Industrial pipe two-tier shelf.
Custom made for a customer, this is another one of my much loved industrial pipe furniture pieces. I collaborated with the customer to create a simple, two-tier shelf that would hang on a side wall in their kitchen. The plan was to use 3/4" new solid pine planks as this was the more affordable choice of wood (as opposed to purchasing actual reclaimed wood). In this case, I like to select wood planks that have a lot of knots throughout, or even better, have missing knots along the edges. These features add to the old, rustic appearance when trying to make new wood look old. Because the wood planks originally had a smooth finish, I had to do quite a bit of distressing. Anytime it comes to distressing wood, I like to use a few of my favourite "tools". These include poking a fork to create "wormholes", and a serrated knife and the edge of a metal potato masher to make unique indentations. I also like to use a sharp knife to shave off wood as well as a hammer to bang up the edges and make them less perfect. Long screws are also great for creating interesting indentations and making different kinds of marks. Once the distressing was complete, I drilled holes in the shelves to accommodate the pipe structure. I stained the wood planks in a medium-dark walnut stain. Next, I sprayed painted the pipes and fittings in flat black. Finally, I assembled the unit.
I just can't get over this style of furniture! It blends well with various decor styles, looks really great, and adds visual interest and character to any space. But the best part is that these pieces are highly customizable to fit any wall, nook, or floor area because they can be configured in any way imaginable.
