French Window Topped Table!

Hello everyone! Its Karen here from Pink-Punk-Design with another how-to project for everyone! 

Recently Laurie and I participated in the ReStore ReStyle challenge. For those of you who may not be familiar with this event it is an exciting fundraiser that highlights the 3 R's of the ReStore: Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose. The competition challenges 8 DIY designers to create a 10x10 room using only donated ReStore items while competing for 3 awards.

This year we created a mud room and received a lot a great feedback on our custom pieces. We utilized a lot of odd things to create new and unique items. Doors, windows, cabinets, fire place mantels and a toilet paper holder just to name a few. 

We however want to share with you how we built some of these items so that you yourself can build them to! One of the first things we want to show you is how we made our:

French Window Topped Table!

What you need:

1. 1 - square table (with a table top that is able to be removed from the frame of the table)
2. 1 - old French window (one that is as big as the table top you will be taking off the table from)
3. Paint
4. Glass
5. Paintable wallpaper *optional* 

 How To: 

1) Take the table and remove the table top leaving only the base.

NOTE: Normally this can be done by unscrewing the top and using some force to pry the top off. The reason for this is because manufactures not only screw the table top onto the base but also glue it. So some force will be necessary. 

2) Once the Top is removed paint the base

NOTE: Priming the table is strongly recommended before applying your final color

3) Prime and Paint your French window 

4) *Optional*: Apply paintable wallpaper to the inside and outside of the top rim of your table top. This is a personal preference and is not necessary but is cute if you want some visual effect when looking through the window. 

5) Once the base and window are fully painted place the window on top of the table base.  

NOTE: if you did not add the paintable wallpaper you may want to add some sort of nonslip tape to the top rim of the table before adding the window. 

6) Have a piece of glass pre-cut to fit the top of the window and add it to the top of the now new table. 

7) Make sure that the table is sturdy and that your window is not going to fall of the first time you bump into it.

And that is how you make a French window table….. Or Desk if you prefer! If you have any questions please leave them below and I will answer them as quickly as possible. Also if you would like to see more of the items we made for the event; visit us on facebook at Pink-Punk-Design!

Record Player turned Bathroom Vanity

I found this beauty at Restore in Mooresville for $35.

I instantly saw that this should have a farmhouse sink setting in it. Figuring that the rest of the design details would be revealed along the repurposing road, I loaded it up and took home. I then realized I needed to find a Farmhouse style sink. Which wasn't nearly as a difficult as I thought it was going to be because I found a beautiful cast iron sink for $20 on my return trip to Restore later that week.

After removing the guts of the record player and the light that was cleverly disguised as a drawer, removing the door hard ware, removed doors, and a few precision cuts, it was time for paint.

Adding a little water to a can of wall paint and using a brush, gave me the weathered color I was looking for (thanks to Pink Punk Design for the paint tutorial they posted earlier). I used silver leafing paint to color the hardware and knobs. I ran sheet metal ( found at Restore) through an embosser machine for the side door panels.

I delivered the vanity back to Restore in Mooresville Friday April 11 where it would be priced and sat on display to promote the blog and the upcoming Designer Challenge with a cool little "before and after" photo. But before I had the chance to bring the photo back to the store on Saturday 4/12, it had already been sold. I am just thankful that I had snapped a quick picture of it after unloading it from my car in the parking lot solely for the purpose of texting my mom. Otherwise I would not had have any after pictures at all.

DIY Pot Rack

Hi, everyone!  My name is Laurie Hamilton and I am thrilled to be a new blogger for My [Re]claimed Home.  Just to fill you in a little about me, I moved to North Carolina about 5 years ago from Chicago and haven’t looked back!  I love it here and the people here are just the nicest you could meet.  My love for repurposing, redesigning, and reusing anything goes way back. A little over a year ago my son and his family joined me here in beautiful Mooresville, NC and my daughter-in-law Karen and I wasted no time jumping into any kind of crafts and repurposing we could to decorate the house (you can see some of our work on our Facebook page, Pink Punk Design). I participated with Karen in the 2013 ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge and had a blast. One of the patrons of the contest saw our work and hired us to decorate her entire house. It turned out beautifully and gave us even more ideas.  I really enjoy the happiness it brings people to see that even on a budget they can still has a beautiful and comfortable home. The smiles on their faces make all the work totally worthwhile.

I thought for my first blog I would show you a little something I made for the kitchen to give it just a little “European” flair. I was on my weekly roam through ReStore and noticed some burglar bars for windows leaning against the wall. Perfect for – what else – a pot rack! 

To start this project you will first need some kind of rack that you can hang things from. If you can’t locate the type I have shown, try thinking a little out of the box. Maybe outside you may have an old wrought iron or metal garden trellis? Those are easy to find at yard sales and thrift stores.

Next, find the studs in your ceiling. This is of utmost importance. It can be done quite easily with a stud finder. There is nothing worse than having your gorgeous project come crashing down in the middle of a dinner party. Here is what else you will need:

- 4 big screw-in hooks that you will space into the studs to coincide with the corners of the rack
- mid-weight chain
- 4 u-shaped bolts
- some hooks to hang the pots.

Now that you have your materials you are ready to get started. Simply screw the four hooks into the ceiling, attach four lengths of chain to the corners of the rack using the U-bolts, hang the other end of the chain from the ceiling hooks, hang your pots and pans from the s-hooks and VIOLA! Pot rack!

If for whatever reason it is not feasible for you to hang the rack from the ceiling, you can also hang it vertically on the wall of the kitchen. 

I hope this gave you some inspiration to jazz up your home using items found at the ReStore. Check back often for more ideas to make our lives beautiful, starting right at home!