Upcycled Window and Plaster Lath Coffee Table
- By Joan
- August 3, 2021
- 6 Comments
Upcycled Window and Plaster Lath Coffee Table
I know I shared a coffee table with you last week and another with you back in April, but I can’t help myself, lately everything I see looks like a coffee table. I still have a couple of coffee table wannabees in my garage. 🙂
Like last weeks curbside rescue this one also started out as a trash find. This time at one of my favorite dump piles, the leftover pile at my favorite architectural salvage store, Second Chance in Baltimore. This is also where I purchased the plaster lath for this project as well as the American Flag and plaster lath mirror.
In the pile above I found this! It’s a wooden window but not your typical every day normal wooden window. Besides the fact that it was free, it still had it’s window casing and framework attached and it opened with door type hinges, not your ordinary slidey up and down opening.
I immediately envisioned a wall cabinet. Add a backing and it would be just about complete. Of course it came home with me.
Remove any unneeded hardware and nails.
I also had to get rid of the bottom sill. It was a little rotten and it wasn’t the same width as the other three sides.
This was the original plan (from the back). Add shelves and plaster lath backing and my upcycled window shelves would be complete.
My window shelf was practically making itself! But then I had the bright idea to make a herringbone pattern out of the plaster lath. And if I wanted to add the herringbone, I would need something to attach it to.
So now I needed a wood backing. This 1/4″ plywood does the trick. It’s nailed to the existing window frame and best of all, it was also free, from the same dump pile.
I turn my window over, ready to attach plaster lath and that is the exact point I change my mind. Now I’m thinking coffee table. There is nothing I like more than an upcycled coffee table and there really wouldn’t be that much difference, just a window cabinet with legs.
The herringbone pattern was quick to create, just cut one end of the plaster lath with a 45° angle on a miter saw, the other end is straight. Use builders adhesive to attach.
This is also how I got a bunch of little ends so that I could create the plaster lath mirror.
Because plaster lath is extremely rough, use a sander to smooth the surface.
This old board replaced the old sill board.
I nailed on corner molding to the corners.
On the bottom, I added a frame of 1×3’s with leftover wood from an old wall treatment. Besides giving me something to screw my hairpin legs to, it also brings the overall height of the coffee table with legs attached to 16″. A normal coffee table should be about 16 – 18 inches.
These 10″ hairpin legs are from Hobby Lobby, about $5 each if you catch one of their half price sales. They screw right into the 1×3’s. You can also find hairpin legs at Amazon, for about the same price, I just didn’t want to wait a few days for delivery.
Attach a knob or handle for easy opening of the window.
Paint as desired. This is Waverly brand chalk paint, Elephant (on the left) and Vintage wax (on the right) to seal the chalk paint.
The window was missing a little of it’s glazing. This glazing in a tube goes on just like caulk and is super easy to apply.
Finished off the window with a coat of semi gloss white trim paint.
Last step, I gave the plaster lath strips a coat of polyurethane. This step is optional and based on your personal preference, whether you’d like the lath a little more finished or a little more rustic.
I think that’s all the coffee tables I have to share for at least a week. But if you do need more upcycled coffee table inspiration make sure you visit my coffee table and side table gallery. From my count, this is my 20th coffee table!
Stay healthy and stay inspired.
Upcycled Window and Plaster Lath coffee table
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Love it though I like it hanging on a wall for displaying stuff.
It’s fabulous
I love this, though the hairpin legs wouldn’t work on my house. And I liked the idea of a cabinet! I think it would show off the herringbone much better.
But a big part of that is I too have way too many coffee tables, though mine have all been crazy good deal can’t pass them up auction buys. ?
Great save, Joan! You always have such awesome ideas for salvage finds. The old window looks great as a coffee table. I think it would make an amazing wall cabinet with that lovely herringbone back.
That herringbone pattern would look excellent in a hang on the wall curio cabinet with some very cool supports.
I bought a can of your Penetrol and used it on some Swiss made nippers that I got for a buck…the nippers were badly rusted on one side. I sanded off what I could and wiped them down, they look great. The Penetrol also cleaned up the handles that were rubber coated.
As always, you did a beautifully and unique piece. I really like the plaster lath you using. The herringbone pattern looks incredible.
I am with several of the others in that I would have liked to seen it as a cabinet. If I had small children, I would hesitant to have the old, thin glass on my coffee table and it would be difficult to keep clean.
As always,it is still a fantastic piece, and I look forward to seeing what you will create on your next post.