Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Roadkill Rescue- A Headboard!

It's here! The Roadkill Rescue Party! Nothing gets my creative juices flowing like some free junk!
Here is a picture of my "new" headboard.

Roadkill Rescue Headboard

Naturally, it comes with a story that starts with a twinkle in my eye and a heap on the curb.


For a while I have wanted a headboard. I cruised craigslist in my search for a headboard, but I was also open to making my own. A few things percolated in my head during this time.


I liked the look of this PB bed. This wall of colored tiles on Ohdeedoh captivated my imagination. They look like mini cupboard doors to me. I also liked this shutter headboard on Shanty 2 Chic. With a king sized bed (a marriage must, in my opinion) getting enough shutters with my budget was a challenge.


I said a little prayer for the patience to live with wants and be very clear about my true needs.


Car Full of Drawers
One morning on my way to work I saw a large dresser thing on the curb. Of course I had to investigate. It was too big to become a play kitchen. Too big to fit in my car.  I passed it by. 

Pass by junk? Surely you don't believe that!

The next day before school I went back. I parked, got out my cordless drill/screwdriver and unscrewed all the doors and took the drawers. Picture me stealthily working at the crack of dawn just hoping none of my colleagues or students would see me! Here is the car chock full of these drawers. When I look at this now I can hardly believe I stopped. It really was a dilapidated thing. And, it was 6:30 AM- in the ghetto! I am crazy! My love for junk knows no bounds!
This is How I Roll

This is how I roll! Once in our parking garage I loaded up a cart and headed to my balcony workshop. Silly me! There is no room in the balcony workshop for this much junk. I had to work in the living room. One of these days I am going to video Cliff's face when I roll in with a cart full o'junk. He really is a patient man.

Turns out the drawers were plastic. Wood printed plastic and some particle board covered in wood print contact paper. No wonder this ended up on the curb. This thing really put the foe in faux bois!

But junk doesn't scare me. It just slows me down. I took the drawer fronts off and tossed the rest.
playing with frames
Finally all that was left was a parade of plastic frame like things with a heavy wood grain imprint. I toyed around with the idea of some sort of frame wall. But, with only three rooms, I am running out of walls. Then it hit me, a headboard! I piled everything up in the corner of my workshop and saved this project for after Christmas. 
 Washing the Frames


After a few months on the balcony, these babies were fifthly. Not to mention I found them on the curb to begin with. Citra Solv to the rescue. No hose. No yard. Rub a dub dub, good scrub in the tub. The frames cleaned up nicely and so did my tub. Nice and orange scented!


Since I wanted the look of cupboard doors- ala my inspiration wall, I needed to fill in the middle hole. I went to staples to buy foam board thinking that would be super light weight but stiffer than cardboard. Foam board is crazy expensive for what it is! More expensive than hardboard at Home Depot! So I went with hardboard. They cut it for me at HD. It took about a dozen cuts, so they did charge me $3 for all the cuts.


Everything got a coat of black spray primer and black spray paint. Then I used Gorilla tape to tape the inserts into the frames. 
Plastic Moulding with Hardboard


Hanging them on the wall was the next dilemma to be solved. I ended up just getting some black 3" drywall screws and screwing them right into the wall. Not the best look, but they are mostly hidden by pillows. This isn't my forever headboard. But for now, it makes me very happy.

Roadkill Rescue Headboard

Looking at these pictures I see that I have to do something with the picture on the left. I had a large lamp on that side table and that's why it was hung so high. Too high now. Also, I finally hung the plastic plates above my bed. I took away the green ones. Too busy.



Would you have guessed this was made of plastic and held together with tape? That fact alone makes me happy! Kinda Martha meets Macgyver!
Roadkill Rescue Headboard  
I am off to work (right. now. really.) but I can not wait to come home and see what everyone else finds and rehabs! Check out the rest of the party here! 
 

24 comments:

Brynwood Needleworks said...

I think you did a genius job on this rescue. No one will ever know is cheap plastic. Good for you, girl!
xoxo
Donna

Goings on at the Glenn's said...

I would never have guessed it was plastic or held together with tape! WAY TO GO YOU! I just love when you can pull something off like this with Junk!

Mama Thompson said...

That's amazing...I just love it!

Unknown said...

"junk doesn't scare me. It just slows me down."
I LOVE THIS QUOTE!! I think I need this on a t-shirt. :)

Jane, yet again I'm in awe of your abilities to turn trash into treasure. Your ability to see potential and be creative is to be admired for sure. The headboard looks great, and no one in a million years would ever guess what's underneath that black spray paint. Fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Jane,
Thanks for the "rub" ...
Couldn't help myself. Seriously, the Headboard
came out great! And what a great Upcycling piece this is!
Melissa from Citra Solv...

Crystal said...

This is such a great idea-I never would have thought of a headboard. It turned out great.

-Crystal

Nutsy Coco said...

Cute!

KristenBieber said...

You are so creative! I am amazed.

venus said...

Great idea!!! LOVE IT!
I love junk... junk is my friend... :) except for the one in my trunk... THAT'S BAD!!! LOL

I love what you did, very inspirational!!!

Kelsey said...

Wow this is SO creative! I love it!!! I rarely get a truly unique idea that I haven't stolen from someone else via blog. lol. I absolutely LOVE this idea and commend you for making it work within your budget. Great job!

Jennifer @ No Place Life Home said...

Adorable!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

That is *fantastic* you stealthy girl you! lol Great job seeing potential in that piece!

sara said...

You are good, girl! Wow! I am impressed!!!!

HollyLynne said...

WOW. This is seriously one of the most spectacular transformations I've seen you do. That headboard looks like it came out of a high end furniture catalog. NO WAY would anyone believe it came out of throwaway drawers and a framed picture. My mind is officially blown. Seriously.

Stephanie said...

That really looks SO great, I LOVE it! SO clever of you. And I laughed out loud at your Martha vs Mcgyver comment cause I'm SO the same way, taping when I should be gluing, screwing when I should be hanging, etc, I love it! Whatever works! Great job, the headboard looks amazing!

Mama Said Sew said...

That is fantastic Jane! I think I love the story as much as the finished product. :) The Gorilla tape makes me laugh. :)

Lisa said...

What an amazing job! A ton of people would right right by and not give those a second thought. But you made them look great!

Rebecca said...

Your vision never ceases to amaze me. I love it! And no, it doesn't look plastic or held together with tape at all. :)

Infarrantly Creative said...

Umkay that is brilliant. Wow I would have never thought of that. Way to go thinking outside the box. That rocks.

Unknown said...

Are you kidding me? That's is too fantastic. And I've never tried Citra-Solv. Is it a stripper? I have so much roadkill in my sheds & barn, it's just plain sad. Been too busy to get to them (that's what I tell myself). Maybe this Spring.
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the kids & dog. I love anything 'dog'.

Unknown said...

Oh, this is fantastic! I love the different heights and the placement of the lights. And I never would have guessed they weren't cupboard doors.

Your story is hilarious!

Kim said...

That looks great! You did an awesome job.

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

That turned out great!!

Amy said...

Wonderful! Love how this turned out!