Refurbishing Ideas - DIYInspired.com
18th Apr2012

Upcycled Duct Tape Play Table

by Dinah Wulf

OK, if you are not a big fan of garage sales, hopefully this post will change your mind!

Apply here payday loans

Here is a BEFORE picture of a children’s table and chairs that was five dollars at a garage sale.

Being that one of my best friends, Jennifer (table owner) and I have all girls, AND we can’t pass up a good deal, AND we love to upcycle things and do craft projects together, AND we both thought this table just wasn’t cute enough; we decided to change it, using the magic of duct tape.

This project was SO easy and took no time for Jennifer and me to do during a quick play date the other day.  First we turned the table over and unscrewed the top from the base.

We chose three different colors of duct tape to coordinate with the existing base and legs of the table.

Strip by strip, together we covered the table top alternating colors in a random striped pattern.

Literally less than fifteen minutes later, we had an adorable upcycled table top.

We turned it over and finished the edges with more duct tape.

Using my fingertips, I felt over the existing screw holes and punctured through the duct tape with a sharp tool.

We aligned the holes with the table base and screwed it back in.

Here are some AFTER photos with our cute little munchkins.

The beauty of it? Crayon wipes off duct tape with just a wet paper towel!  We hope you like our upcycled duct tape play table!

You may also like this!  Here are before and after pictures of a FREE children’s play table that I got in the past.  Click HERE if you want to read the full photo tutorial.

*** Congratulations to Debbie Dean for winning the iStencil $50 Gift Certificate giveaway!

 

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Category : Kid Stuff
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2 Comm
21st Mar2012

PANYL

by Dinah Wulf

Remember Colorforms? I had this exact set as a child circa 1981 (Thank you, Bluebuddies.com).

I played with this Smurfs Village Scene almost every day.  I even recall getting it taken away from me at school because I was obsessed.  Today, as a big kid, I have new obsessions including blogging, scouring flea markets and thrift stores, and perusing the catalogue and staged vignettes at the showroom of IKEA.  I’ve blogged before about how I believe IKEA gets a bad rap, however I love IKEA because it’s affordable and stylish at the same time.

So what do you get when you fuse Colorforms with IKEA?  PANYL, of course! PANYL is an affordable way to give your IKEA finds a chic custom facelift in a few easy steps.  Take these EKBY shelves for example. These plain white shelves are given a whole new look with the PANYL walnut finish.

In three simple steps you 1) choose your IKEA product, 2) choose one (or two) of 34 different self-adhesive vinyl finishes, and 3) install your PANYL just like you did when creating your Colorform scene as a kid!

Love love love them! To be honest with you, they look BETTER than I imagined.

Check out the website, you can use a convenient interactive to help you pick the perfect color or finish before you purchase. Here are a few favorite examples. I love that there are several fun colors and finishes from hot pink to robin’s egg blue (perfect for a kid’s room).

My only issue? I don’t have enough! I need to buy one more PANYL for a third shelf! ;)

 

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Category : Interior Design Inspiration
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4 Comm
14th Mar2012

Antique Chair Update

by Dinah Wulf

My taste is very eclectic.  There are several reasons why I can appreciate so many different styles.  I inherited this antique corner chair.  When I first got it, my mind went racing with different colors and upholsteries. BUT after some research, I found out that this chair may actually be worth something.  I didn’t want to jeopardize its integrity by permanently altering it…just in case. I liked the chair, but I wanted to update it a little.   So when I came across Simply Spray fabric paint.  I knew what to do for this antique chair update.

I used lettered stencils and numbered stickers for my design.  (By the way, the year I chose was COMPLETELY random). After ironing my fabric, I taped the lettered stencils onto the fabric with craft tape.  For the numbers, I used the outline of each sticker versus the actual number for stenciling purposes.  THIS WAS THE BEST IDEA EVER! It made spray painting SO easy.

Next, I taped off the rest of the fabric that I did not want spray painted.

In a well-ventilated area I followed the directions on the Simply Spray paint can, and sprayed one coat of paint.

Next, because I was using stencils, I dabbed the top with a paper towel.

When my paint was dry, I used a staple gun to attach my newly painted fabric onto the seat.  I kept the original upholstery so I did not ruin the chair.  I loved how it turned out.  Here are some after pictures.

 

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Category : DIY Furniture
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22 Comm
06th Mar2012

Simply Spray Fabric Paint

by Dinah Wulf

I came across this fabulous upholstery fabric spray paint. Yep… you read that correctly… fabric spray paint!!! Even better, it is eco-friendly!  Simply Spray is the only non-toxic aerosol paint for fabric.  It doesn’t rub off and it doesn’t harden or stiffen the material.  I thought it would come in handy for my DIY upcycling projects. You can use it on furniture, pillows, throws, curtain panels, rugs, and more!

My only issue was that I couldn’t decide what project to do.  I did some further research and found Simply Spray’s Facebook page and perused the photo albums.  (By the way, for the month of March they have some awesome giving aways planned for their FB followers!) Here are a few of my favorite projects.

Patio Furniture Cushions

I thought this was so cool! The cushions were a boring beige color and they were quickly brightened up with a vibrant color and a beautiful stencil.

Updated Stenciled Bath Mat

Such a great idea! I actually happen to have this same stencil… hmmm…

Stenciled Throw Pillow

This looks like it can right off a store shelf.  I love it!

I ended up with a few different colors to play with as well as some spray paint especially for clothing apparel. I am off to do some thrift store and flea market shopping this weekend to purchase some items to upcycle! Stay tuned for my own Simply Spray DIY project!

 

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Category : Trash To Treasure
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4 Comm
21st Feb2012

DIY Reupholstered Chair

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Reupholstered Chair, Written By: Loren Crane, Pandora’s Craft Box

One cloudy day we found this lonely, awkward looking chair by the dumpster. I just saw the potential and the beauty this chair could bring to my home. We took it in and wondered what we had gotten ourselves into!

We knew nothing of reupholstering and we found more bad news as we when we removed the fabric!  All of the foam was dusty and by just looking at it the chair made me itch. We decided to remove everything from the chair. All was left was the frame, nails and springs.

Then the long journey to reupholstering began. It took about a month of long nights and hard work to finish the chair. I looked at other blogs and I could not find references to help with the process. Most blogs only had the before and after pictures, so I decided to step by step tutorials for those who might need a little guidance in reupholstering.

I go through step by step on how we attached the foam to the frame. You can see my hubby hard at work.

When all was said and done here it how it looks like with the foam was stapled to the frame.

I think the easiest part of the chair was gluing the decorative trim to the chair.

I hope you all enjoy reading about my journey with taking this chair from blah to glam. After this chair I don’t think there is anything I can’t do! I can’t wait to hear what you all have to say.

Links to the tutorials

Removal Reupholstering Part I

Springs Reupholstering Part II

Foam Reupholstering Part III

Foam Reupholstering Part IV

Fabric Reupholstering Part V

Finale Reupholstering

Follow Loren on Facebook!

 

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6 Comm
14th Feb2012

Coat Hanger Makeover

by Dinah Wulf

Happy Valentine’s Day!

One of my best friends had this yellow-ish wooden hanger she wanted to use in her daughter’s bedroom.  Her room is very whimsical and girlie, perfect for our little “Tay”.  Click here to see some DIY nursery letters made especially for this room.  My friend said she wanted to paint it white.  Since I already had all the essential tools and paint, I offered to do it for her. I used the same paint I used for the Disney Princess table I refurbished.

When I got it home and started painting it, I knew I couldn’t just paint it white.  I wanted to surprise my friend and had to jazz it up a bit.

Here’s what it looked like before. Blah…

I used sand paper to smooth out any bumps or scratches.  Sanding also helps the paint adhere better, especially when you are not using a primer.  For tips on when to use and not to use primer, click here.

After cleaning it off from the dust and debris I painted it white.  Also consider spray paint.  It’s quicker and faster. I decided to use paint because I already had some left over from another project. I used two coats of paint, allowing it to dry completely in between coats.

Next, I used an acrylic craft paint and hand painted pink trim with a small brush.  One coat was perfect.

Tip: Soup cans worked perfectly to hold up the coat hanger while I painted and let it dry.

I purchased these cute little wooden letters from a craft store for about fifty cents apiece and used the same pink craft paint.

Tip: I used a thumb tack to prop up the wooden letter.  This made it easier to hold and paint all sides as well as dry.

I used wood glue to adhere each letter.

 

**I heart comments! If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions, please feel free to comment below.  Is there a craft project you want me to try? I’ll gladly do my best to take on your craft challenge and I’m always looking for new ideas! Just let me know! Also, if you have a project you’d like to share, please email me at dwulf@diyinspired.com.**

 

 

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Category : DIY Tips and Tricks, Kid Stuff
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5 Comm
13th Feb2012

Chair Bench

by Dinah Wulf

My friend emailed me a few pictures of a dining room set she wanted to try and update. The first thing I thought of when I saw the chairs was that we HAVE to upcycle them into a chair bench.  I first saw this idea on an HGTV show (I can’t remember which one but I’m thinking it was Home Made Simple…sorry!). The minute I saw the episode, I recall wanting to go to the Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity ASAP.

Here are the pictures of her chairs.

I thought that the bench we made could have arms on each side. In other words, use the arm chairs on either side, cutting off the arm closest to the center… does that make sense?

Anyway, Of course time (and our busy schedules) got away from us and my friend and I haven’t had the chance to complete this project just yet. I have, however had time to search for some chair bench inspiration.  Surprisingly I found a few great tutorials and photos! I thought I’d share them since they were so amazing!

This first one is from Country Living. This bench was salvaged from inexpensive flea market finds with broken seats.

Décor Hacks featured this mismatched chair bench back in May. I love the color palette.

This blue bench from Froufrugal is kind of what I pictured for our bench (arms on the side) with an added patterned cushion.

Finally, this bench from Haven’ Fun with Junk caught my eye with its bluish gray color with red accents.

When my friend and I finally make time to take on this project, you’ll definitely see it posted!!

 

 

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9 Comm
01st Feb2012

Fiber and Fire

by Dinah Wulf

Oh my gosh… I can’t stand it! I am obsessed with the craftsmanship and knack for design of this talented mother and daughter team, Patricia and Andrea also known as Fiber and Fire.

I was doing my usual rounds of blog exploration one day and I came across Fiber and Fire on Picket Fence Blogs. The Ad button alone caught my eye.  I clicked on the link and scrolled down each post and several clicks later I was inspired.  Wishing I lived close enough to attend one of their upcoming shows, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the color and pattern combinations that worked so well together.  There are SO many great pieces in the online portfolio that I had to keep editing myself down to share these select few.

These pictures are more than I intended to share but I couldn’t help it! They are all so amazing! I mean really? How am I supposed to pick?

If you’d like to view the full portfolio click HERE.  Also, check out their Facebook page for the latest updates. The Fiber and Fire blog is also filled with several awesome before and after pictures.

Here is the rundown for the upcoming Fiber and Fire shows.  Hopefully you live close enough to attend!  If you do, let me know how it goes!

February 10-11, 2012

  • Las Cruces ‘A Century of Enchantment’ Quilt Show; Las Cruces, NM Convention Center

March 8-10, 2012

  • Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Show; Mesa Convention Center Mesa, AZ

May 10-12, 2012

  • Home Machine Quilting Show; South Towne Expo Center Sandy, UT

August 31 – September 1, 2012

  • Midway Swiss Days; Midway, UT

OK, one last picture… I swear… :)

 

 

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Category : DIY Furniture, Inspiring People
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1 Comm
27th Jan2012

Repurposed Pin-spiration

by Dinah Wulf

“Pin-spiration” is a new term I’ve been seeing a lot lately. Pintrest is yet another social networking site that allows you to create virtual pin boards of absolutely anything that fits your fancy.  Check out my Pin boards here.  Did I mention I am obsessed with it? I can spend hours perusing the site.

Here are some great repurposed pin-spiration ideas I pulled off this addictive site.

Maps are the stylish craze these days! Better Homes and Garden repurposed a globe into a bowl by adhering (what looks like, or could be) a candlestick to make an interesting centerpiece.

Good Housekeeping displayed this cute outdoor side table made out of four window shutters and a glass top.

This one is fantastic! Curbly.com repurposed an old filing cabinet into a rolling kitchen cart. It serves several purposes including kitchen storage and cutting board… genius!

What girl wouldn’t like this to show off a collection of shoes! Check out these shelves turned beautiful display case. (Photo source unknown)

This may be my favorite and DEFINITELY my style. It’s an old barn door turned sliding bathroom door. (Photo source unknown)

Another idea for repurposing old rustic doors is using two as headboards as pictured below. (Photo source unknown)

Greenisuniversal.com has this creative tutorial for repurposing old belts and weaving them into a vintage aluminum lawn chair.

And last but not least (ok, maybe). Unfortunately, not all designs work out. Although it was initially a good idea, this repurposed Nintendo game console was repurposed into a lunch box and posted on failblog.com… at least they tried!

 

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Category : DIY Furniture
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3 Comm
24th Jan2012

Spray Painted Fan

by Dinah Wulf

Living in warm sunny California my husband and I always use a fan. It’s much cheaper than running the air conditioning all the time. There’s only one problem.  The fan we have is ugly. It’s your typical plain white plastic oscillating fan.

Here’s a before picture.

I decided to try and spray paint it.  As many DIY’ers do, I happen to have spray paint in my garage. So, this project cost me zero dollars…yay!

The first thing I did was take it apart.  This is the point where I realized how disgustingly dirty it was! Embarrassing! I gave the fan and motor a good cleaning and soaked all the plastic parts in soapy water.

Next, I taped the cord and put the motor in a plastic Ziploc bag.

I coiled the cord and taped it under the base.

I decided on using metallic silver and matte black spray paint. I used a large cardboard box outside in a well-ventilated area away from the baby and the dogs for this spray painted fan project. Don’t forget to spray both front and back of each part. Also, use a pair of latex gloves…less messy!

Now that all the parts were painted, I put it back all together. Be careful, because the spray paint is easily scratched on plastic.

Here are some after photos! I’m pretty happy with the results!

For your spray painted fan project, consider painting a fun pink or blue for a kid’s room. The color combos are endless!

 

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Category : Trash To Treasure
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2 Comm
05th Jan2012

Kitchen Cart Makeover

by Dinah Wulf

I know I’ve blogged about this before, but I’ll say it again.  One of the BEST things about blogging is meeting amazingly creative people that you would have NEVER come across if it wasn’t for the power of the internet.  Even more powerful is the interpersonal aspect of an online connection.

Recently, I received another great DIY submission by a reader and fellow DIY’er, Linn.  Linn and her husband bought their first home over the summer and have chronicled their DIY adventures on Linn’s website, The Home Project.  If you get the chance to peruse her site, you’ll see that Linn has certainly made her 1940’s bungalow a home.

This Kitchen Cart Makeover is one of her many projects, and I am honored to share it with you.

This is the before picture of kitchen cart stripped down.

First, the cart was disassembled.

Next, she thoroughly sanded the top with a hand sander and adequately sanded the bottom of the cart.

Linn applied a Mahogany Red stain that matched their dining room table and used a gloss finish to add depth.

Next she painted the legs, drawer, and shelf in the same semi glossy antique white.

She added a silver brushed metal handle to match the towel rack above her stove.

Here is another after photo.

Ta-dah kitchen cart makeover complete!

If you’d like to see more of Linn’s DIY projects, check out her website.  There you’ll not only find great do-it-yourself tutorials, but interior design, sewing, and craft ideas as well!

Thank you, Linn for the inspiration!

 

 

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5 Comm
28th Nov2011

Repurposed Pallets

by Dinah Wulf

I love the idea of repurposed pallets into furniture or art.  When I first thought of doing my own project, I would drive around town looking near the dumpsters of commercial and retail buildings.  The last time I went to Home Depot, I asked if I could buy them and they said depending on the type, they ran from $15 to $60 a piece. Well, it really goes without saying that I’m too cheap for that so I kept on with my search.

Utilizing my resources, I called one of my best friends who works for a high end appliance manufacturer.  Low and behold! She texts me right away with a picture and says, “Here is what we are about to throw away. Do you want any of these?” My answer? “On my way.” So my little one and I hopped in the car. To this destination… aka… free pallet heaven.

Thanks to my friend who, by the way was in heels, I was able to jam two and a half in the back of my car. Now… what to do with them? A few days later they are still sitting in my garage awaiting my attention.  In the meantime I searched for some inspiration.  Here are some amazing ideas I found, but for now I’m still undecided.

Pallet Coffee tables

[Via]

[Via]

Pallet Art

Flea Market Finds magazine

[Via]

 

Pintrest

Pallet Dining Table

Pintrest

Pallet Benches

[Via] 

[Via]

[Via]

 

Pintrest

Pallet Headboard

[Via]

 

Pallet Garden

Pintrest

Pallet Coat Hanger

Pintrest

Pallet Shelving

[Via]

 

Pallet Entertainment Center

[Via]

 P.S. Happy Birthday, Trina Bean! Thanks for getting down and dirty with me.  I heart you, best friend!!!!

 
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Category : DIY Furniture, Trash To Treasure
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15 Comm
03rd Nov2011

Pasadena Architectural Salvage

by Dinah Wulf

The vintage long wash sink turned planter in the front says it all.  The unknown history of the cracks and rusty legs fascinates me. Gayle’s Pasadena Architectural Salvage is the epitome of eco-friendly design. Their main objective is to salvage architecturally antique items, both commercial and residential destined for the landfill.

The reclamation industry is an industry that I didn’t really know existed prior to writing this blog.  Rather, I didn’t realize its magnitude and impact on design.  It is a “green” industry that promotes recycling and reuse before ending up at the landfill. Hey! Kind of like my blog! Architectural salvaged items include lumber, hardware,
mantels, furniture, lighting, glass, iron, you name it.  Typically from period homes, each piece has history and tells its own story.

Walking into this accumulation of antiquity was an adventure in itself.  Every corner had treasure behind it. I was in love the moment I entered (actually, the moment I saw that sink!).  You may (or may not) know that I love industrial style design.  Check out these lamps and mail sorters.

Here are some other intriguing items. There were entire walls dedicated to grates, skeleton keys, and keyholes.  There were rows of doors, stained glass, and iron gates.  Their inventory represents the Arts & Crafts, Spanish Revival, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods.

Gayle’s Pasadena Architectural Salvage is located at 2600 E. Foothill Boulevard in Pasadena, CA 91107.  The hours of operation are Tuesday- Saturday 9:30AM – 5:30PM, Sunday 12PM-5PM, and they are closed on Mondays.  Don’t forget to say hello to the friendly gray cat that greats you.

 

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Category : Places To Go
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0 Comm
23rd Sep2011

Places To Go: Old Good Things

by Dinah Wulf

I finally get the phrase, “It’s like being a kid in a candy store.” I mean, I always knew what it implied, however I think I saw white lights and heard a choir of angels singing when I walked into Old Good Things, an architectural salvage wonderland.

First of all, going there was my husband’s idea.  It was in an uncomfortably dodgy part of West LA. We had to circle the place several times in order to get the parking space in front because we thought it’d be the “safest” place to park. Intrigued by the giant rusty metal star light and massive pirate head displayed at the entrance I was willing to circle a few more times if I had to. Each time I caught glimpses of the treasures behind the enormous front doors.

Finally, my husband decided to just let me out while he patiently waited for a guy in a prime spot to get off of his cell phone.  Clutching my cell phone in my hand, I eagerly jumped out of the car to further explore what was inside.  The wave of heat, the sound car horns, and the thuds of traffic speeding down the freeway above us, was all quickly forgotten the second I stepped inside.

The first thing I noticed was how vast the store was…it was huge! I was overwhelmed with junk (I mean that in a good way).  To my left was an airplane propeller, three times my size.  I was surrounded by ornate iron gates, industrial lamps, and old machines I’ve never seen before.  There were statues, antique windows and doors, furniture, and lighting.  I tried to take a few pictures but I got completely lost in each piece wondering where they came from and how they got there.

This place was filled with history and fit the old adage, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” I have to admit, it was ALL treasure to me. I could have spent hours in there. Old Good Things definitely got my creative juices flowing.  I made mental notes as to what I wanted to come back for, or what pieces I want to repurpose. I will definitely be back soon, this time I won’t leave empty handed.

Old Good Things is located at 1800 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90015.  They are open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends.

 

 

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5 Comm
20th Sep2011

10 Before and After Furniture Makeovers

by Dinah Wulf

10 Before and After Furniture Makeovers

Hopefully these before and after furniture makeovers gets your creative juices flowing.  Furniture makeovers are at the very least, eco and budget friendly. Take on a DIY project and transform your flea market finds into fabulous one-of-a-kind furniture. With a little spray paint or fabric, and a lot of imagination you can give new life to a thrift store find for a few dollars. These DIY projects are from some of my favorite blogs and websites. The foot stool is my favorite.  I love the shape and pattern that was chosen.

Here are some quick tips if you are considering a DIY furniture makeover!

Tip 1: Reupholstering is actually very easy.  If you are considering this, examine the piece of furniture before you buy it to make share the seat, for example, is easy to take off and put back on.  Check out my post on upcycled bar stools for
an easy and quick tutorial.

Tip 2: Check out my post on when and how to use primer for a quick and easy to follow guide before tackling a furniture paint makeover.

Tip 3: Instead of a paint make over, consider using wallpaper remnants to update an old table or armoire.

Sources: Southern Living, BHG.com, OhDeeDoh.com, Design Sponge, InMyOwnStyle.com, DailyDecorator.com

 

You May Also Like:

DIYInspired Before and After DIY Projects:

Other Cool DIY Repurposing Furniture Ideas

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2 Comm
07th Sep2011

Nate Berkus Best of House Proud

by Dinah Wulf

Nate Berkus Best of House Proud

One of my favorite shows, The Nate Berkus Show, has a segment called House Proud.  This segment embodies his motto to “love the way you live”.  It showcases viewers who are proud of their resourceful decorating efforts, many of which achieve this on a budget.  They shop at thrift stores, flea markets, and even search dumpsters!  House Proud is a great resource for design inspiration.

Here are some of my favorite House Proud guests.

Carole from Philadelphia, also known as the “Dumpster Diva”, has an entire room made out of trash!  She and her girlfriends have dinner and then go dumpster diving as a hobby.  She has found some amazing things including two 1930’s fireplace mantels.  She placed one on top of the other to create height and framed out other treasured finds. She refurbishes or repurposes her finds and literally turns trash into treasure.

Michelle from Tuscan has some great ideas. She used a white slip cover on a pair of office chairs with clean modern lines similar to the one below.  She found them on the side of the road and picked them up for free.  She used the two chairs at each end of her dining table.  Another idea she had was to sew two linen napkins or an old baby blanket to make throw pillows.

Mandi Gubler calls her style thrift shop glam.  She used acid on these mirrors to eat away the reflected coating and then placed fabric behind them to make this vintage design.  She also collected old mirrors and painted them all one color and displayed them in the entryway of her home for a dramatic effect.  Mandi also combined two inexpensive rugs by cutting out a zebra pattern and merged them together…genius!

Lizzie Carney lives in a small 1930’s bungalow.  She definitely has a knack for decorating for a small space.  Many of her finds are from reclaimed wood and lumber and salvaged materials.  She has seven chandeliers, three of which are in her kitchen. She also turned her den into a gorgeous dressing room; a room she uses every day.

I saved the best for last. Barbara’s home is an old dance hall.  Her design is all natural materials, concrete, wood, metal, steel, and has no paint.  Her coffee table is made out of and old postal sorting table similar to the one shown below.  Her home has an amazing industrial style that I love.  She used a giant metal sign on hanging rollers as a room divider that slides to create privacy.  She also attached skateboard wheels to metal armoires that also doubled as room dividers.

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0 Comm
27th Jul2011

Furniture Makeovers Before and After

by Dinah Wulf

Furniture Makeovers Before and After

If you couldn’t tell already by my past posts, I love it when old furniture is upcycled or repurposed into something new and fabulous.  Go green and get eco-friendly by turning trash into treasure.  Better Homes and Gardens had a fantastic online article on Fabulous Furniture Makeovers and these are some of my inspiring favorites.

Check out these before and after photos.

Here is an old dresser updated with paint, stencils, and colorful storage baskets.

This is an old microwave cart repurposed into a bedside table.  It is revamped with paint and wallpapered doors.

 

Give an old side table a modern update with wallpaper remnants and a crisp white paint color.

 

Add baskets for hidden storage and a stencil to an outdated coffee table to fit your style.

 

Turn a boring wooden cabinet into a piece of art and make a statement.

Source: BHG

 

Check out these other Before and After DIY Projects:

Check out these other creative ways to recycle and repurpose:

 

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Category : DIY Furniture, Trash To Treasure
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1 Comm
18th Jul2011

Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Bar Stools

by Dinah Wulf

Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Bar Stools

I have had these bar stools for oh about ten years. I have hated them for the last eight, but for some reason never threw them away. Even though it took me that long to actually like them again, I’m glad I kept them, as this blog has inspired me to update them.

These stools are very common. Even though they are so old, I still see them being sold in stores. Here is what I did to make these Upcycled Bar Stools.

After cleaning them with soap, water, and a sponge, I used a gray metallic spray paint to paint the legs. Spray paint quick and easy and cheap.

Tip: The Magic Eraser with water works very well to clean surfaces (it truly magically erases!).

For the seat cushions, you need your fabric of choice, a staple gun, scissors, and some type of filling. I used a polyester fiber fill, which is only about $2.99 a bag.

Measure your material, depending on your seat size.  I left about three inches on all sides.

Place the desired amount of fiber fill on top, and then the stool on top of that. Make sure you add a substantial amount of fiber fill to cushion the top.

Using a staple gun, pull the fabric taught and staple the fabric approximately a half an inch from the edge all the way around.

Trim off excess fabric with scissors as close to the staples as possible to avoid excess fabric hang when the stools are right side up.

Here are a few after photos.

Other Trash to Treasure Projects:

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2 Comm
27th Jun2011

Upcycled Children’s Play Table

by Dinah Wulf

Upcycled Children’s Play Table

One of my best friends gave me this Disney princess table when she moved. I loved the shape of the chairs and the storage pocket in the center; however it was a little worn from use.

I decided to take on this DIY project, paint it, and “glam” it up a bit with a Hollywood Regency style. This do it yourself  project required painting it, adding seat cushions, a monogram, and a clear crystal knob. I had the primer, paint, and fabric from past projects already, so the total cost for this table and two chairs was less than $20.00.

Here is the after:

I decided to prime it first, even though the surface was already smooth due to the existing character design. I used a light sand paper to help remove a few old stickers, and cleaned the surface. Two coats of primer worked perfectly. When priming, make sure the paint is completely dry in between coats.

I painted both chairs and table with two coats of white paint. After is dried completely, I used painters tape to tape off my design. I painted the design, the storage cover, and the balls of the table legs and chairs blue.

After you paint is completely dry, I recommend painting the table top with polyurethane with at least two coats. It is added protection for it’s future marriage with crayons and markers!

Meanwhile, I used a circular wooden plaque, polyester fiber fill, and fabric for the seat cushions.

When stapling fabric onto the plaque, it’s best to keep the extra material and trim it after.

I glued the seat cushions to the chair with an extra strength wood glue and added a self adhesive monogram. I also added a few coats of decoupage medium to seal in the monograms.

Next, I reattached the storage bag and added a knob to the lid.

Here are some before and after pictures.

Since I didn’t have to buy paint or fabric, here is what I ended up spending. Not too shabby!

  • Clear Plastic Knob - $2.97
  • 2 Monogrammed Letters - $2.97 each
  • 2 Wooden Plaques - $5.49 each
  • Polyester Fiber Fill – $2.99 for one bag

Total Cost: $17.39 plus tax

Check out these other Before and After DIY Projects:

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Category : DIY Furniture, Kid Stuff, Trash To Treasure
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13 Comm
20th Jun2011

How to Paint a Dresser

by Dinah Wulf

How to Paint a Dresser

I salvaged this chest of drawers when one of my best friends moved (AKA: It was free!!).  Although it was already beautifully hand painted, it wasn’t my style. I decided to repaint it using a wall stencil in the same color as my wall DIY sconce project and my envelope pillows.  I’m not going to lie; it was quite taxing because of the several coats of primer and paint.  Needless to say, it took several days to paint but I’m happy with the finished DIY product. Here are the steps on how to paint a dresser. Here is the before and after:

I did not need to sand this dresser because the surface was already smooth.  I did, however need to apply two coats of primer, since the existing artwork was so dark in color.

I painted two coats of the base color next and then I used a wall stencil for the design.  On a side note, smaller stencils will make your project much easier! Make sure the paint is completely dry in between each coat.

When stenciling the drawer with the accent paint color, make sure the stencil is flat. Keep adding coats until you reach the desired color.

For the final touch, I purchased blue ceramic knobs at Habitat for Humanity Restore for only 25 cents each! Habitat for Humanity Restore has everything you need for DIY any project.

Tip: A sample size of paint is plenty for this project.  You can find sample sizes at a discount (50 cents to $1) at Lowes “Oops Table” or at Habitat for Humanity Restore. Another inexpensive option is to use spray paint.

 

 

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Category : DIY Furniture
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2 Comm
16th May2011

Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Old Candle Sconces

by Dinah Wulf

Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Old Candle Sconces

Let’s face it, our styles change over time. I’ve had these old sconces since college, and I found them tucked away in the back of a cabinet. I liked the pattern, but wanted to revamp them a little and decided to go bold and paint them turquoise to give them more life. I used two coats of an acrylic paint, and glazed it with 3 coats of  triple-thick crystal clear spray paint.

This cost less than $10 to for this DIY wall art, with materials left over for another project, and and I have turned trash to treasure!

 

You May Also Like: Room Decor Ideas MR. GOODWILL HUNTING

Other Trash to Treasure ideas:

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Category : DIY Artwork, Trash To Treasure
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