Add glam without all the shine. This vintage watchmaker file cabinet got a new look with aged bronze matte metallic paint.
Everyone has that one piece of furniture that needs a color change, right? For me it’s this old watchmaker’s cabinet that my sister gave to me. Her inlaws have run a family jewelry store for two generations and this piece likely came from that store.
I fell in love with it immediately for its very practical storage solutions and industrial aesthetic.
But, I haven’t loved the color. It’s a little hard to tell from this photo, but it’s a shade of dark green.
My only dilemma was picking a color. I have a lot of gold accents in this room, which serves as a dining room and craft / home office space. I really didn’t want to lose the industrial element by painting it a bright color like white.
I had toyed with painting it a metallic black or gray, but that seemed a bit boring. Then DecoArt introduced their new matte metallic paints to me and I knew that’s the direction I wanted to go.
I am part of the DecoArt core blogger team for 2017-2018. This post and paint is sponsored by DecoArt, but all opinions, ideas and creative inspo are from me.
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These new metallic paints from DecoArt are different because they have a flat finish, rather than a shiny one like you might expect. When I spotted the Aged Bronze Matte Metallic color, I knew this color would help preserve the industrial look of the cabinet but also give it a modern update.
I thought it might be more functional with caster wheels. Of course, I headed to my favorite online resource for some vintage brass casters. My husband repurposed some old trim from another project to add a base for the wheels. I made him a batch a snickerdoodles for his effort. #fairtrade
Then it was time to paint.
I used a smaller brush to paint around the label pulls. I really liked how they looked on the drawers, but I also realized they would need to be painted a different color. I decided a matte black would give them a more finished look and cover up the spots of rust.
Here you can see that the drawers are pretty narrow, but they are perfect for storing craft notions and office supplies. I also took this opportunity to reorganize all of them. Some had started to resemble junk drawers, if you know what I mean.
I added the number labels almost immediately after getting it… but here’s the thing: I can never remember what is in each drawer. Except for drawer number 2. That’s where I kept the pencils. See what I did there?
We all had to open no less than 3-4 drawers to find what we’re looking for. And we were over it.
I kept the numbered labels in the drawers so I could figure out how to put them back in. But, I also decided to relabel them with what was inside. Novel, right?!
I created my own industrial-styled labels with these two font combinations: Pearl District (sans font) and Saltery Regular (script font). Then I printed them on white cardstock.
Honestly, my kids rarely comment, let alone notice my crafty projects around the house, but they both breathed a sigh of relief and acknowledged my new labels at homework time when they saw the new labels. #winning
I was using scrapbook paper to line the drawers, but decided to update them with something more vintage industrial. Then I discovered this retro drawer liner in a vintage newsprint. LOVE! So, I trimmed it up and installed it as I reorganized my drawers.
BTW, I LOVE having a drawer just for glue. And Glue Dots are my latest obsession.
It’s amazing what a difference caster wheels make. They add a little class and a lot of function. Now I can easily move this cabinet around and even sweep behind it. Ha. Who am I kidding. That probably still won’t happen.
A long time ago, I added vinyl gold circles to my Pottery Barn desktop and I still love how it looks to this day. I made a confetti pattern with my Silhouette Cameo and added the cut vinyl circles in a scattered pattern on the desk.
So, what do you think? I am really digging the matte shades of metallic.
And I’m so glad I waited to give this project a makeover, because aged bronze is just what it needed.
I love it! Your whole office is amazing!
Oh thank you Tammy! I have to be a little creative with this space since it’s also a dining room 😉
Love the makeover. Looks great. Also, love your office.
Oh, thank you Pam! My little corner office makes me happy too!
Oh thank you Pam!
Kristy, I love what you have done with your house. I live in a 1914 house and have a multi purpose dining room. This site has been helpful as I look at my home’s potential.
Oh thank you Patti! Yes, no one was working from home in 1914… nor did they need as many closets as we do, right?!? So glad to provide some inspiration… Long live old homes!
What an amazing office this is. I love the funkiness of decor. The ceiling is so cool.
Maria
Oh gosh, You made my day Maria!