This old wash stand is one of my very first really great finds. When I lived in Älmhult (the birth place of IKEA) back in the mid 80's I found it in an abandoned house along with some other stuff that I've since gotten rid of. It's served me well for over two decades as a bedside table, an entry hall catch-all and as a place to put down the laundry basket at our old house.
At the new place it's been moved around in the basement and hadn't really found it's place so I got an idea. I started by removing the top bit.
Then I measured to find the middle and used the straight edge of the saw to draw the line.
Then I used the same saw to - yes - saw it down the middle.
Yup, two pieces now. What on earth was I up to?
Tada! It used to serve as a bedside table in one of our old apartments and now I figured I'd use it as TWO bedside tables.
The plan was to re-paint them and attach them to the walls with L-brackets but then another thought entered my mind which kind of made them redundant...
So now I have two halves of an old wash stand and still no bedside tables. What entered my mind? I'll tell you more later!
Ps. Please ignore the cables mess, I was just trying the tables out here. You didn't think I was going to leave it as is did you?!
At first I was like, whhhhyyyy would you cut a perfectly good table in half?!!? Than I was all.. no! you didn't! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!
Posted by: Michelle | March 08, 2012 at 12:06 AM
WoW!! First, I wonder what you will do and then... ^___^ Haha...
You've got an ideas for this..Love it!
Posted by: elite concrete restoration | February 03, 2012 at 05:45 PM
AH vad fint! Vilka underbara farger! Gratt, vitt och ljus turkos med parkett golv. Ah!!!!
Posted by: Casa e Cose | February 02, 2012 at 02:50 PM
I'm also wondering about it. It keeps disappearing on me. It's back now but I'm considering finding some other search button.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | February 01, 2012 at 07:54 PM
oh yes, and i was wondering what happened to the 'search' button. i needed to look for something last week but, now i've forgotten, i hate that :(
Posted by: G.Sims | February 01, 2012 at 05:09 PM
the top part of the original wash stand looks usable as a hanging shelf, just add some hooks.
as for the two-halves, the suspense is killing me. beniiiiiita! but (sigh) like a dedicated follower, i am looking forward to the end result. i will surely smack my forehead when you finally reveal it. goodluck.
Posted by: G.Sims | February 01, 2012 at 05:05 PM
Right now they're redundant. Will try and find a spot for them somewhere :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | February 01, 2012 at 08:26 AM
That is so funny!
Posted by: Hxx | January 31, 2012 at 11:07 PM
GENIUS! Excited to see the next step. I like the soft blue of the tops.
Posted by: emily @ go haus go | January 31, 2012 at 10:48 PM
hahahaha
You mande me laugh!
Carolin (Chile)
Posted by: Carolina Jerez | January 31, 2012 at 10:35 PM
I was afraid for the table, but you were smarter than me! Good for you!
Saludos desde Chile :)
Posted by: Carolina Jerez | January 31, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Great!
Posted by: Ceranna | January 31, 2012 at 09:29 PM
I am a new reader and I adore your blog. I love that you sawed the table in half to use as nightstands. Very clever. :)
So, what are the plans for the little table?
Posted by: Debbie from Chicago | January 31, 2012 at 08:31 PM
You are! You are a wonderful writer and you create the most wonderful episodes for your readers to enjoy and savor!
I, too, am enjoying this bit of intrigue and mystery and I anticipate a very wonderful conclusion to this episode. Meanwhile, you've got us all wondering and pondering what could become of that lovely washstand; some of us might even create something brilliant out of those ponderings--that will be completely different from what you actually have planned. Brilliant teaching technique!
This actually reminds me of the Apartment Therapy feature where someone cut Ikea chairs in half and attached them to the wall as clothes butlers.
I have no idea what you will do but I've sure got my thinking cap on and it will keep me entertained until you reveal what you've done with them.
Posted by: Peggy | January 31, 2012 at 07:29 PM
Oh, the cliff hanger! Oh, the suspense! What will Benita do next? ... (cue the music) Stay tuned to the next episode of that Swedish woman with the saw at Chez Larsson.
Can't wait to see what you are up to next!
Nancy in snowy Ontario, Canada
Posted by: Nancy | January 31, 2012 at 06:49 PM
I have a friend that is a Metal Smith/Sculptor and she did the most brilliant side tables. Taking a round piece of metal, a plasma torch, and a doily pattern, she cut the design out, cut the circle in half, and painted them bright white. She has them attached to her living room wall on each side of her couch. I marvel at them every time I go over there!
Posted by: KeLLy Ann | January 31, 2012 at 06:25 PM
Hi Benita, just wanted to say I love how fearless you are! You have an idea and just go for it. Can't wait to see what your plans are for the tables - I thought the 1/2 bedside tables was genius - they look made for the spot. Love your little daily updates of your adventures of life in Sweden.
Posted by: Mags | January 31, 2012 at 05:45 PM
Genius!
Posted by: April | January 31, 2012 at 05:43 PM
This is why I love you so much! My husband and I use a huge table as a desk and it is too deep. We have been wanting to saw it down and both sets of our parents think we are crazy. Now, guess what we are doing this weekend! You are my hero!
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | January 31, 2012 at 04:54 PM
Wow! very clever... nicely done.
Thanks for the inspiration
Posted by: David in Canada | January 31, 2012 at 04:27 PM
Great idea Benita! These two smaller tables look more modern now and I love that you always repurpose what you already own to make them work. Very environmentally friendly!
I always think of you as the Swedish version of Martha Stewart, only you are more handy with the tools! :)
Posted by: Mona | January 31, 2012 at 04:21 PM
Very fun post. I love how fearless you are. And I love how you set up the suspense. Can't wait to tune in tomorrow for the conclusion.
Posted by: bkm | January 31, 2012 at 04:20 PM
Love it, Benita! Very lovely, what a smart idea!
Posted by: TwoHalvesWhole | January 31, 2012 at 03:55 PM
You killed the table! sniff sniff
Posted by: Goneril | January 31, 2012 at 02:08 PM
I like your way of thinking.
Posted by: nic | January 31, 2012 at 01:53 PM
I love this blog! So curious to see what you will do next. Thanks for being an inspiration with every post.
Posted by: joanser | January 31, 2012 at 01:13 PM
Nope :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | January 31, 2012 at 01:12 PM
I have touched on the subject in serveral posts but my search button has made its disappearing act again. When it's up there on the left try using it and do a "cable organizing" search and you should find some.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | January 31, 2012 at 01:11 PM
HAHAHA indeed :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | January 31, 2012 at 01:07 PM
They look great as bedside tables! Are you going to cut off the legs and hang up only the tops on the walls?!
Posted by: Annika | January 31, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Like your idea a lot! :) You are really an inspiration :)
Posted by: Fiona | January 31, 2012 at 12:53 PM
You are a true inspiration and you always make me smile :-) That is so clever that I almost want to have a go at it my self. Hence though, I don't think my hubby will totally agree ;)
It looks so great!
Cheerio, Anette :-)
Posted by: Anette | January 31, 2012 at 12:14 PM
tu es incroyable !! :) il y a le salon des inventions a Geneve, peut-etre devrais-tu venir presenter tes "trouvailles" ;)
Bonne journee !
Posted by: corinne | January 31, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Well, even though it's/they've been made redundant I think they're cute! LOVE that soft green color on the top.
Posted by: Judith | January 31, 2012 at 10:50 AM
What?! You cut it in half and now you're not even going to use them (as bedside tables anyway)? Can't wait to see what comes next! Whatever it is it'll be clever, I'm sure lol.
Posted by: Carin | January 31, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Tänker febrilt. Skulle vilja behöva dem, men var? I mitt sovrum...? HAHAHA
Posted by: Anne | January 31, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I was thinking that too. Haven't seen one and I could sure do with one!
Posted by: Carin | January 31, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Genius. Like velcro or post it notes - simple yet having that smack-yourself-over-the-head and why-didn't-I-think-of-that?! quality.
Posted by: Zosia | January 31, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Oh man, Benita! My heart stood still for a second when I saw what you did to the poor table! And now you are telling us, you will not use them as bedside tables? I'm still in a kind of shock (don't worry too much about me ;o)) ...
Posted by: Silke | January 31, 2012 at 10:09 AM
intriguing. i need a lesson in cable management from you - is there already a dedicated post somewhere? x
Posted by: elisa | January 31, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Somewhere, there's a tv station waiting to put you on tv. Another genius idea, and a testament to your relationship with 'stuff' that you just went and decided to cut that in half, even though you've loved it for so long. I can't wait to see what you do with the cables. We've got a cable mess in our living room - tv and modem related - that would blow your mind.
Posted by: phillippa | January 31, 2012 at 09:42 AM
Can't wait to see what you have in mind for those bedside tables! =D
http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bloobreyplace.blogspot.com | January 31, 2012 at 09:25 AM
"So now I have two halves of an old wash stand and still no bedside tables. "
Hm...is this not a bedside table?
Posted by: jja | January 31, 2012 at 08:57 AM
Dear Benita, I had a really long spell of not being able, for a severe lack of time, to read your blog (or any, for that matter) and finally last week I spent a few days catching up. I had to go as far back as you ripping the kitchen out of your new home. (Looks marvellous now, by the way). It was nice to see your 'decorating dramas' unfold at my own pace. But now, I'm all caught up and it's really feeling like you're drip feeding us these little bits of information - I can't just click for newer posts any more - What's going to happen next??? Will you stack them and make some sort of shelving? Do you make new bedside tables from L brackets? Don't leave us hanging for too long ;) Have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Diane | January 31, 2012 at 08:52 AM
DU kanske behöver dem?
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | January 31, 2012 at 08:29 AM
But it looks so good!!
Posted by: Anne | January 31, 2012 at 08:27 AM
You are so smart!! I really wish I had all your ideas!! Looking forward to the rest of the story...
Regards from snowy Zurich, Daniela
Posted by: Daniela | January 31, 2012 at 08:23 AM
It's not in the graveyard yet. I'm holding on to it a little while longer. The back/top bit's gone already though. Too narrow to do anything with.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | January 31, 2012 at 07:46 AM
Awww! My heart bleeds for the poor wash stand, for years it has stood proud and useful, then along comes Benita with her great big SAW!
Please tell me this has a happy ending and it doesn't end up in a graveyard!
Also, will you make use of the back you took off too?
Posted by: Mea | January 31, 2012 at 07:24 AM