The Vintage Thrift Find That Adds Chic Countertop Storage To Any Space

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When it comes to storage, it pays to think outside the box. Containing clutter and staying organized with countertop storage options is important, whether that's in the kitchen, bathroom, or a desk space. However, you also want your storage to look stylish. That's why boring plastic bins and containers are never the best choice, despite how useful they may be. Instead, ditch baskets and bins for vintage thrift store finds that make organizing beautiful, such as a vintage machinist's box.

Originally made in the early 1900s, these boxes are small, compact chests of drawers designed to store a machinist's tools. The first design was made by a patternmaker called Harry Gerstner, who wanted a storage option that was easily portable around a workshop. They're made of wood, with small drawers that would traditionally be used to store the likes of tape measures, calipers, and pliers. They were also made with a handle on the top or at the sides, and a front panel that flips closed to conceal the drawers. 

They might not be a practical choice for tools these days, but machinists' boxes make a chic addition to a countertop, allowing you to corral small items while adding a touch of antique charm to your space. They hold some value, too. They're the kind of item you can find at a tag sale or thrift shop for ten bucks, but they can resell for $100 to $200 and up on marketplace sites, making them one of the prized items you should never overlook when shopping at an estate sale. And, you can find modern copies too, like this 6-Drawer Desktop Chest in oak on Amazon. It lacks that beautiful vintage patina that makes older boxes special, but may be an option if you can't find a thrifted one.

There are so many ways to repurpose antique finds as homeware, and a machinist's box is no exception. Home content creators Deb and Danelle shared an inspiring idea on TikTok, demonstrating how they use their box to store vanity items on a bathroom countertop. It's useful to keep small cosmetic items like makeup, tweezers, and moisturizers within easy reach, and collating them together in one storage option makes a genius bathroom vanity organizer idea.

You don't have to limit a box like this to the bathroom, however. You could use a machinist's toolbox in a kitchen to store individual jars of spices, for example, or to keep letters, stationary, and paperwork organized in your home office. Since they're reasonably compact, these boxes are better suited for small items, but that's what makes them so useful, since smaller stuff tends to get lost in larger drawers or storage bins.

Of course, the added appeal of a machinist's box is its charming aesthetic. There are lots of slightly different options out there, and they'll be worn with age, which gives them a unique patina. Originally they were made from woods like oak, walnut, and cherry, and these natural finishes add a warm, organic touch to a countertop.