The sunroom at Janet Fletcher and Ed Graca’s cottage is a great place to enjoy a morning coffee and take in views of the lake, save for one thing—it needed a coffee table, one that would fit the small space and suit their 70-year-old Lake Muskoka cottage. “We don’t have a big, fancy place that you’re going to get a $900 coffee table for,” says Janet. It worked out well, then, that they had a broken, folding Muskoka chair lying around. “We didn’t know what to do with it,” says Ed, “but I thought I could use the back of the chair for the top of a table.” To test his theory, Ed disassembled the old chair and started playing around with the pieces. He converted four arm supports into table legs, which he secured using the metal pins that allowed the chair to fold down, and stabilized the legs with support pieces from the back and the seat. The chair arms became a shelf, and the chair back became the coffee table top, secured with wood glue and screws. Finally, Ed sealed it with a couple coats of polyurethane. “I tried to keep it as natural as possible,” he says.
It’s the work of a true cottage putterer. “I didn’t use a plan at all,” says Ed. “But I was able to put it together and make it look nice.”
Solved a cottage problem by building something? Tell us about it: edit@cottagelife.com.
Goblins and ghosts and pumpkins, oh my! No matter what your age, there is always fun to be had at Halloween. Let the kid in you enjoy all the festivities, treats, and crisp fall air before winter arrives. Whip up some spooky new decor with these three Halloween-inspired upcycling projects and your trick-or-treaters will never want to leave.
DIY Racket Pumpkins
Check your garage for those old rackets you no longer use and turn them into these rustic festive pumpkins just in time for Halloween.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
1. Remove the handle of each racket with a hacksaw. There is typically a metal rod up the handle that will need to be cut in order to remove it.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
2. Paint the head and strings orange. If there is any part of the handle left, paint it brown.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
3. For additional texture, thread chunky fall-coloured yarn through the strings. Use hot-glue to secure the ends in place on the back of the head.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
4. Glue a piece of thick bark to the top of the head for the stem and add fall leaves for vines to finish off your unique pumpkins.
Serving Up Treats
Ditch the traditional bowl this Halloween and serve up your treats on a tray instead.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
1. Remove the backing from an old frame and use hot glue to keep the glass in place.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
2. Paint the glass and the frame yellow. When the paint is dry, add a thick layer of black over top of the yellow.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
3. Brush on a layer of decoupage medium to the top of the glass and then lay on vintage postcards or clip art. Add another layer of decoupage medium to seal the paper and allow it to completely dry.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
4. Attach handles to the ends of the frame and fill your new Halloween tray with your favourite yummy treats.
Gas Can Jack-O-Lantern
Turn a vintage gas can into the perfect rusty Jack-o-Lantern. This DIY Halloween decor will greet all of your trick-or-treaters.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
1. Grab an empty old gas can and unused cookie tin for this project.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
2. Using sharp scissors or tin snips, cut thin strips of metal from the bottom of the cookie tin. Punch a hole at the end of each strip and thread a piece of floral wire through it.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
3. Draw a face on the side of the gas can with chalk and then fill it in with black paint. To give it a worn feeling, distress it with sandpaper once the paint is dry.
Photo by Lisa Silfwerbrand/Recreated Designs
4. Place your jack-o-lantern on your lawn or porch and surround it with pumpkins and gourds. Your trick-or-treaters will be delighted to see it welcoming them as they ask for treats.
Check out more creative DIY and repurposing projects in Lisa’s new book Recreated Designs: Cottage Projects With a Vintage Flair.
Looking for more Halloween inspiration? Take a look at some of our favourite cottage-inspired costumes.
