Up-cycled furniture
 

Just thought I'd share this as Jumble Town is a fantastic resource that helps keep waste down and you never know what another person needs or wants: my motto is "One's man's junk is another mans treasure".

I got this telephone table last year and enjoyed up-cycling it. It was easy enough to do - just keep all the bits of stuffing etc and take photos if you need to reference back (not much need on this one).

Piano Stool
 

Here is another project: the stool we had used for the piano was given to us by someone and had seen better days so it was time to sort it out. I took photos along the way of the inside to see what I should be doing with the threads etc. This took about 8 hours all in all.

up cycle
 

Absolutely amazing,your extremely talented

job well done
 

Really love what you have done, just goes to show what crafty people can do with things others think is junk and would throw away, great job,..

from Admin
 

Fantastic work, Pacman!

Many thanks for sharing and inspiring!

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Fantastic work! Can I ask you what type of paint and primer did you use on the phone table?

Fab Job
 

Two beautiful pieces now. Well done you

Lovely work!

Try it yourselves!
 

Thanks for all the comments. These were just to encourage others to try these things. The telephone table above was fairly easy - it was just a thing of painting and then putting on the upholstery straight (keeping in mind the pattern and "measure twice, cut once policy).

The poof was a bit more tricky but very doable if you can use a sewing machine and have large needles and a staple gun. For anyone in Dublin, Kevin at East Wall Market is a wonderful place for material - €3 a meter: you can't beat that!!! Makes attempting these things affordable and no big loss if it doesn't work out.

Leo, I used Woodies pure brilliant white for wood and metal undercoat, and Woodies satinwood soft sand for interior wood and metal. I wanted that 'antique cream' kind of colour. I spoke with a very helpful guy there earlier in the week (a bit of a rarity in Woodies), who told me that you can now download an app and it will colour match and then they make it from that. I think that is Dulex. Also, he gave me a colour card and said if I picked a colour, that they could match it and make it up. It worked out cheaper than buying the colour ready made on the shelf - which I did the last time! Useful advise.

Hoping to start a new piece today :-)

Good luck with your new piece; looking forward to seeing the pictures. Thank you for the advice. I have an old super value wine press that I am going to upcycle.

well done
 

Well done, It's great to see more people up-cycling. I love seeing new items added to the before and after forum - keep up the good work!

The latest piece
 

I got this chair from a JT user. It looks very pink in the photo but it's actually red.

I did not collect it so did not see that there was no back cushion so if anyone has one that is no good to them anymore I would be grateful. It would just finish it off. I know I can get foam from Zhivago's but it's a little pricy for my budget. The width at the back is 50cm at the bottom. I did put a thread in 'wanted' and have replied to numerous threads of people giving away chairs / couches to say that if they didn't go, could I have the cushion. I understand why they don't want to part with them - useless without but if it is heading for the dump, I'd be delighted.

So! The chair. It took about a week in between other commitments just to take out the staples and strip it down! After that, it was a bit like doing a 5000 piece jig saw: you need patience, and to be able to piece it all together.

It only took two days to upholster once it was all ready to go. All I need now is a back cushion :-D

Thanks Rachael and Leo I am looking forward to seeing pics.

I love upcycling too and I must say you're really good at it well done :)

I wish I had as much talent in my whole body as some of you JTrs have in your little finger! Well done.

Bet you do!
 

Jeep2 just give it a try: what have you got to loose? If you get a piece of furniture for free and only spend a small amount on materials there is little loss if it doesn't work out but immense satisfaction if it does!! ;-)

There is a wealth of information on the internet and also here: you could post a pic of your project and ask for help or advise. And if your paint job does not look good - well it can be sanded and started again. Go on give it a try. And post your before and after photos when you do: we'd love to see them!

Thanks Pacman, have a sideboard here that needs an overhaul so might just start it off tonight. You did great work with the pieces there, I'd love to be able to do it.

upcycling chairs
 

Pacman, Do you recover professionally? I have a suite that needs recovering on a budget, that armchair you did looks great.

Looking forward to seeing your before and after Jeep. Good luck with your project.

Noni I have only done it for myself and family. I would be happy to give advice if you were going to try it yourself. Send me a message and I'll give you my number etc.

Restored oak table
 

I love this table. It took hours of work but nothing too demanding talent wise. The legs were a bit of a pain to clean and French polish. I forgot to get lots of pics before hand so the photos tell little of what bad condition the table was in.

It's a draw leaf table and the leaves weren't too bad but the center part was covered in hundreds of cigarette burns and oil. I think it had been used as a work bench. I love the clever design and how solid it is. It was a pleasure to see it come back to life. I did French polish on the legs but a clear varnish on the top.

Great makeovers, fabulous transformations! Look absolutely wonderful.

Thanks Daisybones :) Next job is reupholstering some Edwardian chairs :-D

from Admin
 

That's one stylish table you've got there, Pacman!

Many thanks for sharing your great work!

Regards
Chris P
Admin

restored table
 

Hi there,

fantastic job! can I ask you, how did you French polish the table, what products did you use etc?

thanks,
Rachelirl

I can't believe how good the table came up my Mum had that exact same table when we were kids. You've really done wonders. Well done and please keep sharing your before and afters :)

Thank you all for your lovely comments :)

Rachelirl:
1. Clean off old dirt, wax, polish etc with methylated spirits and medium grade steel wool. Use an old towel to wipe away the dirt. Keep doing this till all/ most of the dirt comes off.
2. Sand. Firstly with a heavy grade and getting lighter as you go. All depends on the staining and wood. Mine is oak so I could use a heavy grade but if you have a piece without much problem areas you could either just use a lighter sandpaper or a fine wire wool.
3. French polish. I used Rustins clear French polish. You will also need cotton wool, muslin and a jar! You would see how to apply on youtube.
4. I varnished the top in a clear matt varnish as I don't want to have to be too protective over using the table (as with French polish). I can't find the name of that one but any good hardware will advise you.

Hope that helps and PM if you need any more advise. :-)

Table
 

Thank you very much. Great to know how to do it - there'll be no stopping me now. :-)

Pacman, you are so right. That is my philosophy too--just give it a go--only way to learn. Did you get a cushion for the back yet?

Omg I know where to come for inspiration now. Absolutely love the telephone table and chair!!!

Sadly no Eibhlin. I don't really want to go out and buy one and my brother is using a small cushion but I still feel it's unfinished. I have the material and still hope to get a cushion back..... some day! :-)


Featherstick thanks a mill :-) Edwardian chairs to follow.....

Edwardian Chairs ... a long time coming!
 

I have these chairs about 15/18 years and have made various attempts to restore them with varying degrees of success. Anyway I've got two done and two to go but am thrilled with them. I'm going to use them with that big oak table I restored :-)

Eventually....
 

.... I've got the four chairs done. At last! In the meantime I've found out that what I did with the table was not the best option. Still and all: I'll know for next time and at least I can put a hot cup of tea straight down on it!

It looks terrific! Well done!

oak table and chairs
 

Well done, they look great!

Amazing, I just love the styling of the telephone table, you're very lucky to be able to get fabric at that price, I'm a little jealous..lol

My Mum had that exact table when i was a kid and it never looked as good as that!!!! Well done and the chairs are fab really regal looking :)

Many thanks Gormal, noni, irishrose and melissabell. The fabric on the telephone table was in a remnants bin at homefocus Gormal so not at the €3 per meter price but still a good a deal ;-)

Thanks to Cherry
 

Having done the poof, the previous armchair, the Edwardian chairs and been inspired by Cherry (another Jumbletowner), I decided to tackle my couch and an armchair: here are the results.

My advice is to take photos along the way, keep the pieces as a template for when you are cutting your new upholstery, and to write down the sequence you took them off as you will be working the other way putting them back.

Some old couches are much better quality than anything available on the market today so it can be worth looking past that old fashioned material and seeing the shape and structure of the couch beneath. :-)

Absolutely gorgeous! Well done you!

Amazing!!!!

Thanks so much: I'm thrilled with the end result. If anyone wants advice on box cushions, piping, supplies etc just message me or leave your question here. Happy to help ;-)