Tell me I’m not alone here…k. I walk into the thrift store to look for one thing, then, of course, the rest of the store calls. (aka. sirens…the kind that beckon you) Am I right? Can I help that 5 sets of these wooden gems were sitting there waiting for me? I think not. I say it’s time for some upcycled salt & pepper sets. Game ON.

At this point you may be wondering why on earth I need 5 sets of these? Well, truth be told I don’t. However, isn’t that how thrift shopping works? We buy things we don’t need because it’s a deal. Yeah…you know it! {{fist pump}}

In all seriousness though, I shop for project pieces mostly and I know that most every one loves these sets. While I debated on stripping these down to raw wood and giving a rustic vibe, my kids and I agreed they needed some fun.

TIME TO DIY

First order of business is to clean off the grime and see what we’re up against. Rubbing alcohol or diluted vinegar is a great way to spruce them up. I cleaned both inside and out to give a great starting point. Some had damage to the parts that was an easy fix too.

Then, after the thorough cleaning, I envisioned what my end result would be. I came up with a fun, creative plan. mwahahaha…

You see, not only did I have a plan for an upcycled salt & pepper mill set, but also a stand to hold them in. For that to happen I chose to go with paint. I had this fun aqua color in my seconds stash that is perfect for what I’m after.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA

While the paint cures, I set out to dig in my junk stash. Every gals gotta have one, ya know. First, I find these jelly molds. I’m a sucker for these things because they’re so versatile. You can see what I did with another set and succulents HERE.

Then, as I dug around I found a few more bits and baubles to help me create my upcycled salt & pepper stands. What you’re looking at is an 8′ board from the seconds bin at the store, vintage porcelain knobs, and a few turnings from this upcycled curbside table I redid a few months ago.

TIME TO FINISH UP

Last, but not least, I added an S & P to my upcycled salt & pepper set for the bit of whimsy I was after. They were finished with a matte poly and now we’re good to go.

Done! I had such fun giving these sets new life. I got to get into my junk and play…what more could a gal ask for?

See how the jelly molds make for the perfect holder? You know how pepper mills can leave a nasty pile o’ goodness on your counter. This will keep the mess at bay while adding that fun touch I love to create. Oh, and here’s a different version I made with a dowel.

And who’s to deny that sunshine happiness emanating from our sunflowers from our garden? If you’ve been following me on social media, then you’ve seen we’ve had some grow over 12 ft. tall. wow! They bring such life to our garden for bees, butterflies, and birds.

LOOKING AHEAD

My goal is to inspire you to make your house your home. It doesn’t mean you have to have a huge budget either. You most certainly can take what you have a change it up, or use the thrift store, garage sales, even curbside finds to create your own home story.

If you’d like to own a pair of my upcycled salt & pepper sets with stand, you can find them and much more available in my online shop. (all SOLD)

Also, don’t forget to use your subscriber discount if you receive my newsletter! If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s a FREE email newsletter that brings everything right to your inbox and comes with freebies. See details below.

In addition, do pin and share my upcycling fun. Let’s inspire others together!

Up next, I’ll be giving my own twist to this set of crocks. Come see their new life HERE.

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Also, more fun DIY projects like my upcycled salt & pepper set: