Sunday, July 12, 2009

Using a Salvaged Door to Create a Unique Dining Table

I love to try and figure out new uses for existing items, things I might find at the thrift or at a yard sale. It makes things interesting and creates great conversation pieces. I also love the eclectic look, something that isn't cookie cutter, as you might find at a furniture store.
I have something fun today. I have proclaimed my love of doors and windows.
In the past I told of how to use an old door to make a bed frame. Today, still with doors in mind...another project.
Furnishing a dining room can be quite expensive, but you can furnish your dining room with a trip to the local salvage yard. Whether your salvage-decorated dining room is temporary, or meant to last for years, you can put together an excellent room quickly and easily with found pieces. Create you dining table from a salvage door to quickly and easily furnish your dining room. The design of the door will dictate the style of the room. You can choose simple plain door for a modern or contemporary style, or an ornate aged door.Such a door can cost you anything from nothing to a hundred dollars at a salvage yard. You can even purchase a new table at full retail price is you wish. Your door can be inexpensive, simple, and smooth, or highly ornate with carvings and/or glass.

Look around! Find an interesting-looking used door. A door with five or six panels is ideal for this project. If you don’t have an old door lying around, go to a local salvage yard-I have also seen many at the thrift store.

Paint the door if desired. You could paint it to match the color scheme of your home or, if you prefer, just leave the wood plain.
Attach four legs to bottom of the door to create a table. You have several options for making the table legs. You can purchase pre-made wood table legs to match or coordinate with the door you have chosen. You can find these table legs at many hardware stores or online. They will have a screw sticking out of the top that you can screw into a table. Another option is to an iron base for an old patio table. These are often available at a salvage store. For a large dining table, look for two pedestal table bases. Don't worry about them matching exactly. You can spray paint them the same color. Any differences will just ads to the charm. Attach these legs to the side of the door that you like the least, leaving the other side of the door as the table top. (Use smaller legs to create a coffeetable)
If you wanted, you could even go a step farther and cut pretty pieces of paper to fit door panels. Scrapbook paper or gift wrap lend themselves well to this purpose. Fabric also works. You can even use the table as a clever way to display family photos. Be creative. Do not glue down whatever you place inside the panels. This will make it easy to change the look of the table whenever the mood strikes you.

Finish your table by painting or staining your table frame, legs, and table to match.
If your table is highly carved and ornate, you will need to have a piece of glass cut to put on top of your table to make the table top smooth and flat. This will also protect your table from damage.

And now, you have a dining table that is unique to you and your home. One that will certainly be the topic of many suppertime conversations with guest. Bon Appitite!

(All pictures were found online in differnt locations to accompany this post)

18 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

What an interesting post, Leigh. I once had a set of louver doors and I wanted to use one to make a coffee table. I had no clue of how to go about it and hubs threw them out. If only I had known to get pre~made legs!! Well now I am on the lookout for doors. How do you find a salvage yard? Never been to one...

oxoxo
Jane

Mari said...

What a great idea! I love it!

Anonymous said...

Now aren't you the most clever one? These doors look great for dining tables! Wish I'd thought of this when I first married and we ate on TV trays! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

I love this idea, Leigh. I used to have a work table made from a door. It was a wonderful size for cutting patterns or painting or whatever.

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

Very cool Leigh! I do have old doors just laying around in a shed outside!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Leigh,
What fabulous ideas! I am so glad you stopped by, I am always playing catch up too! You got to meet Bo Bice ? You so lucky gal!! Hugs, Cindy

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Old doors do make fabulous tables. YOur pics are great, some super inspiration. Hugs, Marty

Glenda/MidSouth said...

I remember a lot of people made coffee tables out of the solid doors in the early 60's.
Glenda

xinex said...

Very interesting and really a great idea! These are solid and heavy tables too...Christine

Christina said...

Beautiful inspirations pictures. I would love to find an old door w/lots of character to make a craft table out of. Great ideas!

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Somehow, I wasn't as adventurous when I was younger and had to have everything brand new from furniture stores. We bought everything new, and now I am wishing I could get rid of everything and start all over! I love doors for decor. Thanks for this post Leigh. It's been forever since Internet Explorer would let me on. Good to see your place again!

~Misti

Keetha Broyles said...

Hi friend - - - I"m TRYING to vacation blog from the library - - - it's REALLY slow wi-fi today - - - -

Kristin - The Goat said...

Those are some great examples! Old door are so cool. I truly love them.

Justabeachkat said...

Great post Leigh! Love the idea...not so sure I could do it myself though. Very cool.

Hugs!
Kat

Dawn said...

I've always loved seeing old doors used for table or headboards. When we move here I discovered a lot of old doors. Several were made into a privacy fence which is on it's last legs. Most were leaned up against a shed outside and have a lot of rot. They made cool photos though. I'll let you know when I get a chance to post them.
Dawn

Unknown said...

My inlaws used a door as a dining room table for a while-- very country.

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

You make that look so simple! I am waiting for a sale at summer classics....I have my eye on a table there!
Holler if you hear they're having a sale.

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

These photos are GREAT! I just know if I tried to do this...people would be like, "Um...Laura, why are you using a DOOR as a TABLE?" LOL!