Re-purpose an Old Ladder

Hope you are all having a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!   My Mom is visiting from out of state this month so we all went to the Packwood Flea Market on Friday.   I only found one treasure and it was for my husband.  Some days are like that though.  My Sister found a few candy dishes to add to her collection. 

Anyways, speaking of my Sis, she was sweet enough to give me an old weathered ladder that she had.  It pretty much looked like this but better because it is all grayed out and rusty.

I wanted the round rung side for myself and so that left the other side to play with.  The steps were mostly rotten beyond salvaging so I decided to cover them with cedar boards.
 

A couple of the worst steps I just completely removed and left the metal wire that had helped support them.  I think it looks cool.  Wouldn't it look cute with vintage seed packets attached to the wire with clothespins?  Or dried lavender.  

To make my shelves I used a chunk of 1 x 10 for the bottom two and a 1 x 6 for the top one.  To attach I simply screwed through the sides of the ladder and from underneath.  On the bottom shelf I recycled the metal folding part that used to connect the two sides of the ladder together to support the shelf and give it a little interest.  

I cut about 8 inches off the bottom of the ladder because it was really rotten.  I used the metal braces from that part to support the middle shelf. 

So guess who wanted her ladder back after the redo?  I was more than happy to give it back to her.  I got what I wanted out of it and was able to save the part that was ruined for her.  Win win gotta love it.  She is using hers outside leaning on her garden shed.  I will show you what I'm doing with my half soon.  I am using it inside my house so I need to bleach clean the bejesus out of it and let it dry out in the sunshine before I bring it in.  We have no sunshine this weekend unfortunately so that will have to wait. 

Have a good one!