The Power of Re-Purpose

Forget "it is what it is", and make "it" what you want. For example, I needed a hallway table, and couldn't find one that I liked. After stalking craigslist for the better part of a week, I kept coming across a cute "sewing machine". I can't sew, what am I going to do with a sewing machine...nothing. However the cute little table (in its perfect mid-century modern form) it came in...well, that would be the perfect size (and shape) for the hallway. A little black spray paint ($0.99) and my $15 sewing machine table was an instant success. Added bonus: if I decide I want to sew, there it is. Again, I always like to run sandpaper along the edges of anything I paint, it adds character, and doesn't necessarily look like you bought a sewing machine table, and sprayed it black. You could also dress it up a little (and protect it from people who like to leave glasses without a coaster) with a coat of polyurethane.

What can I REALLY find in a dumpster?

I try to look for items that I can transform into something else. Go into older neighborhoods, that are revitalizing. I once found and old door. An antique door can have a plethora of uses. Two of them are a new table and a headboard. I found this old door in a dumpster, and turned it into a table, that can stand alone or as a sofa table. In order to keep with the antiquated look of the door, I spray painted it black, then took a piece of sandpaper and scuffed up the edges. I then went to my local home improvement store, and bought a 4x4 post, which I got them to cut into four equal pieces. I simply nailed the legs to the bottom of the table. This table costs me roughly $20 (0.99 black spray paint and the 4x4 post). Not too bad, for a brand new table.

The wonders of paint

A pint of paint goes a long way in making old pieces look great. For pieces that I've done, I like to wipe down the furniture with warm water to get all of the remnants of time past off. Then I lightly sand the piece quickly (think 10-15 minutes) with a fine grade sand paper, and then maybe some steel wool. Then I'll wipe it down with an old rag and water one more time. Then its time to paint. I don't prime, and typically use 2 coats of paint (latex- easy clean up). Most people would stop here, they've painted the piece, and they're done. This last step makes all the difference in the world. So you've painted, and to me the furniture now looks a little "too new", so what I like to do, is take some black acrylic paint (think craft paint about 2 tablespoons) and mix it with 3-4 tablespoons of water. Next, take an old soft t-shirt, an put it in the paint and rub it onto the furniture. Pay particular attention to the grooves of the wood, next gently wipe off any excess. This will leave a nice patina on the furniture, like its been painted for years. I love this technique, it adds a more expensive look to pieces.

Lets talk about furniture character

The main thing that I look for in a piece of furniture, is shape There needs to be something unique about a piece of furniture. For example: wood carvings, tapered leg, mid-century modern feel, anything that sets a piece of furniture apart.

This is a dresser from the 70's or 80's (you remember these, they came with the matching mirror, night stands, headboard, tall dresser). They were ugly as a set, BUT take one piece of the set, and it has great features. It has wood carvings, which gives it depth.