Information here command station art

September 09, 2013

I stopped by one of my favorite antique stores last week. “Store” doesn’t really fit this place though – it’s really a warehouse with two floors of vintage goodies. Huge! 

I saw this old "information here" sign and loved it:

vintage sign redo

I thought it would be a funky addition somewhere, I just couldn’t think of a place to put it. (It’s big!) When I posted it on Instagram someone mentioned using it in the dining room turned library, which I thought was brilliant – but there wasn’t a spot for it in there because it was so big.

So I left it there and kept thinking. And the next day I came up with the spot! Our laundry room turned mud room is awaiting it’s redo and I’m finally pulling my plan together. We needed a good spot to put school papers and other important stuff so I had an idea to use the sign. I went back and got it. ;)

Awhile back I hung my DIY magnetic board in here:

DIY magnetic board

It used to hang in my office but it was looking out of place to me there. It looked just as out of place here. ;) And the thing was, I never changed stuff out on it. Most of those papers on it have been there since the Bub was in preschool.

SO. I had a plan in mind for this vintage sign (not sure how vintage it really is but bear with me). The only issue was that one part of it had been painted over (sloppily) and then someone wrote over that:

It was just written in pencil but it wouldn’t come off. So I did a little DIY and sanded it down just a bit:

vintage sign

Then taped off a large rectangle with my delicate Frogtape:

vintage sign redo

I used delicate just in case the lettering or paint wasn’t on there well, but there were no problems at all when I pulled it off.

I have a color scheme in mind for the room and it comes from a rug I bought months ago. Now I can’t find the rug, which is awesome. I know it’s here somewhere, so I’m going ahead with my color scheme. If I remember right (gah), there are deep blues and I’m pretty sure green in the rug, so I used a blue to fill in the tape: information here sign

I used a sample of a chalk paint I had already – I got it free somewhere and can’t remember where. (I’m on a roll. Decrapifying is sucking my brain.)

Anyway. The paint is an Annie Sloan color called Napoleonic Blue and it’s a lovely deep blue. I loved how it looked with the green on there!

Next up was the part of my plan that would make this sign functional for us. I picked up some bulldog clips:

large bulldog clips

Initially I used an epoxy glue to secure them to the board but the back of each one wasn’t flush – so the glue wasn’t holding it on. Then I noticed there was a hole through the clip so I decided to just use screws to install them:

bulldog clip

I just put a small screw under the clip part and then used my drill to get it in there. It worked great! I wanted to age the clips to look older like the sign, but when I did a search online I realized I’d have to buy crazy industrial gloves and use eye protection and I wasn’t in the mood for all that. So they are new and shiny – for now anyway.

I gotta tell you – I hung it up and stood back and giggled because I loved it so much:

school paper organization

Ignore the paint samples on the wall that have been there for years. I’m not going with either one. ;)

OH, and try to ignore the bright yellow walls. I know, it’s hard.

I am using this for school papers that come in the door that I need to address – homework packets, forms that need to be filled out, etc. I’ve also clipped some receipts for returns up there so I know where to find them:

vintage sign school paper organization

I was able to cover up the not-so-pretty spots and make it functional – a double win! DIY vintage sign

Fun, eh? I think so. Totally dig it. I’ll dig it even more when the rest of the room is changed up.

I took down the large magnetic board that used to hang at the end of the room, and finally took down the laundry room wording on the wall too:

yellow and black laundry yellow and black mud room 

You know, cause it hasn’t been a laundry room for about a year. ;)

Next up – paint! Now that I’ve figured out what I want to do in here I’m SO excited to get moving. Paint will go on the walls and the beadboard and then I’ll be installing new molding throughout the room (around doors and baseboards). THEN…the built ins – I can’t wait to get started!

I’m ready to be done with the yellow and black, that’s for sure. It’s kind of bittersweet for me though, because this was the first room redo I ever shared on my blog almost exactly five years ago. :) So cool.

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Comments

  1. What a lovely find and perfect fit for the room!

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  2. I love how you doctored the sign and I also love where you hung it. I'm a loyal follower of your blog. Just wish I had some of your motivation.

    Bertie DeWane
    bertied at svmic dot com

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  3. Awesome find Sarah! I love the addition of the blue paint and the clips - form AND function? Yes, please!

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  4. That's a perfect spot, and the blue just makes it pop. I like it there.

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  5. Too cute and smart...love your site/blog :)

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  6. That sign is great. I already thought it looked kind of "old elementary school"-ish and then saw you are using it for school-related stuff! Perfect!

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  7. What an inspired way to use your sign. Great job on the redo and it looks terrific where you hung it!

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  8. I love Midland, I was going to go there this past Saturday but my son was getting tired of treasure hunting....But I did get him to go with me to Habitat Restore in Indy which was my first time. And we can't wait to go apple picking hopefully this weekend.

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  9. What a cute sign! I wish we had more vintage shopping options here. Two big stores just doesn't feel like enough! If you really want to age the clips quickly, I did a DIY back in April (I think?) that does exactly that. Super fast. I did mine on wire baskets for a DIY vintage locker basket look, but the same process should work great on your clips! If you end up trying it, I'd love to hear what you think :-)

    http://www.theevolutionofmom.com/2013/05/vintage-wire-basket-diy.html

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    Replies
    1. I will check this out, thank you Rachel!

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    2. I know it doesn't even begin to compare, but I figure it's the least I can do since I've used so many of your awesome tutorials!

      :-)

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  10. I love that! I'd love if I had a spot for something like that...or a store that sold such awesome finds. I'm so jealous! Great job, it looks fantastic, can't wait to see how the rest of that room turns out.

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  11. I love it as is, but think you could probably spray paint the clips black at least if you wanted...

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  12. I LOVE IT! Such a creative use! It looks like it belongs now!

    Xo Kylie

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  13. Now this is definitely the most clever idea I've seen. I love it. I would love for you to link up to my Inspire Me party this afternoon. www.astrollthrulife.net. Hugs, Marty

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  14. What a fun sign! and awesome that you made it functional. I'm anxious to see what color you are painting that wall!!

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  15. So cute Sarah! Can't wait to see what you do in this room :)

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  16. Sarah..
    what a dynamite post!
    we both started this blogging journey about the same time..
    where has the time gone?
    keep up the posting..
    always such a fun , informative read!
    hugs and smiles..
    Loui♥

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  17. Fabulous sign and what you did with it...ingenious! Now I am thrifting for an old sign. Gret inpsiration! Thanks

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  18. LOVE LOVE LOVE the laundry shoot. And I love the polka dots! What a great idea. :
    I love your blog and I was wondering if you could give me some advise. I started a blog and then after getting no response or following I kinda stopped. Now I want to start it up again and was wondering how to develop a following so I can get feedback on my posts and sharing and ideas from others! Thanks for your help!

    Ginger

    http://buildingsandcastlesinthewind.blogspot.com/

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  19. Love it! It's so perfect!
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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