Windows, Doors & Drawers ~ Repurposing Household Items

I have an addiction.  I can't seem to get enough and it's already affecting my everyday life.  I don't know what will happen if I don't get my fix.  Yes, it's true.  If you aren't careful you may become addicted too!

The truth is I'm addicted to repurposing, recreating and reusing discarded furniture and household items.  It's a good thing there's no shortage of cast-off items to keep me at it indefinitely.  And for that quick shot of inspiration I like to visit Hometalk to see what other's have been up to.

Some of the items that are so often discarded can be easily repurposed into amazing home furnishings and decor.  The possibilities are endless!  So I thought I would share just a few ideas I found on Hometalk just to get your creative juices flowing.  I have an entire board devoted to the repurposing of Windows, Doors and Drawers and I'll continue adding new ideas each time I find them.

Find all of the above projects and many more in detail on my Hometalk Board 'Windows Doors and Drawers'

Next time you see that stray window, door or drawer on it's way to a landfill you may just want to grab it and see what you can make of it.

Wonderful windows re-purposed:

Design Dreams by Anne created this adorable little greenhouse with some old windows.

This amazing old window headboard was shared by Liz Marie Blog.

Wildflower Creative has a thing for vintage windows and I have a thing for how cute this photo display window turned out!

We've had fun with old windows here at Pondered Primed Perfected too, like these Porch Signs we created.

Delightful door DIY's:

The Pink Hammer Blog fashioned this fabulous desk from a door.

Tammy of Deja Vue Designs didn't let this roadside find pass her by.  

Instead she created a one of a kind hall tree just by adding a few key details.

How about this Privacy Screen put together by Not Just a Housewife?  

I totally need one of these on my back deck!

Now for some drawer redesign:

Proud Pooch Mama, Roeshel of DIY Showoff, is the creative force behind this drawer doggy bed!

Brightnest showed us a fun way to reuse those little cabinet drawers as planters.  Oh so cute!

And let's not forget the cabinet doors themselves:

Beth used this cabinet door as a canvas.  It looks so sweet!

Jaime of Crafty Scrappy Happy created some stylish storage with these little cabinet doors, some hooks and some knobs .

For even more Window Door & Drawer ideas visit my board at Hometalk

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sherry

Continue Reading ...

Sprucing Up Our Summer Deck

Welcome to our back deck...

It's only about twelve feet deep.  It's our little fenced-in heaven.  Lol!  

Do you detect some humor?  Making the best of what we have here!

There was a little strip of lawn here when we moved in.  I love grass but it was slightly sloped and not really good for anything, except mowing.  So, when a friend ripped out their wood deck we claimed all of the used boards to create our own little deck area.  

If you've been around P3 before you've probably figured out we love to recycle, reuse, and re-purpose whatever we can get our hands on.  Not just from a save-the-universe-one-tin-can-at-a-time perspective...but our budget is pretty slim right now and we don't want to let that stop us from having a good time and enjoying our space.  

...And this is why we've been creating this little "oasis" in our teeny tiny backyard!

A blue and brass SCALE holds a couple of plants atop a chippy green tray.  

This shelf was a roadside rescue ~ I believe it was a printer stand in it's former life.  

(It may have a date with a can of spray paint eventually.)    :)

I did several things to minimize the appearance of our never-ending fence line and add some color and interest:

•  I hung an old multi-pane window, which I sprayed the back of with Krylon's Looking Glass Paint.      The Looking Glass Paint makes it look like an antique mirror.  
• I hung one of our homemade CABINET DOOR-TURNED CHALKBOARDS on one side of the window.
•  An empty blue frame surrounds a hanging flower pot on the other side.  

Love It!!! 

I am delighted with these new chair pads!  They're so comfortable.

They were made from some very inexpensive beach towels.  

If you would like to see how they were created click HERE.

Just off the deck to the right is our free Craigslist hot tub.  

BEST FREE ITEM EVER!!

It took Scott some time and energy to get it up and running, but it was definitely worth it.  I think he invested less than $200 in parts and that's it...a new heating element and some hoses.  Nice, huh!?

The blue tubing along the fence are blue rope lights.  They wrap around the dining area all the way around to the end of the pool.  They look amazing at night. 

We are enjoying the vibrant, cool blues and greens out here.

Those are acrylic plates from Freddie's...nothing fancy.  ;)

Don't have to worry about them getting broken.  :)

The gate leads directly to the swimming pool.  

It was FINALLY hot enough to go in today.  

Woohoo!!!

Speaking of the gate...it used to be somebody's front door.  

Scott salvaged it from a demo and cut off the top (window portion), then added hinges and a latch to create this funky gate.  

I caught him sanding away at the paint and quickly put a halt to that... 

He was getting rid of all of the good stuff!  

I'm going to make a cute sign to go on the front....

"POOL AREA" or something fun.

Here's Scott manning the grill while Sadie holds down the fort.  

She's never far when the aroma of BBQ is in the air!  

Oh how I love that dog.  

Don't worry...I saved her some trimmings!

Continue Reading ...

Family Pride

I have a love affair with windows.  They let in the LIGHT.  Who wants to live in a cave?  Well, not this girl!  The only time I like it dark is when I'm watching a movie or sleeping...well...maybe one other thing...

...Uh Hummm...as I was saying...

I like to think of the windows in our home acting like a frame for our family.  A beautiful portrait of what life is like when we are able to share it with those we love.  Some of our family we are born with, and others we are privileged enough to choose.  Whichever way we become family, we are here to support each other, encourage one another, help each other up when we've fallen, and just be there through the good and bad.  (And I guess maybe stink up the bathroom...just saying.  You know who you are!)

We all can appreciate the need for family, right?  So, it goes without saying that with a strong, loving family comes Family Pride.  This is a good thing.  We all want to feel proud.  Proud of where we come from, proud of who we are.  Proud to say we are a FAMILY.  It helps us build each other up and root each other on throughout our lives.  That's so cool!

Can you imagine a life without either windows or family?  It's easy to forget how truly important both of these things are to us on a daily basis.  Yet they both add so much to our lives.  Our families love us, care for us and protect us.  They allow us to grow and and thrive in a world that is so big and impersonal at times.   Windows protect us from the wind, rain, heat and cold and yet they still allow in the light.  Leaving us protected but not feeling confined. 

I love Family Established signs.
And old windows.

The fact that we are able to combine the two into a welcoming sign ~ proclaiming pride in our family for all to see ~ makes me very happy.  It adds so much warmth to our homes!
Here is our newest sign.  I think it looks quite elegant in black.  I hope the family we've prepared this for finds much joy in viewing it each day.  We are finishing up our own family sign in soft green today as well.  Of course I'll have to share how it turns out when it's done!

Having a place to go - is a home. Having someone to love - is a family. Having both - is a blessing. ~Donna Hedges

Continue Reading ...

Family Name Established Sign ~ Old Windows



When my husband told me he was bringing home a bunch of these old windows, I seriously thought he had gone loco en la cabeza. 

But he said he had a vision for them.

This time it was him reassuring me of  the possibilities..the vision. 
I was the one waiting to see if he could take the image inside of his head, and create something new and valuable out of something discarded and unwanted.
He took this window outside and sanded off the numerous layers and colors of paint...so much history! 
Then he cleaned it up with a fresh coat of white and did a bit of distressing.  Simple.  Clean.
He added loop bolts to the top and then some chain for hanging. 

Why do I love the old, crusty hardware so much? 
I forgot to mention that he sprayed the chains and loop bolts with some metallic, oil-rubbed bronze spray paint, before attaching them.

Now it was my turn.

I cut out a surname and "established year", (this being the year of the recipients' wedding), on my die-cutting machine and applied the vinyl to the glass ~ being careful to get it centered and level. 
I did uitilize a couple of tape measures in this process...not rocket science.

The vinyl I used is a deep brown...it goes with the oil-rubbed bronze quite well.

This was an anniversary gift and the recipients have a wonderful covered, wrap-around porch that we were envisioning it hanging from. 

I can't wait to see it hanging at their home...next time we visit.

We already have three more requests for these...it won't take us long to use up these old windows! 

It looked really nice hanging from OUR front porch.  It is apparent that we need to make one with our name and wedding date also.  

We already have our fair share of white around here so maybe a hint of color...  Although, a nice black frame would like good too.  Hmmm, a pop of color...or something more subtle?  We'll have to paint a couple of these in various shades and see how they look.

What a great personal touch to an outdoor porch or entry.  The vision turned out very classy.  ;)

UPDATE:  Here's our very own Family Established Sign in pale grey-green!!!

Continue Reading ...