Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - The Wicker Chairs

Hi Everyone from RoadKill Rescue!  Thank you for stopping by!  Make sure you check out my Custom Beach Writing & Sea Glass shop through the links on the right!  Thank you!


Back in June, while walking my son to the bus stop, I noticed my neighbor was throwing away a set of wicker chairs and a wicker ottoman.  I walked passed them on the way out and stopped to check them out better on the way back.  Other than some wear and tear, they looked just fine.

At first I left them there in the street, waiting for the bulk garbage pick up....

biting my nails...

my husband and sons pick on me for "garbage picking"

"Was that the garbage truck?" I said to myself, as a bead of sweat rolled down my forehead..

"Ahh the hell with them!"

I ran over and got them.
They're a little beat up, but otherwise just fine.  

The plan was to get new cushions and then spray paint them to match the cushions.  Because YOU KNOW if I painted them first, I'd NEVER find the right cushions.  

So I tightened the straps and measured for the cushions.
24 inches by 24 inches.

Ok, easy enough to remember.  But money is tight, so I'm going to wait a bit.

Mid to late July I started looking for cushions.  I was in Lowes and saw the cushions were marked down.  

But no cushions in the size I need, crap.

I look around a little bit and really can not find any 2ft square cushions.

FINALLY I find ONE in Home Depot, $40
SHIT.
and it's ugly.
(actually it was the color of shit)

Ok so a few days later I wander over to another Home Depot.

THEY HAVE PRETTY 2ft sq CUSHIONS!
$30 a set

Ok that's better but still more then I had free at that moment so I leave the store, but not before noticing they have a TON of the ones I like.  Ok, great!  I'm hoping within the next 2 weeks to have some extra cash, maybe they'll be marked down!

Friday August 12 I do have some extra cash, husband says "spend it on whatever you want, you earned it."

Losing the weight I've lost and quitting smoking definitely has earned me some mad money.
Do I go and get a new purse? Nope
New clothes?  Nope
Manicure/Pedicure? Nope

No, I run over to Home Depot and get the cushions!
Yeah me!

Even though it's almost 2 weeks later, the cushions are still $30 a set, but I don't care, I'm getting them.
I picked up some spray paint and a "cheater" as the husband calls it.  It's a thingy for the spray paint cans that makes it so you can just squeeze the handle, not press down the button.

So here I present to you, the recycled wicker chairs my neighbor threw away!


 I didn't notice until we put them on the porch that the one needed a wedge under a leg, so that is done now.  But I love them so hard!  I hope my neighbor doesn't see how awesome I made her chairs & want them back!

I'm thinking a set like this would cost around $400 brand new, with the ottoman (not show, still hiding in the backyard because it's too big for the porch), and I paid all of $75 between the cushions, spray paint & tax.

Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

MY SHOP




6 comments:

  1. Yes!! you're a "picker"!!! lol. The chairs are awesome and what a very cool color too! Was nice seein you in chat the other day and man do I need to make the blog rounds, perhaps Sat morn! Anywho, hope you're havin a good week and talks soon!

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  2. Beautiful job! They probably look better now than when they were first bought.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  3. Was just deciding if I wanted to throw away some ancient wicker chairs that are in the basement of my husbands business...they are really tired of looking at them. I decided to google for some ideas....THANK YOU SO MUCH! I will return here for more great ideas. Keep em coming

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  4. So glad I could help!!!! I'd love to see some pictures when you're done Laurie!

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  5. Great job! Your patience and persistence has paid off handsomely.
    I'm lucky I once made baskets and have plenty of supplies still on hand. So I pick up budget-minded damaged woven chairs and drag 'em home to the pack porch. Then I get busy (eventually) replacing the damaged/missing materials. So far, no painting, but after seeing yours, I guess I'll have to get some spray paint and a "cheater" (so i don't wear out my arthritic fingers........). Again, great job!

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