The Significance of Locker #859

Repurposed furniture

One day in October, a customer came to me with a well-worn locker door. Many decades of daily use in a high school left many dents, scratches and dings. Someone drew a small heart inside the door with a black marker.

Significantly, in front of this door he met the woman who would, many years later, become his wife. So, when he learned the old high school would be torn down for a new school, he asked to have it. They said no. But, a few weeks later he was surprised and happy to find locker door #859 on his porch.

New Life for a door

To give the door a new life he decided it would make a great shoe and boot cabinet. When he asked if I would make a cabinet to house the door I was quickly onboard. It’s always fun to make special items that have added significance to the customers. I particularly liked that he would surprise his wife with the cabinet at Christmas. While I’ve designed and made several shoe and boot cabinets such as this shoe bench in Brookline, MA, this project would include a repurposed part.

He selected some 85-year-old walnut for its rich color and character to match his home aesthetic. The door did not come with the original, specialized hinges. But, I located serviceable hinges from a Michigan company.

His wife loved the gift. Later, they decided to have the door painted black before installing it where they keep coats and shoes.

This is one of the latest examples of a project to repurpose something of emotional value so that it can be used for years to come. I welcome projects like this and look forward to the next.