So as much as you guys gushed over our temporary string handles for our new Effektiv file cabinet (note: this is sarcasm), we did scoop up some actual hardware that we much prefer.
They’re black glass handles that were originally $9, but Hobby Lobby (aka Schlobby Bobby) was having one of those perpetual 50% off sales, so they were $4.50 a pop instead.
As I mentioned here, I was a bit nervous about installing them, since it was up to me to make sure they were all centered and level (Sherry + measuring = meltdown). So I triple-measured and even made myself a little guide out of card stock. First, I figured out that my holes needed to be 6.25″ and 9.25″ in from the edge if I wanted it to be centered (which is why I drew those two vertical lines), and we decided we wanted the handles to be placed 2.5″ down from the top of the door (so I added that horizontal line 2.5″ down from the top fold). I used the crease in the paper to line it up consistently for each handle and some tape to hold it in place while I screwed through it to create guide holes. Maybe I should’ve splurged the $3 or so to buy the little plastic hardware guides that a lot of you mentioned from various places (Ikea even had one), but this actually ended up working really well (and I wasn’t sure the Ikea one would work with non-Ikea handles).
Once the holes were made in my guide, it also made it easy to flip the piece of paper over and use it on the opposite cabinet door (ensuring perfectly symmetrical placement).
Luckily all of my holes came out perfectly. But it was only after drilling them that I noticed not all of the handles were perfect. Urgh. Notice how the holes on the right handle are perfectly centered? And the right hole on the left one kinda looks wonky, like it’s raising an eyebrow?
If Hobby Lobby weren’t on the other side of town (good news, we just heard one is coming closer to us in October) I would’ve driven back and exchanged the two bad ones. But instead I just drilled the corresponding holes in the door a bit longer (you know, taller?) to account for the crookedness. Then we could just tighten the hardware to hold them in place so they were nice and level. That worked out just fine, thank goodness. Note: this all looks very whitewashed, we can’t wait to get some color on those walls.
They’re definitely a subtle addition from afar, but up close they make us glad we waited to find these outside of Ikea’s big blue doors (or are they yellow?).
Sherry calls them “her lovies” and says things to them like “don’t you look posh today?” when she walks into the room. Gotta admit that I really like them too.
We especially like how the shape kind of plays off of the caning in our office chairs (which will look a whole lot better when we make some desk upgrades among a thousand other things):
Oh, but no post about a file cabinet is complete without a look behind the doors at the glamorous things that we store in there. A printer & camera bag. Oooooh. Extra paper & hanging files. Ahhhh.
Our wireless printer (an HP PhotoSmart C4780 that we don’t love – let’s just say it’s quirky) fits in there quite nicely (it’s 17 x 11 x 6.5″) since the paper tray folds up when not in use. Of course it still has a wire for the power cord, which I first attempted to slide through the back by drilling a hole. Then I realized it’d be easier just to detach the top shelf of the Effektiv momentarily (since it installs in three vertical parts) and then lift it slightly and tuck the cord through the crack in the back (thanks HP for making a tiny flat cord!).
See, you can’t even see it:
In the file cabinet drawers there are lots of, well, files. Surprise!
We bought some colorful hanging ones from Office Depot (for something like $7 for 25) to make filing a bit less manilla. If only there were some green ones in the mix, we could almost call them Sue the Napkin’s more productive sister: Susan the File Folders.
We even decided to store some various printer papers in there for easy access. You know, for that one time a month when we actually print something.
So thar she be for now. Effektiv is officially decked out with handles (string, you will be missed) and various office necessities (pile in the corner of the room, you will also be missed). Up next? Perhaps some furniture rearranging and definitely some building/lighting/general upgrades.
In the meantime, who else is obsessed with hanging files? Have you ever ended up with crooked hardware that has a sarcastic eyebrow-raise-thing going on? Did you notice I spelled card stock as all one word in my file tab (Sherry gently mentioned that to me a second ago)?
Sarah says
Speaking of raising eyebrows…John is rounding out this week with seven posts to Sherry’s two?!
YoungHouseLove says
Don’t you worry! I’m project-ing away behind the scenes (and doing some pretty enthusiastic bean-wrangling). Haha. And I figure it’s nice to share the microphone with John sometimes (since I’m usually waaay chattier).
xo,
s
Sarah says
Never worried! Actually, it was nice to see some more-than-usual John posts this week. Also, I’ve seen a lot of commentors lately about censoring who you are…don’t listen to them. See you next week :)
Corie says
I gotta tell you… I love them! Very nice handles. I never thought I’d be so impressed by drawer pulls, but here I am! They really add “something” to a rather plain piece of furniture and I’d think that not all that many people would pick those EXACT ones, so it’s a really custom piece now. Pretty + function = a Big Bravo from me! :)
Sandra says
Deary me, I do love these handles! I love “pops of black” the way other people love pops of color. (and the combo together is nothing short of magical)
Things like double mats with one of them black, black frames on colorful art (lookin at you, alaska flowers in ORB frames!) black doors with white trim and a colored wall…
I am pickin up what you’re layin down, youngsters.
Kristie says
Love your new “lovies” and can I just let out a big “What the Heck??” about HP printers? I thought mine would be the printer of my dreams but it’s more like a bad boyfriend. It prints useless stuff for me all day every day, but when I’m really in a crunch to print something uber-important, it invariabley gives me the big one finger salute. (hope that reference isn’t too graphic).
Anywho….can’t wait to see the office take shape!
Lindsay says
Lookin’ pretty faboo guys!
Carrie says
Not a fan of that particle board cabinet. The outgassing would be a concern with young children in the house, and it looks really cheap. Is it meant to be temporary? How does it work with the openness between your office and dining room? There are some great solid wood furniture pieces on Craigslist and elsewhere that can be converted into something similar, and when redone with nontoxic paint wouldn’t be such an environmental detractor. I’m surprised that you guys aren’t consistent in creating a green home. There are lots of compromises being made that really confound me.
YoungHouseLove says
We just do our best to maintain some semblance of balance. We have many secondhand items throughout our house and we also build things out of solid wood when we can and buy things out of solid wood when we can find them via cragislist/thrift stores/yard sales or otherwise afford them. In this case a solid wood filing cabinet (secondhand or within our budget) wasn’t something we could track down after 7+ months of trying (see more on that here). But in a general effort to be green we compost, cloth diaper, only have one small car, go gaga for CFLS, and use no-VOC paint/sealers whenever we can. So I guess we just do our best to make decisions that work for our family!
xo,
s
p.s. Is this you Cheryl D / Sarah? If so, hi!
Jill says
I visit your site religiously and really enjoyed this post. My husband and I are currently looking for a “non eye sore” filing cabinet. Having reading the tutorial I thought this was perfect! Thanks for the idea! I do have one question though: It looks like the cabinet is blocking a vent or air handler. Do you worry that that might create problems down the road?
YoungHouseLove says
Our vent is already nice and angled (so the air is directed out into the room instead of back against into the corner) but we’re planning to get one of those plastic things you snap on to direct the air out to the side even more (so it doesn’t hit the cabinet or force us to close the vent). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Piper Patrick says
Looks like it all worked out. Good deal. The ikea drill guide works okay with other hardware (and is uber cheap- we keep a couple in the tool box) but home depot and lows also sell the guides (slightly more expensive) if you’re ever in a pinch and/or don’t feel like going to all that trouble to measure everything out. It really does making drilling them a breeze! Putting tape on the backside of the wood (or laminate) that is being drilled also helps minimize any splintering, fwiw.
Love reading about the progress. Can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished since moving in!
Wrenaria says
Love the new handles.
I saw your laundry room mirror in this picture, and thought you might find it fun to see it being used my a pro interior designer:
http://pinterest.com/pin/110281610/
Looks like the pic was probably clipped out of a magazine. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous! I love it!
xo,
s
Sherry from BC says
I am a fairly recent reader of your blog so maybe you have answered this elsewhere but how to you prioritize your to do list. I am currently working on lots of projects and somehow have to get myself more organized. Are you working room by room or as you find bargains or ? I have a huge bullet list of stuff but somehow seem all over the place. Today I am putting the 2nd coat on my exterior stairs to catch the warm weather as they say it may rain next week. I really wanted to work on one of the bedrooms to finish one of them but thought I should get the exterior stuff done while I am off work for a few days. Love the handles though I do think you need some colour in there. Can’t wait to see what you do next.
YoungHouseLove says
We just have a huuuuuuuge running list and circle stuff we want to prioritize (either for safety or just function) and we slowly try to tick off the circled things and then we go back to the rest of the list and circle a few more things. We never force ourselves to do things in any kind of rigid way (like work on one room from start to finish before starting on something else for example). Just try to take it one day at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed- and have fun!
xo,
s
Monica says
I too am obsessed with hanging files. :) Recently started a School file box (legal size) with one folder for each year my children will be in school. Into it goes grade cards, school pics, artwork, work samples, etc. Anything I think I’ll want to keep through the years. And I color coded the files for each child (cause I’m crazy like that). Since my oldest will be starting 1st grade this year I’m feeling good cause I got control of the school paper craziness before I had piles and piles to deal with! :) Just a tip for when Clara starts pre-school! Don’t blink, it’ll be here before you know it! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Great tip.
xo,
s
Abby says
Hmmm, I’m supposed to be on a spending freeze this month, but this makes me really want to pop into Ikea for a set of my own to replace the eye sore filing BINS that just sit in my room. Project bookmarked at the very least!
Ann says
In a completely unrelated topic, I just saw the new little videos of Clara. She is just adorable. The intensity she shows when she’s looking to find something in her book is just amazing. I could see the wheels turning!! Don’t you feel so lucky that you can be at home with her?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Beyond grateful. She’s the best.
xo,
s
Amber says
Okay so I’m gunna grip (not about your choice in handles, I love) but about Hobby Lobby’s hardware. I know it is one of those, you get what you pay for situations, but why do none of their handles match?
We thought we would be all creative and choose 3 different pieces of hardware that all related in tone for our new TV stand. We tried to pick ones that would already fit the holes made by the old hardware to make the whole switch-a-roo easier. Instead we got 12 different types of hardware because they are all wonky, different widths, and even different white and metal tones. Is it too much to ask for all the matching hardware to actually MATCH!
Okay, I’m calm now. I’ll just make yet another trip to Hobby Lobby this weekend and see if by some lucky chance I can find one or two more similar handles. Be calm. Be calm.
YoungHouseLove says
I secretly wonder if they get “castoff” or “imperfect” ones from a place like Anthropologie, which would explain why they can sell them for half-price (sort of like HomeGoods and TJ Maxx and Marshall’s stuff).
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I’ve always thought of the quote “pinched wires cause fires!” Are you worried about that???!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the warning! It’s actually not pinched since there’s some wiggle room (it’s hard to see from the pic but I just went to check on it). I’m so grateful for the warning though! Can’t be too careful!
xo,
s
joyjoy says
I love those handles! They look great with the chairs (which I also love).
Also, all these people commenting about those Overlays are making me mentally run through anything ikea that I have in search of something to overlay. They’re so pretty!
Lisa says
Woo-hoo!! Hobby Lobby closer over here??!! I hadn’t heard that. We made the trek out there today for some fun craft supplies. I even got some no-sew hem stuff to *try* my kitchen curtains. I have this adorable yellow and white chevron fabric.
Oh- and I LOVE the new cabinet and handles. Nice work.
YoungHouseLove says
You can do it with those curtains Lisa! I believe in you! Haha. Can’t wait to see them. Also, did you notice how odd Hobby Lobby smells? It’s definitely a “signature scent.”
xo,
s
Lisa says
Yes, odd Hobby Lobby smell for sure-what is that? Funny that you mentioned that, I always think it. And what’s with all the halloween and christmas stuff already? Way to much for me.
Ok, back to reread some of your no sew hem curtain posts and then we’ll see how this goes. Just doing a valance so hopefully I can git-r-done. You’ll have to come check them out.
YoungHouseLove says
Will do! Good luck!
xo,
s
Sassy says
Hanging folders obsession strong here! At one point I had two four drawer filing cabinets and a bunch of the box folders — and four drawers of “supplies.” Quite embarassing to realize that I had more than 20 rolls of scotch tape, several boxes of the 64 crayons, one folder full of pens, others of markers, sharpies, stickers, glue, staples, etc. But having them all in order in one place did cut way down on my impulse purchases for arts and crafts with the kids (and we finally, 15 years later, went out and bought more tape this year).
Angie says
Looks gorgeous. Isn’t it just amazing how much difference such little details make?
I think that cabinet would go well with a red wall since it would really pop out.
By the way, I love your blog! It inspired me to finally start doing my own home improvement – and I love it. :D
caroline @ c.w.frosting says
Very chic! I love pretty hardware detail. Definitely complements the chairs =)
Bob says
John,
You crack me up. I love how you over-engineer the simplest things. When I come down to Richmond for our sleepover, I’ll show you how to measure things much easier. I guess the important thing is that your, um, techniques, work in the end and provide you with plenty to write about.
Ali says
Love the new office storage unit and its snazzy black glass knobs!
I like that big white frame hanging above it too! Where did you buy that white frame? What is the art hanging inside it!?! I have a tiny laptop so my screen is small but, I’m so curious since I tend to like your “art”!
~ Ali
Ali says
Never mind…I think I remember! It’s your mirror that you use as a to do list white board!?!
~ Ali
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, that’s the one!
xo,
s
Kate says
Sherry, does the new file cabinet get in the way of being able to write on the mirror easily? I think we’re probably similar heights, and I know that for me it can be difficult to access a whiteboard/chalkboard/etc. if there’s something in front of it. Just wondering…
YoungHouseLove says
Nah, $hortie can still reach well enough to write – and more importantly, cross stuff off! Haha. In our old house it hung in over a bookcase so I guess I’m used to it.
xo,
$hortie <-- since $herdog refuses to catch on...
Michelle N says
A little off topic but I know you guys love a good sale. Home Dept online has lighting on sale for up to 70% off.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much!!! We’ll have to check it out.
xo,
s
Lauren says
Love Love the handles.
And I’m really happy to learn that I’m not the only one that talks to inanimate objects. I also assign them human feelings. Like I get sad if there’s one banana at the grocery store that was split from its bunch.
The worst was when I used to talk to my food all the time, until someone at work heard me say “Hello Jello” and never let me live it down.
Wow I’m so weird.
Lauren says
I love hanging file folders SO much that was inspired by this and did it to mine… I think I did about 50 or so? They’re all OCD color-coded and everything.
http://www.designsponge.com/2009/08/diy-project-vintage-sheet-file-folders.html
It’s a great way to use up fabric scraps!
YoungHouseLove says
Holy cow, you did that to 50?!?! Amazing. Love it so much.
xo,
s
Vicki says
Oh they are PERFECT with those chairs!! Nice work.
Melissa says
I have been so surprised to read a few really rude-sounding comments on this post, but impressed (as always) by how graciously Sherry responds to these. Kudos to you, girl!
jess says
I love your nickname for Hobby Lobby! My granny’s famous words of that store were once “What’s that place called… uhhh… oh yeah HOLLY LOBBY!” So around here it’s called HOLLY LOBBY!
becky says
we just got the “stall” (i think that’s its name) shoes racks for the homeschool room and i think i might steal this idea – hmmm, i have some old jadite handles in the same shape…so conflicted.
by the way, we’ve spent so much time putting together ikea stuff lately (just finished the kitchen), that we’ve all started cussing in ikea…my favorite is from my father in law every time he strips a screw out or something similarly frustrating – “son of a karlstad”. i hear lots of “what in the faktum adel are we doing her?!”
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha- son of a Karlstad is awesome! Especially since we have a Karlstad sofa (named Karl, obviously). Hilarious.
xo,
s
Katie says
Haha John, your handwriting is scarily identical to my husband’s! I always call it “man-writing” – looks so cute!
Love the new cabinet. Can’t wait to see what else you do to the room, as our home office is one of the next rooms I want to tackle. Eek!
Rebecca says
In case you are feeling ceramic animal deprived….I was in TJ Maxx next to Brandermill last night and picked up three ceramic owls doing an interpretation of “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. They are mostly white (few intentional rubbed spots), about 5″ and were $6 each. They had a couple more sets.
HomeGoods on Midlothian has had some awesome ceramic animals as well lately. I scored a life-size french bulldog! It terrified my 90 lb retriever mix!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it. Sounds hoo cute.
See what I did there? Oh man, I’m lame.
xo,
s
Tanya says
I’m so relieved to hear that your printer has issues too. I got the same model as yours free when I purchased my computer and it’s been an ongoing battle. I remember reading your post about setting it up on your bookshelf and thinking, “how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks did they get it to work?”
Pamela says
Grrrh! If I don’t get to one of your posts within about half an hour there are too many comments to read to make sure I’m not just echoing what someone else said. You people are just too popular! Time is running out so I’ll just comment anyway.
Have you considered decoupaging a map onto Effektiv, ala Wisteria’s map chest? It may be sold out now, but Nate Berkus has one one his set.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- we’re completely down with further customizing the front or sides or top with anything from something paper or fabric or even those cool overlay things that we mentioned in yesterday’s post! Just gotta figure out what the heck we’re doing with colors and pattern and stuff first so we don’t do something that won’t work down the line…
xo,
s
COLLEEN says
this website should be called young house love ikea!!:)I like how you make their everyday furniture your own style
Cheryl MCInerney says
I thought you would like this site to see how you can decorate your Effektiv if you so choose (or any other furniture you might want. http://www.danikacheryle.com/. I also wrote about this company on my blog.
Have a great weekend guys. I can’t wait to read your blog first thing every day.
Cheryl
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah I love that! We actually mentioned that option in yesterday’s post when we said we might customize it more down the line (we’re afraid to do anything too prematurely since we don’t have a color scheme or anything yet). So much fun!
xo,
s
Rob O. says
Looks great! A little crown moulding at the top would really make it look like a custom piece of furniture that was meant for that space!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that could also be a fun tweak down the line!
xo,
s
Gretchen says
What is that above the effectiv on the wall? Seems like a message board in a great frame? Did I miss a post on it – or is it new?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a mirror with little dry erase to-do lists on it. Here’s that post for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/04/two-to-do-lists/
xo,
s
Demi says
4 posts by John in a row? Wonder what big project Sherry is onto ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- more like “wonder what Clara’s into.” Haha. She’s keeping me busy! But of course we have some projects going for next week. That’s pretty much a continuous cycle! Haha.
xo,
s
Megan says
I am just now re-doing a metal filing cabinet I bought for $3.00 MONTHS AGO. My husband brought home a whole lot of office supplies from his work including hanging file folders and that is what it took for me to finally re-do the cabinet. Before I just threw papers in there, no folders, just one big pile. So I know how you feel when you get excited over the hanging file folders.
YoungHouseLove says
Woah, amazing deal. So jealous!
xo,
s
Angela says
I don’t know if this has been brought up before in your gabillion comments but have you ever thought about painting the quarter round to match your trim? My eye gets drawn to it in any picture and I guess I’m an obsessed weirdo about matching the quarter round to the trim.
I love the handles and they do look wonderful with your chairs. And I love the way you both right even more than any of your deco ideas. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, someday I’d love to tackle that throughout the whole house (it elongates the baseboards too) – although one pro to keeping it dark like the floors is that it doesn’t look as dusty or scuffed since it’s more forgiving!
xo,
s
Angela says
Haha, your right! Mine are white and I keep hitting them with the vacuum and cleaning the dog sneezes off them (although that goes up the trim and up the wall as well-gross)
And I had a typo in my last comment. Right is not write. Ooooppps.
Heather @ REOlisticRenovation says
You are inspiring me to get my neglected office project going too!
Jayne says
FYI: The Ikea guide does work for non Ikea handles. I bought my handles elsewhere and we used it on all the cabinetry in our house (kitchen and 2 bathrooms). It was a breeze.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! We might need to grab one of those for next time!
xo,
s
Lux says
Love the handles you chose!
. If you want to go OCD with your files (I’m sure Sherry does) you can color code them like I did with category tabs in the center, sub categories on the right, and specific folder tabs on the left.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tXyAt_ndsfE/TUx4UtV_t8I/AAAAAAAAAEU/rt-aNQHKTKE/s1600/files.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
Woah – that’s awesome!
xo,
s
Lux says
I think I freaked out your comments because I included a link in my comment. It was a well meaning link, and I actually had written a legitimate comment with it, I swear. Sorry.
YoungHouseLove says
No worries! Our comments are just manually approved (to combat sneaky spam) so it was just waiting in moderation until we approved it!
xo,
s
Chris Ripley says
FYI – I recently bought identical pulls from Hobby Lobby, except they were clear glass. I attached them to a dresser, no problem, but then when I pulled on the drawer, the silver discs on the end broke right off! I wound up going to Restoration Hardware to buy the same pull, although theirs had the screw inside the actual glass, so there’s much less strain on the pull and less chance of your pull breaking off. Figured you might want to know for future reference. Of course, the Restoration Hardware glass pulls were twice the price, but at least they’re still attached to my dresser!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip! We’ll have to keep an eye out for that and report back if ours meet the same fate. Fingers crossed they survive for the long haul!
xo,
s
Rachael says
Well, at last there’s ONE thing about your house I’m not envious about!!! :D
Dana says
Hi J&S,
If you are ever in the Winston Salem area of NC, we have a great resource for handles. It’s called Salvage Building Materials, on Liberty Street downtown. Most handles are $2 and they literally have thousands to choose from : )
D
YoungHouseLove says
Woah – that sounds like a slice of heaven! We’ll have to check it out someday!
xo,
s
Myra Neuford says
The hardware looks great. Details are what makes for distinction, and the addition of this detail carefully selected by you adds just enough contrast to still maintain the clean design while adding interest and taking away the utilitarian appearance. Great choice.
I commend you for being inventive in creating you own guide for aligning them. The variation in size is a common problem, and I’m sure you’ll be checking for this if you have another similar situation. It’s a great look!
Carly says
Your Sue the Napkin reference made me think of something I saw on TV last night.
Cottonelle roll cover?? Well the green one immediately made me think of your beloved napkin… is that wierd? :)
https://www.cottonelle.com/respect-the-roll/cover-it.aspx
YoungHouseLove says
I totally see it! Too funny!
xo,
s