Remember when I purchased that little white table at the
Brooklyn Flea?
I knew exactly the spot for it - this little corner at the end of my hallway. We needed a "mail drop" kind of spot and this was just the thing.
I love it but it was looking a little bare. I could have put a nice piece of art here but since the table is so small, I thought using the vertical space would be more practical.
With that in mind, I came up with a cheapo way use the area as display and organization. Since I'm very much an out of sight, out of mind person, I wanted something I could tack up recent invites, announcements, etc without cluttering the pile.
I spray painted these three frames I had saved up (large one purchased for $3 at a thrift shop and 2 smaller ones on clearance from Target)
A little white paint always goes so far with cheap crap.
I splurged for the $24 pretty radiator grill at Lowes and had this super epoxy/glue stuff hanging around from another project.
My original thought was that this screen was metal and thus magnetic. WRONG! Boy did I feel like a moron after realizing that. So I came up with a work around.
Bulldog magnet on the front, plain old magnet on the back. When you drag the bulldog, it drags the magnet on the back with it. Sweet! (But if you wanted to use this idea for jewelry or key organization, you could just get little hooks and forget the magnet entirely)
Tada! Much better now. What do you think? How do you handle your mail drop?
I love this!! The idea of using three frames is perfect- it uses up the right amount of wall space and creates a beautiful spot for your mail.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! I was just trying to figure out what to fill a large, old frame with. Looks like you just gave me one more project for this weekend. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletevery clever and very cute!
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of using that radiator grill- the pattern is too cool!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! I love it!
ReplyDeleteStop by my blog to enter a giveaway for a free pair of sandals!
I love it!
ReplyDeleteHow fantastically practical and oh so chic ! You've done it again my dear, so gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteKate
what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS idea! It all looks fantastic - very stylish! Well done ~
ReplyDeleteSarah :)
very well done and in great taste! I love the added textures it gives this space.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Natalie
wow I love your dedication - this looks great!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I made a jewelry holder using the same material- I just might have to make a little mail station too!
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT! love this idea and love the quatrafoil grill. So clever!
ReplyDeleteBTW...the invitations are a hit!
Oh, you mean people actually have a spot for mail and it isn't all over the dining room table, the bookshelves, and the desk?
ReplyDeleteIt looks fantastic!
Love it! We stack up our mail on a buffett in the living room. It gets to be a mess! Wish I had a spot like this in my place! Great job!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I'll be adding this to my project to-do list. Love your blog by the way!
ReplyDelete~Rachel~
oh wow impressed
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I may have to steal the frame portion for my home office. Kudos!!!
ReplyDeleteSo totally practical and pretty! I always scope out those grilles wondering what I could do with them. I'm clearly not DIY creative - this is amazing! Marija
ReplyDeleteThe magnet solution made me smile!
ReplyDeleteI use a pretty piece of china made to display pastries.
Kelly
I love it! Thanks for posting the how to!
ReplyDeleteLila Ferraro
Queen Bedroom Sets
You crafty woman! That looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteOh nice...it's much more practical what you just did...great post!
ReplyDeleteJen Ramos
madebygirl.blogspot.com
Umm...In a big pile on a kitchen counter.
ReplyDeleteSlinking away. Blushing and Hiding.
Carry on.
you're a mad genius! love it. still can't get over how gorgeous your kitchen is. *drool*
ReplyDeleteThat magnet solution is pure genius! I love the screen and how it turned out!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow. What a great eye you have. That is so perfect for that space. Not to mention so cool. Love the pics matched w/ that super cool table. Very well done. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great all together. The table is such a great find!
ReplyDeleteI've been on the hunt for frames at second hand shops lately and I keep striking out.
Awww, love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome and I love it and will now have to steal it. I actually try to get rid of my mail as fast as i comes in but I do occasional;y need to keep stuff around. I have a magnetic bulldog clip on the side of my fridge I keep things in. I am getting better about remember to weed through it every once in a while.
ReplyDeletewow love it! white paint works wonders. great job
ReplyDeleteLove the idea and how easy it'll be to change up colors and patterns with the different seasons.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! No other words even seem appropriate!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing the DIY instructions...will definitely be utilizing them!!!
Kelly
Love it! Our mail usually ends up everywhere--not good. : (
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! And, I may have to use your white paint/cheap crap quote. Too funny, and so true :)
ReplyDeleteOur mail usually ends up on the desk in our office. Your solution is genius - love that table!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteEverything you do is wonderful. I love your taste. Best design blog out there for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the first thing and only thing I don't agree with and I must be a little loco because it's such a small thing but here it is..I think the table shold be in the center of that wall, not lined up to be in the center of the staircase it is in front of. It looks really off. There..I've said it! (Sorry..love you...)
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person with the motto out of sight out of mind. Great solution but where do you purchase a bulldog magnet?
ReplyDeleteI love this. How creative to use a radiator screen; and it's so pretty, too! I also would have thought that the screen was magnetic...but you came up with such a great solution.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea. I have an old frame and might have to give this one a try. As much as I try to organize it with wall organizers, baskets, files, etc. there is still a lot of mail that ends up on our kitchen table. It drive me crazy! I try to act on things as soon as they come in but hubby is a bit of a clutter bug. This might be the perfect solution!
ReplyDeleteKarla
Sheila - No worries at all. YOu are entitled to your opinion. I tried it there first but it looked weird. Maybe it doesn't read in the photo but this is in a walkway so tucking it in the corner looked better to my eye.
ReplyDeleteNaz - You can buy those magnetic clips at Staples. (for some reason they don't carry the non magnet ones, dont ask me why)
You are so creative! Your "cork board" is fantastic and I wouldn't be surprised if it shows up in the next Martha Stewart magazine!
ReplyDeleteThat looks awesome, i love the fancy radiator grill, great idea.
ReplyDeleteI don't handle it and that's a problem. I love yours. Maybe I'll get inspired. I've tried several different systems, but they were obviously wrong for me. I think there might be a professional organizer in my future.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I've been looking for something like this in my house, but hadn't thought of anything that I loved. I might have to steal this idea! It looks great!
ReplyDeletewow, this is such a creative way to turn a frame/"cork board" into something totally new. it's brilliant and clever and definitely has transformed your hallway :) it's perfect.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! Love how you repurposed the frames!
ReplyDelete"A little white paint always goes so far with cheap crap." *chuckles* Best line ever.
ReplyDeleteMine sits in assorted piles throughout our house b/c husband dumps it wherever. Drives me nuts! A problem I'm currently trying to remedy.
What a great use of a radiator grill! We have a mirror that has three mail holders attached that my mom bought for me ages ago at Target. It's hanging in our kitchen, but somehow it quickly gets overstuffed and mail piles up on the kitchen island. Perhaps that's because it takes me forever to open my mail!
ReplyDeleteSo Gorgeous!!! OMG...not kidding you, my mail center is a pile of magazines, bills and inserts on my coffee table. I don't even have room for a mail center. phooey!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Super cute and so practical. I have a mail center but somehow it always seems to pile up on the dining room table.
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing. I love it. Great job.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea! You always find the coolest furniture and frames.
ReplyDeleteI love it - that radiator grill idea was fantastic! It looks great there. I just bought a white parsons desk off craigslist to use by our entrance for this exact purpose - it has pretty things on top and I can hide all our mail in the drawers!
ReplyDeleteI am in so in love with this table, it kind of hurts my heart.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, we have a little console and I painted the details in with some gold acrylic paints. We drop keys, wallets, and phones, and when we have the time, it's the perfect perch for some spring flowers!
Wonderful! My goal is to not have a bunch of mail, but for now we have a cute little area on my desk for this stuff...I would like to do something vertical like this though...
ReplyDeleteI love this! I just bought some frames from HL for 90% off and I have plans for them too:)
ReplyDeleteI remember you tweeting about the magnet. I love what you did.
That's the most elegant mail station I've ever seen. Great job!
ReplyDeleteMuch more fabulous than the plastic bin from walmart that I keep on top of the fridge. I dump all of our mail in there and when it gets full I put away/shred/scrapbook accordingly. It's useful but not pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea! This is the first time I've seen this...I love it!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteWe are in desperate need of a mail drop station...ours is just randomly scattered throughout the living room, kitchen, and office. Shame.
what an amazing job. i am so blown away!
ReplyDeleteYou made an inexpensive project look as high-end as the rest of your home. Well done!
ReplyDeleteGenius! Love that idea!
ReplyDeleteToday was my first time visiting your blog...it is lovely. I am having A "Blue Monday" giveaway at my blog...perhaps you might like to pop over and take a look? Have a great Thursday!
Stay Cozy, Carrie
eeey!! this is such a good idea!!!
ReplyDeleteand the table is gorgeous :)))
WoW! It looks awesome! I am totally in love with such a cute spot!
ReplyDeleteI'd tell you about my mail drop.... but I don't think you're looking for "we drop it on the dining room table" as a response. I love this project. Someday I dream of a foyer where I can "drop mail"... my dining room table would be forever greatful. Love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the geometric grate design, and yes, you can use it for a jewelry organizer. Here is one from a a great local D.I.Yer in Utah.
ReplyDeletehttp://saltlakedesignergal.blogspot.com/2010/02/weekend-project.html
Oh my, that table is so pretty! And you are super crafty with the wonderful frames, they look fabulous!!! Mail stresses me out, it piles up with the kids stuff from school and it drives me crazy, I have a file for everything but for some reason it doesn't go in it's spot by itself :) Take care-
ReplyDeleteKristin
BRILLIANT idea! That is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteVery clever idea! Now I will see if I can figure out how to steal it for my very own! (just kidding).
ReplyDeleteThat.is. perfect. Seriously--I'm very jealous of it at the moment. :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful! Where did you get the table?
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea!!! So classy and practical. You've done it again!!!
ReplyDeletevery clever, practical and pretty! great job.
ReplyDeletegail
Great idea! You're craft projects are ingenious!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Found you through Tip Junkie.
ReplyDeleteIt is SOOOO awesome.
ReplyDeleteI am SOOO jealous that you tackled that ever-looming mail pile....
I love your idea!! I just wanted to let you know that I have featured you over at www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Come on over and grab a button!!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely! Thanks for the great idea, I've got a similar mail situation at my house and have been looking for a solution - now to find the perfect table :-)
ReplyDeleteI love how organized this will keep you, plus it's classy looking. I'm having another We're Organized Wednesday linky party tomorrow. I would love it if you would link your mail drop center. There's a giveaway too. Hope to see you there.
ReplyDeletehttp://organizeyourstuffnow.com
Oh yeah....this would make a great inspiration board in my craft room.
ReplyDeleteI love it
ReplyDeleteAs soon as all this wedding planning business gets out of the way, I'm soooooo doing this. We have a funny entry way that is open to the living room and these frames would be ridiculously awesome in that space! Awesome project!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, the fact that it is function and beautiful makes it a winner for me. I do have a questions, could you use the magnetic spray paint for the radiator screen, not sure if they come in different colors but just an idea.
ReplyDeletei am so going to do this in my kitchen! thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteawesome idea, I hope I can make this for my office.
ReplyDeletei know im late! but this project is crazy! love it!
ReplyDeleteSaw your "sighting" on craigslist, then had a look at your own version - better! Lighter, which means it looks as though its not there. I know what you mean about colour. I know your home is "light light light", but I have that deep grey in our bathroom, and at the back of the bed in both bedrooms - but even I wouldn't link it with a RED carpet! Sadly we moved here before I had a digital camera, so all the early befores are in "real" photo versions - but you should have seen the colour schemes (schemes? no, you really wouldn't have thought "Mmmmm nice" to any of our rooms!!
ReplyDeleteOh don't get me wrong - I LOVE the deep gray on the walls in that photo. I think its really beautiful. Just surprises me someone who goes for such a chic color on the walls would also go with red carpeting.
ReplyDeleteWow! what a great idea! Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you