I had been hunting for new hardware for an antique children's desk that I found. A DIY by Sally Schneider of An Improvised Life led me to a place that I would have never imagined... the closet.
What You Need
Materials
Screwdriver
Tape Measure
Scissors
Duct Tape
Nails
Leather Belt
Instructions
1. Unscrew original hardware and measure the length between the original holes (add enough space for overlap).2. Cut strips of the belt. I cut thin strips for my project. You can go as wide as the original size depending on the size of your cabinet or drawer.
3. Place the leather strip over the original holes, centering and overlapping. Nail each side down.
4. If your nails are longer than your cabinet or drawer, you will need to hammer to bend the ends down.
Note: Sally Schneider recommended using nails the size of the cabinet. She also noted that longer nails could be used and bent to make them even more secure. I used regular nails that I had in the tool drawer.
5. Place a piece of duct tape over the bent nails. I wanted to protect my daughter from getting snagged on anything sharp. I figure duct tape will do the trick.
That's it! It's an easy project with a surprising result. Common nails paired with a used belt create a beautifully natural look. Sally Schneider says they get better with age and wear. I can't wait for my daughter to break them in!
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(Desk Images: Rikkianne Van Kirk; Cabinet Image #2: Sally Schneider, used with permission)
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You had me right up until the duct tape.
Better yet, use small bolts and nuts. No need for duct tape that way, and you will not have to worry about the nails coming out. You will first have to punch holes in the leather, though.
The duct tape isn't so bad. Its hidden. You could easily use pretty contact paper to line the drawers and extend that up the back of the drawer front to cover the duct tape. I buy a lot of thrifted furniture and I always use contact paper inside the drawers.
I might have to steal this idea... I knew I was saving that old falling apart Fossil belt for a reason!
Yeah, the duct tape is definitely optional. Honestly, I just grabbed the first thing that I found in the tool drawer. It's my daughter's desk so I needed a quick remedy. Thank you for the ideas! I am going to use some old contact paper to cover those nails, eventually. Interesting note - there are child's drawings inside of the drawers (scribbles, hearts, and flowers). I'm going to keep those visible. This desk is very old and I just can't bring myself to cover those.
I'd definitely keep the drawings! I really love the rustic look of the desk and am filing away the leather handle idea for later.
Thanks Shelly. I love the nuts and bolts idea too. One could even use the originals if it's made that way. Just punch the holes in the leather. Love that!
If you don't like the look of the bolt and nut on the outside, you can get button-head bolts at any hardware store. If you're like me, you might even have some lurking around in your junk drawer.
Genius idea! The leather will wear beautifully over time -- I'm certain your daughter will treasure this for years to come. LOVE your eco-DIY project ideas. Cheers!
finishing nails?! Duct tape?!
I used colorful nylon rope. Just cut pieces and loop thru-tie a knot on the inside. Scraps of vintage fabric cut with pinking shears also looks darling.
I got some leather suitcase handles at a Parisian hardware store and put them on my desk as drawer pulls. Gives off a nice, Hermès-like vibe.
Wow! I wanna see photos of the rope and suitcase handles. Fantastic ideas! Thank you for sharing.