Creative Reuse: Old Grates Make Mail Organizers

Of course, they're suggesting this DIY project for those who live in older houses and have old grates just laying around. LOL. Don't you have cool grates like these laying around your house?

If you're looking for some grates such as this, check eBay first. There's a wide assortment of older and antique grates of all sorts listed on there for in a variety of price brackets. If no luck there, I would then try antique stores, flea markets, and, if you're really lucky, thrift stores. In my hometown, there's also an antique plumber who specializes in anitique plumbing, lighting, and hardware fixtures of all sorts. A store like that might have these as well.

Anyone else have other ideas?

Except what happens when one envelope tips over and lays flat?  You have to unscrew the hole thing or stick something between the slats to try to get it back out, don't you?

LOL oh yeah.. I forgot about all thsoe old grates I have stored in that back closet.. man, my house was built in 1906 so it has alot of old charm but sadly its been renovated many times (most recently in 1980 I think, before we got to it, lol!) so all the old fun things like original grates and such are gone. We have beautiful brick walls that were covered up by plaster at some point too.. hubby wants to knock all the plaster off.. I dont think its worth it for now!  Thanks for the resources, I'll check it out! I was thinking 2 of these attached to a piece of wood would be perfect next to my fridge where I have our whiteboard and already end up stacking all of our bills and such

Except what happens when one envelope tips over and lays flat?  You have to unscrew the hole thing or stick something between the slats to try to get it back out, don't you?

RanaAurora Mar. 8, 2009 at 7:03 PM

THANKS FOR RUINING IT!  LOL.  I thought it was a cool idea until someone's brain planned ahead.  ;)

im thinking a pencil or a chopstick might do the job if it fell down in.. might depend on the grate

I am laughing so hard at you all. What's the big idea—thinking like that? Haha. I was kinda hoping there was enough finger room in there to get an envelope out. Keep it in mind, ladies.

LOL!  Katie, you just wanna fight, don't ya?!  *puts up fists*  You're just jealous of my brain!  Mwa hah hah!

LuminousMom, I'm giggling at the idea of you squatting down in front of this wall grate holding chopsticks, trying really hard to slide your envelope up. ;)

I'm loving this creative invention. It's way too cool and unique. I'm down for this. They'll look great in my home office. Thanks Cafe Sheri!