Tag Archives: DIY

D.I.Y | Home Decor | Pallet Table

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It all started months and months ago, I wanted to build a table with old and neglected pallets for our patio. Rick and I finally had time to pick some up from a green energy company but then they sat in our garage for a couple of months. This last weekend we enjoyed a sunny weekend working on house projects, working on design projects, attending a bluegrass ho-down and avoiding the awful traffic so we thought it would be the perfect time to tackle this project.

The pallets were originally red and blue, which we thought was cool, as our original plan was for the table to go outside, which needed some lively color in the garden patio, but the tables needed a lot of sanding. Basically, they needed to be stripped down to the wood. We both started feeling the vibe of replacing our beloved coffee table just for a change (coffee table is taking a break in the garage). We made the correct measurements in height and decided to give the table a white wash to keep the integrity of the wood and characteristics.

We are now enjoying our table which brings a bit more masculinity against the flowers and mercury glass and we can easily bring the table outside when entertaining. win. win.

P.S. It is an ideal house for our books. (which typically hide under our bed)

Pallet Table

Need:

  • Two Pallets (check craigslist, or keep your eyes open at grocery stores)
  • Casters with the right size wood screws
  • Hand sander
  • wood stain or paint (depending on your style)
  • pillars (we used 8 4 inch 2×4′s)
  • 16  1 1/2 L brackets
  • and absurd amount of screws
  • Drill (recommended) or screwdriver

How:

Try to match the pallets as best you can in style and size, this makes putting them together a lot easier and more symmetrical. In our case we started with two palettes that were of slightly different sizes. First thing to do is to sand off all the rough spots. Be sure to go over it thoroughly removing any splintering wood or loose nails and boards. Once they are sanded apply your paint or stain. Let dry and finish the wood with a gloss, semi gloss or matte (we did a semi gloss in a spray can, worked great!) Attach the casters to the bottom palette. Attach the pillars to the top of the bottom palette with the L brackets then sandwich the palettes together and finish attaching the top L brackets. Depending on the size of your pillars you may have to attach the L brackets to the bottom of the top palette before you sandwich the two palettes together (I set the palettes together and marked the spots where I needed to attach the L brackets with a marker). If you have any questions use our contact page, we’re happy to help.

D.I.Y | Home Decor: Rolling Garment Rack

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After the dust settled from our September wedding and October honeymoon, my husband and I soon started searching for a new home. It had to have 5 essentials: location (walking distance to the beach), yard (enough room for a small garden and outdoor living space), garage (a.k.a man space), office (extremely, important as we both work a lot from home) and character (i.e. hardwood floors, fireplace, cute kitchen, and just a cozy, lovely home).

Right after Thanksgiving we fell head over heels for a spanish bungalow. It was perfect, except it had a small bedroom closet. Soon, I found myself playing a real life game of tetris with the closet space. Luckily, I played a lot of tetris and I won a slew of early rounds. But, as time lead on, the closet created a problem. My vintage frocks and sublime silky dresses were looking pitiful cramped in the closet. I was starting to have those moments, the moments when you are needing to head out the door but you can’t find that white button down shirt that you insist on wearing and then you end up becoming even more late because you find yourself half-looking for said white shirt and half-organizing closet (again).

A solution had to happen and a garment rack was a must. The one and only time I owned a garment rack was a brief moment in my interesting career path. Someday, I will blog about this. I worked as a stylist. Shocking?! I know. My third and last job was a bit random. It was Snoop Dog. I told you it has been an interesting career path. But I digress, I did not feel like buying another plain metal rack and then the light bulb turned on, I had seen a D.I.Y rolling garment rack on my favorite blog Design Sponge. I must put a caution note when referring to Design Sponge, it is very easy to get lost in a wonderland of before and afters, home tours and D.I.Y projects. Tread lightly, my friends.

After an awesome Friday hike with my husband, we went to Lowe’s and found ourselves in an uncommon aisle, the plumbing aisle. We were searching for plumber’s pipe, elbows and flanges. We found all the materials needed, including our paint color, apple red (although, it turned out to be more of a coral than apple)

As we began the project, we discovered that we purchased a few wrong parts. We will just speed past this part. The cliff notes version. Four trips later to Lowe’s we had gathered all that we needed, then we began drilling, screwing, painting and BAM! The project was complete. Rather, easy too. Just make sure you buy the right plumber elbows.

Sunday night, we brought in the garment rack from the garage. After kindly asking my husband to leave the bedroom I began to style the rack (I have a HGTV personality inside of me, and I like to surprise people with big reveals, don’t we all?) I screamed like a 12-year-old when I was done “It looks like a boutique store”! I was a tad pleased with it and even more pleased to see a few of my favorite dresses not shoved in the closet. Bonus: It freed up a lot of space on his side of closet.

I will now give another high-five (virtually) to my awesome husband, who is becoming rather handy. Next home, we will add a 6th essential: closet space. However, this garment rack will be staying around for a long time.

The garment rack adapted from Design Sponge:

Materials:

  • two 48″ long,  1/2″ thick galvanized plumbers pipe (pieces for the height), one 30″ long,  1/2″ thick galvanized plumbers pipe (piece for the width)
  • two flanges (circular floor fittings)
  • two 90 degree elbows- make sure they fit your 1/2″ pipe and be sure to match the threading (think male to female)
  • satin finish house paint
  • paintbrush
  • wood 1 to 2″ thick by 12″ deep 34″ long  (make sure it is at least four inches longer than your plumber’s pipe width)
  • four rolling wheels (also called casters, these are available at hardware stores)
  • eight  1 1/2 to 2 1/2″ bolts (depending on the thickness of your wood) with corresponding washers and nuts
  • sixteen 1/2″ screws
  • drill

Instructions:

Sand your wood (if it is cut wood), flip your piece of wood over so the bottom is facing up and measure 1/2″ in from each corner, this is where your wheels (casters) will go. Use your drill and the sixteen 1/2″ screws to secure your wheels, then flip your wood over.

Remove all the stickers from your plumber’s pipe and clean the pipe with soap and water. Screw your pieces together to form the “u” shape of your rack. Hand tighten each piece as much as you can. Screw on the floor flanges last.

Place the constructed rack onto the wood base to properly center the piping. Mark, with a pen or pencil, the 8 holes where you will secure the flanges to the wood base. Remove the rack and drill pilot holes big enough to fit the bolts where you marked the wood. Now, you can secure your rack onto the wood with the blots, washers and nuts. Your rack is now complete.

Paint at least 3 coats, allow drying time between each layer. Allow it to completely dry for 24 hours before using the rack.