Igor's Home: Console to Dog House **Updated**

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I'm a Pinterest addict.  If I'm not searching photos on the computer, then I'm on the iPhone app 'liking' them for later.  (I generally only 'like' pins on my phone.  I like to look into the Pin to see if it has a legit website attached, etc... so many times, I've categorized a Pin and it's just a photo from Flickr... so frustrating).


Recently, I pin'd a revamp that got my creative juices flowing.  Erin Rages took an old console TV and made it into a dog bed.  As soon as I pin'd this, I hit Craigslist and found (a free!) one that someone had just posted.  So I dragged the husband from bed early the next day to go help me bring it home.  (AFTER we got it home - he asked me, "We got this for free, right?") hahaha.

 (Personal Photos w/ Igor)

Erin Rages had great before and afters but I'm a step-by-step kinda gal... and I needed direction.  At the time, I couldn't find anything to help me along.  But I did have a husband that had enough knowledge to know that you DON'T BUST THE TUBE (the part that shows your evening stories).  BTW - Fried Okra has a good inside look/tutorial on this process.  The husband had me really scared up until this point because I had no clue what would happen if this thing exploded (and I still don't).  Fortunately, it was an easy process to ratchet off the 8 bolts holding THE TUBE in place and send it out to the dumpster (the ONLY upside of apartment living). 

Cleaning out the guts took all of 5 minutes, then the real pain the ass started.  Once THE TUBE is out, you're faced with 35 bolts and 55 tight staples. Those 35 bolts and 55 tight staples TOOK.ME.ALL.DAY.  Not fun.  Maybe all console TV's are different and some don't have all those bolts and staples???  If I had known what I know now... I would've thought REALLY hard before starting this project. lol.  Not something I ever plan on doing again. 

Tools I Used to Clean Out the Console:

• Small Screwdriver
• Large Screwdriver
• Needle Nose Pliers

Unlike the other revamps I've come a crossed, the other TV's didn't have a plastic frame holding the front of the TV together.  Sorry, since I don't have a picture, I'll do my best to describe it.  Behind the front of the TV (behind the 'wood') holding THE TUBE and the speakers is just a simple black plastic frame - that needed to be taking out.  Once that was taken out... 35 bolts/55 tight staples later, the TV was not sturdy.  We purchased "L" brackets from Home Depot/Lowe's.  I believe we used 12 of them.  There is no rhyme or reason to where to put these, each TV is going to be different.  Wherever your TV is shaky or loose - that's where they go. :)

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Once the console was secure, it was time to paint.  I had no clue what color I wanted - so I just went to Home Depot and started looking around and found this:

 (Personal Photo - Behr 470F-4 Aspen Aura)

Looking back, I wish I would've picked the next color down... but what can I do?  I'm surely not going to paint this console again. hahaha.  

 (Personal Photo)

It's been a long time since I've painted anything... so I shopped for a primer and was going to buy the paint, but the paint lady suggested getting a paint and primer All-In-One for a slightly cheaper price.  I was hooked.  Then I got home and started reading HORRIBLE reviews on this paint - that I had just purchased.

Despite the horrible reviews - I painted anyway.  In the end, I have no hard feelings against this paint.  It worked wonders for me and more than likely I will use it again... I'm the type of person that buys what she needs with where she's at.  If I'm at WM, I'll buy WM paint... If I'm at Lowe's, I'll buy Lowe's paint... etc.  Just so happened that I was at Home Depot when I needed paint. lol.

Items I Used To Prep and Paint:

• Ultra Fine Sanding Blocks (200 or 220 grit?).  The blocks and paper are/were the same price - so I went for the blocks, thinking they would be easier to work with (without a sander).
•  4-Piece Tiny Trim-It Roller Pack
• 2 - $.068 foam brushes
• Water/Rags to clean off the dust from sanding 

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I let the paint dry 4 hours in-between coats and only applied 2 coats total.  Pretty good for 'crappy' paint, huh? hahaha.

(Personal Photo)

Comforter - Brand: Waverly from Burlington Coat Factory... really cute but didn't hold up well.

Right now - it's liveable.  But I want to do more to it.  

• Add manly curtains to the front (as the color turned a little more Miami, Florida'ish then I expected)... oops.  
• Cover the back in fabric also - to hide the 'back of the TV' look.  

Igor looks SO SMALL inside that we've talked about changing out that old comforter to his smaller bed and adding his water/food bowls in there... sprucing it up to look like a mini-house!  The possibilities are endless but our wallets aren't - so those extras will come later. :)

Round-About Price to Make Dog House: $35

We barely had anything on hand to help make this (a major downside to apartment living). 

Words of Advice:

• I don't recommend sitting THE TUBE down once you got it out.  It was heavy, and sitting it down allows for more possibilities for it to break/explode.  We got it loose and immediately took it out to the dumpster.
• I was a little worried that the sanding blocks that I purchased weren't doing the trick... because the surface didn't seem 'scratched' up to me... but it all turned out and the paint is very much set to the console.  My husband said "if it's producing dust, it's working".

Hope you enjoy!  Feel free to ask questions - I'll answer the best I can. :)

- Sara.

UPDATE - 03.30.12

We have changed out Igor's large comforter and replaced it with his smaller bed and it's working out nicely!  

(Personal Photo)

I still haven't gotten around to adding pictures and/or curtains yet.  Frankly, I've been tied up with other projects, that I'm ever-so-trying to get done, and not feeling well for the past week.


2 of the projects are top secret and can't be 'released into the interwebs' until after Easter (they'll already typed up and ready to go!!!)  Until then... :)

Long Break Time

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It's been a looooong while since I've been here.  Last time, the husband and I were living in a one bedroom apartment, in upstate NY, and both had jobs.  Now, we're settled into Northern AZ and neither one of us have employment.  What a twist, huh?  

I've taken this time throughout the traveling and downtime to read, read, and read.  It feels good to get back into the swing of things (reading wise). 

I just want to take the time and throw out there some of my favorite websites that have to do with book and reading... maybe we can become friends?! :)

goodreads.com - Great site that allows you to show what you're reading, how fast you're reading it, and connect with friends.


paperbackswap.com - Love this site!  So far, I've sent 19 books out and received 22 in return.  You pay Media Mail to send a book to someone requesting - but in return you receive a book for free! :)


bookcrossing.com - Just recently came acrossed this one.  What a lovely site.  You know how you can track dollar bills on wheresgeorge.com?  It's the same concept but for books.  I've already sent 3 out in the world with the special code... can't wait to see where they end up! :)


bookswim.com - Netflix for books.  I used this site ALOT when I lived in DC because I was never able to get to the library before it closed. Lifesaver.  Ultimately - too expensive when rates start at $24/mo for 3 books at a time with unlimited turn around.


Since 2012 - I've finished 6 books towards my 24 book goal for the year.
- Crazy Aunt Purl's: Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair by Laurie Perry... she also has a great site (crazyauntpurl.com) that I had not heard prior to reading the book. 
- The Other Woman by Victoria Zackheim.  I got lost in some of the stories (mainly due to writing style) and was easily able to skip those chapters and move on.
- Candy Girl by Diablo Cody.  Wasn't AS GOOD as I had hoped it to be, but still an light/easy read.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This is one book that I dreaded reading, but it was on the table for the local book club I'm in.  It pleasantly surprised me.  Enough that I'm going to read the remaining 2 books soon and go see the movie!  
- MWF seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche - LOVED everything about this book.
- I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson - read it because I saw the movie was coming out on Redbox.  What a dud of a book and even worse movie.  Torture at times. lol.


Well... the library opens in 10 min - so I'm going to head out the door to pick up Mindy Kaling's book: Is everyone hanging out without me? (and other concerns)... can't wait to read it! :)


- Sara.