Thinking Outside the Box with Shipping Crate Cabinetry

From Jennifer on January 6th, 2010 in Kitchen Remodel

kitchen cabinets

Kitchen remodels rank among the most popular home improvement projects. Sure, they can turn an outdated room into something beautiful and efficient, but they’re typically standard when it comes to cabinetry. You’ve got oak, maple, hickory and cherry. Laminate and melamine. But every now and then, along comes something completely unique.

kitchen cabinets

Designer and builder Rupert Blanchard has come up with the idea of using old tea shipping crates for kitchen cabinets. These wooden crates with their metal framework don’t seem like much to look at in their original form. In fact, they’re almost ugly. A storage warehouse full of the things gives you a picture of the dirty wooden boxes with ink stamps all over them.

kitchen cabinets

Clean them up and remove the metal frames, however, and you’ve got the makings of some pretty unusual cabinet doors and drawer fronts. The stamps lend a lot of originality and a splash of color to a kitchen. Most people use their countertops, walls and flooring for color accents, but with these old shipping crates, the cabinets become the main focus.

I’m not sure how easy these old shipping crates are to come by, or what the going rate is for them, especially now that they’ll be gaining in popularity, but they’re fun to look at. They give your kitchen a globetrotter feel. Fun and trendy, no doubt, but what’s even better is that no new trees need be sacrificed in order to do this. By using an old product, you can remodel your kitchen with recycled materials. It’s totally green, kind of like the tea these crates haul around the world.

One Response to “Thinking Outside the Box with Shipping Crate Cabinetry”

Krista Says:

May 27th, 2011 at 5:40 am

I’m looking for old shipping crates like these and despite scouring the internet, have had a hard time locating any for purchase. I’ve got a few furniture projects in mind, but I don’t know how to go about finding a few of these. Any suggestions on where to look?

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About the Author:

Jennifer Heyns
I must admit that when my husband dragged me into the world of construction 15 years ago, I did not go quietly. The phrase "kicking and screaming" is probably what comes to his mind. But I’ve learned a lot through my experience with his company - from the planning and work required to design and build a house to the ideas and sweat equity that go into remodeling, expanding, and decorating a home. On my way to finding my passion for writing, I even enjoyed a short career as a kitchen and bathroom designer. I soon found house, home and construction-type publications seeking me out, thrilled at having found someone who knows about the topic matter from firsthand experience and who just so happens to be able to write a decent article. My life isn’t all about writing, though. I have two sons, 10 and 12, and those boys (husband and dog included) just don’t raise themselves. We spend a leisurely life in the countryside, enjoying the fresh air, growing gardens (mostly for the sake of the deer), and watching the wildlife who share our property (and not just deer - owls, foxes, groundhogs, chipmunks and hummingbirds, too). For several years I've been successfully finding new ways to acquire quality, affordable healthcare for my family without an HMO. My first book, Bargaining for Our Lives is available now - see more about it (and me) at www.JenniferHeyns.com. On a good day I find time to say hello to all my followers on twitter, or to post a blog (my way of thwarting therapy appointments) at www.JenniferHeyns.blogspot.com. On a great day, though, I also get to bake, knit or make crafts - after the boys are asleep and the laundry and dishes are done, of course.