Old Ladder to Cookbook Stand

So this is one of those posts that I don’t know if I’ve completely lost it, or if this is actually kind of fun.

Why do I think I lost it? Well, months ago there was a wooden ladder in my neighbors trash pile about two doors down. Curious as to what was all over there, I tip-toed (literally, not sure why that makes you feel more incognito but it does) and decided no way was I going to be the person that trash picked their neighbor, so I walked back home.

No more than 30 seconds after I got home, I decided that I was indeed crazy, and that I really wanted that ladder. So, I went back a SECOND time and grabbed it, this time running home. I can be pretty embarrassing slick like that. She then sat in the garage for a month or two, so I could make sure there were no bugs that I also brought home.

Now, a year and a move later (you know it got packed up with me because I was too embarrassed to put it on my own curb months later) I’m finally working on it. If you’re still reading, I promise there’s a project at the end of this saga : ) Believe it or not, this post isn’t even what I’m using the meat & potatoes of the ladder for. That post is later! For that project I needed to cut off the legs at an even length. That left me with this top piece.

I set it on the kitchen counter just like this (I have to work in the kitchen since we’re limited on space in the apartment, again, thank goodness I’m not a food blogger, or sawdust would be my special ingredient) and an idea popped in my head… doesn’t it already look kind of like a stand?

After seeing that, I got distracted from my original project and decided to keep this top in the kitchen, and try to use it as a cookbook stand. To make it sturdier, I cut the ends off at an angle like this.

And then to make the ledge where the cookbook would rest, I grabbed two 1 1/2″ screws, and two of the large metal washers from the ladder and screwed them in. A dab of glue keeps the washers in place against the head of the screw.

Last but not least, the whole thing got a good cleaning (vinegar & water) and about 4 coats of Poly, to seal in anything that is/was/will be on the surface. After all, it was outside waiting for the garbage man and now it’s in my kitchen, so that baby needed to be sealed up nice.

And here’s the finished product! It also works to hold my iPad for any Pinterest recipes I want to attempt.

I’m kind of digging the junk to treasure look of it, and it was a fun & easy (and free!) project to put together!

What do you think? Fun or funky? Do anything to embarrass yourself lately? Bonus points if it was in front of your neighbors : )

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