12 Amazing Reuses for Quirky Vintage Items
by Becky Harris · 12 photos · 25 comments
What is it? A metal ballot box.
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a nightstand that provides plenty of storage. And hopefully it's not full of uncounted ballots and dimpled chads.
Requirements: Finding a ballot box or creating a "General Ballots" sign on the computer and sticking it on a vintage metal trunk.
by WA design What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a nightstand that provides plenty of storage. And hopefully it's not full of uncounted ballots and dimpled chads.
Requirements: Finding a ballot box or creating a "General Ballots" sign on the computer and sticking it on a vintage metal trunk.
What is it? A pair of old wrenches.
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a gate handle and latch outside the home of two Seattle artists.
Requirements: Wrenches are easy enough to find, but you will need to know how to weld.
by Louise Lakier
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a gate handle and latch outside the home of two Seattle artists.
Requirements: Wrenches are easy enough to find, but you will need to know how to weld.
What is it? A vintage glass pie display case (right side of photo).
What is it doing in its new life? Acting as an elegant side table in The Concord Green House.
Requirements: A trip to the flea market or an Internet search, and being very careful with the glass sheets when transporting it.
by Lisa K. Tharp - K. Tharp Design
What is it doing in its new life? Acting as an elegant side table in The Concord Green House.
Requirements: A trip to the flea market or an Internet search, and being very careful with the glass sheets when transporting it.
What is it? A nesting nook for birds.
What is it doing in its new life? Providing a nest for sweet vintage pitchers and jars inside the house.
Requirements: Lots of elbow grease to make sure it's clean and sanitary; someone who knows how to hang something level and find studs; two people to hang it.
by Buckets of Burlap
What is it doing in its new life? Providing a nest for sweet vintage pitchers and jars inside the house.
Requirements: Lots of elbow grease to make sure it's clean and sanitary; someone who knows how to hang something level and find studs; two people to hang it.
What is it? A vintage metal file rack.
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a patinated dish rack at The Old Painted Cottage.
Requirements: A bit of a search; removing excess rust with a wire brush.
by The Old Painted Cottage
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a patinated dish rack at The Old Painted Cottage.
Requirements: A bit of a search; removing excess rust with a wire brush.
What is it? An industrial cart.
What is it doing in its new life? Being an industrial-chic coffee table.
Requirements: These are available ready to go as coffee tables from several retailers, like this one.
by The Old Painted Cottage
What is it doing in its new life? Being an industrial-chic coffee table.
Requirements: These are available ready to go as coffee tables from several retailers, like this one.
What is it? A stack of magazines.
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a plant stand instead of taking up valuable storage space.
Requirements: Magazine hoarding tendencies.
by Desire to Inspire
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a plant stand instead of taking up valuable storage space.
Requirements: Magazine hoarding tendencies.
What is it? A bunch of former Mom jeans from the '90s.
What is it doing in its new life? The varied amounts of fading create interesting denim stripes on these throw pillows at The Upward Bound House.
Requirements: A stack of unflattering jeans you wouldn't be caught dead in anymore and the most basic knowledge of sewing. If you ever took home ec and can thread a machine, you're good to go.
The Upward Bound House by Nadia Geller
What is it doing in its new life? The varied amounts of fading create interesting denim stripes on these throw pillows at The Upward Bound House.
Requirements: A stack of unflattering jeans you wouldn't be caught dead in anymore and the most basic knowledge of sewing. If you ever took home ec and can thread a machine, you're good to go.
What is it? Vintage suitcases.
What is it doing now? Serving as storage and as a table at Etsy artist Lockette's studio. She also uses them to transport and display her wares at shows.
Requirements: I guarantee you that someone in your family, in spite of having used a suitcase with wheels for years, has a stack of these collecting dust somewhere. Clean out the musty smell by throwing a dryer sheet inside each for a few days, then airing them out outdoors.
by The Locker
What is it doing now? Serving as storage and as a table at Etsy artist Lockette's studio. She also uses them to transport and display her wares at shows.
Requirements: I guarantee you that someone in your family, in spite of having used a suitcase with wheels for years, has a stack of these collecting dust somewhere. Clean out the musty smell by throwing a dryer sheet inside each for a few days, then airing them out outdoors.
What is it? A stack of old teacups and other china pieces.
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a unique and stylish floor lamp in a Victorian house in Santa Cruz.
Requirements: A wiring kit, superglue, um ... if you need to put holes in the china to run a wire down the middle, then this is beyond my DIY skill set. Otherwise, you can attach the cord down the back of the lamp and stick it in a corner, and no one will be the wiser.
by Shannon Malone
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a unique and stylish floor lamp in a Victorian house in Santa Cruz.
Requirements: A wiring kit, superglue, um ... if you need to put holes in the china to run a wire down the middle, then this is beyond my DIY skill set. Otherwise, you can attach the cord down the back of the lamp and stick it in a corner, and no one will be the wiser.
What is it? An old cattle feeder
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a container for succulents.
Requirements: Finding an old cattle feeder (or buying a new galvanized tub at a hardware store; it has a similar look and is very inexpensive), poking holes in the bottom, spreading some gravel, filling it with soil and adding plants.
by Gardens by Gabriel
What is it doing in its new life? Serving as a container for succulents.
Requirements: Finding an old cattle feeder (or buying a new galvanized tub at a hardware store; it has a similar look and is very inexpensive), poking holes in the bottom, spreading some gravel, filling it with soil and adding plants.
What is it? A collection of vintage ceramics.
What is it doing in its new life? Adding style and fun to a desk while corralling office supplies.
Requirements: Trips to the thrift store, a search on eBay or a look through your own cabinets to pick find pieces like this for a song.
Tell us: Do you have some creative repurposing going on in your home? Please inspire us by sharing them in the Comments section.
More:
Decorating on a Budget: 10 Repurposing Ideas
Decorating on a Budget: 12 More Repurposing Ideas
by SFGIRLBYBAY What is it doing in its new life? Adding style and fun to a desk while corralling office supplies.
Requirements: Trips to the thrift store, a search on eBay or a look through your own cabinets to pick find pieces like this for a song.
Tell us: Do you have some creative repurposing going on in your home? Please inspire us by sharing them in the Comments section.
More:
Decorating on a Budget: 10 Repurposing Ideas
Decorating on a Budget: 12 More Repurposing Ideas
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I love the tea cup and saucer lamp, that's great.
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