I bought a house and there is a really ugly phone that is attached to the hole in the entrance way.
Is there a way to re purpose the phone and turn it into something nice? Its embedded deep on the wall, and I don't want to take it off... (and its too old to actually be used) Thanks!
Hi, congratulations on your new home. You could put an antique looking frame around the phone or just write above or to the side of it..."put your finger in the hole of the number you want to dial"
Remove the cover, remove as much of the interior as you can and the cord, glue the hand set to the main box to transform it into a handle, hang small hooks inside and transform it into a key caddy.
Am a grandfather, So: Clean it as much as you can, put a fresh paint, And Put a placard above it saying:" GRAND FATGER"S PHONE", or what ever best comes to your mind. Your visitors will love ur.
Usually these have a jack behind them and hang on a hook attached to back of phone. Try pushing up on base to release the hook. If it won't come down that way you have the option of taking it apart by prying off cover ans disconnecting insides or frame it with sign saying antique. Attach cup hooks to bottom of frame for keys or small items. If you don't like the color it can be painted.
If you have children learning numbers/letters, why not take it down and let them play with it; also learning their own phone # along with grandma's number and 911. When to call 911 etc..
It should be easy to remove, and the remaining mar to your wall should be easy to cover. As far as the phone, I'd paint it with a design and put a base of a painted brick glued under it and use it as either a doorstop or a garden decoration.
I'd build a small box with a door around it. On the inside of the door put about 4 hooks, for keys. Stencil "keys" or something else on the outside of the door. Also, put a small shelf top on the top of the box to put a few knick knacks on. Make it into a useful decorative box.
Paint it in psychedelic colors in zentangle fashion. Color all numbers in black and then paint on your families lastname or what have you. It would make a good conversational piece when guests come over.
Take it off. You can use it for other décor but the entryway its just ugly. There's a plate behind it that is just screwed into the wall. not too hard to cover up.
They come off the wall; they're just screwed onto a plate underneath them. If the plate is still there, stuck somehow, or you are left with a hole, either patch it or hang something you love over it.
Take it off and hang a cordless phone there. Those phones are not that old and are still completely useable. You might just need a corded phone when the electric goes out....
For any newbies using landlines, although they work during power outages, they are not safe to use during thunderstorms, and that is not an old wive's tale.
Put a picture frame around the phone then paint the inside of frame, around the phone, with chalkboard paint. Then leave numbers or notes on chalkboard.
I have this exact phone in my garage. It was the only phone that worked when my electricity went out. Then I got u-verse voice from my phone company and now It doesn't work when power goes out because phone service is through the internet. I hate that!
Love the chalkboard idea, make it poster size, maybe unhook the earpiece and place it in an opposite corner with a speech bubble that says "it's for you" or something. ("Call your mother!") If you're not going to use the phone, you could even paint it any color you want.
the phone is not embedded in the wall, just the phone Jack. If you don't have land line service and want this gone it is easy to remove. pull up and Then out on the phone base it will slide off the studs that are part of the Jack. once the phone is off there will be screws exposed. you can unscrew these and it will expose the back of the back and the wires. you can unscrew or just cut these they are not high voltage so won't hurt you. It is a good idea to clip the exposed wire back so the wire is covered by the insulation. If you worry about the exposed ends simply tape them off with electrical tape. you can then buy a simple blind plate and screw it to the existing box in the wall. you can then hang a picture or whatever to cover the blind plate or just leave as is. If you don't want the blind plate you could of course patch the drywall that's a whole new project.
recycle to your local thrift store. Some people like vintage phones and this way you get rid of it, someone who wants one can purchase for a nominal amount and the thrift store - one that is charity based makes a little profit that goes to help someone in need
Take some plastic spray paint and paint it a color you like... You will need to of course do some prep work but paint it to compliment your decor or opposite of your decor for a stand out statement.
I am a real novice. I have a phone just like this that I actually still use, but it has yellowed. I would like to paint it, but don't even know how to begin. Do I have to take it apart and sand it or what? Could you e-mail me at: jhargrave946@halifaxcc.edu Thanks so much for any help you can offer. Janice
Make a frame and decoupage old phone book pages on it. Put it on the wall around the phone. Add a shelf under the frame and put a pad and pencil for notes. The phone will be a nice conversation piece.
I don't know why, but turning it into a planter sprung to mind. You could lay the receiver on a shelf nearby, (perhaps the same color as the phone), & plant air plants into each end. If you hollow out the phone innards & make a hole in the top, you could have a plant inside & peek out the top. Reattach the back of the phone & put it on the wall right where it was before. Very little work involved! Good luck!
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Use a large shadow box to enclose the phone and keep it for display right on the wall.
Hi, congratulations on your new home. You could put an antique looking frame around the phone or just write above or to the side of it..."put your finger in the hole of the number you want to dial"
Remove the cover, remove as much of the interior as you can and the cord, glue the hand set to the main box to transform it into a handle, hang small hooks inside and transform it into a key caddy.
Am a grandfather, So: Clean it as much as you can, put a fresh paint, And Put a placard above it saying:" GRAND FATGER"S PHONE", or what ever best comes to your mind. Your visitors will love ur.
Not a repurposing idea, but If you have a landline, the phone should work (unless its been destroyed somehow, but age won't do it).
Usually these have a jack behind them and hang on a hook attached to back of phone. Try pushing up on base to release the hook. If it won't come down that way you have the option of taking it apart by prying off cover ans disconnecting insides or frame it with sign saying antique. Attach cup hooks to bottom of frame for keys or small items. If you don't like the color it can be painted.
Check out this video of installing wall phone. It illustrates the process for hanging, so just reverse it to take it down.
Don't get rid of it. If you ever loose electric power in your area, these old phones work like a champ. I found out the hard way. Keep it handy ~
You can remove it quite easy it's just hooked to the wall and probably has a very short cord that you just unplug.
It will eventually be worth some money to a collector.....
You could always hang a large straw basket over it, until you decide on a permanent fix :)
I was just going to suggest this! A shadow box would work, too. I often cover blemishes with a pretty doll or floral arrangement.
If you have children learning numbers/letters, why not take it down and let them play with it; also learning their own phone # along with grandma's number and 911. When to call 911 etc..
I'd leave it there. If you don't want to see it, you can make a wood box to put over it and put "emergency phone" or something else on the box.
It should be easy to remove, and the remaining mar to your wall should be easy to cover. As far as the phone, I'd paint it with a design and put a base of a painted brick glued under it and use it as either a doorstop or a garden decoration.
I'd build a small box with a door around it. On the inside of the door put about 4 hooks, for keys. Stencil "keys" or something else on the outside of the door. Also, put a small shelf top on the top of the box to put a few knick knacks on. Make it into a useful decorative box.
Paint it in psychedelic colors in zentangle fashion. Color all numbers in black and then paint on your families lastname or what have you. It would make a good conversational piece when guests come over.
Take it off. You can use it for other décor but the entryway its just ugly. There's a plate behind it that is just screwed into the wall. not too hard to cover up.
Make a mini phone booth.
Sell it on eBay and put the money towards a piece of wall de or to cover the spot. ;)
They come off the wall; they're just screwed onto a plate underneath them. If the plate is still there, stuck somehow, or you are left with a hole, either patch it or hang something you love over it.
Hang a wooden box over it. Use the top of the box for what knots...
Plant real or faux succulents in the receiver. I think the pieces both can be unscrewed.
Take it off and hang a cordless phone there. Those phones are not that old and are still completely useable. You might just need a corded phone when the electric goes out....
One man's ugly is another man's gorgeous. I love it! Find someone else who does and make them a trade.
Put a picture frame around the phone then paint the inside of frame, around the phone, with chalkboard paint. Then leave numbers or notes on chalkboard.
I have one also that was on the wall from previous owner --i like your idea -thanks
Keep it for when the electric goes out then you'll have a phone to use. Cordless don't work when the electric goes out.
I have this exact phone in my garage. It was the only phone that worked when my electricity went out. Then I got u-verse voice from my phone company and now It doesn't work when power goes out because phone service is through the internet. I hate that!
Just keep it where it is, I have an old dial phone. The only one that is useable during a lighting storm!
They are good when the power has gone out, but you shouldn't be on a land line either during a lightning storm. http://weather.about.com/od/thunderstormsandl... http://www.consumerwarningnetwork.com/2010/06...
Love the chalkboard idea, make it poster size, maybe unhook the earpiece and place it in an opposite corner with a speech bubble that says "it's for you" or something. ("Call your mother!") If you're not going to use the phone, you could even paint it any color you want.
the phone is not embedded in the wall, just the phone Jack. If you don't have land line service and want this gone it is easy to remove. pull up and Then out on the phone base it will slide off the studs that are part of the Jack. once the phone is off there will be screws exposed. you can unscrew these and it will expose the back of the back and the wires. you can unscrew or just cut these they are not high voltage so won't hurt you. It is a good idea to clip the exposed wire back so the wire is covered by the insulation. If you worry about the exposed ends simply tape them off with electrical tape. you can then buy a simple blind plate and screw it to the existing box in the wall. you can then hang a picture or whatever to cover the blind plate or just leave as is. If you don't want the blind plate you could of course patch the drywall that's a whole new project.
recycle to your local thrift store. Some people like vintage phones and this way you get rid of it, someone who wants one can purchase for a nominal amount and the thrift store - one that is charity based makes a little profit that goes to help someone in need
"What can I do with an old phone?"....You can call your poor old parents. ☺
Take some plastic spray paint and paint it a color you like... You will need to of course do some prep work but paint it to compliment your decor or opposite of your decor for a stand out statement.
I am a real novice. I have a phone just like this that I actually still use, but it has yellowed. I would like to paint it, but don't even know how to begin. Do I have to take it apart and sand it or what? Could you e-mail me at: jhargrave946@halifaxcc.edu Thanks so much for any help you can offer. Janice
These phones work without electricity so you might want to hang on to it for later use when the power goes out.
That's what I told her Vicky S. I hope that she takes our suggestion.
Thanks to everyone- but we do not have a landline number! so this phone is really useless.... I was hoping to re-purpose it into something nice
Make a frame and decoupage old phone book pages on it. Put it on the wall around the phone. Add a shelf under the frame and put a pad and pencil for notes. The phone will be a nice conversation piece.