I hauled this Roadkill Rescue all the way home from Atlanta! We spent Christmas in Atlanta this year and my Grandpa and Grandma had more than just a gift for me – they gave me an old rickety table they have had for decades that they were ready to pitch. Yes, they love me that much that they give me their trash {giggle}! I loved the geometric shape on the side. Unfortunately, I don’t need any end tables nor nightstands in my home. But I didn’t want to part with it because I really did like the shape. So I thought and thought and decided it would make a cool stacked wall shelf in my guest room.
Here is how it looked when I received it. I am sure he was a looker in his days. But it had definitely seen better days with a chipped finish, missing molding and cracks in a few places.
Supplies:
end table or nightstand
jigsaw
tape measure
wood glue
clamps
beadboard
brad nailer or small nails and hammer
various grits of sandpaper
paint and primer
painting supplies
1. I decided to cut it in half and add some beadboard onto the back to give it some texture. I enlisted my friend Mike to help me think through it. Like a gentlemen, he cut it in half for me with his jigsaw! Everyone needs a Mike!
2. I was left with two pieces. Then we cut some beadboard to fit the back of each of the cut ends of the table to give it a little stability.
3. Then I sanded the entire piece down. I also had to wood glue some of the trim back in place and a broken edge. I certainly had to work hard to make this surface even with all the peeling finish. I started with 60-grit sandpaper and worked my way down to a 220-grit and then wiped it clean.
4. Next I spray primed it and then painted it with my new sprayer (product review and giveaway coming soon).
5. Next I drilled some corner braces (a.k.a “L” brackets) to the bottom of each shelves.
6. Next I positioned the bottom half of the table in place and screwed the other end of the corner brace into the wall. Then I stacked the other half of the end table on top of the first one and did the same thing.
And now I have the perfect mini shelf in my guest room. I love that I was still able to keep the geometric shape on the sides but create something a little more functional and decorative for my home. Thank you Paw Paw and Mimi I hope I didn’t disgrace the table too much {giggle} and that you are proud of its new lease on life. I will think of you every time I glance at it.
Styling and some decorative pieces coming tomorrow.
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I can honestly say I would have never, ever thought of this! Wow!
So creative! That never would have occurred to me – Great job!
Emily
This is so cool, Beckie! I have a very small space for a nighstand, and I’m thinking I should do this, too!
Wow that’s pretty cool! It turned out so nice! Good job
Beautiful! I never would have though of that!
great job beckie! you clever girl!
I can’t wait to find out what you think of the command max compared to your hvlp (compressor) sprayer. I love mine! 🙂
gail
that is awesome
Great idea! I love how it turned out. I wouldn’t have come up with that idea.
This is sooooo great Beckie!! I love the little table and it is such a creative way to remake it!! Now I’ll be on the lookout for a little table to cut up!! 🙂
Thanks Bev, I love how it turned out also. It the perfect little color for that otherwise dead space.
That is fabulous! Absolutely unique! I have this regret now letting go of a beautiful table with fancy cutwork on the sides…my firstborn, when he was a toddler pulled on the side and broke off a piece…never would have occured to me to re-create it. Oh well, you just can’t keep them all can you? 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your creativity, I LOVE it!
Love how the white cut work sides mimic your headboard!
I would have never thought of this! But, now I am going to be on the lookout for a table I can create into a shelf!! You are so awesome, great job!
that is the neatest thing! what a super idea, i really had to look twice before i realized what it was.
LOVE IT !!!
oh my gosh! I love it! how clever. a great idea for bedside tables in a small space as well.
What a brilliant idea! Such a great table — I’m glad you were able to find a use for it (and such a beautifully creative use, at that!). So cool.
I love how you thought outside the box (as always!) It kind of reminds me of Ripley’s Believe it or not, in a stylish way 😉
That made me giggle. THANKS!!
SO creative. This is so pretty.
Take a look at the latest pretty thing I made:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/95662185/colourful-scripted-magnets
Jessica xx
What’s the paint color in your guest room? It looks like a lovely blue-gray.
It is Stonewall Jackson by Dutch Boy. It is a wonderful color and I have already convinced two other family members to use it in their homes as well.
So creative!! I might just have to steal this idea! I wanted to let you know I featured this on my blog today, too: http://www.vixenmade.com/2012/04/10-creative-diy-projects.html
This would have never occurred to me. I love the concept.
Wow, what a great idea! I love it! So creative
I’m sorry, but I feel like you destroyed a wonderfully unique antique. The concept is wonderful, don’t get me wrong. Just, in my opinion, saving such a piece might have been better. In this age of mass production, furniture with character is harder and harder to find.
Jesh I get what you are saying and if it wasn’t in terrible shape I would have loved to have restored it to its natural state. I love restoring antiques but there comes a time when it becomes impossible to do. But it was a cool piece so I can understand your hesitation on what I did to it.
it’s very cool how it’s stacked against the wall
How clever! I thought it would be functional and look good in a .5 bathroom over the commode. I will start looking closer for things to convert. Thanx4sharing fullmoonandhightides2u, Bev
brilliant!
Lu Ann! Thanks, not what someone would normally think of, huh?
Not only atypical but so perfect – minimal footprint, open shelving (super handy for guests), and recycling a family hand-me-down. so many points!
Lu Ann Thank you for all the NICE comments! You Rock!
Beautiful job! It’s so cleaver the way to figure out to cut it in half. So creative.
Hands clapping
I’m dancing! Thanks for the kind comment!
That was a beautiful table. Though your idea is clever it looks like a table cut in half and stacked on top of each other rather than the work of a craftsman. You may have been better served to simply refinish this piece.
Funny you should say that since Better Homes & Gardens was just here this week taking pictures of it for their magazine. To each their own.
thats such a great idea… thanks for the inspiration!!! 🙂
I never would have thought of that! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, what a great idea!
awesome!
Thanks, Amari!
Super cute! I’d love to do that & use it as a stand in the bathroom.
I would like to feature this on one of my blogs (using a thumbnail photo) and link back to your tutorial!
Sure thing, Savanah. Thanks for sharing. That’s an awesome idea for bathroom storage.
Just beeee-utiful! So clever !
Thanks Mom (kisses)
Geez!!! Your going to give me a big head {giggle} Thank you! 🙂