Upcycle secondhand finds
You'd be surprised at the bargains you can pick up at secondhand stores and auction sales.
Several months ago I found this table at a secondhand store. I had been looking for a small, bistro sized table that I could fit in my awkward round room. At first glance it's not really my style but I love mixing styles together...makes for a much more interesting space. So myself and the other two shop owners heave-ho'd this thing in to my car. It might be small but the base is wrought iron.
The base was rust-free and only needed to be sprayed with Rust-Oleum 2X Painters Touch - satin london grey. The top of the table needed a light sanding with 120- and then 240-grit sandpaper and was then sprayed with Rust-Oleum 2X Painters Touch - gloss navajo white or satin blossom white.
Builders Warehouse stocks the full range of Rust-Oleum products. Not your average spray paint, Rust-Oleum has more paint than solvent and covers easily.
I added a mirror to open up the room a bit and now I've got the perfect spot for that relaxing cup of coffee.
CONTINUES BELOW
Tree trunk coffee table
Oh how I wish I had unlimited funds to play with. I've been dreaming of this recycled aluminum table for months now but I'm afraid R2000.00 is too steep for something I may tire of next year. I visited a lumber yard yesterday and picked up this wood stump for a couple of rand. I stained it with Woodoc ebony gel stain and sealed with Woodoc 5 interior sealer.
Take a look around your neighbourhood to see if anyone is cutting down trees. All you have to do is ask and they will gladly give you the offcuts! You may need to do a bit of sanding to remove any splinters - but don't sand too much as you still want that rustic look. Use 80-grit to start off with and then 120- and 180-grit to finish off. When applying the first coat of sealer, apply liberally to the top and bottom as it will soak into the wood very quickly. If is disappears within five minutes - add more.
Painted pine chest of drawers
Our room needed major storage, so I decided to use some chest of drawers as our bedside tables. For months I searched garage sales, thrift stores looking for matching drawers -but found nada. On a whim I visited an unfinished pine furniture store and found exactly what I was looking for and for a great price. A couple of coats of Rust-Oleum 2X in gloss navajo white or satin blossom white, new hardware, new look.
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1. Sanding raw pine
Although most raw pine furniture has been sanded, they never seem to give it a good sanding. It's always better to do some sanding yourself before you start painting. Use an Orbital Sander on flat surfaces and a Multi Sander to get into any corners are hard-to-reach areas. Use 120-grit sanding pads to start and finish off with 240-grit sanding pads.
Note: Remember to wipe the surfaces clean with a slightly damp cloth to remove all the dust.
2. Painting raw pine
You can paint with a sheen or gloss paint - I prefer to use Prominent Paints Satin or Sheen - with a paintbrush or foam roller, or you can use a spray paint. Rust-Oleum 2X Painters Touch makes the job quick and easy and you have no brush strokes to deal with.
When using spray paint only work in a well-ventilated area - the fumes can be overpowering - and cover all nearby surfaces with newspaper or drop cloths to protect from overspray. Apply a light first coat by spraying from a distance of not less than 30cm away from the surface of the wood. Let this dry completely before spraying on the top coat. You shouldn't need more than two coats to cover.