Dishfunctional Designs: diy furniture ideas

Showing posts with label diy furniture ideas. Show all posts

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Vintage Armoire Turned Secret Hidden Doors

A while back I did one of my upcycled and repurposed furniture blog posts entitled, The Upcycled Armoire, where I shared some very cool examples of vintage armoires that were not only refurbished, but they were also transformed to be used differently from their original purpose in the home. If you haven't seen the article, be sure to check it out (pinnable link below) for some instant inspiration!

I just came across this vintage repurposed armoire and I had to share it with you. If you're not exactly clear on what an armoire is, it is a piece of furniture similar to a closet, that is used to store clothing. Armoires, or wardrobes as they are also known, were popular in old timey days due to the lack of closets in homes. You can still buy armoires, but if you are a teaquer as I am, you already know that they are often found at thrift shops, antique malls, and in some of the nicer flea markets. So why buy new when you can buy a vintage one and transform it with your DIY skills, right? Right.

Obviously the one pictured above has been truly repurposed, gutted for whatever reason (hopefully due to damage and not just for fun), and turned into doors for a hidden room. The mirrors are an added bonus since they add depth to the room. This old armoire is certainly one of the old hulkingly giant ones, as it covers an entire doorway. Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this armoire turned secret, hidden door transformation is one that is both charming and clever.

What do you think?

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

More Upcycled Dressers: Painted, Wallpapered, & Decoupaged

It’s been a while since my first blog post about painted and upcycled dressers so I figured it’s about time that I gather together a new collection of painted, decoupaged, and upcycled dressers, and share some new creative DIY inspiration.

Summer is just around the corner and this is a great time to tackle a nice-sized furniture project or two before the summer heat arrives full force. Unlike the cold winter months where we are stuck indoors and have to deal with paint smells and refinishing noises inside of our homes, we can now work outside or open up our garage doors for lots of fresh air and adequate ventilation.

So find a dresser, clean it from top to bottom, remove all paint and stains and oils with furniture stripper and by sanding, choose your project, pick your palette, and get to work. And wear your safety glasses!

Check out these creative upcycled and painted dressers and be inspired!

A vintage favorite has taken a contemporary turn

Colorful tribal style designs add color to your room

Stenciled leaf dresser in pretty neutral, natural tones from Designed Decor

Get the look of an old fashioned pressed tin ceiling with vinyl sheets from the hardware store

Colorful folk art can add bright happy touch to a kitchen or any room

A soft pink palette, crystal knob drawer pulls and sanded drawers create a perfect feminine vintage look

Paint or decoupage a bright design onto a bright white background

Decoupage a large image across the drawers of a dresser front

Rustic Industrial dresser by Beyond The Picket Fence

Add some permanent inspiration to your home with your favorite quote or saying

Decoupage a large poster onto a dresser with Modge Podge

Old dresser turned portable bar BlissRanch

Floral wall paper can completely transform a plain dresser

Pastel paint is great for a nursery or small child's bedrom

Keep the color palette simple with two colors and focus on an ornate design

Paint an eclectic dresser with your favorite images

Black paint with brilliant gold leaf makes a beautiful statement

Which is your favorite?

Have a great week!

Laura

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Sunday, April 14, 2019

Amazing Things You Can Make With Old Breadboxes

Traditional bread boxes were either metal or wood, and kept on top of a kitchen counter top for storage of, you guessed it, bread! Some wooden style bread boxes had roll-top lids, as you will see in the following images.

What happened to these clunky, countertop space taker-uppers of yesteryear? I think as we transitioned to larger-sized kitchens with more cabinets, drawers, and storage space, as well as more electric countertop gadgets and small appliances, the bread box just became in the way and obsolete.

Think about it, how many of these have you seen at thrift shops, flea markets, and yard sales? I see at least one of them at every thrift store I visit. What to do with them? Well...most people just repaint them. Paint them to match your kitchen, your bathroom, wherever you are going to eventually use it. But paint only gets you so far. It basically is still a breadbox, just with a fresh new look. And that's cool. But what I really respect and enjoy are the breadboxes that are REPURPOSED (READ: given a NEW purpose) by way of creative thinking!

Think about it, with a little bit of creativity, ingenuity, and paint you can turn yours into something much bigger than...a breadbox.

Breadboxes turned corner shelves from Lulastic
(above and below)

Breadbox + curio cabinet + child's craft desk from Patina Paradise

Breadbox turned charging station from Bob Vila

Add some casters to stacked breadboxes for movable storage

Breadbox added to a small table = mini roll top desk!

How to refurbish a vintage bread box tutorial from The Spruce

Breadbox turned charging station from Artsy Chicks Rule

Upside-down breadbox turned storage shelf from thrift decor

Another wall shelf painted bread box

Old breadbox turned extra bathroom storage

Yellow breadbox used as catchall storage space

Which is your favorite?

Have a great week!
Laura

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Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Upcycled Car Hood Is Now A Cool Tabletop

Reclaimed sheetmetal from an old car makes a pretty cool table.

Weld House Metalworks Furniture

Yes, this table was made from the old, worn, automobile hood shown below it. And I just can't decide what I like best, the fiery orange color, the worn spots, or just the fact that it's one of the coolest upcycled furniture pieces that I've seen.

Made by Weld House furniture in Arizona, each piece is constructed from salvaged metal. Check out their website and be impressed.

What do you think?

Shop my designs at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Have a great week!

Laura