Create a Table from an Old Chair and a Cassette Tape Organizer
Back when Remodelaholic was brand new, it was all about turning something old into something new — and we still love to do that and see others repurpose and create something amazing from something that might be headed for the landfill. Today, our guest Mary did just that — two old pieces became one awesome new statement piece! See how Mary turned an old cassette tape organizer and a broken director’s chair into an amazing display table:
DIY Display Table from An Old Cassette
by Mary from In The Boondocks
Hello Everyone, I am Mary and I live in the Boondocks, in faraway Greece. About me: I am a mom of four, who loves to repurpose and upcycle old things that have been neglected and cast aside. I believe in being frugal and in using what we have a home than to add to the landfill. Because I have managed to accumulate lots of old things, I always try to reuse what I have and not add to the landfill. In the past I have made a file holder from a dish rack, and a few tables using bits and pieces.
With this in mind, I set about creating a unique table that incorporates sentimental pieces.
I had bought this cassette tape organizer (does it even qualify as vintage) back when I was in college along with a stereo system and giant speakers and an earache – but we are not here to talk about those now. As we were saying I had a giant collection of cassettes, being the music fan I am and this was the perfect storage for the time. Now since we do not use cassettes anymore, it was basically taking up space in my house. Aside from lots of dust, it was in good shape and the wood was beautiful. I did not want to get rid of it, since I love to repurpose anything old, but I did not know what the perfect solution would be till my husband came up with the idea of a table. Of course, I would need the right base.
A quick trip to my basement and I unearthed this old chair, which had been my late father-in-law’s many years ago and had seen better days. I don’t know if you can tell from the picture, but the back rest was broken and it was not an easy fix. Aside from the obvious sentimental value, the wood was in good condition and it was worth salvaging. I knew it had a sturdy bottom and I decided to focus on that, instead of trying to repair a chair that was on its last legs. And that’s about all that it had left – legs!
Here are the supplies I used for this project:
- A saw for cutting the directors chair
- 4 screws to secure the top to the legs
- sandpaper
- oil and vinegar mixture
- varnish
- a piece of beveled glass
With my husband’s help I cut off the top part which was splintered. Then I set about removing the fabric, and all the nails that held it in place. There were quite a few that had been nailed in over the years. I sanded it down and applied a coat of varnish to protect it. This would be perfect for my table base.
Next, I had to take care of the cassette holder. I cleaned it with some oil and vinegar and then the next day I varnished the outside with 2 coats. I should point out that I have removed some slates so that I can place my collection of sea shells inside and use it as a display. But I still had to find a way to screw the top to the base. After much trial and error, and of course with the help of hubby, we were able to screw the top onto the base.
Finally, I topped it off with a piece of beveled glass. The cost for this project was minimal, just the price of the glass, since I already had the varnish. Here was have my collection without the glass.
And with the glass
I feel that it is a unique piece and by combining the chair and the cassette storage unit, I was able to create something more than the sum of its parts. I wanted to preserve this piece, because it has special meaning for all of us but mostly for my husband who fondly remembers his dad sitting in that chair.
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Thanks so much for sharing, Mary! What a great way to update that old cassette organizer!
Be sure to visit Mary over at In The Boondocks to see what else she’s salvaging — like an old dish drainer!
Lorene has been behind the scenes here at Remodelaholic for more than a decade! She believes that planning projects and actually completing them are two different hobbies, but that doesn't stop her from planning at least a dozen projects at any given time. She spends her free time creating memories with her husband and 5 kids, traveling as far as she can afford, and partaking of books in any form available.
What a great table! I would have never thought of doing that! Love it.