Laundry Cart Makeover / DIY

Hi ~ we're back from our family vacation (it's always nice to take a break from life for a few days!) ~ and I'm excited to share this wonderful old laundry cart project with you.  I found the cart at a flea market ~ in this condition.  All that was left of it, was it's skeleton frame and the casters it came on. 

 

I decided to make a table out of it and headed over to Orr-Reed Wrecking Co. ~ a wonderful salvage yard in Dallas ~  to see what I might come up with for a top.  It's always one of my favorite spots for salvaged materials.  This iconic, architectural salvage hot spot has undergone quite the transformation recently (you gotta see it) and is chock full of wonderful inventory.  If you live in the area, you definitely need to pay them a visit and please be sure and tell them I sent you.  

After scavenging at Orr-Reed's for awhile, I decided on some old tongue and groove wood flooring for my project.

Once I got the wood home, I decided to use the backside of the flooring for the topside of my table.  There was no particular reasoning involved ~ I just liked the way it looked and preferred it over a smooth surface. 

After I determined the finished measurement for the tabletop, I cut the boards to the desired length.  Then I interlocked the boards together and secured them to each other by adding a support strip to the back ~ making sure to screw each board to the strip of wood. 

Next, I used electrical strapping and screws to attach the top to the cart base.  

I pre-drilled the holes and screwed the straps to the underside of the tabletop. 

As you can see, I attached two straps to each end of the tabletop and one on each side ~ this secured the top to the base. 

Loving this piece already!!!



Lastly, I sanded the top with a electric sander and then applied a coat of polyurethane to it with a brush. 

If I had a big old loft apartment, I would use the cart as an entry table (sigh...wishful thinking).  Here's how I have it arranged today ~  although I could easily change my mind and move it tomorrow.  :)  I'll be sharing more tattered style goodness soon ~ hoping this week is a good one for you!

x2VOL ~ Part II

The cardboard/plywood pendant lights are from Anthropologie.

I think one of my favorite things about design is getting to know the client.  This certainly has been the case in working with Michele ~ I was immediately drawn to this job because of Michele and her excitement and enthusiasm for her company.  Over the last few weeks, I've had the opportunity to learn more about x2VOL, an innovative company that tracks high school student's volunteer hours and also partners them with non-profits that have volunteer needs. Learn more about x2VOL (powered by IntelliVOL) here.     

As I mentioned in x2VOL Part I, the vision for this space was to provide an environment where a number of people could meet, dream together and bring their ideas to fruition.  So, the space required a good sized table.  I just couldn't envision having a typical conference table fill this need, so I opted for a custom farm style table instead.  Thankfully, Michele was on board 100% and with help from a friend of mine who is a wonderful craftsman (thanks Charley) this beautiful table was built. The top is made from new pine planks ~ unlike the legs and skirting which are made from salvaged wood that Charley obtained from a barn that he tore down. The beam used to make the legs is over 100 years old.  We opted to leave the planks natural, but coated them with numerous coats of polyurethane for protection.  

I think the cardboard/plywood pendants and the natural table top and legs mirror and compliment each other quite nicely. 

  

The chairs ~ what can I say except they are spectacular!

One of my favorite "wow" factors in the room are these vintage school desk chairs on casters. Michele scored these off of Craigslist for a song.  They add a punch of color to the space and are quite comfortable.

There was one requirement for this room that Michele was adamant about ~ that there would be an abundance of writing surfaces for brainstorming sessions.  Another noteworthy feature in the room is this wall of marker boards.  Charley did a beautiful job of framing them out with trim that I found at a local salvage yard.  

Another thought I had for the room was to provide an area that would serve as a snack bar. This little nook provided just the right space for a foodie area.  The surface is an old door with some trim on the facing.  The shelving ~ more salvaged wood added space for snacks and supplies.  I whipped up a burlap curtain to conceal the refrigerator and also serve as extra storage.  I think it turned out quite charming.  

That pretty much sums up this space.  However, there's much more to share ~ I'm excited about posting some special projects I came up with for two of x2VOL's offices.  Be back soon with photos galore!  Speaking of photos, I'm on the quest for a new camera ~ my digital point and shoot is on its last leg.  Any suggestions?   

Wisteria Cart

This post has the potential of sounding like a poorly written *commercial ~ but what can I say? The facts are the facts!  Storage space is scarce in my home so I'm always on the lookout for additional ways to creatively store items.  I fell for a vintage baker's cart at Round Top but practicality was an issue.  

Luckily I ran across this cart at the Wisteria Outlet.  Although it's newly constructed, it has been made from reclaimed lumber so it has the feel of a vintage piece to me. I love it not only because it has ample space to stash everyday essentials like dishes and linens but it also provides a great space for display.   It fits beautifully in this little nook in my dining room.  

  

It's no surprise ~ I love the casters ~ they make it easy to move from room to room.  Which is a good thing for me ~ invariably it will end up in another room in due time.  Another great feature is the way the iron detail frames the piece out ~ it adds character out the wazoo! 

A great place to display my vintage scale collection, crocks, ironstone and more!

This little corner is a little slice of heaven for me ~ the open shelf unit has the feeling of a Parisian style kitchen.  It also holds some of my favorite flea market finds ~ maybe it's a good thing I don't have much storage space in my house. :)  

*See what I mean? 

South Dakota Scavenging

Well, I'm back from a trip to South Dakota, where we visited our oldest son, Reagan.  He's finishing up a two-year term for Teach for America, where he teaches 10th grade English on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

It was a whirlwind trip where we enjoyed hanging out with Reagan's friends and consuming a delicious meal they made for us. We were also able to sit in on his classes and meet all of his students. Our last day there we traveled to the Badlands and then over to see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

You may be wondering how and where Tattered Style comes into play ~ I’m happy to tell you as soon as you step into Reagan’s house! Although he may be almost a thousand miles from home, Texas still holds a mighty big place in his heart. Reagan, a Texas State graduate, and his roommate, Keith, a University of Texas graduate, took an old screen door they had kicking around in their garage and repurposed it into a Texas flag. They have created a clever work of art for their living room and it sure makes Texas and this mama proud!

The outside trim on the door was already the perfect shade of red; they removed the old screening, added a couple of plywood panels and painted them out red and blue. They chose not to panel one part of the screen door, as they knew the white wall would show through from behind and act as the white stripe of the flag.

Reagan purchased a tin star Christmas tree topper; spray painted it white and hung it atop the blue panel on the door. Then they attached the screen door to the wall with eyehooks and wire. I think the end result is super cool!

All too quickly, our visit ended. As we were leaving, Reagan gave me a present ~ not just any present, but one he knew I would be crazy about.

He brought out this wonderful relic from an old house he happened by one day. I love this metal and glass hinged piece!

I’m not certain how it was originally used, but can’t wait to repurpose this into something wonderful. Keep an eye out for its upcoming transformation. Thank you Reagan!!

And finally, on our return trip back to Texas, we passed by an old junk store in Kansas and honestly, what would any trip be without stopping at a perfectly good junk store? Take a look at the goodies I landed!

I love all things industrial, especially if there are casters involved, so this was the first thing to catch my eye. I wonder where this piece will end up? Be watching for before and after photos to find out!

These wonderful old porcelain and metal doorknobs were a steal ~ I purchased the whole lot for $10.00. I’ll either add them to a collection or reinvent them as knobs on a coat rack.

Maybe it's just me or it could be it's that time of year, but don't these knobs resemble Easter eggs (especially the pink speckled one)!

On a different note, I’ve created a Facebook page to post additional Tattered Style information. Be sure to look Tattered Style up on FB and "Like". This will ensure that you receive any new updates, like my trip next week to the Round Top Antiques Fair, where I'll be posting photos of some of the cool things I come across!


P.S.  I'm not sure what is going on technically with this post, it's doing some funky spacing and won't let me edit it. :)

Industrial TV Stand

It was an exciting day the day we purchased a new 50" plasma TV. We're usually at least 5 years behind the current trend when it comes to the latest technology. Honestly, it's because we are too frugal to pay the exorbitant price when something new hits the shelf. On the upside, it means deep pocket discounts when we are ready to buy. Amazing how waiting a few years will definitely save a few bucks! I thought I might share with you my solution for a stand for our recent purchase.

One of the foremost questions on my mind when we bought the rectangular beast was , "What in the world are we going to put this behemoth monster on?" Don't get me wrong, it sure does make for some great television watching.

As I began my quest for the perfect stand, there were two things that I discovered: 1) Most things on the market were quite costly and 2) Most things on the market were boring and predictable. So, I set out to find something with a little character.

I think I landed the perfect solution with this old metal industrial cart that I found at a flea market. In it's previous life, it was used in a school cafeteria (labeled underneath). I was elated! So, I made the purchase, loaded it up and hauled it home in the "mom van."

The cart was a perfect fit for the space. The only problem was it didn't have a shelf on the bottom for all of the TV and stereo components. I really wanted something more than new shelving so I made a visit to a local salvage yard.

This is "Oink", the pet pig at the salvage yard. Oh, the joys of scavenging ~ it's not everyday that you run across a pot-bellied pig.

I dug through heaps of scrap lumber and found some old tongue and groove flooring in good condition. They were loaded with character and exactly what I was looking for.

I cut the floorboards (actually, our neighbor John made the cuts ~ our saw is on the blink) long enough to rest on the already existing metal support strips on the cart. Then I gave them a light sanding and sat them in place.

Check out the locking casters; they were the icing on the cake for me.

The salvaged floorboards supplied more than enough space for the components. I think this wonderful old metal cart makes a unique stand for the TV and it was such an easy project. The best part is it cost a tenth of what I could get something new for. I love the end result!!!