Trash Talk Thursday: Spice Box from a Nut House

 

	Spice boxes and apothecary cabinets conjure up warm thoughts of colonial hearth cooking. Once used as compartmentalized storage of herbs & spices or apothecary needs and often made of wood or tin with many drawers, these storage units served a valuable purpose and are still very popular today. They can also be very expensive. To make-do without making wallet empty, look no further than the garage nut house for a wonderful alternative spice box/apothecary cabinet! ~ Check it out! This makeover of mine was featured in the Winter 2011 issue of A Primitive Place Magazine, page 104 ~ After making sure that the sturdy little house of many drawers won’t be sorely missed, empty & clean the plastic or metal bin drawers in a dishpan of soapy warm water & dry completely, then wipe the cabinet unit with a damp rag. When dry, apply a liberal coat of flat spray paint on the drawer fronts & cabinet. Paint desired color, using interior flat or matte, then when dry rub on stain & sealer to desired antique finish. If extra durability is desired, follow with a protective coat of clear acrylic spray. Spice names can easily be painted or stamped using acrylic arts and crafts paint. I purchased a tiny set of alphabet letters for $1.00 at Michaels recently, and dipped the ends in black paint to stamp on the finished drawers. © copyright 2011 redshedvintage.com

 

 

 

 

 

Trash Talk Thursday: Hearth Stand from a Chew Stick

Rescued from the roadside, this discarded old coat & hat rack had become a chew toy for a presumably large dog. With the help of some wood filler, I recycled another man’s trash into a sturdy hearth stand for displaying vintage fireplace tools.

 After scraping the loose paint, I used a putty knife to fill the deep chew holes with wood filler, scraping the excess & creating a smooth finish with the flat end of the tool. When the putty was fully dried, I sanded the surface with an electric finishing sander followed by one coat of red semi-gloss interior paint.

 

 

Trash Talk Thursday: Industrial Prim

When looking for primitive shelving options for storage or display, don’t overlook industrial metal racks! I found this sturdy old GE Motors auto store display for just $4.00 at a thrift store.

 After removing the back board & rubber mats, I wiped it clean and spray painted the entire metal unit a uniform shade of Fire Red (from Walmart, about $1.50) then painted the backboard flat exterior Black (also from Walmart, cheap 'oops' reduced price paint!)

 The extra sturdy construction is great for stacking boxes and drawers for storage of heavier household or hobby supplies, and the flat black backboard now doubles as a chalkboard!
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