Old Gardener’s Toolbox Upcycle – Bathroom Storage and a Towel Bar!

Mar 07 2021
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Old Gardener’s Toolbox Upcycle. I’ve been hanging on to this old gardener’s toolbox that my Grandparents’ built for several years now. I wanted to do something DIFFERENT with it but I just struggled for ideas. The first idea I had was a pretty obvious one: A table centerpiece to hold cutlery, napkins etc. But here’s the truth: We’re not table centerpiece people lol. The majority of the time our dining room table is not used for eating and that’s just the honest truth of it all.

(Teaming up in our DIY Blog Hop this month with Upcycle projects, check out all of the projects following my post. If you’re interested in joining us click here for more info!)

You guys know Lodi and I have been quietly hacking away at our basement for nearly a year now (wow has it really been that long?! Holy crap!) and I just have to beg you guys to forgive me but even just the living room down here is still not quite ready to reveal yet.

Two things the living space still needs: a coffee table of some kind and doors on the bathroom and the closet and THEN it will finally (kinda… basically) be done!

I really try to keep myself focused and working on one space at a time and not let myself get distracted by more fun projects….

Toolbox Upcycle

However, I had this old gardeners’ toolbox just in the way, in the workshop, forever.

I picked it up one day and it hit me.

It might be perfect for the basement bathroom!

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.

This is not a brand new idea, I’ve definitely seen this upcycle in bathrooms on pinterest before. But, to be fair, its not a very common idea either.

In most of the other bathrooms I’ve seen this toolbox upcycle used in they usually flip it upside down and attach it to the wall like that.

Because of this one’s size we opted instead to screw it to the wall bottom first instead.

Of course before we could do any of that though it needed some serious love!

It was filthy from living out in my aunt’s garage for a decade and then in our garage for years so we cleaned it up really good first. Of all the rooms in this little farmhouse the basement bathroom is definitely the most unique as its walls are totally covered in pallet wood.

Its not like I did a great job covering the walls but we decided it was good enough to just live with it. (I can’t even begin to start on all I have to do in this bathroom to finish it so I’m just going to focus on right here, above the toilet, with this toolbox upcycle, for right now lol)

Every bathroom can use another towel bar and this one doesn’t even have one yet so this was a good start!

Because of the rugged look of all that pallet wood we decided to just stain the toolbox to match the counter top I built out of oak several years ago. Lodi had some “cabin” wall art that weirdly fit great in here when it literally would not have been a good fit anywhere else in the house.

We used dark walnut stain on this toolbox upcycle and gave it a coat of polyacrylic to seal it.

I love being able to preserve pieces like this, in particular, that my grandparents’ built. I didn’t want to use it as an actual toolbox and beat it up etc. In this case it will be safe and useful for years upon years.

The shelves provide storage which we immediately took advantage of. It also gave us a place for one of Lodi’s art pieces on top of it.

With this toolbox upcycle my biggest concern had been it sticking out too much but I don’t think its intrusive at all.

I think its really great actually! Now we just need to literally finish the ENTIRE rest of this bathroom!

Old Gardener's Toolbox Upcycle. I've been hanging on to this old gardener's toolbox that my Grandparents' made for several years now.


Hi guys! Chas and I are teaming up the first Sunday of every month for our DIY blog hop. Feel free to join us by linking up or you can also share it!

This Month’s DIY Blop Hop: UPCYCLE PROJECTS! (Click here for our upcoming themes and more info on how to join us every month!)



Chas from Chas' Crazy Creations โ€“ Easy Flower Basket to Solar ChandelierChas from Chas’ Crazy Creations โ€“ Easy Flower Basket to Solar Chandelier



Andrea from Design Morsels - How to Upcycle Sheets into DrapesAndrea from Design Morsels – How to Upcycle Sheets into Drapes



Kippi from Kippi at home - DIY Hanging PlanterKippi from Kippi at home – DIY Hanging Planter



Niky from The House on Silverado - Four Easy Upcycles Using PaintNiky from The House on Silverado – Four Easy Upcycles Using Paint



Kim from Shiplap and Shells - How to Repurpose a Vintage Window Into a CabinetKim from Shiplap and Shells – How to Repurpose a Vintage Window Into a Cabinet


Comments

  1. March 7, 2021 at 11:01 am

    What a great idea Tarah, you always come up with such fun and useful ways to upcycle. Thanks for sharing and always wonderful hopping with you.

  2. Marilyn Wolff
    March 7, 2021 at 5:09 pm

    I love what you did with it!!!

  3. March 7, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    What a great idea Tarah! I love that you were able to repurpose your grandparent’s toolbox into something that you will be able to see and enjoy every day. Always love blogging with you. Pinned.

    • March 8, 2021 at 9:39 am

      Thanks Kim – its great hopping with you!

  4. March 8, 2021 at 3:52 am

    I love this toolbox upcycle, Tarah. Lovely idea – I’m sharing this with my 19k followes on pinterest!
    btw, I’ve upcycled a few towels into these soap saver pouches and I love them
    https://hellosewing.com/diy-soap-saver-pouch/

  5. March 9, 2021 at 9:53 am

    Tarah, I love what you did with your old toolbox! It fits in so well with the rustic vibe of your bathroom! So clever.

    Niky @ The House on Silverado

  6. March 9, 2021 at 7:36 pm

    What a wonderful upcycle from a vintage family find. I have some of my father’s tool caddies they must have been popular back in the day.
    Happy spring,
    Kippi

  7. Sandra D Camp
    March 10, 2021 at 11:23 am

    That bathroom sink! So in character with the rest of the house and I love it. Smart choice!

  8. March 13, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    How cute is this? I love this idea! I’m going to look for a tool box right now – maybe I will have to make one.

    • March 15, 2021 at 10:13 am

      Thanks Amy! It worked out way better than I had admittedly hoped lol

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