Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Not Your Mother's Dining Chair

I have been scouring the DFW area for old, wooden office chairs to use in my dining room to add an unexpected twist to your typical dining space.

I have collected 3 of the 4 I need, and they are all very different from each other.
 The first one I found cost me $10 at an estate sale. It was very worn and dry and looked like this on the day I bought it:

I removed the casters and sanded it lightly. Then I liberally brushed on a reddish stain and wiped off the excess after a few minutes.


This is what the chair looked like after its beauty treatment. It still has its casters off in this picture, but new all metal ones have been added to it now.




I also purchased an ugly faux-leather and tweed-covered one that I knew had potential because of its good bones. I forgot to take a before picture before I started breaking it down, but here it is in the process:

It had plastic strips on its legs that I removed and bought wooden plugs for. (They sell them at Home Depot.) Since it had nice casters already, I just left them on.



Then I slathered on the stain, rubbed it down with a rag, and it looks beautiful already!



Here is a sneak peak at what I am doing to the padded seat and back...love grain sacks!!! Once the stain dries for 24 hrs, I will re-screw then seat and back onto the frame again and it will be ready to shine!


WHEN I find the screws!! They are hiding in the garage somewhere... sheesh....


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Getting Organized, Old School-Style

 If you are a follower on my Facebook page, you have probably seen these pictures:





I stumbled upon a ridiculous amount of vintage wire gym/locker baskets this week, and I am obsessed with finding ways to use them now! I am only keeping 6 of them and selling the remaining 61!!

Here are some great organizing ideas I have seen using old gym baskets...


I like the look here of incorporating a few onto a bookcase:


This one is basically bringing your childhood locker room--all of it--into your space:


This is a handy way to keep fruits/vegetables within reach:


Yes, please! I love this idea! Bringing plants and locker basket goodness together. It's like combining chocolate and peanut butter. Who can resist?

A stacked tower of suitcases, crates, and locker baskets:

Adding one in a nursery for diapers, etc is a sweet nod to days of old... It looks great with the old license plates, too...

So, if you are big fan vintage locker baskets, stock up on some and put your creativity to good use!