Lego Display from Vintage Drawer

In my last post I mentioned that my friend and I had a fun day thrifting a few weeks back.  We went to a local antique mall.  What I didn't mention is that I made a few GREAT purchases there (two, to be exact)!  I'd like to share one of my great finds and show you what I did with it.

I bought an old typeset drawer!  Didn't take me long to figure out what I would do with my purchase.  I knew it would be the perfect fun way for my boys to display their ever growing collection of lego figures!

I had to google "drawer with small compartments" to figure out what these drawers were called, but apparently these drawers were once used for storing typeset.  (Also called letterpress drawer or printer press drawer.)  I did find a good post on apartment therapy that describes these vintage drawers and shows pictures of others' displays. 

I painted the outside frame of the drawer in a whitewash and distressed it (which I realize is hard to see in the pictures...).  The inside of the drawers were already a dark brown, which I left alone.  There were two funny knobs of on the drawer, which I removed...they had roses on them and just didn't "go".  I do plan on adding a brass pull or something similar soon, so the drawer can retain a bit of it's old life.  I'd like it to be obvious that the display was once a drawer, after all!

Toby and Asher were thrilled!  They were inspired to organize their lego figures, connecting missing heads, with legs and shirts, hats, and other accessories.   We hung it low enough that they can easily organize and reorganize to their hearts content.

Check back soon to see what my other purchase was!  Oooo!  The suspense!