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)?
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
I like the new handles! They seem very sophisticated and play well with the chairs. Nice choice!!
We’re in the process of moving in (well, we’re mostly moved in, but our 2nd room is sort of a dumping ground for stuff – which you can see here.) so I can totally relate about how good it feels to put things in their rightful place!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! I know how much work that can be. Good luck getting settled!
xo,
s
Kathryn says
I love making little changes like this. Gives you the happy decorating mini-high. Can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of this room!
Julie @ There and Back Again says
I’m a new reader and really glad I popped in on this post, because my roommate and I have recently inherited an awesome old entertainment center… except that the (magnetically closed) cabinet doors have lost their handles. Thanks for the quick and easy guide to measuring and installing cabinet hardware! Hopefully with your card stock trick, we’ll soon be able to get to the buried DVD stash within.
Also, I got a spelling lesson from your blog today, too. I always thought that “card stock” was one word!
Pip says
Oooo! Pretty! And well attached – nothing even mildly sarcastic about those handles.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thank goodness! I worried they’d be all snide and persnickety. Haha.
xo,
s
Callie says
I love it!! Have to admit that when you posted about the filing cabinets, the first picture you showed had the Ikea handles and I thought wellll….those handles….these are SOO muchos betteros! They really take the cabinets from Euro Efficient to Sue the Posh Accessories ;)
We bought the Ikea handle-drilling guide when we redid our kitchen with Ikea cabinets, and the guide works fine regardless of the type of handles – it’s basically a plastic version of what you made out of paper here – so you saved money by making your own! 8^)
annabelvita says
I love the idea of filing paper in with everything else, and I think the handles go really nicely with the chairs and add some nice “depth” to the cabinet (maybe because they have lots of different angles? I dunno…)
And GOSH the dining room looks lovely from that angle.
Blair says
I love the handles, but what else do you guys have planned for the office? My office is more of a craft room so I could probably follow your lead and do something about it!
~Blair
YoungHouseLove says
Oh lots. Too much to list without getting hives. We’re just trying to take it one step at a time so we don’t get overwhelmed, so next on the agenda is rearranging the furniture to determine what stays and what will get moved/altered/upgraded, etc. Then we’ll probably come up with a nice little bulleted list of what we’d like to tackle. Should be interesting…
xo,
s
Jordan says
As usual, LOVE IT!
I recently used scrapbook paper to decorate the outside of all my manilla folders. Now they’re totally covered in fun designs that make me happy to be dealing with the stuff inside them. Just an idea in case any of your folders will be out for public eye :)
YoungHouseLove says
Cute idea!
xo,
s
Marci says
Love the idea of using scrapbook paper to decorate manilla folders. Did you just glue them on? Or mod podge?
Carley says
I love how the handles really make the piece look like a nice filing system. Plus, the darkness of the handles plays well against the white cabinetry and works with the chairs in the room.
laura says
I love the handles…I think they make it look a lot less Ikea-ish and lessen the contemporary-ness of them. Wow, lots of technical terms in this comment. Anyway, good work as usual. Have a good weekend :)
Katie says
Nice! I like the way they work with the chairs. Can’t wait to see what else you do. Are you going to put some colour on the walls?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It’s so white in here. Bliiiinding. Haha.
xo,
s
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
OMG!!! LOVE the handles and they totally bring in the cane chairs! Nice selection! Much better than the “standard” pulls you can buy at Ikea (no bash on Ikea because I LOVE them)! You guys were so right to skip them and search out your own!!!
kristen says
woot for a southside hobby lobby!
ThinkFirst says
I have the same Ikea piece and love it! I also put different hardware on the front. It dresses it up just a bit.
SingleMama says
Sue the napkin’s productive sister, ha. The handles look great!
April says
I like them! What color are ya’ll thinking for the walls? Can’t wait to see what it is!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re not sure! Originally we were going to go with the same soft gray as the dining room since they’re so open to each other, but now we’re thinking we might go with something a little darker. We’ll have to pull some swatches and see what we end up with!
xo,
s
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise says
Sherry, what if you guys did the back wall with your computer desk a darker gray and the other walls the lighter gray in the dining room? That way they blend, but that back wall adds a little interest?
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely have bigger plans for a desk upgrade and can’t wait to paint the wall! This room can’t get much worse, haha. Soon!
xo,
s
Robin @ Our Semi Organic Life says
They would be my lovies as well!
Wendy says
There is nothing more frustrating than lopsided hardware. It was only after drilling holes in our plaster wall and installing anchors, that we realized the hooks on the back of our new dining room mirror weren’t level. I thought my husband was going to have a mental breakdown!
Glad it was an easy fix for your new cabinet. :-)
Jennifer says
I will have no need to drive to short pump!! Well, thats kind of an exaggeration…Next time I need something measured will come over and do it for me?! I’m with Sherry. If it’s not even numbers count me out. Looks great, especially with the chairs!!
Leah says
the handles look great — nice upgrade from standard ikea bland. and I have that same printer — it is the worst! I finally gave up on trying to use it wirelessly and always just use the usb cable now. definitely a huge disappointment.
Skooks says
Cardstock . . . Woodstock . . . works for me. ;)
heather @ at home with h says
Love the handles.
FYI: it can be spelled either “card stock” or “cardstock” (one word). Some companies who make it use one word while others use two.
YoungHouseLove says
No way! I’m riiiight. Haha. Thanks!
-John
stacey says
Haha, that makes my day! I thought “how have I been writing it wrong the whole time?!” Good to know I’m not crazy for writing it as one word.
heather @ at home with h says
My mom owns a scrapbook store so I am full of random knowledge regarding paper. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Very handy, indeed!
-John
Sarah says
Oh thank goodness, I was wondering the same thing!
And BTW, if you’re looking for a better wireless printer, I recently got a Canon all-in-one and love it and their customer service. Plus it was ridico-cheap.
Jennifer B. says
I have the same hanging files! I love the colors, too. Hooray, the first thing I ever noticed we have the same in our homes is hanging files. Why does that feel oddly lame?
Jennifer
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- not lame at all. At least I hope it’s not because we’re right there with you. Haha.
xo,
s
Michelle says
Hi Guys, just had a quick question. I am from the same area you are and wanted to travel up to Ikea this weekend, but was wondering if the upstairs/room/design setup had been changed or if anything was new since the last time you went? Thanks so much and love your blog!!!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
So much was exactly the same. Boo! We saw a few green “new” signs, but nothing too major. Soon hopefully!
xo,
s
Sabrina says
I saw this over on Making It Lovely. Could kind be awesome to try on your recently acquired IKEA piece to add a little spice.
http://www.danikacheryle.com/#!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, we love those!
xo,
s
Holly@Loveoflifeblog says
Love this! And kudos on the handles. A small detail can still tie a room together better! Can’t wait to see what color the walls will be! Looks like y’all get a lot of natural light in that room so that’s a great plus for keeping it bright and airy.
Michelle @ Ten June says
Love it! I just blogged about the ol’ sale going on over at Hob Lob too! Hob Lob knob sale… wow, too bad my name’s not Bob or else we’d be in blogger dork word play trouble!
Ezza says
I love your blog-I really do!-but please, please stop saying that things cost X amount “a pop”! You do it all. the. time.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, other things we say waaay too much: super, über, swanky, holla, woot. We just gotta talk like us, ya know?
xo,
s
JennyB says
Funny, I really like knowing how much stuff costs! I love to see what kind of deals you guys are snagging. Maybe because I’m such a bargain shopper myself:)
heather says
“The total fund expenditure on the handles equated to four dollars and fifty cents per unit, with a retailer discount of 50%. Due to the unexpected discount, the hardware acquisition came in under our budget expectations.”
Idioms are definitely regional, and some drive people more nuts than others. Here on the East Coast, I can tell you I have yet to meet one New Englander who doesn’t cringe at the word “Hella” being used, and someone from outside the Northeast who doesn’t laugh when we perpetually write and say “wicked” without realizing it.
After being in the tax field for a long time I for one am happy to read “a pop” in reference to a cost expenditure (and to have a job in marketing). To each their own!
Natalie says
I have those handles in clear and I love them! I do find that they get a little loose, so a little Loctite could help prevent that. I got them on sale as well and did find that they had wonky holes too, but you can’t beat the price!
As for color- I’d love to see a teal or a spicy orange color!
Missy G. says
I’m so excited that y’all are working on your office next! I was browsing through your house tour recently (and watching a video that one of you posted), and was wondering to myself when y’all would attack that room. Especially since (I’m assuming) that you are in there a good bit. I can’t wait to see what colors, paint techniques, stencils (maybe?!) that y’all do above the chair rail. Such a cliff hanger. haha.
P.S. Your love of parentheses is (apparently) rubbing off on me. hah!
Miranda says
It looks great! However I think it’s funny that Sue the napkin’s sisters name is the same as hers (Susan) :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, never thought about that! Hilarious. Maybe they’re twins. Sue and Susan.
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
I think they’re actually quints, we just haven’t met Suzanne, Susie and Suzette yet.
-John
Tuesday says
Wow, switching up something simple like the handles totally makes the piece unique and “un-ikeay”. Nice work. Have a great weekend.
Milla says
Love those handles! I see you got them from Hobby Lobby. Our store is across town as well. One is 30 mins away, the other is 1 hour. The closest one I will never go to again. They don’t stock up on a lot of knobs and they try sell us one that an employee broke in the store after we waited a month for the shipment to come in. Anyway excuse my rant, gorgeous file cabinet. The handles match very well with the cane chairs.
Hanna says
Effectiv looks wonderful! And may I say that the glass and the facets… very vintage? /grin
John, whenever I get scolded for making up words… or merging words… or whatever… I just loftily tell people that I am a professional writer, I am ALLOWED to make up words!
Since you two are such prolific writers, and make a living from it, I think you are both allowed to make up whatever words you want. The Dictionary will just have to catch up!
Kristi says
Manilla? Instead of Vanilla? John – you SLAY me!! ha ha h aha hahahah
candace @ thecandace.com says
John, great progress on the office. I love that you and Sherry just keep moving things forward but not in a hurried way, it’s always so well thought out. Can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. And the pic of the file folders (I do love me some of those too) makes me all inspired to get my crap in order and get organized! Happy weekend!
Lexie says
Excited to hear Hobby Lobby coming over to Southside! Do you know where, exactly?
YoungHouseLove says
Over off of Hull Street we think (it’s on their website I think). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Danielle says
I’m a law student, so hanging files are de rigeur for keeping my stuff organized and accessible. I have a 2-drawer filing cabinet that I just spray painted metallic chrome, and just snagged a new desk from IKEA (oh blue/yellow doors, how I love thee!)
I’m definitely going to have to branch out in the office storage department, and I’m going to completely steal your Effektiv idea (and quite likely, a Schlobby Bobby trip may be in order, because I’m totally groovin on those glass handles).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, We need to campaign to permanently change their name to Schlobby Bobby I think.
xo,
s
Thais Bessa says
Oh no, we just bought this same printer and were very excited about it. What do you guys dislike about it? Ours is still unopened, so we can return it if it is not worth it. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
It just doesn’t always work wirelessly (so sometimes we have to plug it in or wait a looong time for it to work – but usually it does, just hours later – haha). Others have seemed to have the same issues (but maybe it has been fixed in the newer ones?). So annoying! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
KathyG says
I have the same one, same issues. It works, but it’s cranky most of the time.
Debbie says
I have a wireless printer by Brother and it’s great. Maybe return the HP and get a Brother instead!
Courtney says
My husband and I bought the same printer a couple months ago when we moved into our new house, and we have the same problems! We’ve only been able to use it once since we bought it! We’ve always had bad luck with printers, so I just assumed is was our bad juju again. I’m glad to hear that it’s not, and that others have the same problems!
PS – I’m a (fairly) new reader, and I love your blog! We just bought our first house, and I’ve been making a list of all the things I want to try from your site!
Maggie Rose says
Lookin good, handles!
One of my first Ikea purchases was a wardrobe (this was like 15 years ago) and the pre-drilled holes for the handles did NOT match the holes in the handles for the screws. I kind of got one on there, but the left handle was only attached at the top and would swing from side to side if you pulled on it from an angle. Sigh. Had I been out of middle school I may have changed out the handles for something chicer (and re-drilled the holes). Good thing your cabinet didn’t already have holes drilled!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s true! Didn’t even think about that!
xo,
s
Dana says
oooh love! And, it matched the chairs nicely!
Nikki says
How was drilling through the laminate on those drawers? I’m thinking of putting handles on my Malm dressers and am a bit nervous about that.
YoungHouseLove says
It wasn’t too bad! Just be sure to drill front to back (it might splinter a bit in the back).
-John
Alexa says
You should check out http://honestoffice.com/ for office supplies. If you can’t find what you want on their site, just call. Their customer service is awesome and I find that they deliver really quickly. It’s great when you can’t always find time to get to the store.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! We’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
heather says
It looks good, not that you need my (or anyone elses) praise. I have to say though, the one thing that continually impresses me whenever you put office pictures up, is that you two share a desk. Blows my mind impressive. Desk sharing is not up for debate in my house. Then again, our laptops live on the coffee table – so maybe that counts.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we definitely “travel” with our laptops a lot (the kitchen table, the sofa, etc). And one of us is always on Clara duty while the other is working so it’s not usually too bad. When she gets older and goes off to preschool and we can both work at the same time we might change our tune! Haha.
xo,
s
heather says
Thanks for clearing that up! All I could think was, “they must almost never argue if they can work together in that close of a setting for days on end.” I didn’t even think about the fact that the bean doesn’t just sit quietly with you guys haha.
Logic has proven I am not a mom yet. Love babies, but right, duh…one year old’s don’t sit still.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yeah we get quite the workout when we’re watching her. Someone can be demo-ing or painting something while the other is on Clara duty and the person with the baby can end up more sweaty and tired at the end of the day. Haha. But she sure is fun!
xo,
s
heather says
Haha I love it! Babies and toddlers are hands down my favorite age range. I recently had a visit with a friend with a 3 week old…for 4 hours. My husband found me at home with hands on my laptop, head back on the couch and passed out, for almost 1 1/2 hours by my calculation.
She wasn’t even moving. Just a lot of bouncing, fussing, feeding, changing, being peed on, etc. I loved every second of it but holy smokes. I can totally see how a one year old would school you! Our best friends 3 1/2 year old wipes us out and it’s the best.
anissa says
Love Ikea, but this piece looks cheap. Ikea is funny that way, hit or miss.
Debbie says
Agreed. Even with the handle upgrade, it still needs something to add some interest and take my mind off how cheap it looks!
YoungHouseLove says
Check out this original post about how we might alter it down the line with wallpaper, paint, a glass top, or even these awesome laser cut overlays! We just want to see how the rest of the room comes together before we tweak it too much (since we’re not sure on color scheme, etc)!
xo,
s
Nora says
I like it! I need to get a good hanging file storage system. Plain manilla folders in boxes get all angry when they sit for a while and have folded over on themselves!
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise says
Yippy! You just gave me great organzing tips for all my different kinds of papers that I just threw in a drawer last night! I didn’t even think to organize them in my hanging files!
Valerie says
I have that same quirky printer…at least yours lives in style!
Christine says
We JUST purchased these cabinets at IKEA about two weeks ago, only in the chocolate color. Believe me, I measured about a dozen times before drilling holes for the handles and they still were wonky. So, unless we purchased a new drawer front, I had to get creative to correct the crooked handle. To hide the second hole we (okay, I) had to drill, we bought wide fender washers to place between the cabinet front and the handle where the screw goes in. They did the trick and camouflaged the first hole mistake. True, not as streamlined as we had hoped, but at least I can walk into the room without being irritated :-)
YoungHouseLove says
So smart! I love it!
xo,
s
Amy says
I always say that things cost X amount “a pop” too…you keep it up, LOL. Much more fun than saying “each.”