With the Grain » garage sales

How to Make a Bench From Old Chairs

Jenn Greenleaf — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:23:03 +0000

Do you have three or four old chairs that have lived out their lives on their own? Rather than throwing these furniture pieces away, turn them into something new:

Find a salvaged plank of wood, or cut one to size if you have the proper tools
Screw the plank to the chairs once they have been aligned properly.
Add some braces from the chair back to the plank (home improvement centers have a variety to choose from).
Sand the entire piece down, and add a coat of primer or stain. If you’ve primed, allow it to dry completely before adding a coat of paint.
Varnish the piece, and let it dry for 24 hours before putting it to use.

Even if you don’t have chairs ready for this project, it’s easy to spot them in yard sales, antique shops, and flea markets. Choose chairs that are the same for something unified, or choose chairs that are different from each other for a more eclectic look. These benches are perfect for mudrooms! Have fun!

Start Spring Cleaning Now

Jenn Greenleaf — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:19:23 +0000

Rather than waiting for the spring weather to hit, why not start going through things now? I don’t know about you, but I get a bad case of cabin fever every year. Part of what helps get me through that is preparing for the warmer weather by hauling out a bunch of what I no longer need or want.

I put things aside for future yard sales.
I start going through closets to see what I can donate for clothes.
I start sorting through what is trash and what is not.

This is all preliminary sorting, donating, and purging. I do a complete overhaul of the whole house once I can start putting things outside without having to worry if it’s going to freeze or get wet. This is a good start, though. Good luck!

Their Trash, Your Treasure

Jenn Greenleaf — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Some home improvement solutions are as close as your neighbor’s garage. I’m not talking about borrowing tools or supplies, I’m talking about garage sales (or yard sales or tag sales . . . whatever you would like to call them). What types of home improvement “things” can be found at a garage sale? Here are some items to keep your eyes open for:

wood: believe it or not, people who don’t know what to do with leftover wood from projects will sell it off before holding on to it for future use
tools: people are upgrading from perfectly good tools to ones they like better all the time (tools are also often found at estate sales, too)
paint and supplies: even if it’s not in the best condition, if these supplies are still “workable,” and for a good price don’t pass it up
flooring: again, people will sell off leftover flooring more often than holding on to it for future use
miscellaneous furnishings: consider picking something up that can be spruced up or painted for your home
plumbing: pipes, tools, fixtures, and other miscellaneous plumbing equipment seems to be a constant throughout garage sales

Flea markets are another gold mine opportunity for home improvement supplies. There, you’re more likely to find larger items (like pressure washers, shop vac’s, and tool boxes) and home building or renovation supplies (doors, windows, siding, ect.). Don’t let these opportunities to improve your home and save money slip by!