Architectural accents. (Easy does it).

In a world where "shabby chic" furniture and accessories seem to appeal to a broad range of people in decorating, I decided to take a trip to Habitat for Humanity and see what discarded architectural elements might have possibilities. I came home with an old raised panel door, five shutters of various sizes, an old pediment from above a door, and several small pieces of weathered wood door casings. My bill was a grand total of $28. I decided to make an outside utility shelf with hooks from the raised panel door and a small shelf for cups and saucers with old silverware hooks from the above-the-door pediment. With the three tall shutters, I created a screen for my teenage daughter to use for displaying her pictures, and from the two remaining shutters, I assembled a decorator fire screen with one short shutter in the center and one tall shutter cut in half for the two sides. Four small medallions on the corners of the door casement turned into precious coasters with only a few coats of paint. Here are the dir ections to make these very chic and useful items for your home. Make a trip to a salvage yard or Habitat for Humanity, or look around your basement or attic and come up with your own ideas for architectural treasures to accent your home.

PEDIMENT SHELF WITH SPOON AND FORK HOOKS (shown below)

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Ornamental pediment from above a door or window Three different silver-plated soup spoons (found at flea market or antique stores for about $1 or $2 each)

Two different silver-plated dinner or luncheon forks (found at flea market or antique stores)

Drill, screws, saw, rubber mallet, vice (optional), sandpaper, and paint brushes

Paint of your choice (I used Plaid brand in Sandstone)

Cut the pediment to the desired length. This shelf pediment is about 32 inches long. Sand with very coarse sandpaper to reveal the old finish and wood. Add a small amount of paint with a dry brush to enhance the finish and achieve the color of your decor. Sand again lightly. Bend silver-plated spoons and forks that are held in a vice with a rubber mallet to make hooks from the bowls of the spoons and the tines of the forks. Drill two tiny holes in the handle of each piece. Evenly space each spoon and fork hook on the bottom of the pediment and screw into place.

Place cups and saucers or other decorative items on the shelf and hang linen towels or napkins from the spoon and fork hooks.

PICTURE TRI-FOLD SNUFFER SCREEN

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Three tall narrow shutters Basecoat paint color of your choice (I used Wal-mart brand in Rosemary Green)

Paint colors of your choice for wooden ornamental knobs (I used Folkart brand in Metallic Peach, DecorArt brand in Ultra Gloss True Gold Metallic, and DecorArt in Gloss Bright Green)

Gold marking pen Various beads and stones Wooden wheels 1 1/2 inch wooden beads or balls with holes drilled in the center

Drill, long wood screws for wooden ball finials, six hinges and screws Thumb tacks and stones 527 Multi-purpose Cement

Paint three tall shutters with desired basecoat. Sand with coarse sandpaper to achieve an aged appearance. Hinge together to make a tri-fold screen making a zigzag pattern. To make knob finials, paint wooden wheels and round wooden beads desired colors and decorate with gold paint pen with dots and swirls. Screw a wooden bead on top of a wooden wheel to the top of each shutter top edge. Glue a bead and stone to the top of each screw. Decorator knobs are also available at The South in Jackson and Reflections in Meridian. To add glitz, glue stones to thumb tacks. Outline pictures with gold marking pen and tack to screen.

SHELF COAT RACK

MATERIALS NEEDED:

One raised panel wooden door with many coats of peeling paint Nails, screws, sandpaper, drill, saw, paint brushes, and hammer Pair of L-shaped brackets (these old ones conic from a flea market, but new ones, which may be aged with a little black or hunter green paint are available at garden shops and hardware stores)

Three decorator hooks (these hooks are available at Brown Barnett Dixon's Fine Gifts in Natchez; others may be found at flea markets or hardware stores)

Paint of your choice (I used Delta Ceramcoat brand in Antique White)

Cut a 21-inch piece from the top of the old raised panel door. This piece will be used for the backboard of the shelf. Cut a 15-inch piece from bottom of the door. This piece will be the shelf. Sand each piece with very coarse sandpaper until fairly smooth leaving touches of weathered paint. Add a touch of paint sparingly with a dry brush. I used the antique white, but dull green and gray also work well to give a lovely aged appearance. Sand surface again lightly. Place the cut side of the shelf on top of the cut side of the backboard and nail into place. Screw L-brackets into place on each side of the backboard and to the underside of the shelf. Screw the decorator hooks evenly spaced on the lower edge of the backboard. You may also use old glass doorknobs for hooks. Add coats, hats, and maybe a basket and branch and you will have a lovely architectural piece to welcome guests with flair.

SHUTTER FIRE SCREEN

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Three small old shutters of the same height or one small shutter and one tall shutter cut in half

Ornamental detail piece (this one was found at T.J. Maxx, also available at craft stores or through Van Dykes mail order)

Paint of your choice for basecoat (I used American brand in Buttermilk)

Paint for aging (I used Delta Ceramcoat brand in Wedgwood Green and Hippo Gray, and Plaid brand in Sandstone)

Sandpaper, saw, drill, screws, and four small hinges

Cut three shutters to the desired height, if necessary. They must all be the exact height or the center shutter may be slightly taller. I used one center shutter and cut a tall shutter in half for the two sides.

This fire screen is approximately thirty inches tall. Since my center shutter was painted a dark green and my side shutters were originally tan, I painted all three shutters with a basecoat of Buttermilk. Sand with coarse sandpaper to reveal some of the original color and wood. Age with a dry brush by lightly brushing with accents of Wedgwood Green, Hippo Gray, and Sandstone. Sand again lightly to achieve a smooth weathered appearance. Hinge the three shutters together to make a trifold screen. Paint hinges. Paint ornamental detail with same technique as the shutters and screw on the top of the center shutter.

MEDALLION COASTERS

(shown on opening page)

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Four corner medallions (can be purchased at Home Depot)

Paint (I used Delta brand in Burnt Umber, Delta brand in Dolphin Gray, Apple Barrel brand in Antique Gold, American brand in Gooseberry Pink, and Plaid brand in Poetry Green)

Sand paper

Gold marking pen

Elmer's Wood Glue 

Felt

Clear acrylic finish

Paint coasters with Burnt Umber. Allow the paint to dry, and accent with the gold marking pen. This combination will be close to the original finish that was on the old medallions that I used, and it makes a very nice basecoat. Then, paint each coaster a different color. I used the gold, gray, pink, and green. Allow paint to dry. Sand each coaster until the gold, brown, and wood come through to achieve an aged appearance. Spray with clear acrylic finish. Cut felt to fit the back of each coaster, and glue into place with wood glue.