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Sunday, September 7, 2008

The greatest use of an old futon I think I've ever seen

Photo Credit: Melodie/Apartment Therapy

Photo Credit: Melodie/Apartment Therapy

Perhaps the largest piece of furniture that routinely gets left out on the curb and not picked up again (except by the garbage men), the futon lives a sort of sad life. It's a need-based item, and once most people have outgrown the futon-owning stage in their lives, there's no amount of desperation that could make them go back. It's not that it's not a perfectly serviceable piece of furniture, it's just laden with so many notions of "struggle" and "transition" and "eating ramen noodles" that it's been thoroughly ghettoized in the adult (Western) world. This is all just a long way of saying I've never seen anyone do anything quite as cool with an old futon frame (scavenged from the curb, of course) than Apartment Therapy reader Melodie, who created a really nice, clean-lined garden gate using only the already-hinged frame, a 2" x 2" board, some eye hooks, wire, a toggle bolt, a couple of pieces of lattice for spacers, and some wood stain. Click through the slideshow for more views, and then go over to Apartment Therapy to read the full instructions.
[via Apartment Therapy]


More pure-genius makeovers on Shine:
5 creative ways to disguise (or improve) a radiator
A brilliant bathroom-sink hack
4 photos
    • from the house
    • from the street
    • another view
    • and one more
photo 1 of 4

from the house

Photo Credit: Melodie/Apartment Therapy

Related: ramen noodles, outdoor, gates, garden, futon, furniture makeovers, decorating, d.i.y.

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 18
  • Disgruntled's Avatar
    Posted by Disgruntled Wed Aug 6, 2008 11:51am PDT

    Recycling at it's finest. Brilliant idea.

    Report Abuse
  • Campbell's Soup's Avatar
    Posted by Campbell's Soup Wed Aug 6, 2008 12:22pm PDT

    That is awesome I love it!

    Report Abuse
  • marissa is malibuisburning.com's Avatar
    Posted by marissa is malibuisburning.com Wed Aug 6, 2008 3:11pm PDT

    Fantastic. If we're creative enough, everything in our homes has another use...

    Marissa

    http://buzz.prevention.com/community/category/dulce-marisita

    Report Abuse
  • Knows Better Now's Avatar
    Posted by Knows Better Now Wed Aug 6, 2008 5:32pm PDT

    It would look great with vines to soften the futon lines...

    Report Abuse
  • Nutty Nut's Avatar
    Posted by Nutty Nut Thu Aug 7, 2008 5:31am PDT

    Oh my gosh! I love it and I want to pick up a futon on freecycle just for this purpose. What an awesome way to recycle.

    Report Abuse
  • Mom of Two's Avatar
    Posted by Mom of Two Thu Aug 7, 2008 7:09am PDT

    I like it too. One less thing to go into the "trash mountains" leaping up in our state.

    Report Abuse
  • Rose's Avatar
    Posted by Rose Thu Aug 7, 2008 9:56am PDT

    Great idea!!!

    Report Abuse
  • evancorbistephisnama's Avatar
    Posted by evancorbistephisnama Thu Aug 7, 2008 6:18pm PDT

    Wonderful idea! We just recycled a twin sized futon frame a neighbor had put out to the curb. My husband took it apart and reused all the parts including the screws and made a child's table for our 4 year old Grandson to put his wooden castle on he had gotten for his 3rd birthday last year. Yes we are a little slow but was a wonderful idea and didnt have to by any thing to make it for him.

    Report Abuse
  • Angie t's Avatar
    Posted by Angie t Fri Aug 8, 2008 10:25am PDT

    AWSOME!!! REALLY BEAUTIFUL!!!

    Report Abuse
  • Lori W's Avatar
    Posted by Lori W Fri Aug 8, 2008 11:09am PDT

    Neato!!!!

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 18

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