Author: ModFruGal

Miner 49er

My go-to for budget knock-offs of classics is getting the copycat.  Looking through the new CB2 catalog, I couldn’t help but notice how nicely they had jazzed up a water heater table like mine.   Although the Miner’s splayed legs and built in patina are a nice design touch..is it worth $150 vs $20?

Although my table was purchased at Home Depot several years ago…I’ve seen some other good ones online.  I would, of course, check your local plumbing supply stores as well as Lowe’s/Home Depot to save yourself the shipping.

See…just when you think you found a cheap buy…there’s always one cheaper!  I never thought copycat would feature a CB2 knock-off…go figure.

CB2's Miner @ $149
CB2's Miner @ $149
Water Heater Stand $28 @ Deerso.com
Water Heater Stand $28 @ Deerso.com
Home Depot's Water Heater Stand
Home Depot's $20 Water Heater Stand

Circle Time

Melissa Bryant’s drawings are fun, simplistic, and best of all…affordable.  Her Etsy shop is My Wire Empire.  This is exactly what I’ve been looking for to go in my dining room to add on to my lonely photo by Dooce‘s dude Jon Armstrong.

$20 "Circle Time" by Melissa Bryant
$20 "Circle Time" by Melissa Bryant
$20 by Melissa Bryant
$20 "Follow the Leader 2" by Melissa Bryant

Apologies for light posting…it will remain light for the next couple of weeks because I’m not all fancy with my own guest bloggers in the wings when I’m drowning in crap to do…but I’ll work on it, ok?

Kid’s Desk Rehab

I was out junking in Fairview, TN a couple of weeks ago and picked up a few projects…because I really don’t have enough on my plate.  BTW, I love how everyone else in the country calls it “thrifting”…sounds so much more civilized…down here, it’s just junkin’.

Anyway, this cute little kidney shaped desk was perfect for a little someone in the family who was promised their own desk this summer.  The faux bois laminate top was in perfect condition…just needed to be scrubbed and scraped of some old paint on it.  As for the body…it needed a little more TLC.  It was a LOT rougher looking in person than the photo lets on…really….I look at that photo and think…”it was nice the way it was”..and it wasn’t..I was there!

I started to strip it down…and realized it was going to take a REALLY long time.   It’s oak and paint was WAY down in those unprimed grooves.

I decided: 1)  I kinda hate oak furniture as a rule.  2) I’ve brought back enough blond wood pieces in this house….gotta stop.

Soooooo…. bringing it back to the natural wood wasn’t exactly worth the effort to me.   A  good sanding, priming, and coat of spray paint got this project done in a much more manageable time line.

The new owner is SUPER pleased which is all that really matters.

Tantalizingly Close

My life in the fishbowl is, thankfully, almost over.  Let’s be clear, I am not ungrateful for the hardworking men who have brought me this amazing transformation…but with no window treatments anywhere here and 12 people crawling all over your house at every window and door…it’s a bit unnerving after awhile.  I KNOW they don’t give a rats ass what I’m doing, but…you know…it can be creepy.

The panels are all up…now it’s just trim pieces, new gutters and a few soffits left to do so I’m hoping by the end of the week, we’re done.