High End Look for Less

I felt the need to work my creative side today.  A couple of months ago I purchased a video rocker at my Salvation Army Thrift Store for $10 or $15.

My plan was to recreate the look of a mid century modern lounge chair.  Below is an example of a 1960's lounge chair I found on One Kings Lane.  A pair of these were going for $3,999.

With the holidays and all I didn't get around to my planned project until now.  This morning I headed out to Lowes for four Round Tapered Legs and four Angled Top Plates.  They only carried 6" or 24" legs in this modern style.  I was really looking for more of a 10-12" leg but decided I could work with the shorter leg for now.  Each one cost $2.50 and the plates were $1.68 each.
 

In order to provide a sturdier base to adhere the legs to I decided to use a 1 x 4 board I had in my garage.  I cut two lengths the width of the base of the chair (16") and screwed two plates to each board.  I then screwed the legs into the plates and screwed the boards to the bottom of the chair.

 
Below is what I ended up with.  I think it looks pretty close to the expensive chair above.  What do you think?

Columbus Day Weekend Projects

I couldn't have taken off four better days weather wise.  I had big plans and many projects I intended to complete.  Saturday I did my usual yard sale shopping.  I don't know what I am going to do with myself when winter arrives and the yard sales go the way of the dinosaur at least temporarily.

A year ago I purchased a primitive style desk covered in many layers of paint at a yard sale.  I paid $5 for it.   With all of my other obligations it has sat in my garage since then.   This weekend I took it out and set my mind to completing its transformation.  I used paint stripper to take off what I could.  Then I sanded it down with my electric sander and course grit paper.  I spray painted it cream and added some nice deco style silver knobs to the drawer.  What a feeling of satisfaction.  To shed light on the situation I hung up a 1960's wicker swag lamp.

Moving my new gem to its spot in the corner of the Master Bedroom meant making space for it.  It gave me incentive to do much more.  I also moved in from the garage a mid century modern stand I bought at the Thrift Store a while back.  It too was only $5.  It needed just a bit of a wipe down and I added two storage baskets to the bottom shelf.   I made a wall unit out of it by combining it with a bookshelf I had found on one of my Auction House excursions.  I don't remember what I paid for it but I am sure it was cheap.  Above the wall unit hangs another yard sale find.  It is a Maio City Scene I found for $2.  To update it I painted the frame a nice glossy black.

 
At the far corner of the room sits my $12 recovered Estate Sale chair, $5 Thrift Store ottoman and $5 Flea Market floor lamp.  I can't wait to curl up in my new reading corner with a good book and a cup of coffee.  Maybe next time I take a few days off I will get to enjoy that pleasure.