This is exhibit #1 – from the side of the road. I had to figure out what the heck it was first. I “think” it’s a men’s suit valet, but it was very worn and dirty. Once I got it home, stuck a pumpkin on it for a quick photo shootAnyway I took apart the bones and ended up with this: (don’t know why a pumpkin but it was handy) I got down to the dirty work.
Okay it looks pretty darn dirty and I am thinking what the heck am I doing with this stupid thing!? I got out some cleaning supplies and went to work on it … and turned it from grimy old this:
to sparkling clean this…
Okay, so I got rid of the grossness factor but what to do with the rest of the rusty old brassy junk!?
I sanded, wiped down and then spray painted it a Rustoleum Hammered Silver color that turned out pretty good and after I put it back together it actually looked pretty decent again. Here it is with it’s new refreshed modern life and a photo shoot:
I really envisioned something like this for My Love and now that I have completed the transformation, where am I going to put it? Would My Love really use it? Again, would he ever use it?, and excuse my language, but what the HECK was I thinking – picking up this piece of garbage!!! :
Probably not… although he has a real job, he’s not so much a suit every day type of guy (who am I kidding?) – he’s more of a laid-back luau type:
Awww…that was our first Luau together! Anyway, back to the drawing board so I had a bright idea to scrap all of the metal and throw it to the curb.
I could use it as a time-out chair. She looks like she is really in trouble, doesn’t she?
I then found inspiration in this:
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| Via Miss Mustard Seed |
And a trip to Home Depot and a little over $5 later I ended up with this:
Wait, not that! Buttercup decided to take a cute picture of me spraypainting NOT!
It eventually turned into this… a cute little ottoman to put my Stay at Home Mom snackie Bon-Bons and Tea on! Okay, really brownies and Coke but you get the picture!
Well, I know, I know – a bit indecisive here but I still do not like it. I think it’s the silver legs that are throwing me off. So after it was shoved in the closet for a few weeks, I broke it out again and quickly spray painted the legs a dark chocolate brown this afternoon (doesn’t show in pics very well).
Here is how it looks now! And that’s how it will stay. Probably not even worth the $5 legs on it but it will have to do.
***Sidenote***
During the writing of this post my da*n dog decided to swipe one of the finished legs off of the painting table and bit some chunks out of it while I was frantically chasing him around the back yard. I am sure my neighbors now think I am a lunatic by now! You can’t see it in the picture because it’s strategically on the back-side. At this point I AM DONE! Not wasting any more time on this so called “simple” project! You win some, you lose some!
Yet, I still experienced joy during the DIY adventure.
Finally in the end, guess what (I promise no more pictures)! I am putting it out on my curb. Maybe someone else can get more use out of it!
Happy Treasure Hunting!
~Tami
6 Comments
Why don't you cover it with fabric? Well anyway I love your new pictures. I really wish I was still there. We could really tear the joint up! Oh wait, I had WAY too many commitments. Not sure if I could explain my new "job" to everyone. Think they would understand?
I am sure we could have come up w/some excuse to get you out of a few of the commitments. I wouldn't tell! 🙂
I wish I was close, I would take that off your hands. I would use it as a little foot stool under my desk to prop my poor tired feet on while I'm at the computer. I think it turned out great!
Such an entertaining post. I have felt just like this a few times over certain pieces that were supposed to be a "simple" project!!!
From what I see, you are my kind of gal, you don't always have to have a plan with every piece you find…just go with it.
Fun post! I loved seeing the metamorphosis of this piece! Partway through, I thought well she could always use it in a guest room. I love it as an ottoman, though! Much more useful in daily life. Gorgeous makeover! Thanks for sharing.