chicken coop coffee table

August 25, 2015 | circadee

Our latest upcycled victim is a fantastic old crate which was once a chicken coop. I’d imagine that chickens were transported to and from auction in this coop. Feathers flying as the birds were off to find a new farm to call home.

The coop is larger than most that I’ve seen in the past and a bit more rudimentary in construction. The wear and aging on the wood can’t be matched. It has that perfectly weathered & washed out color that retailers like Restoration Hardware try to replicate.

We removed the door from the top of the coop as it was raised and not conducive to a new life as a coffee table. Over the opening there is now a large piece of glass making it functional again. We added casters to elevate the coop to coffee table height and, of course making it mobile.

I always love a good coop coffee table. We’ve transformed a few over the years! This one is for sale at The West End Garage.

Did you spy the Victorian pink baluster lamp? Another new upcycle from Circa Dee! This one might be a keeper though. It’s still up in the air. We’re working on this living space so we’ll see how things shake out. That color & patina though…

ammo trunk

September 18, 2014September 18, 2014 | circadee

Vintage Trunks are the best, aren’t they? Clearly they provide storage as that was the intention in the utilitarian object to begin with. However, they also lend an aesthetic appeal to a space.

A few years back I scored this large vintage ammo trunk as part of a lot of trunks. It was a WWII US Navy trunk. In fact, the shipping labels are still in tact which indicate that it was sent to the US Air Force in New York. The trunk, overall, is in great shape.

I have a soft spot for World War II memorabilia. It is probably the least feminine thing to collect but there is something visually appealing to me about the army green, type fonts, rivets and brass details typically associated with the items. It generally leads me to wonder about what our country was like at that time with women headed to work while men were at war; what my grandparents were doing; what technology was in play and so on. It is also the era that my collections date back to. I don’t really gravitate toward many pieces earlier than 1940’s.

Naturally I loved this green trunk although I did initially try to sell it but had no takers. When that happens it is a sure sign that it is meant to stay with us…at least for now.

Over the past year it has lived a double life after receiving a set of casters on the bottom so it can easily be pushed around. First, it made a fantastic window seat when covered with a thick, tufted cushion and pillows.

The problem was that it simply wasn’t getting enough use beyond its storage abilities. A few months ago, I pushed it into play as an extra long coffee table where it seems to have a more fulfilling life. Plus, this made more room for vintage chair hoarding.

You can do no wrong to it. Drink rings cause no damage. This thing was in war after all! And brass always looks good with army green.

What is your favorite way to use a vintage trunk?

P.S. Don’t forget about the upcoming milk paint demonstration at Serendipity Shops of Doylestown on Sunday!

come and knock on my door

August 7, 2014September 2, 2014 | circadee

Last weekend was wet and gloomy. We’ve had fantastic weather all summer with very few rainy days so the gloomy weather was welcomed by me. I found myself lounging on the couch and indulging in a Three’s Company marathon on TV Land. If you know me, you know I never lay around and watch TV. I can’t sit still long enough so this felt like such an indulgence. Listening to the rain and giggling over the antics of the three “kids upstairs”.

I completely forgot about Mrs. Roper’s style. It is pretty fantastic! She really pulled off kaftans and muumuus as much as one can. I found myself wanting to wear a ridiculous amount of bright bangles and baubles.

(BTW if you Google ‘Mrs. Roper’ you’ll see so many guys dressed as her presumably for Halloween. Go ahead, try it! It’s a great costume idea.)

We also finished up the industrial pallet coffee table. I really love this quirky upcycle. I know this look isn’t for everyone but it can certainly work in the right home.

Industrial Rustic is how I’d classify this table. Or Rustic Industrial. To-may-toes, to-mah-toes. I find my own style has been swaying more and more towards rustic & industrial lately based on the finishes and images I’ve been most interested in.

This industrial pallet came out of an old sewing factory. Last you saw it, it looked like this.

We gave it a thorough cleaning and sanded the top. I had planned to stain the top but once it was sanded all of the beautiful age and wear became apparent.

I knew this was the perfect job for hemp oil. Oiling the piece made all of those scratches pop in the best way possible while darkening the raw wood just a bit. It took three coats of oil until it reached saturation.

I didn’t stop oiling at the porous wood surface though. I decided to oil the metal base as well and it really highlighted the faded blue paint. Who knew that great color was under there? The metal only needed one coat and took longer to dry.

In order to elevate the pallet to standard coffee table height (16-19″), Ryan created custom legs. After much thought and consideration for aesthetics, he came up with legs consisting of a steel rod, caster, pipe and locking bolt. He carefully drilled through the metal base of the pallet to attach the industrial leg. I love casters on coffee tables. I suppose it is the industrial influence again.

So there you have it. From the sewing factory to our living room! Trash to treasure. This one-of-a-kind has sold! And I am off to find a Mrs. Roper inspired kaftan…