Now that the structure of my shelves was complete, I went to work on the color scheme. I decided to use some of the wicker from the laundry basket I found as a backing for the smaller drawer and a strip of texture in the larger drawer.

Since the drawers were made from MDF or fiberboard and not a hardwood, I was not able to use eco-friendly milk paint for this project. Instead, I used some salvaged latex paint that I got for free at the ReStore in St. Louis. Looking at the colors I had, I worked out a design on paper. Continue reading »

Since my last post about the dining chair, I’m sure everyone has been hanging on the edge of their seats wondering, “Will the stool fall apart when the clamps are taken off?” or “How will she ever fix that ridge in the center of that seat?” No fear! I am here to answer all your questions and lead you through the final stages of this project!

The clamps came off, and the stool was a sturdy piece of furniture. There was a ridge down the center from the different sized planes of wood… but with the help of a small chisel, I carved away the wood to a nice new smooth seat. I even got rid of the large holes in the seat by gluing in the old back supports as fillers (above right.) Continue reading »

dumpster diving, curb cruising, and the like…

DON'T DO THIS

What’s wrong with the image above? 1. no gloves 2. jumping in and out of a dumpster with reckless abandon 3. my mother doesn’t approve. What’s right? 1. I have permission from this thrift store to look through their dumpster 2. I’m with a friend (the photographer of this amazing picture) 3. I’m wearing closed-toed shoes.

If you are thinking about searching for some treasures, there are a few things you should keep in mind before diving into your local dumpster. Continue reading »