At first glance, some used hardware pieces my not appear promising, but with a little cleaning, you can create wonderful, unique additions to your home. Studio 5 Contributor Jennifer Heslop shares her tips:
Most metal pieces can be cleaned with soap and water and a stiff brush. Brush off all dirt and debris and then dry the piece completely. If the piece has been painted or varnished, soak the piece in a disposable container of water-soluble paint remover. Once the paint has lifted, rinse the piece with water and brush off any remaining paint. Metal pieces can be polished using very fine steel wool or a commercial metal polish found at home improvement stores. Be sure to buy polish that is correct for the type of metal you are polishing. If you want to change to color of the metal, purchase a spray paint formulated for metal, and simply add a coat of paint. Save all screws, etc. as you may reuse them in a future project.
Here is a list of possible project and ideas:
• Mount glass drawer pulls to a cupboard to hold dish towels or hand towels.
• Fence finials as book ends.
• Mount a drawer pull above a picture or mirror and add a ribbon to connect the two. The picture, etc will appear to hang from the pull.
• Hinge together picture frames.
• Use a hinge as an easel to hold a picture or a place card. Attach the picture or card to the hinge using a brad.
• Thread a napkin through any small salvaged pull or piece with a hole- instant napkin ring.
• Use hinges to hang drapery panels.
• Make a ribbon dispenser by drilling a hole in a small block of wood and adding a hinge pin or door stop. Thread on a spool or ribbon or twine.
• Add a small metal treasure to a piece of existing jewelry (bracelet, necklace, etc.)
• A coat rack can be created from just about any unique knob, pull, handle or hook.
• Use drawer pulls to hang tab-top curtains and a door knob as a tie back.
• Add a fancy pull to the back of a chair as an embellishment.
• Drawer pulls can be used to hold just about anything: jewelry, keys, sunglasses, etc.
Studio 5 Contributor Jennifer Heslop loves turning trash into treasure. She is handy with a hammer, and has a knack for saving a dime by doing it yourself! If you have questions for Jenn, e-mail her at studio5@ksl.com
Add comment