Asked on Jun 09, 2013

Repurposing Ideas

Sherry McBride
by Sherry McBride
I found this tea cart out in my dad's shed. Any repurposing ideas out there? I have a couple of "tea for two" sets that I wouldn't mind displaying on this, but I'm not really thrilled with the wood or the gold rims on the wheels. I would love some suggestiions. Thank you!
  34 answers
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jun 09, 2013
    What a lovely tea cart, lucky you. If the wheels can be removed off you can cover the rubber part with painters tape and spray paint the spokes.Since you said you have tea for two sets you would like to display you could choose a chalk paint in a color from the 2 sets that would compliment both. You can use chalk paint and leave the flat shelves the natural wood. That always gives a really nice look. If the decorative edging unscrews you may want to do that to making painting easier.
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    I think this would be great in a guest bathroom to place extra towels and necessities when you have family or friends staying at your home. The handle could be used to hang a hand towel on. Personally I'd not change it at all, but then most of our furniture is stained.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jun 09, 2013
    I like the idea of using it in a guest room, that is if, you get a lot of guests and you have a guest room. We don't have either so that idea wouldn't work for me. You can put towels on the handle and maybe a fluffy terry robe on the bottom shelf. On the top shelf a pretty bowl with little necessities or small hospitality snacks and fruit, a magazine and a vase of flowers. I'd still do some painting on it unless this style works with your décor.
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    At the moment @Mary, we don't have room for any guest other than in my drawing room if I move my drafting table so I can put the blow up expandable leg camp bed or sleep on the sofa I have in there. They would have their own bathroom though the walk in closet is filled with fabric. Our son and grandson have moved in so the other two rooms/suite is occupied, but when I did have guests we set out things for them that they may not have brought with them which is what made me think this would work so perfectly for a guest bathroom.
  • Sherry McBride Sherry McBride on Jun 09, 2013
    Believe it or not, I just discovered it also has a drawer in it right under the top of the cart. Mary, leaving the flat shelves the natural wood color is a wonderful idea! Becky, I actually have a guest bathroom that I painted and decided not to put up the old towel bar because I wanted something different. Between the 2 of you wonderful ladies, I can envision a paint scheme and a wonderful piece for the bathroom (and that drawer will come in handy for all kinds of little travel size bathroom items). Thank you.
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    Oh wow, an added bonus @Sherry. One of the things I set out for guests is travel size shampoos, conditioners, lotions and such. Things they might have forgotten. Even packaged tooth brushes.
  • Sherry McBride Sherry McBride on Jun 09, 2013
    I went back out into the garage to look at it again after I read your idea and Mary's idea and stood behind it and saw that drawer and I knew it would become a "bathroom cart". The color of the wood is almost the same shade as the vanity wood, so Mary's idea about leaving the flat part of the shelves alone works well also. I can't wait to get started on it!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 10, 2013
    What a great find! I was going to suggest the bathroom or guest room use but others had already suggested that. Be sure and post finished project and show it in place!
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jun 10, 2013
    @Sherry McBride I attached a picture of a coffee table that I did in a two toned look. I did do 2 coats of a polystain on the top for the added color and shine. If your shelves are in good shape a coat or two of poly or a good wax will protect. Not sure I would distress the piece unless it goes with your décor.
  • Z Z on Jun 10, 2013
    I'm tickled to have helped Sherry. I'll be watching to see the final result. Though I really think just some furniture polish is all it really needs before you add some goodies in the drawer and other items for your guests.
  • Joy M Joy M on Jun 10, 2013
    You could paint it All black or all white!
  • Sandra Sikes Sandra Sikes on Jun 10, 2013
    looks antique I wouldn't change it. Add lace dollies trays for your tea for two display think it would be lovely, maybe weave ivy in the spokes to hide what you don't like. Good luck with your endeavor
  • Martha Urban Martha Urban on Jun 10, 2013
    My grandmother had a similar one and used it as a plant stand
  • Beth Beth on Jun 10, 2013
    Please sell it to me!!! I love it just like it is... I have made our guest room into a victorian room and I have been looking for a tea cart for months...lol
  • Helen Neubauer Helen Neubauer on Jun 10, 2013
    Depending on what sort of look you are wanting, this could be fabulous done up in bright colors with a Mary Englebreit-type tea pot and cups.
  • P.j. C P.j. C on Jun 10, 2013
    I really like the idea of painting everything but the top & handle, similar to how Mary painted her table. I plan to redo a set of French style tables like hers!
  • Barbara London Barbara London on Jun 10, 2013
    I love this tea cart! The wheels could be changed out but I wouldn't paint or change the wood...that's my preference anyway!!! I'd love to have this in my "extra" bathroom, as was noted earlier! I wouldn't have room for it in my dining room as it's a small space in a 2-bedroom apartment...Please post pics of what you end up doing with it!!!
  • Carol M Carol M on Jun 10, 2013
    Love everyones ideas. My idea would be to use it in an extra bdrm as a catch all..But I like the bathrm idea the best..I hope you place it and show us what you do.:)
  • Linda Linda on Jun 10, 2013
    I'd use it as a portable bar
  • Rebecca Gresh Cooper Rebecca Gresh Cooper on Jun 10, 2013
    destress it and change the wheel covers
  • Sherry R Sherry R on Jun 10, 2013
    I love it! I would change the wheels and I thought of it as a portable bar also.. Maybe for the patio?
  • Wendy Stahl-Frakes Wendy Stahl-Frakes on Jun 10, 2013
    a great place to put some plants, small pots of ivy on top trailing down to a nice statuete on the bottom..or other do dads..
  • Patricia F Patricia F on Jun 10, 2013
    I would get rid of the gold rims. strip it and put a darker stain on it. paint the wheels to match. great display for tea sets. love the cart
  • Suzette Hagen Suzette Hagen on Jun 10, 2013
    If you decide not to use it in your bathroom, you could paint it white ( with a little green). Hang small garden tools from the handle with Colored cord and use it as a plant stand. Place your plant markers in the small drawer. If you have a covered porch, that would be even better. Move your small plants down to the second shelf and enjoy a cup of tea, by using the top for your cup! They have those planters that look like large cups with saucers.
  • Rosalie M Rosalie M on Jun 10, 2013
    It's perfect use would be as a tea cart in your dining room. Display your tea for two sets or a silver coffee/tea service on it. I would refresh the wood as is. Or, you could paint it to compliment your dining room. It is a beautiful piece.
  • Sandra W Sandra W on Jun 10, 2013
    I have one. I use it as a nightstand, not a boring old square nightstand. Favorite lamp on top and books on bottom. I can't decide if I would paint or not, maybe try rubbing it down with linseed oil or lemon oil and live with it for a few weeks. If you decide you don't like it, you can always paint and distress it later, but I wouldn't leave it outside except maybe on a covered porch for a drink station.
  • Corky Harper Corky Harper on Jun 11, 2013
    I am Really into using things for a different cause than originally intended, and think this would be a really cool cocktail cart for the den.
  • Jenny@birdsandsoap Jenny@birdsandsoap on Jun 11, 2013
    I think this could make an adorable drink cart for your patio. 4th of July is coming, it would look great in a distressed red or navy finish with some nice napkins and drink accessories. It just says "Yankee Doodle" to me!
  • P R P R on Jun 11, 2013
    I would turn it into a bathroom vanity. Put one of the new beautiful sinks on top, use the handle for a towel rack, put pretty colorful baskets on shelf below for putting extra toilet paper, soaps & Misc. items in. I would spray a shiny gloss protective finish before putting sink on it to protect wood from water.
  • Sharon E. Hines Sharon E. Hines on Jun 11, 2013
    what a great piece! can't wait to see what you decide to do with it.
  • Ann V Ann V on Jun 11, 2013
    It is a really nice old one I would not paint it. Use a good scrub with lemon oil soap and polish hard after, It makes a great bar cart for parties, both in and outside. then there is always the plant stand, a bathroom cart, towels etc.So many uses so little space to type. Great if you have someone sick in the family or a shut in put all their needs on the cart ( med, cough drops, hand wipes, magazines, water bottle etc etc) and put it next to the bed or the recliner they are stuck in, I would love to have this next to my husband's recliner for all his junk, keep things neat and easy to clean just wipe it down with sanitary wipes and finish with a damp paper towel and then dry it so you don't ruin the finIsh or you are back to paint it. ..
  • Beth McCurdy Beth McCurdy on Jun 11, 2013
    I see it painted white/off white and distressed. If it were me, I'd put it in a sunroom to hold plants.
  • 183304 183304 on Jun 12, 2013
    What a great cart. Good proportions and detail. Whatever you do with it, it will look stunning.
  • Faith R Georges Faith R Georges on Jun 08, 2014
    Found one last year at a sale and made into a bar chart in the dining room or paint and use on the padio for the same purpose.