Sunday, May 18, 2008

This is......my way of recycling



Today's theme is recycling. We recycle and re-use in all the normal ways, we separate all the recyclables from the rubbish, we have 2 water tanks, we have grey water running into the garden, we have a front loading washing machine, a double drawer dishwasher etc etc etc.

I think the most fun way to recycle is to re-purpose something that is no longer useful in it's original capacity. The picture above is my kitchen bench. I bought it on Ebay, it was originally used as a table in a clothing factory somewhere near Brunswick. When I bought it, it was covered in dirt and paint and the top of it had a layer of vinyl stuck down.

Mr CurlyPops sanded it back, stained it a nice chocolate brown, gave it a coat of high gloss floor sealer and added castors to the legs so it is moveable and at the correct height for a bench. The great thing is that it has lots of scratches, dings, holes etc and the high gloss finish really makes a feature of them so it looks really old and loved! The stools slide right underneath out of the way.

For more of my re-purposing adventures, check out here and here and here and here

16 comments:

Ruth said...

Love it! What a great idea... I am inspired...

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

What a lovely bench - it has so much history!

Sherrin said...

ohhh lovely bench! VERY nice!

Nicola said...

I love the bench as well. It is so cool to reuse instead of being thrown away.

I would love to be able to recycle our grey water and use it on the garden.

Two Peas In a Pod said...

I really like your bench. What a great find!
Kyla

Kirsty said...

Great repurposing - you & the mr make a great team.

flossy-p said...

It's so beautiful, you've done such a great job! And it has so much more character than a boring pristine new thing. I have re-purposed many a thing into some great new item of furniture. One of the best ones was a huge pine create we picked up outside a bookshop near their bin after a delivery day. Took it home, sanded it back and stained it, and it was a beloved coffee table for years. Everyone always commented on it!

Also, re: your ladder... you could paint it up and stand it up against the wall in your bathroom and use it as a towel rack. Or I have a friend who hangs all of her handbags and scarfs from a ladder like that in her bedroom (you'll need to make a few hooks though). Or keep it in the garden and grow tomatoes up it! :)

Cass said...

That is a lovely kitchen bench

Jacinta said...

Oh so much fun. I love recycling furniture and making it useful again. Especially when you retain the marks of it's previous life. Fantastic.

Jenny said...

What a special kitchen bench with so much character.

Susan in SC said...

What a beautiful job Mr. CurlyPops did on this table. Lovely!

Michelle said...

OMG, I am totally in love with your kitchen bench! It's really amazing, a really cool find! And good work by Mr Curlypops

Kitty said...

that looks great & fantastic teamwork too.

Drewzel said...

Mmm, so much woodie goodness!

Maureen Reynolds said...

Beautiful bench, and good work Mr. CP. Those repurposed items add so much charm to a home.

Juddie said...

Hey what a great find! I love it.