Upcycle an old drawer into a memory box

Making memories

Upcycle an old drawer and change it into a unique box frame to display family photos and heirloom trinkets. Think printerʼs tray meets photo frame. We fitted ours with a transparent door to make it easier to add or remove items.

project and styling CARIN SMITH photos ED OʼRILEY

DOOR FOR BOX FRAME

DIFFICULTY: challenging TIME: 2-3 hours

YOU WILL NEED ♥ vintage drawer ♥ 2 x short half rounds with both ends cut at a 45-degree angle (length and width according to size of drawer) ♥ 2 x longer half rounds with the ends cut at a 45-degree angle (length and width according to size of drawer) ♥ 2 hinges ♥ 8 screws (slightly shorter than the width of your half round) ♥ screws to secure door to drawer ♥ acetate (clear plastic) same size as your drawer photo corners ♥ adhesive photo corners ♥ electric screwdriver or drill ♥ staple gun with staples ♥ decorations of your choice

TIP If you donʼt have a way of accurately cutting the ends of the half rounds at 45 degrees, ask your local hardware store to help you.

DID YOU KNOW? A half round is a narrow length of wood, semi-circular on one side and flat on the other side.

1

Place your pre-cut half rounds in the shape of the drawer on a flat surface with the flat sides towards you. Joint the corners together with the staple gun. Use two or three staples in each corner to secure. Position the angled ends as close as possible to each other to avoid the gaps being too big.

3 2

Once youʼve secured the ends, attach the hinges to the flat side of one of the longer sides of the frame. Measure equal distances from the edge and between the hinges. Secure with the shorter screws (make sure the screws are a few mm shorter than the thickness of the half rounds).

4

Attach an adhesive photo corner to each of corners on the flat side of the half round frame and insert your acetate. (We used acetate rather than glass for the door as itʼs light and wonʼt add extra weight which could cause the door it to pull away from the hinges.) Now decorate the framed door. Turn the frame around so that the rounded side (the front) is facing towards you. Attach any decorations of your choice to the frame and then screw the hinges onto the drawer to attach the door.