Mail sort/locker inspiration on a flip top bench

Our old cluttered coat closet is now lockers with lots of storage. I chose not to do the Braden bench due to a space issue so I framed a bench out with 2x4's, lined it with ply wood, covered the front with some trim and bead board and topped it with a nice piece of stained oak 3/4 inch plywood. The lids were cut and attached with continuous hinges and inside I used 2 lift hinges so that little fingers won't get smashed. I attached the lockers to the bench with a few Kreg jig screws which worked really well.

Estimated Cost
less than 300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

StacieM

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:35

Wow that looks great! It really opens up the space and I like the stained oak top, very classic.

kelli224

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 07:22

This is so nice!! It makes the area look so different and I'm sure you appreciate all that extra storage. I also love that stained top. It looks perfect with the floors.

Debi G

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 13:42

Love this idea! I think I'll make a flip top bench to fit my closet. I could climb on it to reach the upper shelves, or sit on it to put my shoes on. And it will be so much nicer than the hampers I'm using for shoe storage right now. Thanks for the inspiration--it looks fantastic and is a great use of space.

Craftycraftswoman

Mon, 08/29/2011 - 06:48

Thanks. I am glad you ladies like it. It has been a God-send for us! The old backpack dumping ground is now a hallway again:). I have even added a "daddy locker between the door and the lockers with a small box for his stuff....I think I need one now too.

mrsmillikin

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 17:41

This looks amazing! If you can, would you tell me the dimensions from top down, just heights, of the cubby system. I'm trying to get a feel for the propotions.

Thanks!

Craftycraftswoman

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 16:06

We have 8 foot ceilings. This nook is 65inches wide so each locker is 15 inches wide (and change). The bench is 18 inches high. The lockers are 45 inches high. The paper cubbies are 4 inches. The square cubbies are around 10 to 12 inches as are the top rectangular cubbies. I wish now that I would have also bumped out the square cubbies to make the deeper and provide a place to put some more down hanging hooks but it has been so handy that it is hard for me to complain about much.