Unique Furniture

Hinge washboards together for a country side table. Use rust-colored paint to fill in the grooves and edges of new buckets for an antiqued appearance. Add a dash of bright color to a room with this shutter sofa table. Line up rural mailboxes for home delivery in a foyer or entryway. Organize family mail or display favorite items in them. This space-saving desk combines a French door and barn sash windows!

Materials:

150-grit sandpaper
Instant Rust
clear matte sealer
4 washboards
hinges
glass top

Steps:

1. Sand entire washboard to distress the surface. Apply Instant Rust to tin part until it becomes a tarnished gray color. Use a clear sealer all over to stop the rusting process and preserve the new look.
2. Align washboards side-by-side and face down on the floor. Open up and lay out the hinges two inches from the top edge and 7-3/4 inches from the wood supports at the base of the washing area.
3. Hinge together the first three washboards, and then attach one side of the hinge plate to the remaining edge of the last washboard.
4. Lift the final board, rolling it over and back toward the first, causing the hinge pieces to fold into a square.
5. Position the loose hinge plate from the last board over the remaining unhinged edge of the first board. Align the hinge plate carefully on the wooden support and attach screws.
6. Stand table upright and top with glass.

Bucket Coffee Table

Materials:

8 metal buckets
rust-colored paint (Sorrel)
bricks, wood blocks, pea gravel or kitty litter
filler (birdseed, sunflower seeds, alfalfa, wood shavings, fabric balls, yarn, string, rocks, etc.)
glass top
plastic plates

Steps:

1. Brush on paint and immediately wipe it off with a rag.
2. Line up four buckets in a perfect square to create the base. Fill each with equal amounts of bricks, wood blocks, pea gravel or kitty litter to create the right finished height once the second layer of buckets is placed on top (15 to 18" is a standard height).
3. Drop a plastic plate into each bucket to take up space and fill the top as desired .
4. Place glass on top.

Shutter Sofa Table

Materials:

shutters|
tempered glass top
hardware

Steps:

1. To make the base, hinge together two shutters to make each pair. Set them in "v" shapes to make them freestanding
2. Paint shutters as desired and allow to dry.
3. Place glass on top. Place another smaller pair of shutters between the others for added interest.

Entry Table

Materials:

paint (barn red)
two mailbox posts
two 1" x 8" boards
L-brackets
glass top

Steps:

1. Paint two mailbox posts and boards in barn red. Trim posts to desired table height (37 inches was featured), and attach to wall with L-brackets (featured posts were placed 46-1/2 inches apart).
2. Screw boards across the post tops to hold the mailboxes. Line up boxes on top of the wood base and place glass on top.

Window Desk

Materials:

French door
4 barn sash windows
flat black latex paint
mending plates and screws
L-brackets
glass plate for top

Steps:

1. Mask off all glass panes on both sides of windows and door. Paint all wood surfaces on all pieces and let dry. Lightly sand random spots on windows and door to reveal wood grain. Remove tape.
2. On a flat surface, use mending plates and screws to join the two large windows together on the 29-inch side. On each end of the large windows, attach the smaller ones with hinges.
3. Set the assembly upright with the side windows placed at right angles. Trim the bottom of the door to the same dimensions as the frame at the top of the door . Place door on top of the window base and attach with L-brackets for stability and strength.
4. Place glass plate on top of door for a flat writing surface.