Trash to Treasure

Allow me to formally introduce my lovely sister, Ashley. She recently expressed that she was bored on her summer break from teaching. (I personally don't know how this is possible, seeing as how she's finishing her master's this summer.) I have little sympathy for her since I would LOVE to have a summer break! So, I'm putting her to work on my blog! Welcome her to Grits and Gossip to what I hope will be regular addition.

Guest Blog by Ashley Anderson:

Recently, my mom came across an old outdoor chimney/fireplace, being the thrifty deal spotter she is, she saw it’s potential and brought it home (for free)! Because she already had one, she offered it to me.

I immediately loved its shape, and was thankful she rescued it from the landfill. It is cast iron and very well made, because it had been kept outside for many years it had rusty spots and some weathering. I brought it home and first hosed it down to get all the dirt and cob webs off, then I washed it with Clorox to make sure I was down to the raw surface.

I went to the hardware store and picked up a bottle of heat resistant black spray paint for $5. I applied three coats of paint to it to give it extra shine. I still had half the bottle left over for future projects!

The key with this project was to get the heat resistant spray paint. Regular paint will crack, melt, and peel under extreme heat. So there you have it an outdoor fireplace for under $5! This same principal can be used for grills that get rusty and dull looking, don’t throw it out, simply freshen it up!

Another helpful hint: Be careful as to where you position your outdoor fireplace, sometimes they have vents in the bottom and sides and can catch decks or ground coverings (such as pine needles) on fire. We are going to put ours in our back yard on a patio constructed of cement or stone tiles, with adirondack chairs as seating. I will keep you posted on this ongoing project!