Monday, September 19, 2011

Road Kill Rescue 3: Coffee Table

I'm back once again with the final installment from my "Road Kill" rescue series. As a reminder I found this group of furniture next to a dumpster outside a storage facility:



I mean, come on; who would through this stuff away right? It's like they say- one person's trash is another person's treasure.I already transformed the first two pieces, the Cafe Chair and Small Dresser. Now it was the Coffee Table's turn.

This thing needed some help. The legs were loose, the plywood top was splitting and pretty much ruined, and it was completely dirty. This guy was the worst off of the bunch and I could actually understand why someone threw it away. 



My initial thought was to remove the top and fashion a new one; build a frame with a mirror inside, make a nice wood top like my coffee tables, ect. But then I got to thinking- maybe this coffee table didn't need to be a coffee table anymore. It's lived out it's coffee table life of wet drink rings and food spills and now it was ready to become something else..... like a bench!


Yep, I decided that instead of going through a ton of work to make a whole new top I would just reupholster the existing one and give this piece of furniture a whole new purpose. After cleaning the table up and securing the loose legs I gave the frame a new coat of Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint.



Then I cut a piece of upholstery foam to fit, laid it on top and covered with some old old old fabric I had leftover from a old project. 



Then I trimmed the excess and hot glued some trim to cover the staples to finish it off. Once everything was all freshly painted and finished I noticed that there was a crack in the wood. I used some Gorilla Wood Glue to fill it in and prevent it from splitting further.



Then it was finished! I have a new upholstered bench that cost me next to nothing to make. 




This goes to show that just because a piece of furniture is not functioning well as it's original purpose doesn't mean that it can't be reincarnated as something else just as functional and beautiful.



What kind of repurposing projects have you taken on?

20 comments:

orchidlanedecor.com said...

I so wish I could find a great piece like that. Great makeover!

Suzy xxx

Lindsey said...

You did a great job with the coffee table/bench!! Very creative!

InMyOwnStyle said...

Hi Rachelle-

What a great way to give a table a new life. I have a square coffee table that looks very much like yours.I have been saving it for one of my daughters when they get an apartment. This will be a great way to update it for them. Wow , I am glad I saved it all these years.

My best- Diane

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

Gorgeous redo! Thanks for linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!

Nan ~ Playful Decor said...

Hi Rachelle, That is beautiful! The question is are you going to keep it or sell it? lol! You can open a store called Road Kill Kreations!

I featured your doggy bookcase on Tuesday's Nursery and sent you an email - want to make sure you get the email.

lesley said...

Holy Cow! That's a great idea! I'm on the lookout for a coffee table now! Thanks for sharing!

lesley

freakingcraft.blogspot.com

Mally said...

That came out so good. Looks great. I love the red. It's an unexpected pop of color. Love it.

Courtney said...

Looks fantastic, Rachelle!! What a wonderful idea to repurpose the table, so creative! Great job!

Lauryn Ashli said...

this is fabulous!
i would love for you to link this post up to flashback fridays going on now over at love notes.
go check it out!
{love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com

The Charm of Home said...

What a fantastic makeover! It looks great as a bench. Thank you for linking it to Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Beautiful! This looks fabulous as a bench.

Bailey K. | Travel Heals said...

what great finds! and i love what you did to the coffee table. a bench is perfect! love it.

i would love for you to come link up this or any other amazing project at my creativity party going on right now!

letbirdzfly.blogspot.com

thanks so much for sharing!

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Looks good. I like the bold fabric. Great size, too.

ViNtaGe SouL TX said...

Great job! Thanks for showing how easy this was to do; I've got a table in mind and now it, too, will have a 'new life!' Thanks again!

Twice Nice said...

What a great new life for that piece! I wonder why I've never thought to look in the dumsters near storage units...Brilliant!
Deb

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

Great tutorial and perfect redo. Thanks for sharing at Beyond The Picket Fence.

Kelly said...

I have this very same project in progress right now! Coat of paint is completed, now it is time for my first attempt at the upholstering part. It always looks so easy, but I fear it will not be....any tips? Also, I was shocked at how expensive the foam costs....that has ended up being the most expensive part of this project by far. Where did you buy yours?

Janette - The2Seasons said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I have been planning to do this with a sofa table. Of course, I'll cut the legs off first to make it bench height. Then I'll follow your process.

Andrea said...

Looks awesome. You made that look so easy, I might just have to rescue a coffee table!

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the "table turned bench"! It looks great.