Faux Zinc Painted Chalkboard File Cabinet

This summer I was thrifting with a few friends and stumbled across an ugly cabinet at the Goodwill. The metal chest had extra wide and deep storage, but the worst colors imaginable! The hot pink and mint green were disguising the true potential of the chest, but like a color-blind dog, I was able to see beyond its garish appearance. In my mind, I pictured a vintage metal cabinet with a faux zinc side and chalkboard drawer fronts.

I scooped it up and brought it home. Then the poor chest sat in our garage for months and months until I had a chance to work a little spray paint magic and turned it into….this thing of beauty:

Yes, that is the same chest of drawers! You could do the same transformation.

Materials:

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Instructions:

Clean off the drawers. Remove any dirt or debris (I actually had to use a little Goo Gone to get rid of some sticky residue. But, lemon essential oil will also work for this task.)

Remove the drawers from the chest. Tape over the drawer glides and slides. Mask off the drawer sides and insides by covering the drawers with tape and craft paper, leaving only the drawer fronts exposed.

Spray paint the chest and drawers with automotive primer. (I prefer the automotive primer because it sticks to metal and can withstand a lot of abuse.) Let it dry.

Spray paint the drawers with chalkboard paint. (Use three fine coats of paint instead of one or two heavy coats.) Set them aside to dry.

Adding a Faux Zinc Texture:

This is the most exciting part of the tutorial. I created this technique by trial and error and I’m excited by how well this method works for creating a faux zinc texture.

Getting a faux zinc texture is really easy. Just have some gloves on and use a crumpled up piece of craft paper. (A loose crumple works best.)

Spray paint the chest with a thick coat of the hammered silver spray paint, (but not so thick that it runs). Let the paint get tacky by waiting a few seconds. Then use the crumpled piece of craft paper to blot into the wet paint.

Work in small 1 foot sections and pounce the paper a few times. (Too much pouncing and you’ll lose the large textured pattern.)

Let the cabinet dry thoroughly.

Insert the chalkboard drawers back into the cabinet frame.

Add chalkboard art to your drawer fronts.

This metal chest of drawers is the perfect size for my large tablets of art paper.

The cabinet has a wonderful texture now.

I have the flexibility to move my art supplies around and just change the chalkboard label.

Did I mention this little chest is the perfect height to rest my palette on while painting.

I’m soooo thrilled with the results!

102 replies
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  1. Missy W
    Missy W says:

    I would pick up the molding that I need to finish my table remake and then pick up more crown molding for a bedframe I saw this weekend…and I need to get some faux paint for the headboard project, too!

    Reply
  2. Beverly Roberson
    Beverly Roberson says:

    Love the way your project turned out! Its hard to think of which project I would do first, but I know it would require lumber, lots and lots of lumber : ) I want to build a custom island and 100.00 would sure come in handy!

    Reply
  3. Bridget Belardi
    Bridget Belardi says:

    I LOVE anything chalkboard inspired. I have an old globe that I want to chalk…that and create a backsplash for the kitchen out of glass tiles I’ve made. I need some grout and tiling supplies.

    Reply
  4. Jenny@thelavendermagnolia
    Jenny@thelavendermagnolia says:

    I would use it for paint for the exterior of our house. We picked our colors out and we are just waiting for the funds (and warmer weather). The house is so faded and sad. Really sad. Sad, sad sad. So sad I wish I was hammered like that can of paint……………..

    Jenny

    Reply
  5. lisa thomas
    lisa thomas says:

    What an awesome find! I love the redo.
    I would use that gift card to but track shelving for my linen closet or paint and lumber to finish the kitchen or bathroom or I could redo the porch or finish the redo on my bedroom furniture! The possibilities are endless!!!

    Reply
  6. Karen
    Karen says:

    I always have a lot of projects but would give it to my daughter and son-in-law who just bought a house. They need tools, yard stuff, you name it!

    Reply
  7. Janis Hill
    Janis Hill says:

    Oh my goodness! My imagination runs wild…Mirrors, wood, canvases, orchids, closet organizers, and paint . That’s it ~ paint for the living room and an orchid to compliment teh new color!

    Reply
  8. Nancy Clark
    Nancy Clark says:

    If I won a $100 gift card to Lowe’s, I would jump in the car and buy a light fixture or lamp that would put off enough light that I could tell what color clothes I am pulling out of the closet. I get so frustrated when I think two things match and find that they don’t when I get them into decent light.

    Reply

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