A Pair of Chairs

Meet my side chairs, which were given to me by a friend a few years ago, and which lost all their feet. They each had two feet in the back, and two extremely crappy little plastic ball casters in the front, which cracked and broke off their stems.  For a while, my cool chairs were on the floor:

This is not a terrible-looking chair;  in fact, I think they're really pretty. They're super comfy, and while there are some cat scratches in a couple of places, the microfiber fabric is in really good shape.

But sitting on the floor? No way. Too hard to get out of, when your butt's below your knees. Plus, it made them look like I got them out of a dumpster.

Here's the underside.  Scrim removed, and wooden support blocks for the feet removed.

Here are the support blocks that I removed.
It wasn't difficult.

I also removed the rear blocks (you can see them in the previous pic), and copied all four blocks onto a scrap of 2x4 I picked up for a dollar at Home Dope's scrap bin.

Here are the new front and rear blocks; along with four flat plates I made to affix to the bottom of the chair.


They're screwed and glued into the frame, the support blocks, and the frame strut in the rear of the chair that each rear block is affixed to.  In other words, these chairs are now freaking SOLID.

Here's the first finished chair. The wooden support plates barely even show; I finished the edges to match the feet (and the TV console, it's the same stain) so where they do show, it looks like it belongs there.

Here's the other chair, with the coffee table chest I put together over the weekend. They're about 3" higher than they were originally, before they ended up on the floor, so they're quite tall.  As a woman of some height, myself (5'10"), I think they're perfect.



















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Rory approves of this chair. 

Next Up: 

Art supplies storage! 

Living Room: Some Small Projects

1. From Console Table to Entertainment Center

After the TV shelf that I built three years ago died during the latest move, we decided to use a console table (from World Market, about 10y ago) for the tv instead.  The only problem was, there were no shelves for DVDs and things in it - it was just a big hole:

Nothing a 14" 8' pine shelf board from the hardware store couldn't fix.  I just happened to have a stain that matches perfectly - Rustoleum's "Kona." I cut out a 3" square from each corner to fit around the console uprights, and attached the boards with 1" L-brackets at each corner.  Boom. 

Pro Tip:  make sure the can of stain is completely closed before shaking the living crap out of it. Oops.

2. Candle Fireplace

The fireplace works; but I'm not about to use it for a fire in a rental. You just never know, you know? But, at least now I have an LED candle "fire."  I've always wanted to try this.  

I know, I know - the stuff on the mantel is wonky. Don't look. Not done yet. 

3. An Old Project Re-Purposed

Once upon a time, I played with a Medieval reenactment group. It was swell, but eventually the swelling went down and I moved on to other hobbies.

While I was there, though, I made over a wooden toybox my grandfather built for me when I was two.  It was old and battered, and it made me sad that it only ever saw the inside of my closet.  I made it into a semi-pseudo old-looking chest, then created a lid and painted a little Medieval-looking mural on it. 

Once again, now that I no longer do the Medieval thing, my beloved chest was languishing in storage.  So, the other day I put feet on it (actually blue glass drawer knobs with felt on the ends bottoms) and put it into service as a miniature coffee table.

(L)  glass knobs for feet                                                                            (R) storage! 

4. Ikea RASKOG Cart

This is an Ikea RASKOG cart that I spray-painted to use as sort of a rolling coffee table and art-cart.  The Medieval chest above serves as a coffee table for public things, like remote controls, but the cart is for my personal stuff. I like to sit on the couch and listen to movies, or BBC Earth, while I draw.  

This has it's own post, if you're interested. 

What's next? 

Chairs!  

Ikea RASKOG Cart Makeover

Making over the RASKOG is a pretty big deal. Google it, or search Pinterest, and you'll see a million different variations - lots of crib-side diaper carts, bathroom carts, bar carts, and an endless barrage of art supply carts.

As much as I love these things, and as many RASKOG carts as I have* I've managed to have never jumped on the RASKOG  re-do bandwagon...until now.

Do your index finger a favor and get a spray gun handle that attaches to a can.

I disassembled the cart and cleaned it thoroughly (dust, dog hair), then primed it with Krylon self-etching metal primer.  It eats into the original finish, giving the spray paint something serious to adhere to, so it doesn't peel or scratch.  The paint I used is Rustoleum's Chalky Finish spray paint, in "mink."

I LOVE THIS PAINT.

Chalk paint is another bandwagon I haven't yet taken a ride on, but man this paint is amazing! Soft and smooth looking, it really is soft and smooth to the touch.  The matte finish means no reflections, which I've always found makes a thing seem to recede into its surroundings (which is awesome, when you have a small house and too much stuff).  Plus, I'm really digging the color.

It's not fully outfitted with all the stuff that's going to be on it yet, but I'll post another pic when it is.  The idea here is that it'll basically be a rolling coffee table that also holds my colored pencil cases and a tablet, so I can have it next to me while sitting on the couch.  I love to watch movies while I work. Especially Moana.  :)

*So, how many RASKOG  carts do I have?  Four: 

1. A turquoise cart which holds my small hand tools in the garage
2. A dark blue cart which holds my art supplies
3. A black cart which holds my bike tools and accessories
4. A newly-painted taupe cart, see above ;) 

Oops, five:  it's not a RASKOG, but I also have a similar cart from Michael's in a mint green, which currently holds all of my music books and doodads.  The mesh on the floor of the trays is finer than the Ikea cart, and not as thick.  It's kind of weak and flimsy, so I don't put a whole lot of weight in it. Originally I used it as my art cart, but the bottoms bent so much they made my cups of brushes and pens fall over.  This cart is the next one I'll be refinishing. 

What's Next?

There's a LOT happening in the living room right now, and it won't be over til about the 13th - that would be Bulk Trash Day, when my giant, ugly, smelly, broken couch goes to live on a farm.  I'll have another living room project for you after the weekend, and then a big update on the living room the second week of August.  I hope!

Meanwhile, please enjoy this little vase of goofy poppies I drew on the inside cover of my 6" Moleskine sketchbook.  Man, I love drawing on black paper. I need to get a lot of it.