Jaime Costiglio

build - paint - sew

DIY Tapered Mudroom Bins with Curved Handle

I built custom storage bins for MB’s mudroom:

Bins with handles and monograms.

MB is a school friend who recently moved into a beautiful new home and was looking to make the best use of her mudroom cubby system.

She already had two places with baskets and was looking for another different, more decorative storage solution for off-season items.

I must give MB all the credit for coming up with the design: a tapered wooden bin with a handle.
I simply executed her design; building the bins to size (20″w x 12″h x 13″deep, 17″high at handle) painting, adding a handle and handpainted monogram.

I used about one sheet of 1/2″ plywood ripped at 12″.
I cut the four sides on an angle to get the tapered bottom:

Originally I had planned for an inset bottom using the 1/2″ ply but that wasn’t working out so great.
In the end the bottoms are 1/4″ ply nailed from the bottom and it gives a much better finished look.

I painted the bins with two coats Benjamin Moore wedgewood gray matte.

Sanded to distress lightly.

Applied Minwax dark walnut stain.

For the monogram I used DFKai-SB font, printed the middle letter 6″ tall, find the center of the box and line up the letter.  Simply trace letter with a ballpoint pen to get a light indent in the paint.

Paint in the indent using Behr french roast.
Add the remaining two letters on either side which are 4″ tall.

Sealed with wipe-on Minwax poly satin finish.

One down, three to go:
For the handle I used an 18″ embroidery hoop (1″wide x 1/4″thick), pried off the hardware and cut each circle in half.
Applied one coat of Minwax dark walnut stain and sealed with wipe-on Minwax poly satin finish.

Measured the handle height at 17″ and screwed into the sides.  The handles are purely for decorative purposes, they will hold the bin but I wouldn’t recommend carrying the bins around by the handle.

A fun challenge and a nice way to incorporate the family’s personal touch while still serving a very useful purpose.

Thanks MB, I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

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Comments

  4. Comeca Jones says

    This is great I'm thinking of having my sweeties brother build me a two person cubby to sort of define my entryway. This is a cute idea mine has to be a moveable piece but still I'm saving your post to show him thanks for inspiring.

    Reply

  21. Chari at Happy To Design says

    Hi Jaime…

    Ohh my…what a creative and talented lady you are! I really do love the tapered wooden bins that you built and decorated…they're awesome! They look so sweet in the cubbies of your friend's mudroom bench! Which by the way…is also awesome! I love how it's designed! Thank you so much for sharing this sweet project and tutorial with us!

    Warmest summery wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

    Reply

  27. Jo says

    I've just stumbled upon your blog and I'm in love! Great ideas that I can't wait to try in our home. Thank you for sharing.

    Have a great weekend~
    Jo

    Reply

  33. Suzanne@Meridian Road says

    Wow, Jaime! Those are great! I wondered what you used for a handle. I never would have thought to cut a hoop in half!

    The lettering looks great! I thought it was vinyl when I first saw the bins.

    Reply

  38. Kelli @ RTSM says

    These are awesome! I totally need these in my mudroom now! I love the monograms, but I think I would have to use vinyl since I have a hard time painting inside the lines:)

    Reply

  39. Jennifer says

    Girl, your projects ROCK! I'm always impressed! Would you have time to put something together to do a guest post for me the first week of August? We will be at the beach and I'm trying to get my days filled. I'd love to have one of your tutorials!
    jen

    Reply

  43. Kim says

    This awesome mudroom has been saved in my pinterest board for some time now and I'm finally able to use it for our own mudroom re-do. Would you mind telling me what dimensions you used – cubby width and height? divider depth? bench seat depth and height?

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

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