DIY: Vintage Ladder Part 2

Remember the ladder we built?  If you missed the step-by-step tutorial, check it out here!

So, now we are going to make that ladder look vintage. First step, beat it up. I used my hubby's huge hammer (the head, tail, and side) and whacked the sides and rungs of the ladder. 

I pulled out four different paint colors.  The beige and the medium gray I found in the Oops section at Home Depot, so I don't know the names, but the blue and charcoal gray are Behr Neptune Blue and Sled.

I just dipped my brush in the different paints, layering them on the wood.  You don't have to layer it thick, or even cover the entire board

It doesn't have to be perfect!

Once you have painted the ladder, take a high grit sand paper (I used 60) sand it until the grain of the wood pops

Then wipe the entire piece with a wet rag to ensure the ladder is free of any sawdust.  Open up some stain (I used Minwax Provincial) and slap it on. I didn't leave the stain on very long before I wiped it off. 

And here is the finished product! 

And there you go! A ladder that looks like reclaimed barn wood

Wait until the ladder is completely dry (I waited about 20 hours, just to be safe) and then add your accessories! I was able to hang all of my scarves and belts.

Now, they take up less space and everything is displayed so nicely. :]

-Saleena

Linked to the following blogs: DIY Showoff, The Girl Creative, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Momnivores-dilemma, Fireflies and Jellybeans, 733 Blog, House of Hepworths, Yesterday on Tuesday, A Glimpse Inside, The Crafty Blogstalker, Beyond the Picket Fence, I Gotta Create, 

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DIY: Vintage Ladder Part 1

There are so many great things you can do with an old ladder. They add so much character to a room, especially a room with tall ceilings. They can also function as storage for a bathroom or laundry room. Check out these photos I found on Pinterest for some inspiration.

I wanted a place to store all of my scarves, and I thought that a ladder would be the perfect way to display them while having that vintage look that I love. My hunk of a husband helped me out on this project. 

Materials:

1 3/8” circle drill bit

Power Drill

Compound Miter Saw

One 1 3/8” wooden Dowel

Two 1” x 4” x 6’ wood boards

Tape measure

Pencil

Ten 2 ½” nails

 Directions:

Measure where you want the rungs of the ladder to go.

I thought every 12 inches looked good.

 Start with one end of the board, elevating it off of the ground with bricks or other wood.  Carefully, use your drill bit to create a your circular cut.

 Repeat every 12 inches (five holes on each piece of wood)

 Next, mark your wooden dowel.  I cut mine every 16 inches. Keep in mind, the ends will be hidden behind the larger pieces of wood. 

 Place your dowel in the holes of one of the pieces. Put the rungs through the holes of the other 1 x 4

Starting with the first rung, take a nail hammer it straight through the top of the 1 x 4 and into the rung below.  Note: you may want to use your hammer to make sure the wooden dowel is flush with the 1 x 4 before putting the nail in

 Repeat with all other rungs.

And there you go!  Stay tuned for part 2, which will show you how to distress it to make it look vintage.

-Saleena  

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