So, we've talked about some of our progress on the hallway front, including the pegboard I put up last week, and which I'm still working on. I also mentioned the cabinet I hauled in from someone's trash. Let's talk a bit more about that, shall we?

That's what the cabinet looked like when I brought it home. Pretty gross, right? I saw it out in someone's trash pile, and I couldn't get it out of my head. I have been obsessing about a bench for this entry. We really need something - it's impossible to get shoes on and off a 4-year-old or a 32-year-old prego without one - and we're working with a narrow space. And crappy narrow benches are still pretty expensive - at least, considering how unexcited I was for some generic bench. So then I saw this. It's the right dimensions - nice and shallow - and it provides storage. Sure, one side was covered in kitchen grease, but who's afraid of a little grease? The real rub was that it is also made from solid melamine, and correspondingly heavy. It was only a few blocks from my apartment, but there was no way I could carry it by myself. And I couldn't ask Bret to do it; this was definitely one of those things I needed to get into the house myself or it would be vetoed. And there, in the same trash pile (if you think of it as a hand-me-down pile, it's less gross), was a broken luggage cart. Like this.

Only broken and less functional. But still with two wheels and a ledge onto which I could wedge my little greasy shelf. I mean, c'mon guys - if that's not a sign from the trash picking gods that this cabinet was meant to mine, what is? So I hauled it home, walking awkwardly backwards the whole way, knowing the whole time that Bret was going to ask why we couldn't just get something new. As soon as I got home, he said, "I mean, how much could that possibly cost at Ikea?" He doesn't get the majesty of trash picking. That cabinet was FREE, y'all. It involved no cab rides to Ikea. No Swedish meatballs. No assembly. It was for the win. All I had to do was scrub it down.

I used vinegar, which I sprayed on and let sit, and then scrubbed with hot water mixed with a tablespoon or so of Borax. It was easier than some bathroom jobs, for sure. And this is what we were left with.

Clean, but definitely looking like an above-the-fridge kitchen cabinet we stuck here, on top of a newly unwrapped, wrinkled rug. Truth, all. But I was pretty sure I could remedy things with one simple addition: a bench cushion. So I trotted to Target, where I picked up a cheap (about $12, on sale) egg crate mattress pad. Of course, you can just invest in regular old foam and batting from the craft store, but since craft stores are few and far between around here, and since mattress pads can be cheaper, I just went this route. When I got home, I cut two rectangles to size and glued them together, back-to-back, smooth sides out, using spray adhesive.

The fabric is from my stash - it's a yard of Ikea fabric called Sabrina that I paid $5 for several years ago, and which it doesn't look like is still available. I really like it, and I think it will be resistant to showing dirt and wear. Plus, it looks great with my ruggy-rug. I think it modernizes the traditional plaid. Anyway, I skipped a crucial step here: I did not iron my fabric before I began. Definitely, definitely do that. It all turned out fine, but you should always iron  your fabric first. You can totally tell that I didn't. But, pretending that I did things right, I took my freshly ironed material and used spray adhesive to spray it onto one side of the double foam. Then I flipped it over, sprayed more adhesive, and smoothed the fabric onto the front of the cushion. Back on the back of the cushion, I folded down the raw edge to create a makeshift seam, and then used a bead of hot glue to glue the end down. For the ends, I went present-style, using hot glue liberally to keep everything together.

And voila! It looks better, right? Slightly more bench like, and slightly less cabinet like? The wrinkles are also a lot less obvious in person, which is good. I have big plans for this wall - a stencil, some hooks, just general fun - and I think the whole zone will be cute and functional. So, here's where we are now with entry progress.

Still super rough and in the beginning stages, but we're getting there. I love the pegboard - though I want to play around with it a bit more to get the most out of it, it's a really handy place to keep all the stuff that's up there - keys, gloves, earbuds, receipts and coupons, Lou's stuff, tissues. It's great for a compact space.

Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you later!