Hi, there! Has the DIY bug bitten you yet? Well, it struck again at my house!
During the fall of 2018, hubby and I decided to convert the screened-in pavilion on our beach property into an efficiency apartment after we found out that our elderly aunt was losing her home of many years and needed a place to live. We also knew that, at some point, she would no longer need The Magnolia, and we would then use it as a guest house.
Aunt Mary moved in on May 25, 2019, and we finished the renovations literally minutes before her arrival. She loved The Magnolia, but after living there for a year, Mary decided that she just couldn't take the stress of another hurricane season and found other accommodations in the hill country.
Although we truly hated to see Mary go, her move meant that we get to decorate the inside of The Magnolia! Oh, how I love new projects! But, reeling myself in a bit, I have to do it on the cheap, which means it's a great time for creating DIY projects with recycled materials!
The Magnolia is 400 square feet and includes an enclosed bathroom (thank goodness!). The rest of the living area is open, with a kitchen at the entry and space for a bed and living room.
Creating a kitchen table was at the top of my list, so I started hunting around for table possibilities. I honed in on a sturdy black stool that was a hand-me-down from my great aunt. Then, I found a leftover piece of 3/4" plywood in the shed and decided to give the two a whirl! It's definitely not going to be a big loss monetarily if this project fails.
First, I cut the plywood to 30" x 38" and attached it to the stool with deck screws and silicone adhesive.
Next, I cut some 1" x 3" boards that were left over from our platform bed frame project and attached them around the perimeter of the plywood to make the table look more substantial.
After leaving the wood glue and silicone to dry overnight, it was time to beachify the table top.
I started by diluting some turquoise Apple Barrel acrylic paint with a bit of water to get a stained, rather than painted, sort of look.
Several coats were needed to achieve the desired color. I added a bit of black paint to some areas and painted the edges of the table.
Day 3: After lightly sanding the table top, I applied the first coat of sealer.
Then, I decided the table was dull and boring, so I added some stenciling around the edge and applied the second coat of sealer.
Still not satisfied... so I added a medallion to the center of the table before applying the final coat of sealer.
Although I don't know how long my little recycled table will hold up to meals and game night, I'm quite happy with the end result. As I told my hubby, if and when it breaks we'll replace it with a second-hand table that's sturdier. But, that table may also end up being beachified!
Try your own DYI projects, large or small. You can save a ton of money by recycling materials. The final cost for our little table (one 50-cent bottle of paint plus the sealer) was $6.50!
For me, DYI projects are an inexpensive form of creative therapy.
Wishing you a beautiful day, and remember that kindness has the power to change the world!