Radiator Bar...JunkFest'09

While I was looking through some photos of JunkFests past, I realized that I had not posted a slide show from this past year's sale. Let me tell you, there were some great things to be had! Soon I'll put together a slide and post it here for those of you that couldn't be there or just don't know what a JunkFest is. Then, you'll want to mark you calendars for this year's sale!

Here's a look at one of my pieces for JF'09, which sold within the first minute of the doors opening!

This is my version of a home bar, junk style!

My husband (aka, Great White Hunter) brought this old metal radiator cover home one day and said "Can you do anything with this?" After the shock wore off (jeez, maybe he does get it?!) and letting it sit in storage for, like, ever, I decided to make it into a home bar. I don't have a "before" pic of the vintage wooden footboard that I used as the top, but you'll soon see it.

I decided to cut a hole in the back side for storage....you know, bar-like items....wine glasses, booze, wine, etc...Don't ask me what I used to cut that hole, just know that I now have a brand-spankin' new angle grinder that I got for Christmas, thank-you-very-much. I don't want Donna from Funky Junk Interiors (queen of power tools!) to know the truth. For those of you that know this story, my dremel does too still work!
Anyway, I painted up a board before cutting it to fit and reinforcing to the inside of the radiator.
For logistical reasons, I was only able to use one shelf for storage....which really means, I'm no engineer here folks!

Below you'll get a sketchy view of the footboard. The matching headboard is in my daughter's bedroom. After attaching it to the rad. top, I sanded it down and painted it black. The bar was a bit top heavy and tippy, so I reinforced the back side with some weight at the bottom.

I had planned on using an automobile spray paint on the metal part. I really liked the finish of the auto paint, so I used it on the entire piece. Oh, and I used some wood trim to finish off the cut metal hole.

Since I didn't want light passing through the hole in the back to the large vented area on the front, I installed a large sheet of masonite (painted black) to the inside.
After painting the entire piece black, I realized it was just too dark, so I sanded down some areas on the top of the bar to look like natural wear marks. Then came several coats of polyeurathane.

It's still wet!

There's just enough room for 2 or 3 bar stools in the front.

And here she is, all tricked out for JunkFest with some beverage glasses and an adult game of Partini! I had one strand of white Christmas lights hanging inside that would have shown through those slats under the ledge (had we got them plugged in prior to this pic!)

A view of the back.

In this pic below you can see the string of lights....and four junk girls ready for a cocktail!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for JunkFest 2010....Saturday, September 11!

Oh! And...check out Shanty 2 Chic's "I Made It Without My Hubby" linky party!

I'm also joining in on Donna's Saturday Night Special....click here to see all the talent!

A couple more great link parties are here: Beyond the Picket Fence, Mustard Seed Creations, and A Soft Place to Land. Check 'em out!