Junking Adventures: Apple Crates! And I’m really cold…. February 22, 2012
I wish I could tell you that I had a really amazing weekend, but quite frankly this past weekend sucked.
We will be living in our condo 3 years in July. And in this short time we’ve lived here we have learned of many reasons why we SHOULDN’T live in a condo. I will list some of them for you…
- You know your neighbors way to well. And hear everything they do. Yes, EVERYTHING. (wink, wink) Which, lucky for us, never lasts more than 30 seconds.
- You can’t make any really great home repairs. Like…I can’t install MDF on my walls because who the heck is going to want to buy a condo with paneled walls (unless my twin is out there somewhere and happens to be looking for an end unit townhouse near the shoreline with MDF all over the walls?)
- When there are big time problems that happen that aren’t your fault…..you are left waiting for the condo association to fix them. Which is exactly what happened this past Friday.
Apparently, there’s a gas leak in our specific building. Our condos are townhouse style, and there are about 8 units to one building. The plumbers have been working on the piping all weekend and told us that basically when the go to fix a pipe, more leaks occur….and it will most likely result in them having to repipe the entire building. GREAT. Just great. So my weekend has been spent without a stove, hot water, or heat. Luckily we are having a mild winter, but that doesn’t mean I’m not cold! I’m currently sitting in front of a space heater, with the pup curled up on my lap…..
Ugh. And who knows how long this will take to fix either. So while this is what we’ve been dealing with all weekend, I needed a little pick me up. I haven’t completed a project in a while, and really needed some DIY therapy. Hubs and I headed over to this really amazing place in Hamden, CT called Urban Miners, a deconstruction, salvage, and used goods warehouse. This place is junk HEAVEN. Like….anything you want, they’ve got it. And seeing as this picture from Pinterest has stolen my heart, I knew exactly what I needed….
Crates! We bought 6 apple crates for $5 a piece. I stacked them, and hubs screwed in some sheet rock screws for added support. But the screws were really long and I wasn’t about to have them sticking out everywhere, so he cut the ends off so my DIY-OCD didn’t flare up. π
Easy, CHEAP, and a great result. I might go back and purchase 3 more crates to add a third column (hubs idea). What do you think…leave it at 2, or add a third?
Go for the third and thanks for the info on condos we are thinking of buying up here in MA since houses are a lot of work. Oh and if and when we do buy, come decorate for me?
I will totally come up! π
i love those! i have an entry pinned with them and i would love to put some together by our back door where we seem to collect shoes!
That would be a great place for shoes!!!!!!! I bet that would look amazing in a closet too! What a great idea π
If you have room for a third column go for it! I love the look of those crates. I wish we had a salvage store near here.
You know, I didn’t even know there was one near me until recently!!! Do some research in your area, you never know what you might find! π I think I’ll strive for the third column π
Sorry your weekend sucks and I would be freaking out about a gas leak. Scary! The crates look quite amazing, love it! I say try a third row and if it doesn’t work out, maybe you could resell your crates or use them somewhere else?
Good point Ange! I am a firm believer in that you can never have too many crates. π
Ahhhh Lauren I LOVE it!! I wish I could find crates for that cheap… I never see them for under $20 where I am :(. I definitely vote you add the third column!
I know, $5 was a steal!!! Do you have any apple orchards near you? I’m wondering if it’s possible to pick some up there for cheap! I think I’m gonna go for the third column…and if it looks bad, I’m sure I’ll find use for the crates somewhere else!
Love the look!! I think a 3rd column would look great! You could also create yourself a wine rack out of stacking just one column of crates and getting some large PVC pipe (spray paint it so it matches or cover with scrapbook paper or stencil) and put inside each create or create some sort of wood insert to hold the wine bottles. (Although I don’t know how deep the crates are, so may not work??)
That sounds like a great idea!! Maaaaaybe, you should do that and feature it on your blog??? π
hahaha I would so love to do this however, my hotel-living is not conducive to furniture building π (and I would have no way to get it back home without shipping it) So, now I’m putting it back in your corner, and also on my “some day” I’ll do this list when I have a home again and not living in a hotel. π
Aw the crates look so good! I can’t wait to get our place sold and into a new one – you have so many cute ideas I want to try! And by the way, you made me laugh out loud with that 30 seconds comment in the first bullet π
Hehehehe, I think you’re the only one so far who caught on to that! π
I would leave it at 2, but chose a light color and use 4 rows and cut 45′ angles on opposite sides of 2 rows. Place in a corner.
Hey!! I love bookshelves made from apple crates! My only problem is I can’t ever find them!! Where did you buy yours from?
Hi Brooke! I actually found the apple crates at a local salvage shop! But I’m sure you could find some on Craigslist! I also live near a lot of apple orchards, so there’s never a shortage! Good luck!