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July 3, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Upcycle A Thrift Store Chair Without Losing The Vintage Charm

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Some chairs have beautiful bones but need some help with aesthetics. Well luckily Camp Clem has a solution for any homeowner: a simple, inexpensive upcycling project for any thrift store chair find. 

These are the required supplies to take any chair from drab to fab:

  • Sander
  • Primer
  • Tan paint
  • Paint brush
  • Sponge Brush
  • Aqua paint
  • Sand block

The first step is to sand down the chair lightly. Then, prime the chair completely.

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Once primed, paint the chair with tan to show through for that aged look. When dry, apply a coat of aqua with a sponge brush.

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For that distressed look, utilize a sand block on the surface of the entire chair. This will cause the tan and original wood color to show through. To show extra wear, locate the areas of most wear on the original chair before beginning this project.

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When completed, this project will result not only in a pop of color but a dash of vintage as well!

May 27, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Upcycle Any Thrift Store Find For Home Decor

Thrift store shopping isn’t just for vintage outfits anymore. With a few bucks and some creative know-how, simple thrift store purchases can completely revitalize a room. Here are some highlights from Buzzfeed’s article about upcycling common thrift store finds:

1. Make A Suitcase Nightstand

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This one is the easiest thrift store home decor of all! Buy anywhere from 3 to 5 suitcases and stack them from largest to smallest next to a bed and turn a nightstand into a statement piece.

2. Line Drawers With Fabric

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For stylish storage, apply thrift store tablecloth or curtain fabric for a pop of color and extra protection for all clothing.

3. Wrap Vases With Rope

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Want a more nautical or rustic look? Use adhesive and wrap rope around thrift store vases to achieve those styles.

May 15, 2015 in Idea Corner

Make A New Material Look Old & Rustic Again!

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 11.59.47 PMSome people dig the modern look. Others love vintage victorian. However, plenty of homeowners seem to have some cowboy(girl) in them and want rustic materials on a budget. The great news is there’s no reason to break the bank to get that barnyard luxury aesthetic. Instead, follow these simple steps from Paper Daisy Design to turn any type of wood into the countryside materials that dreams are made of.

Here’s what’s needed:

  • 1″x4″ boards
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Crowbar
  • Knife
  • Sand paper
  • Dark stain

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Start with the easiest step: distressing the wood. This is where all those inner frustrations of the week can barrel out. Stab and claw at the 1″x4″ boards with nails, hammers, crowbars, anything that would leave a dent or mark. Beat it up until satisfied.

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Next, scrape off the straight edges. Make sure to sand the distressed boards lightly to give the material an old barnyard charm.

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Finally, add the desired stain. Ideally, this stain should be dark and will require multiple coats. Don’t hesitate to mix different hues, this makes the pieces look even more weathered. Perform a final sand job to ensure the rural style has been achieved.

And, voila!

…what to do with these new materials? Check out Idea Corner’s plethora of posts on recycling reclaimed wood into something beautiful! 

May 6, 2015 in Idea Corner

Who Said Recycling Is Boring? Upcycle Two Broken Chairs Into A French-Style Bench!

French-Styled Bench with pillows

Upcycling is becoming a trend among homeowners. Why? Because it’s a simple, affordable way to help the environment. So don’t trash broken chairs; turn them into a French-style Bench masterpiece!

Here’s the required supplies:

  • Two chairs
  • Sturdy hardwood
  • Pine wood
  • Long screws
  • Molding
  • Wood filler
  • Plywood
  • Paint
  • Quilt batting

Bench First step

Begin by choosing two chairs that look great from their sides, ( the curvier the better!) and then remove their front legs and seats.

Bench second step

Depending on the desired length of the bench, cut sturdy hardwood to length and nail together a rectangle box with two wood screws on each end. Make sure to attach the box by screwing through the chair and into the box to make sure it is extra secure.

Painting bench

To provide even more support, add a bottom bench. This will be a thinner rectangle box made of pine below the hardier bench box. Attach this to the bottom of the chair legs in the same manner as before. Following this addition, nail vertical slats of molding to the rectangle to create an area for storage.

Bench Top After

With construction complete, use wood filler to fill all the holes and then sand the material thoroughly. Once dry, paint the whole bench any color desired, though white is recommended.

Finally, add a 1/2″ plywood to the top of the bench and secure quilted batting and any material desired to finish off the backyard seating.

Enjoy the outdoors with a nearly new French-style bench!

For a step-by-step guide to how to build a French-style bench, check out Jami’s post from An Oregon Cottage!

April 20, 2015 in Idea Corner

The Best Way To Reuse Old Picture Frames

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Everyone knows the struggle: too many picture frames, not enough photos. After all, why print out those memories when there’s the instant gratification of Facebook and Instagram likes and comments? Well, struggle no more! Get ready to put those picture frames to use with these frame shelves.

Start by removing the glass, backing and hardware from all the frames intended for this project. Next, gather some 1×4 boards and cut them to size to make the sides of the the shelving box.

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To form the box, add lines of Gorilla glue to each side and nail each side together. Then apply wood glue to the back of the frame and lay it on top of the box. Nail 1 1/4″ nails through the frame and into the box to secure the shelf together.

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Before painting the shelf to match the frame, fill any holes with wood filler. Use spray paint to apply the shelving’s coat of paint.

When dry, adhere at least 3 command strips to the back of each shelve.

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Lastly, hang them on the desired wall. Enjoy these stylish and eco-friendly shelves in any home today!

For a more comprehensive overview of the frame shelve project, check out Shanty 2 Chic.