A gutsy wheelbarrow coffee table project
Last week I challenged you to create something gutsy.
I challenged you to create something you’ve never seen done before. Something you may be afraid of someone not (gasp!) liking. I wanted to take you out of your comfort zone so you’d be free to experiment and go wild with what you saw in your mind’s eye.
Well, feel free to go crazy because I did too! Here’s mine…
(this post contains some affiliate links)
A gutsy wheelbarrow coffee table project
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Supplies I used:
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A vintage wheelbarrow
Cedar strip planks
Larger wood planks for a base
Cordless drill and screws
Visit a post on my own must-have DIY tools list HERE
How-to:
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1. Reclaimed wood cedar strips were gathered, then using a palm sander, were sanded down to achieve a smooth finish.
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2. My fav old antique wheelbarrow received a good scrub, then got sprayed all over with a clear spray sealer.
Using a clear coat of some kind helps enhance paint tones and rust, while keeping you safer!
3. Larger wood planks cut to all the same length were outfitted on top of the wheelbarrow which would ultimately provide a base for the cedar strips.
Tip: For this project, you’ll want to ensure the boards will lay level, whether that means to add something underneath or place the wheelbarrow wheel on something.
4. The cedar planks were positioned on top of the larger planks to cover them up.
I desired the wood on top to be weathered, so you can possibly just use the larger planks as-is if they are the patina you desire.
5. Each cedar strip was predrilled in several places before being screwed down to the larger planks.
Pre-drilling really helps to reduce wood splits, especially in older wood.
6. The cedar planks were attached to the larger planks with drywall screws.
I choose to intentionally jog the boards so they wouldn’t be perfectly aligned on each side, but you could cut them straight if desired!
I ran out of room to fit in all the wood between the wheelbarrow handles, so I cut out a chunk with a jig saw.
Yup! This will do!
“As what?!?”, you ask?
Wheelbarrow coffee table reveal
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Here, lemme tell you what it is as I roll your coffee over to you on my new-old…
… wheelbarrow coffee table!
It’s junky, not too big, can be easily moved…
And even has built-in magazine storage!
I left the large boards as separate planks so I could flip one side up easily for easy magazine access.
Add an old kettle filled with cut hydrangeas for a vignette…
And I do believe this wheelbarrow coffee table is indeed gutsy!
And now I want a bigger one!
This is an easy project that sort of resembles how an industrial cart coffee table would work. But this is garden style… right?! 🙂 Maybe we can make this become a thing after this!
Anyway, I enjoy how this turned out and while it’s gutsy… it’s also super productive too! It works!
Think you’ll try a version of this idea for something?
.Got the guts to link up something equally brave in your world?
Let’s see whatcha did! Link yours up below!
All 31 Day posts to date are HERE.
Visit Day One for each listing HERE.
I LOVE that coffee table! Unbelievable! Wow!
Kristen
Sometimes, ya just gotta roll with it baby! hardy-har-har…
Very cool and totally unexpected…
Donna that is way cool!! A coffee table that is also a magazine holder that can be moved anywhere you want it to go ~
Gotta love it!!
that is totally ingenious! love it, Donna! 🙂
Shut the ridiculously big front door!!! OMG this is awesome! I did giggle when I saw it b/c it is that cool! Good job 🙂
COOL! OK I think I played it a little too safe on mine LOL. I did try to think outside the box though.
You are so cute…and funny. AND if you cut a round hole right in the middle you could use it for a portable outhouse…..just a thought….xo Diana
How fun. I gotta start building!
So cute! I almost did something close to that! But I think mine is pretty gutsy too, hopefully I can finish and link up tomorrow!
I wanna make one!!!
Over the top fabulous, Donna. I love it. I just joined in. Hope you like my link. Thanks for hosting this awesome challenge.
Love! (The pointy board worries me a little…just saying’)
I LOVE it! I know I say that a lot, but it’s true! I love it! Really great job, Donna!
I love the rustic book- mobile. Looks great!
Rightfully so, #12 Krista, I use to worry about that stuff more too when my kiddo was a toddler. 🙂
Thanks everyone! I’m still laffin’ at it…
Donna
THAT is CRAZY funky CUTE!
That’s a little out there but definitely cool and it works! This was a fun post. I linked up. It’s not something I did just for this challenge but I did it about a month ago before the challenge was made. I definitely went bold and out of my comfort zone, had to tweak a bit but ended up loving it.
Donna the coffee table is cool! I linked up a past project, it felt gutsy when I did it. Thanks for thinking outside the wheelbarrow!
Debbie
Hi Donna! I really do love your coffee table, unique and gutsy for sure! I linked another project I did a few days ago, just may be a bit more gutsy for sure! Thank you.
that is terrific! i did NOT see where you were going with this, but i love it!
you must have a really BIG house! / yard! / shed!
thanks for the prompt!
rebeca
Donna, you amaze me! That is a pretty cool coffee wheelbarrow table. You are one gutsy lady. Hugs, Pamela
What’s good about the coffee table is that you can roll it out of the way to do your exercises! Yeah, right, just like I do. Another fantastic project! Ann
Absolutely LOVE!! 🙂
I love it and will rise to the challenge again! I just posted my using something in an unusual way challenge! Here is the link–check it out if you get time!
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/10/rising-to-funky-junk-challenge.html
LOL! That is awesome! Love it!
So much fun! The wheelbarrow coffee table is fabulous. I love that old teapot with flowers, too.
… and suits my other busted up junk just fine!
Ha-ha-ha… that gave me a good chuckle, Donna!
The coffee table …uh, wheelbarrow / magazine holder…whatever it’s so versatile you can’t really give it a proper name!
love it. Pat
Funkalicious!!! Clever and fun ~ a great combination! I love the variety of hydrangeas as well. I linked up too. 🙂
Well, I gotta say this may be the first one that isn’t doing it for me. BUT don’t put too much into what I say. I once saved a really old two seater outhouse seat that I thought would make a very cool coffee table. DH talked me into throwing it out. Dang.
very ingenuitive. you are so creative. I am just concerned for your knee. That one pointy stick looks like it is out to get it.
Ridiculously cool! That certainly is gutsy! I’d park it in the kitchen late in the evening and train my kiddo to make the morning coffee, put a cup or two on the table and wheel it to me as I relax on the couch!
I linked up a jewelry project that is a little out there but I like it! Thanks for challenging me!
Well you are just stinkin’ brilliant. You’re an artist, you know that?
Marvelous!!!! 🙂 Heidi
Wonderful!!! Love it!! Hmmm….puts thinking cap on….I will keep you posted!!
Hugs
SueAnn
That was a monster of an idea! I cruised through some of the other crazy ideas above, but yours is both crazy and smart!
Well how cute! Great, now the price of wheelbarrows are going to go up. ….everyone is going to want to make coffee tables out of them! Seriously, you are so creative. I want to thank you for encouraging me to challenge myself. I think I’ve created a pretty nifty bathroom , because of your encouragement !
The Universe….shakin’ again!
AHHHHHHHHH!
xo
~K
Nope, I didn’t see that one coming! IF I were to try to duplicate this, my boards would all have to be straight with rounded corners, not for a toddler, but for MYSELF! LOL I am a total klutz. I wish I had time to work on this, but I have 2 kids birthdays in the same week with a sleepover of 8 yr old girls… I’d rather be crafting! LOL!
Your creativity and guts know no bounds! That’s why I adore you so!
Love it!
That is soooooo cute. Love it!
How cute is that! Love it!
Wow!!! What an amazing coffee table!!
Thank you also for hosting this event; I’ve added my upholstered headboard with nailhead trim. While this may seem a little bit ho hum, this was a HUGE endeavour for me (I would have NEVER tried a project like this in the past). And my gutsiest move yet – well, to actually link up to it on my new blog! I hope you like it 🙂
Take care,
Christina
designingbynumbers.blogspot.com
You are so stinkin’ creative! Who knew?! I love it!
I love the “unexpected” storage in your new “coffee table”. How cute! I am just blown away by the talent in blogland. Thank you for hosting this fun party. I just found it and added my wings. xo
O.K. YOU GOT THE OSCAR!!!****AWESOME TABLE****
I am rolling, I have laughed so hard my tummy hurts. Girl you have imagination. That is too
cool. When I saw you sprayed it I knew it was
going in the house, but I didn’t know how the heck you were going to use it. All I can say is
girl you are good, hands down. Your right you do need two drills, one always goes dead just about the time you are almost through.
<<<<<<<< AWESOME JOB !!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>
I use daddy’s large old wooden toolbox for my magazines and old ice tongs for a paper towel rack, a hay hook hangs in my dining room holds a silver creamer, and an old display rack hangs on the side of my frig. holds my collection of vintage chocolate covered cherry boxes, but I think you got me beat. Thanks so much I really enjoyed this post and if no one heard me laughing in my neighborhood I will get to live here another 44yr. (They know I am by myself)
I would have never thought about turning a wheel burrow into a coffee table! It is so adorable!
LOL! When I told Jim (hubby) about your wb coffee table this morning over coffee, he didn’t believe me. Had to hand my iPhone over for proof. I laughed at his doubt, I said; “you should know better than to think she wouldn’t or couldn’t do something” Shame on him!
It’s a winner in my book…love it!
Love it! I did something very similar right here:
http://indiantrailpottery.blogspot.com/2011/07/prim-makeover.html
Thanks Donna…you inspire me so! 🙂
love, tarrah
Excellent! Great elements & style. The challenge was definately motivating-my gutsy project used some great parts off of a combine and turned it into a great piece of art/photo holder. I don’t have a blog but you can check out pix on my FB page-The Shabby Tabby. Keep up the great work!
I actually gasped!! This is too cool, and i LOVE it! I would have never dreamed this up in one million years.
So glad I am not the only girl in the world that has one cordless drill. I get frustrated with myself every time I do a new project where I need both drill and screwdriver. And I don’t even want to tell you how often I go to Home Depot. For some reason, never registers on my brain when I am there.
Okay, I so did not guess that one at all. I think you should rip the garage door off for a ping-pong table next. 🙂 LOVE what you do!! So creative!!
Brilliant Idea!
I hope a Makita rep sees your blog and rewards you with a second drill. Preferably pink.
I’m making Roman shades out of our old lace curtains and sheets from Goodwill. No camera in this house, or I’d link up with my project. Dang.
HA! just reading this now AFTER i did something gutsy (not linkable yet) AND posted about YOU and “originality” in the blog world today.
this post is GUTSY and you have inspired and motivated–well, based on your stats–quite a few peeps via your platform here. and with gutsy creations like the wheelbarrow coffee table. personally, i love it, esp that magazine hide-away area.
keep ’em comin’!
amy
Hey Donna ~ new at this linking up thing ~ do you have a button for this? Can you tell I’m a little green? Wishing you well in all your endeavors ~ I understand your quandry ~ been there for years.
🙂 Dana
I featured your wheelbarrow coffee table over at Lemon Drop Life! Check it out here:
http://www.lemondroplife.com/2011/10/21/best-in-show-5/
I love your dreams….I think it take a certain kind of person to make these dreams beauty and you certainly do. I am new to blogging also and hope to pursue a bit of selling soon…I love painting on old wood…if you care to, check out my site… noahmakesmemories@blogspot.com Thanks, noah
Wicked. I love this post and your thinking outside the box. What a great conversation piece and an awesome idea. Love it. Thanks for sharing!
Hugs Julie
Very very cool!! Love it!
Shelley
http://carleys-closet.blogspot.com
Beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas in the copper (?) tea kettle. Love!!
Please, can you tell me wich kind of wood is your parquet? That one is in the fotograph with the coffee table…