I had an old chair -actually there were two of them – and a few years ago I took them and shortened the legs so I could place them in front of the fireplace. They were great there, all nestled up next to the fireplace, but as with any good thing they started to fall apart after so many years.
Now being the good up-cycler that I am, I put the chairs in a corner and pondered what to do with them. At first I had a vague idea of making a sign and hanging it on the back of the chair. Because that was the part I was going to re-use. It would be all fall-like and pretty.
But as things have a way of going by the wayside and doing what they want on this blog, I ended up with something totally different. And so I am going to show you how to make a cool kitchen organizer from a chair.
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The first step was to take off all the extra pieces so that I was left with the back of the chair only. It was actually quite easy since all I had to do was move the wood back and forth and then just pull the pieces out. I think all those years next to the fireplace have taken their toll on the chairs.
I sanded it down as much as I could. There was a lot of that glossy varnish we frequently find on these pieces of furniture here in Greece.
I then painted it two coats of DecoArt’s Americana Chalky Finish paint in Everlasting. This is a nice solid white. It would serve as my base color.Sorry for the picture quality here, it was taken as the sun was going down.
The next step was to paint the top color. In this case it was some left over paint I had. I had used DecoArt’s Americana Decor chalky finish paint in Escape but had mixed in a bit of white to make it a soft blue.
After it had dried for a day I sanded it down in areas that had normal wear and then used my homemade beeswax to seal it in.
You can see the white peeking through in areas where I did not sand it all the way down to the wood.
I put two nails on the wall and just hung it up like this! Obviously it’s in the kitchen.
It is cool or what? Certainly better than a purely decorative piece.
I just added a bunch of hooks that I had gotten from Ikea. And hung my various kitcheny things. Excuse the dirty glove, you can tell that we really use our stuff around here.
I took these last photos as I was getting ready to leave for the airport so I didn’t notice that a part of the twine had slipped off. That’s also why the color looks a bit greenish. Gotta catch that plane!!
Basically what I did was take a large piece of twine and knot the ends together. Then I folded it in two, then folded it again. I passed the paper towel roll though it so that the knot is hidden inside the paper roll. So that one piece that fell over, well it’s supposed to be hanging.
For now we’ve left it with the holes on the sides. We still have the wood pieces that were originally there and may do something with them. Even left empty they do add a certain character to the kitchen organizer.
So the fall thingy went out the window, but I think this was a far better idea. It is striking because you have this pop of blue in the kitchen. But most of all it is practical. You see we’d just finished the kitchen and we are a bit apprehensive about opening holes onto the tiles. This was the perfect way to organize all these things that normally go on the wall. Or at least hang somewhere.
I hope you enjoyed my easy tutorial on how to make a cool kitchen organizer from a chair. Do you have any leftover chairs that need a re-purpose?
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Stunning Mary. I love unique storage ideas so much and this is one of the best. I can't believe how much hanging space there is. Pinned coz it's really awesome
Mary
Monday 9th of October 2017
Michelle that kitchen is tiny so it was a really practical solution! Thank you!
Lynn Spencer
Monday 9th of October 2017
Hey Mary! Hope you are enjoying your vacay during these wild and wooly times here in the USA!
Now that's a fun project! Great upcycle and a very useful too. There are so many things you could do with that chair back and I like the holes that you left in it.
Have a great day my friend.
Hugs, LYnn
Mary
Thursday 12th of October 2017
Lynn this is not a vacay it is the real deal. Greece is going no where, it was time to move on. The project was done in Greece for us to have a space to go back to.
Jennifer Weaver
Monday 9th of October 2017
I love this idea. Would be great in a girl's room for purses or necklaces or whatever.
Mary
Friday 13th of October 2017
You are so right Jennifer, in fact I'm thinking of making another one.
Laurie @ Vinyet Etc.
Monday 9th of October 2017
What a great up-cycle - perfectly Farmhouse.
Mary
Friday 13th of October 2017
It is farmhouse, although it is in a beachy house. I guess it is versatile like that!
Elise L Ho
Friday 12th of July 2019
I love how country chic your project is.
Mary
Monday 22nd of July 2019
Thank you Elise, and practical too.
Michelle Leslie
Monday 9th of October 2017
Stunning Mary. I love unique storage ideas so much and this is one of the best. I can't believe how much hanging space there is. Pinned coz it's really awesome
Mary
Monday 9th of October 2017
Michelle that kitchen is tiny so it was a really practical solution! Thank you!
Lynn Spencer
Monday 9th of October 2017
Hey Mary! Hope you are enjoying your vacay during these wild and wooly times here in the USA! Now that's a fun project! Great upcycle and a very useful too. There are so many things you could do with that chair back and I like the holes that you left in it. Have a great day my friend. Hugs, LYnn
Mary
Thursday 12th of October 2017
Lynn this is not a vacay it is the real deal. Greece is going no where, it was time to move on. The project was done in Greece for us to have a space to go back to.
Jennifer Weaver
Monday 9th of October 2017
I love this idea. Would be great in a girl's room for purses or necklaces or whatever.
Mary
Friday 13th of October 2017
You are so right Jennifer, in fact I'm thinking of making another one.
Laurie @ Vinyet Etc.
Monday 9th of October 2017
What a great up-cycle - perfectly Farmhouse.
Mary
Friday 13th of October 2017
It is farmhouse, although it is in a beachy house. I guess it is versatile like that!