We moved from Brooklyn several years ago, 10 years ago this August to be exact.
I like having a little more breathing room in NJ, but there are a lot of things about Brooklyn I miss. Since there were shops that sold pretty much anything you needed from fresh produce to underwear within blocks of our apartment, you didn't need to get in your car to go anywhere.
Sometimes I only got in the car to move it from one parking spot to another! Alternate side of the street parking rules...."Is this a Monday spot? What time is it?!"
Also, it was a great place for someone like me, who loves picking up other peoples trash and turning it into treasure. My husband would tease me, by humming the Sanford and Son theme song, when I came in with a new find....He's a real comedian.
Of course when I say trash I mean things like pieces of wood, old furniture and anything I think has potential. Searching the streets on the night before trash pickup you can find lots of great stuff.
One of my favorite finds is an old heavy wood door. I knew I would find something interesting to do with it but had no idea what that was at the time. I just knew I had to take it. The guy getting rid of it was more than happy to help me get it in the car. He probably figured the sanitation department wasn't going to pick it up anyway and I just saved him from figuring out how to get rid of what he thought was trash....some people miss the beauty right in front of them, oh well. His loss.
I got it home and my reluctant husband carried it up the stairs for me (he is a good sport). It sat behind our sofa in our apartment for a few months before we moved to NJ. I swore I would find a home for it once we were in our new house. Of course in my head the house was a lot bigger than it really is and I had all these grand plans....
Anyway, the door spent the next 9 years and 4 months behind the sofa here in NJ.
A few weeks ago while driving to work I saw a pretty interesting headboard on the side of the road. I drove passed it a few more morning, debating whether I should bring yet another stray home or if I really could do something interesting with it. Then I remembered the door and thought I could make something using both. The next morning I took my usual route to work so I could pick up the headboard. I was worried that someone else may have seen it and taken it. After all doesn't everyone drive with one eye on the road and the other on the curbline, searching for treasures amongst trash? But it was there and now I had what I needed to finally do something with this old door- The first thing my husband said when I told him of my plans was "where is that going to go?" hahaha....he was relieved to hear it was going outside the house.
Here are the pictures of the process and how I , with my vast carpentry knowledge and skill with a hacksaw, made a pretty decent treasure out of someone else's trash. It may be something only a mother could love, and I do.
Taped up the windows so I could spray paint, yes I am lazy
here's the headboard before I took it apart
All the pieces. The rails will be the table legs and the board is the tabletop/shelf
primed and ready for paint- since I am also cheap, I used paint I already had. Yellow, red and green. Very bright but I like color
I have been waiting to use this too, I think this was a store purchase though
And here it is! Added brackets under the tabletop/shelf for additional support ( I am not really a master carpenter), painted red...oooohhhh
As soon as I get a better pic (not from my Cheapy-DeMatello phone) I will post it.
I love it. Thanks for listening
