Clawfoot tub to Chaise Lounge

Jasmin
by Jasmin
3 Materials
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Of course I have seen Breakfast at Tiffanys and my hat goes off to the original tub couch creator! However, I of COURSE have to add my spin!I though long and hard about simply taking the front out to make it a love seat, but .. then .. when do I do things the simple way? It needed that added flare and I am re finishing a clients bedroom to feel french, so it was a MUST to have curves. Voila the new Chaise for her master bedroom bay window! First and Foremost - do NOT TRY CUTTING OR WORKING WITH THIS unless you have proper protective equipment on! Glasses AND masks are a MUST!!!!!! Not only do you have to deal with potential lead in the paint, but also glass infused, fired on porcelain and chips flying everywhere! Very messy job! - Now - on to the fun part! I have been waiting three years to find the perfect tub! I found this one at our local Habitat for Humanity Re-store. I plotted my design early to match with a theme I was doing in a clients Master Bedroom. She had asked to find a sitting bench or something for her Bay Window * DING DING DING* I finally have a reason to make the Chaise I wanted to do. I worked on cutting the tub forever with a grinder as I was told plasma cutting was to hard on Cast .... it was pretty easy, however very time consuming, so I sourced it out after I got the initial trial over with. If I had more time to poke away at it I would have, but too many things were piling up! Then the work involved came. It took forever to figure out how to smoothe the chips from the cutting, but upon talking to some local car boys and metal workers, the idea of bondo came up! Might as well give it a go! And it worked! paint paint paint and add fabric and ta daaaaaaaaaaa! BUENO! There is a full album being uploaded right now to my Facebook page at http://www.gypsybarn.com. Come join the fun!
The finished look. Added the French themed fabric to add that tie together feel for the entire room.
A nice little compilation shot ideal for pinners. There is a full album on my blog below.
Taking off the old flaky paint before priming and adding bondo.
Well, it didn't go Audrey Hepburn, but a little Marilyn Monroe action sure did happen during the random fun photo shoot! I thought - oh what more fun way to show off DIY GRRRRRL power than to be in a party dress high heels and sparks!
Smoothed down with Bondo added! There is a full album being uploaded right now to my Facebook page at http://www.gypsybarn.com. Come join the fun!
Adding a kickstand to the back of the tub, just to make sure it doesn't tip from being weighted on one end. Thanks to Mark from Iron Craft for making me some custom iron curvy little kickstands!
Cutting cast iron coated in fired on porcelain is not a clean easy job.. it cracks and chips the finish and the only way I could come up with filling that in since smoothing it out  didn't work was to use bondo for cars. And it worked
Full coats of paint. Now to move on to the cushion and fabric. My least fav part. Fabric and I never see eye to eye!
Now I took this shot before I painted it to show the colour variations and option for futre pieces, but this colour combo didn't fit well with the grand makeover of the bedroom I am working on.
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  • Danes noo Danes noo on Jan 17, 2018

    how low to floor was this when finished

  • Danes noo Danes noo on Jan 17, 2018

    how much time did it take to finish

  • Gwn15387586 Gwn15387586 on May 30, 2023

    I would like to convert our claw foot tub into a step-in shower. This would require cutting out and finishing a large section of one side, still leaving at least a 3-4 inch high lip to keep the water inside the shower/tub. It’s already a tub/shower combo, so no plumbing changes would be needed. I’ll need to hire someone to do the job. Any thoughts/suggestions on the project or recommendations for what type of business would do this type of work?


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  • Kate Singh Kate Singh on May 15, 2019

    The upcycle ... not destruction ... of these beauties keeps them from being junked altogether. I found the originals for my patio in the late '60's in horse/cow pastures. Mom and I gave them an honorable use.


    It's my sanctuary now.

  • John Biermacher John Biermacher on Jan 06, 2022

    Always thought about doing a project like this but age/health has changed, so it is getting to the now or never stage. Come spring I will investigate gettin a company to do the cutting with a water jet.


    thanks for posting this project.

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