Hold on there! Is that a dresser I see on your curb? Bring it back. Right now. Before some thrifter snatches it up. I’ll wait.
And what about those extra tiles or china pieces that are just laying around, collecting dust? You can revamp them and turn them into something that is useful and a one of a kind piece.
Looking for an inexpensive kitchen island? If you have a dresser you’re no longer using that is the right height (usually between 32-36 inches, or you could add legs if needed), turn it into a baking/prep center. This is my kind of project! Easy, inexpensive and super practical!
- If the dresser is in good shape, you can just leave as is and use the drawers for storage of kitchen items. Maybe put some casters on for mobility and either tile the top or cover it with stainless steel or butcher block. I like the color of this one and how they cleverly made good use of the side for utensils.
To make a dresser coordinate more with your kitchen, just follow these easy steps:
- Remove the bottom two drawers, cut a piece of MDF board to fit into the drawer guides and use L brackets to secure the boards to the frame of the dresser.
- Place some molding to the front of the shelves, using finishing nails.
- Paint the dresser to coordinate or match your kitchen’s color scheme, and go ahead and cover the top as mentioned above or you can try one of the newer paint finishes for countertops. I actually used a paint finish in our kitchen at the log cabin and it came out pretty decent and has held up nicely after 3 years. Check out the link and see for yourself. My friend Cheryl liked what she saw and used it for her bathroom counter. I must admit her’s came out even nicer, but hey, she’s a former art teacher, and that’s some serious competition.
This island is another one I’m smitten with. Love the color and the addition of the floral stencil adds a snazzy touch. In this example, two identical dressers were connected back to back and a door was used for the top. How clever is that?!
If you’re interested in tackling a project like this and want more detailed instructions (these instructions do not involve removing the drawers permanently), check out this link.
Years ago, when the earth was cooling and I was a hippie dippy, I was totally into stained glass projects and let me tell you, when you’re working with stained glass you end up with TONS of small pieces of glass. I made a few stepping stones for outdoors,
but there are many, many other projects you can make with glass or china pieces you might have lying around or find dirt cheap at a garage sale. Before you begin, make sure you wear gloves and safety glasses! Here’s what to do:
- Wrap your pieces in a towel and use a hammer to break them down. You can get as tiny as you want, but anything smaller than 2 inches is hard to work with, so keep that in mind.
- If you’re making a tray or covering a table top, you will need to build up the edges with some molding just a bit. Now you’re ready for the fun part!
- You don’t have to be exact, but try to figure out some type of rhyme or reason for how you want the end product to look. Don’t be like moi and think you can wing it, only to find out you don’t have enough pieces or you didn’t make the best use of what you had. Hey, I never said I was perfect (that’s just what everyone else says). 😉
- Use tile adhesive for the pieces, and try to leave about 1/4 inch between them for grout.
- Apply grout, making sure to get into all the crevices.
- Wait about 15 minutes and then use a damp sponge to remove excess grout.
- When it is dry, use a towel to polish the pieces and step back and admire your work.
Now let’s talk about those bottles you have lying around. Why not turn one or two into interesting lamps? Just go to any home improvement store and purchase a lamp kit designed to use with a bottle and you’re good to go. If you happen to have a large jug or come across one on the cheap, turn it into a lamp and you have yourself a Pottery Barn knockoff for a fraction of the real thing:
Have you noticed how popular it is to mimic architectural pieces when accessorizing your home? Well, I sure have. So I said to myself, ‘self, what can I come up with that would be cheap and easy and have impact’? Ceiling medallions turned into mirrors!
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Purchase a medallion (obviously one that has a large opening). You can spend a lot or a little, depending on where you go. Home improvement stores would be my first stop, then maybe an on line source as indicated in the picture source.
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Prime and paint the medallion with two coats of acrylic paint. If it’s made of plastic or resin, be sure to use a bonding primer such as zinsner.
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Trace the opening of the medallion to use as a template so you’re certain to get the right size mirror. TIP: Don’t go to a glass place for this. A local discount store should be your first stop. (Where I live, I think I might check out The Christmas Tree Shop.) . If you do go to a glass place, they *might* give you a good deal since the piece you need is small enough to be sourced from their scrapes.
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Secure the mirror to the back using mirror adhesive and screw on a picture hanger and you’re done!
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Craft-o-maniac
Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
lil’luna
Christina @ Little Victorian says
Great ideas. I’m now trying to figure out how I can squeeze a dresser into my little kitchen. 🙂
MariaElena says
Beautiful ideas and inspiration!