Wednesday, February 29, 2012

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


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. :)


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 


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... :)

66 comments:

  1. It's so cool!!! I submitted a link to it to RoadkillRescue.net.

    Great job!

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  2. Fabulous transformation. It was certainly worth all your hard work. I would love a bed like that! Great job.

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  3. Thanks Heather and Julia! I'm very happy with the turn-out! Igor is a very spoiled dog! haha.

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    Replies
    1. How did you get the plastic frame out? I’ve removed all of the staples & bolts but it’s still wedged in there?!

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  4. I love this idea, great recycling! Now I need to look for an old TV and a little dog!!

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  5. I picked up an old console TV this morning, and gutted it this afternoon. The bolts, staples, and black plastic frame are no joke! We ended up using a saws-all to get the plastic frame off! I'm so excited to finish this piece. Thanks for the wonderful idea :)

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  6. majekmom - Search Craigslist for "Console tv"... those things are so ancient anymore that people are giving them away for free! :)

    Lenore&Christine - I want to see pictures! Glad to see you where able to make it through the frame - you're improvising probably saved you alot of cuss words. haha.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sara!

      Following up on the project. I did a little copy-catting, since I loved yours so much. I used the color Thermal Spring. Here's the link, since I can't post a picture. I also found an old comforter, but I might end up taking it out. Emmi is a little scared of it still, hahaha.

      Thanks again for the idea!! :)

      http://mylifeslittlediscoveries.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dog-bed.jpg

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    2. Hey Lenore! Your dog house looks fabulous! Totally made my day. :)

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  7. I like the color, I think this is completely adorable! I wonder if you would like the color better if you just went over it with some stain?
    Great job! (Amazing how many "crafty" things aren't hard, just tedious and time consuming!)

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  8. samara - I'm thinking the stain would've worked if it was completely made out of wood, but it's made out of that... cheap particle board stuff. lol. So the best that could've been done was to sand it down and paint over it. Stain would've looked nice though - instead of making it look like a Miami, FL house for my dog. haha.

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  9. Uh... be careful. The tube can carry a deadly charge for months after unplugging.

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  10. So super cute! I'd love to feature it on BlogHer. Send me an email if you are interested jennifer.perkins@blogher.com

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  11. This is fantastic! You did a great job. I love the idea that it can work as another piece of furniture. A BIG plus keeping another piece of something usuable out of the dump. Great idea! Thanks.

    I am following your blog. I hope you'll stop by mine.
    If it's OK with you, I may do a blog on this?

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  12. Sixpence and A Blue Moon - Go for it! :) Can't wait to see your finished project!

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  13. Beautiful! I'd love to feature this project on my pet blog if you'd let me! I can't find a way to contact you directly, but please email me at affurmation.blog at gmail.com if you are interested.

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  14. What a super cute idea! I really liked how it turned out. And since I live in South Florida, I appreciate the South Beachy look. ;)

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  15. We are getting a beagle next month and my fiance and I made this for her! It was so much fun and turned out wonderful, thanks for the idea!!

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  16. had to share on my Facebook page! www.facebook.com/LucyDesigns

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  17. I found this by way of Lucy Designs. Love this idea! Very creative!! We have huskies so this idea is too small.

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  18. I like the concept, but you've pretty much turned me away from picking up the free console at the resale shop... my pup sleeps under my waterbed... or on the end of the couch to be close to me & he's about 6x larger than yours...... So, I'm thinking I'll come up with another project for the pup! Yours did turn out really cute, though... and not covering the back of "bedroom" will keep it airy. :-)

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  19. t j - Sorry if my post turned you away. I should've also noted that there are TV consoles that are smaller and less complicated then the one I worked on. I plan to do more - so hopefully I'll be able to spotlight the less complicated ones. :)

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  20. Lucy - thanks for sharing on your FB! :)

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  21. Do you happen to know what size TV was in yours? I have been looking on yardsale sites and I can't find one that looks as big as yours!

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    Replies
    1. Jaimie - the size was roughly 27". I measured the opening and going on the before picture there was a small frame wrapping the tv also... so my best guess is 27". lol.

      The whole console measures in at: 45.5" length, 19.5" wide, and 30.5" tall... it is really big. I had no idea how big it was going to be when my husband and I went to pick it up. :)

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    2. We have one I actually wanted to put a new TV in it anyone try anything else like that?

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  22. What a cute dog bed! But at first glance, I swore this was my dog sitting in it! He apparently has a twin! :)

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  23. I love this idea,Your dog house looks fabulous!keep it up.cheap beds with mattress sale

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  27. This is a great idea. I just hope I can do it by myself. I have an old tv like that but couldnt find someone to take to dump. Maybe thats a good thing if I can do this project by myself. Wish me luck. Now I wish I hadnt tossed my old computers too. Oh well.

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  28. Just saw today. Late to the party but delighted with the idea. Have already visited ATL Craigslist and will keep looking. Could use something even smaller, but don't know what. Thanks for sharing!

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  29. How did you cover the hole in the back?

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  30. Have this same exact console just got it gutted today getting ready to paint and put shelves in it tomorrow!

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  52. It just so happens that I already have an old console tv. It used to be our family tv then it became a stand for the new tv and gaming tv for the kids. I could watch the news and they could play their video games at the same time while under my watchful eyes. Now the kids have grown and have their own TVs so other than as a stand for my newer tv I don’t need the console tv. It still works perfectly but I don’t think anyone would be interested in purchasing it so I can cut it up for my Maltipoo and save money on dog beds. I believe I already have everything I need except maybe for brackets if I need them so this project is going to likely cost me nothing but elbow grease. Thanks for the inspiration.

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