 2013 at 8:47 pm

      This turned out beautifully. I wanted to say that a landline is still important, as some others have mentioned. Having survived both 9/11 and hurricane Irene this year, I can tell you that the cell towers DO go down and you cannot reach anyone without the landline. So don't feel badly for still having one it is smart!

      I have a secretary desk that I have used for years now for my MAC and I love being able to close it up and hide everything away!

      Reply
    18. Beth @ Whole New Leaf

      March 27, 2013 at 10:40 pm

      I love your office (your desk is great too). The colors and organized open shelving are perfect. Definitely pinning for inspiration!

      Reply
    19. Donna G

      March 28, 2013 at 1:18 am

      That's very clever and beautifully done. I don't think Windows 8 will ever grow on me. I can't stand it.

      Reply
    20. Eden Claire

      March 28, 2013 at 8:22 am

      Good for you! Upgrading to a new computer... I don't have Internet at home, so that's make me feel better when I see you still have a land line... Cuz not having Internet at home also makes me feel like I'm still in the dinosaur age. :) Nice, savvy project! Gold star.

      Reply
    21. Jamie

      April 01, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Wow, what an amazing office space! Just gorgeous ;) I love what you did with the cabinet!
      Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

      Reply
    22. Crystelle Boutique

      April 01, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      What a wonderful home office.... Oh my!

      Have a terrific week….
      hugs x
      Crystelle
      Crystelle Boutique

      Reply
    23. Jenn

      April 02, 2013 at 12:35 am

      I love that idea! It looks wonderful and very functional! Great idea for the inside doors.

      Reply
    24. Christine @ Let's Get Crafty!

      April 02, 2013 at 9:46 am

      I love it! I've been thinking of doing this in my office!

      Christine

      Reply
    25. brenda

      April 02, 2013 at 9:15 pm

      after reading about the questions re making room for knees and feet, I had assumed that the keyboard was a pullout shelf so I would imagine this allowed for plenty of space in that config....???

      Reply
      • Stacy

        April 02, 2013 at 9:19 pm

        Yes, the keyboard slides out 12 inches. You can also buy drawer slides that come all the way out and would give you even more room :)

        Reply
    26. jessica @fourgenerationsoneroof

      April 11, 2013 at 6:48 pm

      This looks great Stacy! I pinned it to the BHG home project board :)

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Pinterest Party: Creations by Kara | Yesterday On Tuesday says:
      June 20, 2014 at 5:01 am

      […] pinned this Armoire Turned Computer Cabinet from Not Just a Housewife on her Beautiful Rooms–Craft Rooms Board. Love the project and the […]

      Reply
    2. Small Space Office Solutions To Help You Unplug - Hopping Fences says:
      June 1, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      […] exactly what Stacy Risenmay of Not JUST A Housewife did and it came out awesome! She also added a corkboard, whiteboard, and 2 chalkboards. I love […]

      Reply
    3. Tips for Adding a Dedicated Office to Your Home Without Compromising Personal Space - Urban Splatter says:
      December 12, 2022 at 11:52 pm

      […] you are creative, you might be able to transform an older armoire into a functional workstation. Be sure to take any necessary precautions when removing old finishes […]

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