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    Card Catalog Side Table

    By Stacy 41 Comments

    I worked with Glidden Paint for this fun project. I was compensated for my time working on this project but the ideas, tips, and thoughts are all mine!

    Remember when I was debating on which color to paint the metal card catalogs I had in my garage? I finally decided on NAVY! Rich Navy from Glidden Paint to be exact :) And I could not be more happy with the result. If I could marry a piece of furniture, this guy and I would be engaged right now.

     

    navy side table

     

    In case you missed the last post, this is how they started out.

    card catalog turned side table

     

    I painted them and built a base for them. It is now the perfect bedside table for my future new bedroom.

    wood base for card catalog table

     

    Let's break down how I transformed the card catalog drawers.

    The Base

    To build the base, I used 1x1. I measured the height of the three card catalogs stacked up and then figured out how tall the base needed to be. As a general rule, a bedside table should be the same height as your mattress.

    base for card table

     

    I nailed the mitered pieces together to form the top part of the base. I mitered them because I didn't want to see any seams. The ends of boards will stain darker that the other parts of the board. I wanted the stain to be even.

    top of base for card table

     

    Then I nailed the legs together. I did butt joints because the ends do not show in this case (they are facing the floor) and I thought it would be stronger.

    legs for base

     

    I puttied the holes in both the top part and the legs. Then I SCREWED the top to the legs. I wanted it to be as sturdy as possible. I sanded it smooth once the putty was dry and then stained it with Minwax® Dark Walnut.

    putty holes

     The Top

    Before painting the card catalog, I sanded it with a fine grit sandpaper.

    sand it first

     

    I wiped the dust off with wet paper towels and then when it was dry, I taped off all the handles.

    tape off handle before priming and painting

     

    For best results if you are painting metal, use a good primer that will really bond with the surface like Gripper primer from Glidden Paint. Then when the primer has had enough time to dry, paint it the color you want. Rich Navy that I used is from the new simplified color pallette Glidden Paint has created.

    I used my HomeRight paint sprayer to get a smooth even finish.

    prime and paint

     

    I mean, seriously? Look at the finish!

    glidden rich navy paint color

     

    As of right now each catalog drawer is connected to each other with an interlocking system. But if you lift and jiggle each one, you can take them apart. I am thinking of using rivets to connect them permanently. The catalogs are connected to the base with screws. There were holes in each corner that little rubber feet were in. I didn't need the rubber feet anymore so I took them out and used their hole for the screw.

    To be honest I have no idea where to put this until I get enough money to finish our bedroom in the basement. But where ever I put it in the time being, it will look fabulous.

    navy card catalog table

     

     I have been sponsored by the Glidden® brand paint for PPG to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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    Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Favorites, Furniture, Home Decor, Painting, Power Tools 41 Comments

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikki @ Tikkido

      October 16, 2014 at 12:30 am

      Wow, what an incredible project! I LOVE the color you chose, and can't wait to see it in its final home. I'd love to find some old card catalogs! I should start actively looking again.

      Reply
    2. Jenna

      October 16, 2014 at 4:56 am

      I LOVE this piece, Stacey! That blue is gorgeous and I love how you built the legs for it - genius idea!

      Reply
    3. Carole H

      October 16, 2014 at 5:32 am

      Very pretty! I love the color and anything else blue! You did such a great job and I am sure it will look great wherever you put it in your home!!

      Reply
    4. sharon garofalow

      October 16, 2014 at 8:28 am

      So cute! I LOVE that blue!! And the stand you made?! Amazing!

      Reply
    5. Rachel

      October 16, 2014 at 8:29 am

      What a great idea to combine them into one piece. The final product is gorgeous! I especially LOVE that shade of blue.

      Reply
    6. nancy

      October 16, 2014 at 8:53 am

      what a great project! it turned out fantastic!

      Reply
    7. Erin @ DIY on the Cheap

      October 16, 2014 at 9:33 am

      I love this! Such a great idea. It turned out awesome!

      Reply
    8. Cheryl @ That's What Che Said...

      October 16, 2014 at 9:44 am

      This is beautiful! I am now totally on the hunt for some card catalogs!! The color you chose is absolutely perfect and beautiful! Blue is my favorite color!

      Reply
    9. Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story

      October 16, 2014 at 9:55 am

      Genius!!!!!!!!! That Blue is the perfect shade and goes great with the dark stained legs.

      Reply
    10. Noreen

      October 16, 2014 at 10:32 am

      I love the old card catalogs, and this is a great way to use one - and it's beautiful, too.

      Reply
    11. Kimber Matherne

      October 16, 2014 at 10:49 am

      Looks beautiful! I love how the base brought it all together and the color couldn't be more perfect!

      Reply
    12. Laura @ Inspiration for Moms

      October 16, 2014 at 10:53 am

      I love the color you chose, Stacy! It tuned out so pretty!

      Reply
    13. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking

      October 16, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      What a beautiful shade of blue!

      Reply
    14. Jennifer Priest

      October 16, 2014 at 2:45 pm

      This came out so gorgeous - I never would have thought to use Glidden - you've opened a whole new world!!

      Reply
    15. Kathy

      October 16, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      That's great! I have been intimidated to paint metal but you make it look easy.

      Reply
    16. Kim @ Sand & Sisal

      October 17, 2014 at 6:54 am

      You are just so creative! I really love this piece and the color is beautiful!

      Reply
    17. Emily

      October 17, 2014 at 7:52 am

      it looks so pretty!! I love the color and pretty much everything about this!!

      Reply
    18. Jane

      October 17, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Perfect piece, perfect color!

      Reply
    19. Shannon Fox

      October 18, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      Oh my stars! I love this project.
      Something awesome out of... well, not awesome.
      You rocked it girl and that NAVY is ridiculous gorgeous.

      Reply
    20. Natalie @ A Turtle's Life for Me

      October 18, 2014 at 8:11 pm

      This seems like such a simple idea, and yet it never would have occurred to me! I love the way your brain works! That color is fantastic too! I've been working at bringing that color into my house more too!

      Reply
    21. Jennifer West

      October 20, 2014 at 8:45 am

      I REALLY love how this project turned out. That blue was the perfect pick!

      Reply
    22. Kelley Wilson

      October 20, 2014 at 8:51 am

      I love it what a great side table and the smaller drawers are much more practical than one large drawer.

      Reply
    23. Laura

      October 20, 2014 at 11:00 am

      It turned out amazing! I love that color you chose. I need to get a paint sprayer. We had one and it broke. I would do a lot more painting if I had one. :)

      Reply
    24. pluto

      November 10, 2014 at 7:56 am

      How sturdy is the catalog on the base? It seems that it would be top heavy if there were anything in the drawers.

      Reply
    25. Nannette Bailey

      March 07, 2015 at 5:22 pm

      Hi, I enjoy reading your blog posts and you have some brilliant ideas. Thanks for sharing hem

      I am curious about this card catalog you have done up to make a a side table. Did you do it to store cards for a specific use or just as an interesting table ? What size and type of cards does it hold and what would you use them for? Wold you use it for storing something else besides catalog cards?

      I like the table and how it looks, but am loath to have something like that which wasn't also useful for storage in some way.

      Thanks,
      Nan

      Reply
    26. LeahM

      July 17, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      I have 3 of these begging for a new purpose in life. Did your drawers schreech and scratch while opening? Metal on metal? I don't know how to fix that. Any suggestion would be very helpful. Thanks!

      Reply
    27. Doreen @ Altered Artworks

      January 29, 2016 at 8:38 am

      Your card catalog nightstand is gorgeous. Love the navy color. I have several of these metal card catalogs. I now know what I will do with them. Thanks so much for the inspiration. Now following you on social media.

      Would love for you to visit my blog and see how I transformed a 33-drawer metal cabinet with a bit of paint, also.
      http://altered-artworks.blogspot.com/2014/03/from-plastic-bins-to-industrial-chic.html

      Reply
    28. Lane

      February 09, 2017 at 6:36 am

      I really like the card catalog side table but have a question that was not addressed in the article. How did you attach the base (legs) to the card catalog section?

      Reply
      • Stacy

        February 10, 2017 at 9:56 am

        I actually haven't attached them yet. I was trying to decide if I wanted to use epoxy or drill holes in the bottom and screw it on. It has been by my bed for a long time and it has stayed on the base even when bumped so I haven't been in a huge hurry to decide. I think either way would work. If you go the epoxy route I would recommend using a heavy duty 2 part epoxy.

        Reply
    29. Kim~madeinaday

      March 28, 2017 at 9:06 am

      Oh I really love this project!! I saw some of those vintage card catalogs and wondered what to do with them so I passed them up. Came out fantastic! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Pinned & Sharing on FB. Have a great week!
      Kim

      Reply
    30. Lindi

      March 31, 2017 at 1:37 pm

      I can't believe I've never seen this project before! LOVE it! Thanks for sharing at the Creative Gallery :)

      Reply
    31. Pattie @ Olla-Podrida

      April 01, 2017 at 10:55 am

      I found you on Share It One More Time and am so glad that I did. Your blog is lovely, and I am envious that you found metal card catalogue drawers. I have been looking for these. This is a great tutorial and I'll keep it in mind should I ever find any. :-)

      Reply
    32. Sahana

      April 03, 2017 at 4:17 pm

      Wow, Such a great idea and turned out amazing! Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty .We would love to have you again next week.

      Reply
    33. Chaela

      July 29, 2018 at 1:54 am

      I found two of those metal card catalogs at a thrift shop last year. I painted the large one red and out it on metal hair pin legs and it turned out fabulous! I found your blog post shortly after and now and I’m the middle of building the base for the second one. Which I painted navy also! Can’t wait to finish it tomorrow! Thanks for the tutorial

      Reply
    34. Kris

      October 18, 2018 at 2:27 pm

      How did you attach the base to the top?
      This is fabulous!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. 15 Filing Cabinet Makeovers You've Got to See to Believe says:
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      […] Maybe you’re lucky enough to run across some old card catalogs? (I wish!!)  Turn them into a darling side […]

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    2. Kick-Off Friday says:
      October 15, 2015 at 10:08 am

      […] I love this project by Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, she took an ordinary card catalog and turned it into an adorable side table!  Visit her blog here […]

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    3. Electronic Blog says:
      March 13, 2017 at 10:24 am

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