12.15.2010

The Thirty Drawer Library Card Catalog - Custom Refinish Before & After

Before We have been working with Brooke Walker from Studio 5 to help her find and refinish an old library card catalog. While combing through the KSL ads one evening I spotted one and immediately texted her. She quickly made contact with the owner to let him know that without a doubt she wanted it and would pick it up asap.

She debated on the color which is exactly what we have been doing with our own. Should we go black or white? Brooke landed on white and it certainly helps sway me to the white as well because hers turned out so lovely! All thirty drawers lovely!

After
This piece is going in Brooke's home office and it is stunning! It has so much character with the two pull drawers used for referencing. Mike shined up each brass label pull which looks so nice against the clean white.
Be patient with all of the pictures. I could not help myself. There were so many fun angles and details.
While Mike was pulling it apart he ran across a tiny piece of paper that said University of Utah.
Aha! We wondered where the piece originated and I think we now know.
How many of you readers out there used one of these to locate a book at a university library? I am aging myself here but I sure know that I did. This card catalog was designed and built by Remington Rand. Card catalogs were purchased in pieces. Brooke's consists of five pieces. The actual table, two sets of card drawers, one reference drawer section, and the cap.
I cannot wait to see this piece in her home office. Her home is absolutely beautiful and I think it will compliment her decor perfectly!

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99 comments:

  1. Wowee!!! I bet that was a labor of love! I was just thinking about what a chore it must have been taking off every little pull and knob! Wow! Looks amazing. Seems like there should be more of these floating around. I'd love to get my hands on one someday.

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  2. This is lovely! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Wow, it came out amazing! Your hard work paid off:)
    ~Debra xxx
    Capers of the vintage vixens

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  4. It is absolutely stunning! How long did it take to paint all those drawers? I'm sure it's a lot of work, but it turned out perfect!
    -marie

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  5. Wow! That is just too cool! I'll bet that when the libraries got their systems on computers they looked at those big cabinets and thought...what do we do with these now? So glad this one found a fabulous new life! I wonder how many ended up in the landfill...that's a sad thought! I would love one! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. it turned out beautifully! i REALLY wish you were keeping it though. it is so unique. i am crying over here for you for when you have to say goodbye... ;)

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  7. OMG!*!*! YOU did a FaBuLouS Job!!! For the most part I love a natural Time-Worn Chippy Paint Patina ~ but Your Look came out BeSt!!! I'm inspired to "freshen-up" a 2-drawer I have... Thanks for the inspiration...
    Jeanine, ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!

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  8. This turned out wonderful! I have something similar that had been painted lovley gray at sometime and is now a little chippy and distressed.....just howwe like it!

    Thanks for sharing this project.

    Kathleen

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  9. oh, its just gorgeous!!! you did an outstanding job!

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  10. Oh.my.gosh. I am FUMING jealous right now. If you ever see one of these again PLEASE let me know I will be indebted to you forever.

    Love your guts
    mandi

    ps how much did she pay for it?

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  11. BEAUTIFUL!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this piece! You did a fantasic job!

    Mary

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  12. This turned out beautifully! I can imagine the time and effort all those drawers took, but it was certainly worth it!

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  13. wow...must have been very labor-intensive but oh how gorgeous it turned out. SO worth the elbow grease i'm sure! this is an amazing transformation. TFS and Happy WW!

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  14. That is a beautiful finish!!!! Be proud, that was alot of work, but it sure paid off..Thanks for sharing

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  15. be still my heart!! all i can say is "wish THAT was mine!" so so beautiful.
    kathi

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  16. Oh if you could see my face right now!! GORGEOUS!! I am so glad that she picked white as well, it looks so perfect!! You both did an amazing job cleaning everything up and I love how displayed all your treasures on it!! Please hint to her that you need a picture of it when it finds a home in her office!! :D

    I can see why you took so many wonderful pictures, I can't stop looking at it!!

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  17. Such a cool project, but those wreaths are my favorite!!!! You always are right on the mark with classy, vintage style :)

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  18. Wow it is amazing! I so would want to put numbers on the drawers.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  19. oh wow! I want one! Gonna have to keep my eye out!
    Thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  20. Wow, what a cool piece of furniture. And it looks fabulous in white! I would love that in my home. Nicely done!

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  21. That is just awesome! On a scale of 1-10, I give it at least a 15! I love it white, and I have a real think for old brass label holders.

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  22. Melanie, Melanie, Melanie...when I saw this I thought I had died and gone to Furniture Heaven. That is the coolest piece ever...well...maybe not EVER...but close...real close. Love it- and another great job! Hugs- Diana

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  23. Amazing! I'll be searching for one of these now. Awesome job!

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  24. Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

    I always love what you do, but I think this one is giving me a bad case of furniture envy.

    Bernie

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  25. Wow, wow, and wow! Mike really outdid himself this time. I can only imagine removing all that hardware and shining it up. Your client will be so happy!

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  26. Wow! This is gorgeous - and a ton of work! But what a great job! I think the white is the ticket - black would not show the beautiful details like white does. What an amazing piece!

    Cynthia

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  27. This is AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  28. Oh my, that is such a gorgeous piece! I always pray to find something so fabulous. Beautiful!

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  29. Do you paint the inside of your pieces?

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  30. My computer may be ruined now from the drool on it. What a fantastic piece, thanks for sharing!

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  31. This is absolutely gorgeous. I've been looking for something similar for years. I want to find one that needs TLC so that I don't have to pay a huge fortune. You did a beautiful job.

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  32. I've always wanted one of these! Love what you have done with it. Jealous too. :)

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  33. I love it too. I think Brighton could find use for all 30 drawers too. Can't wait to see yours finished!

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  34. Ok, you're torturing me here, Melanie! That piece is fabulous! I can't seem to find one of those anywhere around me. I guess it's not meant to be right now. Beautiful job!

    Thanks for faithfully linking to my party each week. Please be sure to come by and enter my fantastic year-end giveaway. Click the picture in my sidebar for details.

    Blessings and a very Merry Christmas!
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  35. what a transformation! you did a beautiful job!

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  36. What a gorgeous piece, it turned out fabulously. I would love to have a storage piece like that. Hugs-Carrie

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  37. That is gorgeous Melanie! One stunning piece! You and your husband surely worked your magic on that. I could kick myself because about 10 years ago I sold a card catalog just like that at a garage sale. If only I could turn back the clock....

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  38. Beautiful and a lot of work! Gorgeous job. Thank you for sharing all the details too....sometimes one or two pics just don't do it justice!

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  39. Wow!! I am loving the finished result. Brooke is a very lucky lady! I would love to see the piece in her office - I bet it brings the whole room to another level.

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  40. Stopping by from MMS... this is fantiastic! I'd love to come across one of those catalogs. I couldn't even imagine the work going into thirty of those little drawers!

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  41. That is a dream! I can't imagine doing all of those little screws though! You did an amazing job!

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  42. Melanie I am very impressed and I love the white color on it!!

    Joyeaux Noel!

    I have a new giveaway from My Sparrow, do come and enter!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  43. What an awesome piece of furniture, I just love it!

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  44. Found your awesome blog on Met Monday! Following now. Anyone who can do that to a card catalogue is amazing. It is a cool piece of furniture!!

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  45. This is GORGEOUS! I saw a smaller version of this (all ready painted and distressed) at my local antique store but I was too cheap to buy it. Now that I see this one, I wish I would have bought it.

    Yall did great work.

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  46. What a labor of love that must have been. It looks beautiful. I remember the old card catalogs so well too but now they use computers. A computer will never refinish as beautifully as that.

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  47. Holy cow! This is awesome. I would love to find a card catalog.

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  48. Now that is one fabulous makeover! I DROOL over card catalogs anyway, but seeing this one in white, is making me swoon like crazy!

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  49. OMGosh...well...I am TOTALLY
    IN LUV.
    Wow, this is amazing. An awesome piece. Now, of course, I want one, too.:)
    Come by when you can..and I am linking up to follow.:)

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  50. This is fabulous, I love it! I wan't one :)
    Thanks for linking, merry Chrismtas
    XO
    Kristin

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  51. Wow, that turned out amazing! I need to get my hands on one of those card catalogs!

    ~Allison @ House of Hepworths

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  52. OOOHHH! I'm drooling over here :) I do remember using those in the "good old days" - sometimes I think they were easier than the new computer age!

    Yours looks STUNNING!

    Merry Christmas!

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  53. Love this piece!We are now followers!

    http://www.gorgfabgoodies.blogspot.com
    Drab to FAb girls
    BOn

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  54. What a great piece. Love the color choice.

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  55. What a project to undertake... it turned out gorgeous! I'm putting it in the Spotlight at the PoPP.

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  56. No doubt that was not an easy task. I glad am you stuck with it. It certainly turned out to be a very pretty piece. So many ways to use it. You did a great job.

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  57. How fantastic! this is a great find and you restored it beautifully!

    http://inthehammockvintage.blogspot.com

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  58. Although you did a great job of painting, I still like the looks of the original wood much better! It's warmer. All libraries had similar card catalogs before everything became computerized. I miss using them!

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  59. Wow I would have never thought that it would turn out sooo good-!!!!! COOL!

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  60. That must have been SO much work but it was SO worth it. Your card catalogue looks fabulous!

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  61. woohoo! lucky you and job well done! love the pieces! Happy New Year!

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  62. Wow, wow, WOW! I have ALWAYS loved card catalogs ... ever since I laid eyes on it at the library when I was about 5 ... what a thrill it was the first time I got to use it ... after the school librarian taught us all about it and how to use it!

    I often see these in antique stores, and long to bring them home ... and now after seeing how beautifully yours turned out ... that longing is going to be even stronger!

    Have a happy new year!

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  63. You are right! But it is beyond stunning in my opinion! Lucky gal who got this piece!
    Brenda

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  64. totally fabulous, you all did an amazing job on this. LOVE the slight distressing. Thanks for sharing this with all of us, now I want one too!!
    hugs,
    Debra

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  65. Beautiful!! I would love to find a card catalog like this!!! Amazing! Had to share on my FB Page!

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  66. Oh wow, absolutely gorgeous!! I would love to have storage like this in my sewing room. Wonderful job!!!

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  67. This is gorgeous! Definitely looks like a lot of hard work and patience went into making it look fabulous!

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  68. That is absolutely wonderful! I used to work in our school library and got to be really good at finding things in the card catalog. I would love to have a furniture piece like this some day.

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  69. I would die to find one of these. They are beautiful before and after!

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  70. I have always loved the look of those and it looks great white!

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  71. I have one just like this but 45 drawers. I really want to paint mine white too with some aging and distressing. I don't know where to start and would hate to ruin it.

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  72. Beautiful! I Love the white with the gentle distressing!

    We found a mini version (3x3 = 9 drawers) on the curb when we lived in campustown of Iowa State, and it is stamped with ISU # something. I stuck it on an end table next to my rocking chair and kept nursing supplies in it - breast pads, lanolin, burp rags, diapers, wipes, etc. It worked great!

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  73. wow! it's gorgeous! Love the little pull out things. great pics.
    thanks for linking up!
    gail

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  74. Oh my gosh, what a fabulous piece! And yes, it's incredible in white! Swooning here...

    Donna

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  75. Came over from Savvy Southern Style. This piece is absolutely gorgeous! You did a fabulous job! I love it in white, it really makes a statement.
    Jane

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  76. That looks great white and the brass cleaned up so well.

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  77. Fantastic! I don't think I would have taken all that on. Lots of work but it looks great.

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  78. awesome! we just did a post on library-inspired finds. one of us sisters is a librarian. we are on the hunt for one of these card catalogs! love it!

    threesisterz.blogspot.com

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  79. OMG I have been DYYYYYYING to get a card catalog!! {theyre a smidge out of my price range... eek!} I'm your newest follower!! :)

    Come check my stuff out!
    www.temporarynest.com

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  80. That piece is just gorgeous!!

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  81. What a fabulous piece! I love it painted white and now I am on the search for one of my own.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  82. I love this painted out in white! I know this must have been a lot of work!! Thanks for being a part of "Amaze Me Monday".

    ~Dittle Dattle

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  83. Wow...what a change you made. Your hard work certainly paid off as this is absolutely beautiful. I love what you did underneath it, too.

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  84. My husband is going to be really hacked that I saw this. I'm now adding a card catalog to my long list of HAVE to haves! Fabulous transformation! -diane

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  85. What a stand out piece of furniture! That could totally make a room.

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  86. I have always wanted one of those - no kidding she just snatched it up; what a find! Great finishing job!

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  87. WOW! I'd love to get my hands on something like that! Not sure what I'd do with it, but it's something you don't see everyday that's for sure. Nice work!
    Jen
    scissorsandspatulas.com

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  88. Melanie, this is STUNNING! LOVE IT!!! I was going to post some photos of a multi drawer cabinet also but not nearly as beautiful as this. Mine is just constructed of old crates to hold tools in a garage.

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  89. Now that must have taken some time!

    I am so sneaking in your house and stealing that Dewey Decimal card file!

    I love it beyond words!

    Great blog, just found you! Just became a follower!

    I would love it if you stopped by and said hi!

    PS
    I was kidding about breaking in your house!

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  90. What a lovely piece!

    Would you also share how to make the bunting on the card catalog? I'm a bit craft challenged. :)

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  91. I am featuring you tomorrow.

    Cheri

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  92. Absolutely amazing!!! That is just fantastic- I love it love it love it!!! Thanks for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday~ Following you along now :)

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  93. I want one just like it. :) Please.

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  94. I just scored one last week. 39 Drawers. Made in 1933. Quartersawn (tiger) oak. MAJOR deal for $100

    Going to bring it back to matte, natural wood. It i high gloss right now and I don't feel it's original.

    I will not be painting it ;)

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