Tag Archives: DIY projects

Upcycled Play Kitchen: Part 2

September was crazy busy at our house.  Our September calendar included soccer practises and games, hockey try-outs for both winter and spring league, dance classes, Girl Guides, back to school for the kids and I, a family wedding, our Mother’s and Daughter’s in Touch course, two garage sales, 3 birthdays, piano lessons, Fun Fridays Youth Group, volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest, serving at church, volleyball, a few minor DIY projects, daily blogging and I tried to stay on top of the laundry, meals and house work!  On top of that I was sick with a cold. I am sure that doesn’t sound unlike most of your schedules, but needless to say, my little play kitchen project did not get much attention. However, this weekend was the first in many weeks that we did not have a jam-packed schedule and I was finally able to have a bit of time for it.  If you missed Upcycled Play Kitchen:  Part 1 and want to check-out it out, click here.

Play Kitchen Update:

I finished painting all of the pieces black and then let the paint cure for several days (or weeks in my case) before adding any tape to it.  When I measured out the board for the back of the TV stand/sink and stove, I added several inches of height to create a backsplash for the finished project.  My plan was to create a faux tile back splash.  I had used this technique in our upstairs bathroom, so I knew it would work well for this project. I took my board and figured out where the top of the “counter top” would be and marked it on my board.  I then measured the space that would be used for the backsplash and began to figure out how big to make the tiles. When measuring and marking out the squares, always start from the middle to ensure that the tiles will end up being centered.  I then taped out a grid of 2″ squares that will serve as tiles.  Taking a trowel (or something similar) apply a thin smooth layer of plaster over the taped off area (approximately 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch thick). Very carefully peel off the tape and let the plaster “tiles” dry completely. Gently sand the tiles to create a smooth surface on each tile. Re-tape the grid (your base coat will become your “grout” colour. Apply a coat of primer and then paint. Remove the tape. You may need to touch up the “grout lines” a bit. For durability, add a few coats of clear (non-colouring) urethane.  I think I added three coats to my bathroom backsplash.

I used 1/4″ painters tape to tape of a grid of 2″ squares.
I applied a thin layer of plaster over the taped grid.
I removed the tape right away, before the plaster set.
I applied two coats of acrylic paint to the faux tiles.
Here is a shot of the finished backsplash with the touched up grout lines.

Next Steps:

I haven’t had a chance to urethane the backsplash yet, so I will definitely need to do that.  I will attach the back board and work on pulling things together ~ attaching the sink, taps/spout and stove elements (which I haven’t painted yet). I really wanted to include fabric in the project, so I opted for a curtain as opposed to a door on the sink/stove cabinet. I love the fabrics I found and hope to make a few other accessories to go with the finished kitchen. Stay tuned.

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Cabinet Rescue

Several years ago, friends were throwing-out this antique wardrobe.  It was pretty much a BFI rescue.  I must admit, it was pretty ugly.  It was painted chocolate-brown and despite the fact hat it was heavy, it was not overly sturdy.  The original piece had a bar across the top and was designed to be a wardrobe.

Antique Wardrobe

The original interior of the wardrobe.
BEFORE: Wardrobe Trash Rescue
In the midst of stripping down the wardrobe.
Here is the wardrobe completed stripped.

I loved the carvings on the front doors, but the oval panels were quite warped.  Once it had been completely stripped down, we realized that the sides of the piece were done in a different wood than the front and thus we decided that stain would really not do it any justice.  It was huge work stripping the paint from all of the nooks and crannies around the decorative carvings on the front, but it certainly made for a beautiful finished project.

Wardrobe Transformation

We also reinforced the back and replace the bar with shelves.  The panels were removed and replaced with chicken wire. This piece has always served as our dining room china cabinet, but we are planning to move it to our spare room for clothes and linen storage. Who knows, it might make its way back to the dining room yet!

AFTER: Painted China Cabinet

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Slipper Chair Upcycle

Several years ago, we bought a cottage that came complete with all of the previous owners furnishings and dishes.  The cottage was very clean and well-kept, but everything was major tacky.  I was looking through some old pictures and came across this photo of the old slipper chair that was left in the cottage.old slipper chair

We removed all of the old fabric and replaced the batting, as needed.  We then proceeded to reupholster the chair to coordinate with the nursery we were setting up for the baby we were expecting at the time.  This chair has really held up well and is still in our daughter’s room.

reupholstered chair
You can often pick-up old chairs on Kijiji for very little. If you are interested in recovering a chair for your home, there are many great tutorials on-line. Here is a step by step description of what you will need to complete such a project.

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Scrapbooking Room Desk

old desk

We bought this desk from friends about 20 years ago. It is an old melamine style desk that served us well, but I was ready for something a bit different. With the “hutch” on top, the actual work space was limited and this often posed a problem for me when scrapbooking. When in the midst of a project, my open layout is over 12″ and 24″, so that doesn’t leave much room for actually planning, creating and preparing the layouts

I found an antique table on Kijiji and decided it was time to get rid of the desk and make some changes. For the most part, I was just glad to see the desk go, but I knew I would really miss the big drawer on the bottom of the old desk. The drawer was originally designed to house a printer, but it served as the perfect location for my Cricut machine. I loved how it was tucked away, but ready to use with the simple pull of a drawer. I decided to take the desk apart and use the pieces to build a box for the drawer. It was pretty simple to do as most of the pieces already worked for what I had in mind. Basically, I just had to move the left side of the desk over to complete the left side of the drawer box and cut the top to fit. I also had to cut down the boards because I wanted it to fit below the antique desk I had just purchased.  I also added a bead board front that covered the existing drawer and extended to the floor.  I then sanded, primed, painted and distressed the drawer.  I used an old handle from our bathroom renovation to complete the look.  It is not perfect by any means, but it allowed me to keep the drawer and make use of the wasted space below the desk.  My scrapbooking room is small and I have to be very creative in order to keep it organized and functional. (I am certainly not complaining, I feel very fortunate to have a space to call my very own.)

Drawer
Drawer

Antique Table/Desk

The antique table was a library style table, with a large drawer extending across the whole front of the desk. The piece was oak, but they were only asking $40 because it was in very poor condition. I really didn’t mind the worn look on the drawer front and legs, but the top had to be sanded and refinished. By limiting my refinishing to the top of the desk, I was able to sand, stain and urethane with very little time or energy expended. The top came out beautifully and the large surface provides a great space for doing scrapbooking and other projects.

antique desk

upcycled drawer

Drawer and antique desk. You can see this room is a bit cluttered. I have so many tools and gadgets that I just don’t have a “place” for everything. Maybe some day!

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Pallet Shoe Rack

I love all of the pallet projects that can be found on Pinterest and around the web.  Last summer,  I was determined to build something out of pallets. Although I there are many really cool ideas for how to upcycle a pallet, I knew that I would need to keep my first project easy and within the range of my limited abilities.  I searched the web and ended up finding a very simple tutorial for a pallet shelf on Ana White’s website.  She is a total DIY guru who shares all kinds of great projects and tutorials….I am definitely an unofficial member of her fan club!

My First Pallet Project:  Pallet Shelf

Companies frequently advertize “free pallet pick-up”, and so these projects are very attractive to beginners like myself.  I am never very concerned about making mistakes and the rustic look makes the imperfections in the final project less obvious.  Pallet projects provide a great platform for practising with the power tools you may not be accustom to using.  I know that for me, this has definitely been the case.  I loved the idea of beginning with these little shelves as the constructions consisted of little more than a few cuts and the addition of a simple 2″ X 4″ base.  I also kept the finish very simple.  I used some old stain that we had around the house.  I designed these shelves to serve as shoe holders in the bottom of our closets, so the finish was not all that important.

pallet shoe rack

My very first pallet project.

This build was super easy and made a great first project.  I would highly recommend this as a first time project for beginner DIYers.  You can see my finished project is simple, but functional.  It was a great little project for gaining comfort and confidence using the power tools and makes more difficult projects seem less intimidating. Below are some examples of how this very same shelf can be finished and used in a variety of ways.

http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.ca/2012/04/pallet-island.html
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.ca/2012/03/accidental-finish.html
http://wilsonsandpugs.blogspot.ca/2011/09/pallet-wine-rack.html
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/diy-reclaimed-pallet-plate-rack.html

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Upcycled Decor Screen

We bought two second-hand screens (room dividers) in 2006.  I liked them, but never really loved the fabric on either screen.  I was always on the lookout for a more modern look and finally found a fabric when we were down in the states last winter. (By the way, Joann’s is always on my list when I go shopping in the states.  There is a much better fabric selection and often really great sales.)  Such was the case with this fabric.  I can’t say that I saw it and instantly thought… this is exactly what I have been looking for, but the price was right ($35) and I liked it.

old screen

This is the original screen. The fabric is okay, but quite traditional.

Screen Upcycle

old fabric

This is actually the fabric from the other screen which has been sitting unused in our basement. You can see all of the velcro I removed.

I purchased enough fabric to replace the three panels on one screen.  The panels did not have two “good sides”, so it was meant to be placed in a corner or against a wall.  I don’t need it to divide an actual space, so when purchasing the fabric, I only purchased enough to cover one side of the screen (like the original).  This is a fairly simple sewing project.  It basically consists of creating a finished seam all the way around each of the large rectangular pieces of fabric and then adding velcro to attach them to the screen frame.  I used the old fabric from the screen as a guide for my measurements and even removed the velcro so that I could re-use it on the new fabric.

From cutting to finished project, this probably did not take me more than a couple of hours (maybe less).  It was quick to sew and my sewing machine was in a cooperative mood, so it was smooth sailing.  (We don’t always get along.)

The New Look

upcycled screen

One Thing Leads to Another

Hmmm….I like the new look and love how the fabric has a more “light and airy” feel. However, if you were in my house you would notice how the reddish brown finish on the metal screen seems to stand-out a little more.  (Looks more chocolate-brown in the photo, but definitely a bit on the red side when you are up close and personal!).  Not sure I like it.  Oh, oh!  Luckily, I can sneak the other screen out of the basement (we weren’t using it anyway) and give it a quick sand and coat of paint.  I wonder how it will look with paint?  We won’t tell my husband until it is done, that way I can’t be stopped.  He generally really likes the finished product, but doesn’t always share my perspective and vision:D

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End Table Upcycle

cheap end table

 

This is an old project that I did years ago, but we still use the table, so I thought I would include it.  I had picked up one of those very cheap unfinished round end tables at Zellers.  It was similar to this Walmart one, but with a different base. I am pretty sure I paid $10 for it.  The table is designed to have a floor length table cloth on it, so the table didn’t have any finish on it at all.

Upcycled Table

As I said, our table is similar to the one above, but the base is different.  It is quite sturdy and I was able to make it work with a bit of paint.

The inspiration for the table paint design came from cushion covers I had made from an old swimming sarong that I never wore.  I loved the print, but didn’t like the way the sarong fit. These cushions sit on the back of the futon that we have kept over the years for a spare bed. The original cover on the futon was apple green, but the cushions are still used and look fine with the navy blue cover that is now on it.

inspiration cushion

Here is the original cushion cover that inspired the paint design for the cabinet.

The completed look….

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Antique Dresser Upcycle: Bathroom Vanity

Three and a half years ago, we gutted the main floor bathroom of our 1921 home.  It was ugly and quite disgusting.  We originally hired someone to do the job, but after demonstrating work ethic that was deplorable, we completed the project on our own.  I am so lucky to have a husband that can do almost anything when it comes to home repair and renos!

This bathroom reno was major and every single item became a major design decision for me.  I knew what I wanted and each item had to fit to perfection within the new space.  I can honestly say that I probably spent 200 hours looking at fixtures, vanities and other accessories.  I pretty much knew right then and there that I would never be able to have a new home built.  I would literally drive the entire family crazy.  Besides that, I don’t know if I could ever give-up on the character and warmth of a heritage home.

Look at this ugly vanity that was in the existing bathroom. It just had to go….along with the toilet, walls and pretty much everything else!

Old Vanity

The Search for a Vanity

I knew I wanted a Victorian Style bathroom and was determined to find pieces that complemented the look.  We searched every bathroom store in the city and scoured the internet, but to no avail.  In the end, I decided to look for an antique piece that could be converted into a vanity.  So aside from shopping bathroom stores, I began to look at antique stores in the area.

sign

This sign was in the window of a local antique shop. Hilarious!

One day, while visiting my one of my favourite stores…The Old House Revival Company, I explained what I was looking for to one of the clerks.  I didn’t find anything in the store, but she invited me into the “staff only” portion of the basement to see if there was anything that caught my eye.  As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw it.  The piece.  The exact shape and style I was looking for.  I knew it would be perfect, but was also quite sure that I would need an extra dose of sweetness and persuasive intellect to convince my husband.

BEFORE: Antique Dresser
You can see the drawer fronts were actually just propped up and when I whent o open them all the pieces were shoved inside.

So, you can see it was in less than perfect shape and my husband did not initially share my vision. However, he has also been with me long enough to know I would never let it go….this was the piece I wanted. We paid the $100 (cheap for a vanity), but perhaps not the greatest deal when you consider that it was in no way usable in its current condition.

Upcyling the Anitque Dresser

We sanded the piece down to the raw wood and then had a cabinet-maker from the area make new drawers on sliders to replace the old ones.  He used the existing drawer fronts to maintain the integrity of the piece.  The original dovetail is still there and had to be left, but it is completely hidden when the drawers are closed.new drawers on sliders

The top middle drawer would not be usable because of the piping, but he was able to make the large middle drawer in a U shape to go around the pipes.  (I would show you a picture, but that would mean I would have to clean the drawer first and I am too busy to do that today! Sorry.)  He also cut the hole for the sink and painted the piece out white. (Unfortunately, it is already on my list of things to do as it really needs to be repainted.)

painted dresser

Here is the dresser all repaired and painted. This is just before the hole for the sink was cut.

The Sink for the Vanity

My cousin had a pottery sink in her bathroom and I always loved the look. I thought that pottery would be a perfect look with the vanity style…kind of like the old washstand with a basin. We went to a local pottery shop and I found a chocolate-brown sink that I immediately loved. It was $295 and I wanted to be sure there were no chips or anything so I was looking it over before purchasing it. When I turned it over, there was a slight crack on the bottom. I asked the sales lady about it and she said that “baking cracks” were common and that it wouldn’t have an impact on the integrity of the piece, but that she would give me a discount for the crack. It was on the bottom and would be completely hidden under the vanity top, so as long as it was not going to break, I was going to take it. I couldn’t believe it when I got to the till and she asked me if $50 would be an acceptable price! “Uhhh, yah!” We have had the sink for three years and there has never been a problem. What a score!

The Finished Antique Vanity Upcycle

I absolutely loved the finished look.  The curves of the dresser and rounded drawer fronts were exactly what I was looking for.  We were forced to lower the sink into the cabinet a bit more than I originally wanted to, due to the height of the dresser and clearance needed for the wall mount taps, but it turned out fine.  We purchase the handles at Lee Valley and love the design of them.

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DIY Subway Art

Subway Art:

When it comes to design there are so many things that I love ~ a cool font, printed fabrics and paper, the unique shape of a piece of furniture or the architectural design of a heritage building.  I found this cool idea for a super easy DIY subway art project on Pinterest a few years ago.  I thought it made a brilliant baby gift, but also knew the idea could be used in many other cool ways.  I loved how she used different fonts and alignment to get the overall look.

subway art tutorial


Click the image to visit the original post and find the complete tutorial.

Bathroom Chores ~ Subway Art Style

This project works best using Powerpoint or Keynote because both programs allow you to really play around with the text within the given document.  Basically, each tag line is made in a different text box that is formatted with a specific font, colour and size to fit with the overall look of the sign.  I  adjusted the font direction to create the vertical “chores” tag.  When I completed the sign in the program, I simply printed it on a full 8 1/2″ by 11″ cardstock paper using my coloured printer.  I cut a board the same size as the paper and painted it white. I drilled a hole in the back,so that it could be hung after completion.  I then applied a thin layer of podge and carefully placed the paper on top.  I smoothed out any bubbles by gently pressing a dry cloth across the surface.  I wanted to distress mine a bit, so I sanded the paper edges and letters very gently and added a little brown ink to the edges and some areas of the surface.  Finally, I put on a coat or two of Modge Podge to finish off the project.  This worked really well, but I must admit that the moisture in the bathroom is not the best place for a project like this. Over time, it has warped/puckered slightly.  If you want to do this project, I encourage you to click on the image above and get the complete step by step tutorial.

DIY Subway Art

This sign was made for my children’s upstairs bathroom when I did a bathroom make-over a few years ago.  I love that it serves a dual purpose ~ bathroom art and chore list all in one.

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Family Centre Memo Board

This simple DIY memo board was the final step in our Family Centre project.

Memo Board

For this project, I used one 12″ X 12″ scrapbooking frame from the craft store and more of the coordinating paper that I had used for the previous projects in our Family Centre: FAMILY sign, Weekly Calendar and the Chore System.  I used the paper to create “blocks” for the different sections on the board.  It is an easy way to keep track of important things and communicate between family members when we are all going in different directions.  I hand printed the titles and double mounted them to create some dimension.  I added a little embellishment to the middle just to dress it up a bit.  To use the board, you use a dry erase marker on the glass and simply wipe clean with a cloth or tissue.

memo board

Completed Family Centre

family centre

 

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