Not everything is what it seems. When I first moved into Unit 301, I thought about getting a kitchen island, and then I started looking at prices. I couldn’t afford a hundred dollars on buying one of these things. No matter how interesting they were.

I found myself at Ikea with my sister who was looking for things for her new apartment, and that’s where I found it. A coat rack with steel tubes running across the top, D and I went back and forth. Ikea also has shelves and units for kitchens…we decided though that this $20 coat/hat rack might just work. Because the rack is prefabricated furniture, it will most likely, unless your room is in odd dimensions, be the right size to be mounted into two studs.

Before even attempting this, there are several things that must be considered.

1. Measure available wall space, to see if it would fit.
2. Using a stud finder see if it can be mounted into two studs.

 At 301, we had both of these things. Now the only other problem was, how would the microwave sit on this shelf and would it be too high?

In order to install it however you need the following specialized tools:

Measuring tape
Level
Stud finder
Electric drill

Additional parts

1 large cut piece of wood OR
2 smaller planks held together by (4) L-brackets & screws
At least (2) U-brackets to attach the wood to the coat/hat rack
(4) 2” drywall screws
#2 pencil

 Once the Ikea coat rack was assembled we used the pre-bore holes to mark the wall for where the screws would need to be. After attaching one side of the rack to the wall, we used a level on the rack, marked where the other sides screw should be placed with a pencil and then preceded in finishing mounting the rack.

After attaching the rack to the wall, we attached the two smaller planks together with the L brackets and then once together placed the boards on the shelf. We wanted the boards to be slightly forward, leaving room for the microwave plug and any other electronic plug. Using the U shaped brackets we were able to then mount the wood to the rack.

I use the hooks where hats and coats could be to hang pots and pans in my kitchen.

So, voila, inexpensive microwave shelf.

So after moving into my new apartment, we had to assess the available counter space in the kitchen. I had a great dilemma, lots of floor space, very little counter space. It didn’t take long to realize the easiest way to fix this was by adding in a table and/or shelves.

It was set; a trip to the thrift store might alleviate the problem.

It was hard to find something tall enough and wide enough. Most thrift stores have a variety of desks, coffee tables and side tables. What I didn’t know was that the perfect table would be a Singer sewing table. These tables were made of wood able to with-stand movement and the weight of a sewing machine without buckling---and at $10 they were a steal. Unfortunately it was painted in duck hunting colors (deep green and maroon red).  

Luckily for me I had D.

I also have an outside patio so we could do chemical striping without working about the toxic fumes. It’s not advised for someone without this sort of space. In total the stripping project took about 3 days.

Things I had

 a few glass sauce jars
 newspapers
 trash bag
 roll of paper towels
 an old sponge
 disposable plastic bowl
 container with extra water like disposable 'sports' water bottle

Things we went to Home Depot and bought:

 1 Empty metal paint container
 1 Can of Jasco chemical paint stripper (Gel format)
 1 Paint brush
 1 Metal scrapper
 1 Tin of paint thinner
 Mixed package of sandpapers
 Latex gloves
 Safety goggles/glasses 

*Some of these items you might already have. Others if you plan on doing hobby work will be worth a small investment.

 

Day 1:

Prep the bowl with soapy dish/hand soap.
Ready the empty can by removing the top setting your paintbrush nearby

Then set down the news papers and place the table in the center.

***Make sure to have paper towels readily available. The chemicals are very corrosive and toxic. If you get it on your skin, wipe off the excess and immediately wash the effected area with soap and water. 

The first application of Jasco (chemical peeler) was to the surface of the table, it took about 10 minutes to go through the paint and hit the 60+ year old varnish. The chemicals caused the paint to look crackled once is was ready to be scraped away. 

Once the top was stripped down to the varnish we moved onto the legs of the table, this is where the tin and paintbrush come in. We poured some of the Jasco into the tin and used the brush to apply it to the legs, waited and scraped that area next. 

By the time that we had done a preliminary stripping it was starting to get very dark, we had to clean up. The small sauce jar was filled with some paint thinner to clean the Jasco covered brush, then I took the brush in and washed it with soap in the kitchen sink. Using the soapy water we sponged down the table in areas that had Jasco applied to it or areas where some may have gotten on the patio, to neutralize the chemical danger. The 'sports' squirt bottle was useful for rinsing the soapy water.

Day 2

Repeat prep work from Day 1.

After going back to look at the table in better light and weather a few days later we noticed areas that hadn’t gotten completely stripped and reapplied more Jasco using the paintbrush and can method. Because of the age of the varnish and the type of paint used on the table it took two almost 3 coats to strip the top the legs were less varnished and easier to strip.

Cleanup was the same as Day 1. 

Day 3

By Day 3 we had a table that was completely stripped with some areas that had been affected by the scraping. D applied paint thinner directly to the wood to bring out the moisture and wood oil/minerals. Then he sanded it down to even out the wood and to remove the minerals that collected on the surface.

We left it out overnight on a cool but dry night. To let the paint thinner smells evaporate. 

Post stripping:

You’re now pretty much ready to finish the piece however you’d like, with stain, paint or varnish. We found some metal L shaped brackets which we used inside of the sewing compartment and made a small shelf inside of the table with two small pieces of hardwood and a few screws. Be sure to measure the interior dimensions of the table if you plan on going this route.

This is the year of new beginnings.

Since I've moved into Unit301, I've learned how to do many things:

- Refinish a wooden table.
- Install a shelf for a microwave.
- Plug a tire.
- Cook international foods.
- Hanging posters most cost effectively while looking pretty good.

And I'm experimenting on a few things:

- Growing a container garden.
- Caring for Fuchsia
- Keeping a desktop computer clean, organized and upgraded.

I'm sure there will be plenty more to come as well and I want to share what I know.
Independence is a beautiful thing.

Thank you D!