Typewriter Stand Gets an Industrial Rustic Makeover – Before and After

I brought this old typewriter stand from a yard sale last year.  When I asked the price, the gal said I could have it – gotta love a freebie!  I’ll admit, it wasn’t much to look at, but if you ignore the warped pressed board top that someone added to it, the base was pretty cool.  It’s been sitting around, awaiting its turn for a makeover, and the beautiful weather we’ve been having inspired me to work outdoors, and start fixing it up.
Wanna see the makeover I gave it?
Typewriter Stand Gets an Industrial Rustic Makeover

I wanted to give it a rustic top, so I asked my husband to remove the boards from this pallet for me.

Pallet Wood for Table Top

After he beat the heck out of it, there were enough unbroken boards for me to use.  I laid them on the table, in the order I wanted to use them, then cut them all the same length.

Pallet Wood Table Top

I used some scrap lumber from our in-progress pool deck project, and screwed them into the pallet boards to connect them all together.

Pallet Wood Table Top for Typewriter Stand

Looking good so far,  but the wood looked too new.

Vintage Typewriter Stand Makeover in progress

I used some Minwax wood spray stain to darken them up.  I decided to leave the weathered board shelves inside the stand – I just sprayed them with stain as well.

Minwax Wood Stain Pallet Wood Table Top

The wood was still super rough, so I took my sander to it, to smooth the surface.  This also really accented the wood stain that was in the deeper crevices.

Then, I used the sander over all the metal – it really gave it more of a worn,  industrial look, which I love.

My poor son came home from college in May, and got to sleep in my guest room (before it was finished) for about 2 weeks, before I had to kick him out so we could get it painted.
He brought the bare minimum of his belongings in the room (a cot and clothes), because he only got to stay in it for another 2 weeks, before my mom arrived for her visit.  He got kicked to the couch again, during her 2-1/2 week stay, but he’s back in the room again, and enjoying it.  He works the graveyard shift, so sleeping on the couch in the middle of the day, while the rest of us were up and about, wasn’t conducive to a good night’s (or day’s) sleep.  He often came home from work so exhausted, he crashed on the couch – hat and boots still on, but I knew our coming and going wasn’t restful for him.
He’ll be getting his own apartment in the fall, so we’re sharing the space right now – which I totally don’t mind, because I love having him home.  I take my photos in the morning, before he goes to bed for the day.  Since he’s got his “guy stuff” in the room now, I decided to make use of it when photographing the typewriter stand – grabbing his ear buds, loose change, leather belt, and pocket knife.  I borrowed the watch from my husband.  He hates being in photos himself, but said he was glad to have his watch join the photo shoot.  The beautiful rope balls are from High Plains Knot Work, and the rest of the items are some of my favorite vintage pieces to use in photos.
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Have I mentioned how much I love this room (yes, I know I have)?  If I could talk my husband into it, I’d make this room our bedroom in a heartbeat, but I do love to have a space that stays clean to take photos in!
Blessings,

Image Map



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Comments

  1. Well done. I really like your eclectic approach – it’s VERY appealing. Keep it up. xxx
    Greetings from Perth, Australia.

  2. I love it Angie! The old wood with the metal makes it take on a vintage industrial vibe!

  3. It looks great! Perfect in your new room.

  4. I love the look of the metal after it was sanded great idea!!

  5. What a great find – and of course you made it even ” greater ” love it – and loved reading the story about your Son too !
    xxx

  6. Love love love your make over and table! Genius!

  7. This is so up my alley, I can’t even tell you how much I love it! It’s wonderful!

  8. Fantastic!! I have 3 metal pieces that are awaiting their makeovers – I bought them out of someone’s front yard for $5 bucks each…and I just saw one of them on eBay for $125!
    🙂
    let’s hear it for #Junk!
    -b.

  9. Love it, Angie! The “guy styling” is great, too : )

  10. I love the typewriter table! Great makeover.

  11. I absolutely LOVE this room! I would love for my boys to have a room like that! Super well done! Great vision!
    Smiles!
    Terry

  12. That is an amazing transformation! Wonderful job!

  13. Another awesome transformation. It’s a perfect addition in your newly renovated space.

  14. I love how this turned out. I have an all metal typewriter stand that I need to paint – but I may just take a sander to it and make it look cool and industrial instead 🙂

  15. What a great project! It looks so “at home” in your guest house, it mush be hard to sell it!

  16. LOVE it Angie!!

  17. Your poor son, I was feeling tired just reading his schedule. How lucky is he to have such a sweet mom! I would love to come across an old typewrite stand like this. I love how you didn’t completely change it, just updated and freshened it. Sharing at my link party later today. Thanks!

  18. Love It, I have one that does not have a wood top, just metal. Imight be looking for some wood to make a top now!

  19. How did you sand the metal? Is there a special procedure and what grit did you use? I imagine that eye protection and a nose/mouth mask is a must.

    • Julie, I used very rough sandpaper (I don’t remember which grit it was. I didn’t wear any special protection, because it made much less dust than sanding wood normally does.

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