Look what I found at a yard sale.
Seriously.
And there were two of them for $80.
In all my yard sale years I’ve never seen anything like them.
I had walked the entire yard sale twice and was heading to my car to leave when I spotted these at the back of the garage with piles of wood. I think they were only still there because they blended in with the piles of lumber scraps in the corner.
I couldn’t believe it when I moved the pieces of wood aside and saw a door. I felt like I was on an HGTV show and someone was going to pop out and start filming my cartwheels across the yard.
I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do with them. But we loaded them into the car and brought them home and they sat under the carport for four months.
Until.
Until one day when I walked upstairs and the most brilliant idea popped into my brain all because of a bottle of shampoo.
And I decided to do this.
Let’s start with a pulled-back view so you can see them in all their glory so my idea will make so much more sense.
It looks like they used to be cabinets in someone’s long-ago kitchen or dining room. They are super narrow (about six inches) and each cabinet has two doors that are about ten inches wide. I think they were built into a wall and someone just pulled them out during a renovation.
At first, I looked around the house for places to build them in and I didn’t really have a place for them and then I came up with the idea of making them into free-standing cabinets for the dining room for all my milk glass and vases.
But life happened and the free-standing cabinets never became a thing.
Which ended up becoming the most fortuitous thing ever.
Because instead?
We are using the cabinets here.
See this long and narrow bathroom?
It’s a super frustrating space.
You could fit the amount of storage in this bathroom into a shoebox.
There are two drawers that have toothpaste and a few odds and ends, but all of my bath stuff and extra shampoo and conditioner and cotton balls and bath soap and extra hand soap is all outside the bathroom because that’s where the storage is.
You can kind of see it from this angle.
See the hallway outside the bathroom? It’s the hallway right by the stairs and that’s where all the bathroom stuff is kept.
Which is fine 80% of the time.
Until you are ready to take a bath and forget the bubble bath.
Or you need extra toilet paper.
Or you need a bottle of shampoo because someone borrowed the shampoo and you discover you are completely shampooless.
Then?
It’s so awkward to have to walk out of the bathroom into the hallway to get all those random beauty supplies.
If only I had storage in the bathroom.
If only I had cabinets.
BUT WAIT…..
…..I DO!!!!!!!
What if we built these cabinets into the narrow hallway? Can you imagine it? Now that I pointed it out isn’t it the best yard sale project ever? We’ve never been able to add a cabinet here before because of the depth of the room, but the cabinets wouldn’t really take up any space if they were built directly into the wall.
And what if we added shelving inside?
There would be tons of space for all the shampoo and lotion and handsoap and paper towels and toilet paper.
AND THERE WERE TWO OF THEM.
Double the space. Double the storage. Double the shampoo bottles.
I had my husband bring them upstairs so we could visualize it.
They were originally built into the wall in some long ago house? Why couldn’t we build them into the wall here?
And in amazing news?
The cabinets fit perfectly into the space. Because they are so narrow they are the exact depth of our wall. The doors are only about 10 inches wide, so there’s enough space to open them up in the hallway.
The goal is to finish the project within a week. So this is our plan starting tomorrow:
- strip the cabinets
- cut open the wall to the width of the cabinets (being extra careful of any electrical wires in the wall)
- add the cabinets to the bathroom wall
- add four shelves to each cabinet (I think they will be stationary shelves)
- caulk and paint the cabinets to match the existing wall color
- add new hinges and hardware to the cabinets
Let’s envision it one more time.
From this.
To this.
Won’t it be amazing when it’s finished?
And look how close the cabinets are going to be to the shower.
Sigh.
The only thing better than a yard sale find?
Is one that holds all the shampoo bottles you could ever want within arm’s reach. 🙂
LOVE!!!
I want to see the finished project.....
I can't wait to see how the shelves look in the bathroom. What a great idea to add storage.
These will b great! Perfect
I'm excited for you. We finished a little house with virtually no storage and my husband put a bathroom closet between the studs. It was amazing. Also since he did that it created a 12 inch closet on the other side which was in my bedroom. I wasn't sure what I could do with that but voila! We made a shoe closet with shelves! It can be done! Have fun. Can't wait to see it!
Very cool idea! I think they would even look nice in their natural shabby state (if shabby farmhouse was your thing).
I can’t wait to see this finished!
What a vision you have when you see something that someone else has discarded, it's a gift. Have you thought about incorporating some lighting into the cabinet when you open up the wall and have access to electricity? I find the more lighting you have anywhere the better off you are. Cabinets/cupboards tend to have problems illuminating their contents. Maybe just the small ones they use for china cabinets or entertainment centers would work.
What could be better than GIANT medicine cabinets! This is a game changer in the storage dept. can’t wait to see them finished!
Aren’t you just the most creative soul? Yes you are my friend!!! I love this idea and can’t wait to see it in your bathroom. Wow pure genius putting it into the wall!
Texas has the best garage sales! Colorado needs to step up their yard sales! Cannot wait to see this before and after! xo laura
Such an amazing find! It is going to be gorgeous as well as oh, so, functional.
What a great find and idea! I picked up a bookcase of the curb, painted it white and put it in my master bath. It's perfect! Hold all the towels and toilet paper on the open shelves and the extra shampoo and soap behind a lower set of doors. Love it! A bookcase for the bathroom is always a great idea.
Can’t wait to see these finished! I love when you find something unique that solves a problem. And a yard sale find! Restoring at its best!
You are so clever and you have creative vision!!! Can’t wait to see the finished project.
Wheres the AFTER picture???
She said she was starting the project tomorrow.
KariAnne, you are so amazing with all the ideas you come up with -- like these doors! I know that once you are finished with this project it will just look lovely! I love your vision when you see something at a yard sale and know that you need to bring it home for something special! Bless you!
You clever girl! What a score! Can’t wait to see the finished project. It’s nice to come alongside as you are in the process of a job. Best of Luck. Stay cool and hydrate. Texas summers are something! Katy
What a beautiful find!!! Cannot wait to see the end results. You always have such great visions. God Bless.
How many "eye rolls" did you get from your hubby when you had him carry these units up the stairs and you told him about cutting holes into the beadboard wall and ... LOL Cant wait to see the finished product.
It all sounds so wonderful. I will love seeing it. I have a wall in my kitchen I have wanted to put glass front ikea cabinets into it for pretty storage. You are going to make it look wonderful. We will all be waiting.
You are so blessed! Can't hardly wait to see how they look when you have finished. Hard work ahead but so worth it!
Oh sweetie! I can't wait to see the finished project.. Im sure you'll make it look amazing! As you would say "Let's Go.."
Brilliant, KA!!! Whoo hoo! Love it when things happen just like that. Well done, you guys. (high fives)
Wow I can't wait to see this project. Evey other state has great thrift shops and garage sales. NJ so very sad. They're full of junk. Happy new week!
Love your new find!!! Great idea! Looking forward to seeing the end result!
Hi Karianne, You know I have so much faith in you and you make me smile everyday, BUT this time I need to see to believe. Wishing you all the luck and love in the world with this one.
Great Find, Karianne. I know how excited you get when you find a diamond in the rough. I am so looking forward to the end result. Probably less than you are looking forward to it for more reasons than one. 🙂 Have a Sparkling Week. ✨.
When we tore down the house next door, my husband thought I was crazy for wanting the old wooden medicine cabinet, circa 1895. I hung it on the bedroom wall and I keep my nail polish in it. My family stays with me occasionally and they love the assortment of polish, remover, etc. all in one place. Your cabinets are great, you're going to love them!
Storage is wonderful. Cute storage is amazing. You're on your way to cute storage.
You are amazing…I want to go yard sale shopping with you! PS your husband is amazing too!
Wow! What a fabulous find! This is going to be fun--can't wait to see how you do it. :)
I'm very much looking forward to the reveal!! xoxo
Can't wait to see the results!
I'm 63 and I'm at a point in my life after years of decorating, at a loss for vision. If you are ever in the New Braunfuls area, please IM me. I need help and your enthusiasm. Pam