DIY Bar Cart! From Mid-Century Modern table to Mad Men-tastic bar cart

I love the look of those two tier mid-century side tables, however they are too low to function with modern furniture. So, I choose to remake one into a bar cart because I love the idea of the two levels, one for storage of bar items and one for glasses and mixing. And since you know how much I was in love with the Russian Figure ladies skater's costume as evident of my post on inspiring images in that color palette, I choose to use dark grey and bronze.


The key to the table is getting the right height and scale. The mixing surface was moved up to 26 inch high and the storage is about 34 inches high. This cart is styled for mixing alcoholic drinks, but would be super cute as a coffee bar, tea cart, or even as a small desk! I plan to use it for coffee.


This is a simple project of cutting off the legs, adding a little lumber, and a nice paint job. The nice paint job includes using a pattern. I have included the pattern at the bottom. You can enlarge it to the size you need! The instructions can be printed with the title of the project at the top.










SUPPLIES:
For this project you will need the following supplies to complete a table similar this one.

BASICS:
A table to alter- if using a table like this pick your cutting zone carefully and with consideration to the size of your lumber! I chose a spot that was not tapered to make adding the legs back easier.
lumber- I used 2"x 2" which is nominal measurement of 1.5" x 1.5". This scale worked for my project.
8 dowel screws
wood putty
paint
liquid sanding/ deglosser- I clean the table with this type product for better paint adhesion
Hack saw
drill and drill bits
locking pliers- plain pliers might work, but locking pliers make the work easier
pencil
ruler
straight-edge

EXTRAS:
tracing paper
gold paint
circular saw
painters tape

Leaf pattern for the top of the table.

Then it dawned on me...

My mom has always said that her best thinking, maybe problem solving is a better term, time came just as she was waking up. Perhaps that is part of the origin on the phrase "dawning on me" from great thoughts occurring at dawn.
My dawn is more like daylight, I'm a late sleeper, because I tend to work late into the night. So, I wish my down looked more like the image to the right... maybe if it did, I'd not work so late and get up earlier!



Today was one of those dawning on me mornings. I know I was thinking, read solving, some problem as I was floating to consciousness and my dog was burrowing for a warmer spot on the bed. Then that thought morphed to a visual display problem I am having in my shop... or will have once the merch comes in. Then it dawned on me! I have an old barrister's "stacking bookcase" in the garage from my grandmother that was waiting for a refinish... but for display I just need a bit of interior paint because I need this display to look old. And, this really is old.

(please know this pic to the left it not actually the bookcase but a pic I found on the web... I really cannot get a decent pic from it's current location. But it looks like this one.)













Now my visual display musings do no compete with James Watson who dreamed of intertwining snakes and realized that it was the solution to what  DNA looks like as a double helix... but I wonder if that thought occurred to him not as a dream in the night but as part of the near walking dawn.

great storage

Storage, we all need it.  Using storage well is the key to keeping a neat space and having a visually clear space. I am always in persuit for great storage ideas. Here are some of my latest finds!
The first is a Felt Storage box from Etsy- as you notice there is a zipper. This zipper allows you to unzip the container when not in use and roll it up! It is brilliant to be able to break your storage done to storage.





Felt coin pouch from feltistry- great for small storage- coins, lipgloss, solid purfumes!






Thick industerial felt makes fantastic bowls, like the ones at feltplanet on Etsy!

Eco-Chic at Home- The Boy's Nursery

Boy's are all about being on the move. So, today I am looking at decorating a nursery for a boy with the concept of movement. Layering on the component of green design, we will be looking at buying local, handmade and recycled. Maybe people think about being green as simply recycling, however when you think about green in a holistic way you see that it is about the conservation of thing. Buying items that have a longer "shelf-life"maybe as a conversion item, buying items that do not cost a lot in fuel to get to you, and buying items that come from something that can be grown again easily or that used to be something else are all ways to look at the concept of green. So, antiques are green, and so are items made by local artisans! Here are a few great designs that follow some of these ideas!

All items can be found of Etsy! The first items in the list is from a member of one of the Etsy teams I am a part of and called Alabama Accents. This team is doing a promotions drive and featuring one team member a day

BronstarDesigns on Etsy brings us this great growth chart all about easy modes of transportation! I love the clear color palette of blue and red!

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Movement can also be about the air and unseen forces! This Modern Mobile- The Supernova in Deep Red by The Wonderland Studio is a great contemporary design that adds color and movement into the nursery.

What a great vintage scooter from LilAndLou! Not only would this be a great early mode of transportation, but it also brings some history to the nursery. Because of the narrow profile, under 6 inches, it would also make a great wall piece. So, you have a recycled piece that is wall art and functional once your little mover gets moving! What a great way to celebrate green design.

These fun little bicycle pillow can add repetition into a space. Repetition is a great way to add pattern without creating visual clutter. Soft artwork is great for little hand and chewing mouths! These organic bicycle pillows comes from BirdMafia on Etsy.

I love mixing moderns with vintage, especially when the larger piece can grow with the child. This Bamboo storage cabinet would be great for storing books and toys now and a TV later. Because the piece is made of bamboo plywood the piece is strong and from renewable materials! This piece is from MaddoxStreetStudios and the only problem with getting this piece home if that you might want to keep it for yourself!

Eco chic at home- The Girl's Nursery

It's a girl! What an exciting phrase to hear. Bows, giggles and pink first come to mind, then you skip from 5-year old ballet classes to the first woman president of the world. But let's back up. Let's create a room for her that embodies all the things you want her to be! Thoughtful, athletic, kind, smart, and strong.
Now we can move to identifying those attributes in items for enhancing her first place- the nursery.  I have created a collection on items that embody thoughtfulness to the environment, on this Earth Day, items that encourage playfulness and strength, items that are about strength of mind. Let's make her first place one of her best.
As part of the Alabama Accents etsy team promotion blog posts, the first item on this post is one of my team members! The rest are other fabulous finds from Etsy.

The tutu from LuckyCloverBoutique on Etsy. These are great to decorating and play. You can use it as a wreath on the wall, and accessory for her teddy bear and a fun way to introduce her to organized play!

Another great wall idea are these pink frames from FeFiFoFun on Etsy. Add these to the wall in a grouping to make a space for the future art gallery. Creating art is a great way for children to learn problem solving skills, enhance creative thinking and build confidence. Reinforcing their skills by offering them a gallery to put their best pieces on offer confidence in their abilities as well as a understanding of change since you can change out the items in the frames! Plus, they are recycled to encourage thoughtfulness to the environment and a new way of seeing thing!

This sweet little bookcase from AlyandCompany on Etsy is handcrafted and perfect for pretty storage and encouraging reading. The imaginative child will also see this as a playhouse, as part of her doll classroom and maybe the home office of her empire! But first, it will be a great place to store her books and toys. Handmade items like this reinforce the belief in supporting artist, owning quality and knowing where things come from!

There are so many wonderful handmade toys on Etsy, this adorable whale comes from EllaLouDesigns. Handmade toys are awesome for giving your child and appreciation of non-commercialize toys. They are also thoughtfully made and often locally made for your green attributes. The simple shape is great for babies.

Natural teethers from LittleAlouette on Etsy is a cool contemporary child's first toy. These maple wood teether rattles are organic and tested for safety. The shape is som pleasing to the eye and will be especially so in a nursery with many colorful items.

Storage, storage, storage, who could not use more! Fabric storage bins are great for the environment, for cleaning and for little mouths! These bins from BaffinBags on Etsy serve all those purposes and they are a very stylish pink and white zigzag! From storing diapers to bottles to small toys they bins will carry you though many years of service!

Nurseries are one of the few times we think about hanging things from the ceiling, which is a shame! This fantastic mobile from lacey414 is a great example of a baby items that provides visual stimulation that can also grow up with the child or move into their rooms of a contemporary designed space! Visually stimulation items improve the development of the brain and this handmade items improves the lives of artists and the environment!

Chocolate Turquoise- accessories for your home

Turquoise and chocolate are one of my favorite combinations, as you can see from a previous post on the Turquoise and chocolate home office. I've decided to bring the concept of the office down to the smalls of a space, the accessories, boxes and storage options. Storage is always an issue, here are some great way to add this great combination to your home! You can click on any of the link to take you to the page related to this item!

Beautiful wooden box with turquoise inlay by Sal's Wood Turning on Etsy. Visually about the size of a dollar bill, but so much more with texture and color. Great for storing calculators and note pads in your living space or jewelery in your personal space.

Diamond Garden Stool from One King's Lane is a great option for updating both and indoor or an outdoor space. Garden Stools are great as a stool or with a glass top to a small table!

FolkloreLove on Etsy brings us this fantastic chocolate, ivory and turquoise kilim pillow. Tribal patterns are hot this year! Pillows are easy ways to update your tool!

Storage big and Small! I love this kind of storage for the ability to truly sort your items, by color, shape, numerical value, what ever. If it is small and sortable, it will fit in this large antique apothecary chest by OliverPoodle on Etsy.

Embroidered Suzani pillow from Pottery Barn. The cream background makes this totally blend with your neutral home!