You know when you come across an image or project that just catches you by surprise and kinda hangs out in your mind not letting go of the possibilities it presents? Well, that's what happened to me when I read about the 1000 Orphan Drawer Project.
I saw this post on Craftzine and just had to research it a bit further. It comes out of Entwurf-Direkt, which is a shop/art venue in Hamburg-Ottensen, Germany, that brings unique and inspiring ideas, goods and lectures to the public.
In the 1000 Drawer Project they refurbish collected random drawers and build sturdy solid wooden cases for them. These can be purchased individually and mounted on the wall, or be combined to create one-of-a-kind furniture/storage pieces.
Being in the United States I'm not sure how feasible and cost effective it would be to order one of these great pieces from overseas, but it did get me all giddy about the idea of making one myself. I mean I've gotta line up ideas for the woodshop I'm making this summer right?
Images: Entwurf-Direkt






Stanley Console by ...
Somewhere there are a lot of dressers lying around with no drawers. :)
Fabulous!! I have some orphan drawers as well, too nice to throw out but the dresser long since decomposed. If you design/build your own, please post!! :)
This is kinda sorta like the "Chest of Drawers" by Droog Design:
http://www.droog.com/store/studio-work/chest-of-drawers/
I saw a beautiful version at the V&A in London.
I love this idea! Too bad they are not in the USA :(
Been there, done that...well, sort of. I was the one who originally orphaned the drawer, then built a cabinet around them.
Short story long, I found file drawers in a cabinet at an auction. They were the right depth I was looking for (vary narrow living room), but they were in a ugly giant credenza I didn't want and had no room for, so I just bought the drawers off of the person who had purchased the entire office suite.
I then designed the file cabinet/entertainment center around the drawers. I only used 3 of the 4 I had, and they were only 2 different sizes (letter & legal), so not nearly as complicated as represented above, but I'm pretty sure I could pull that off too having had some practice.
Totally inspired (nice way of putting it) bt Droog Design. They did this years ago already! Decades, actually.
http://www.droog.com/store/studio-work/chest-of-drawers/
I much prefer these over the Droog version as these can actually be used.
i want to see a 1000 orphan shoe project.
These look fantastic. I really want to make one. Be pretty difficult I would think.