Look! Antique Stove Base Table

On our search to find a Nantucket whale to take home with us, we stumbled upon this shop where the owner was displaying reclaimed wood trunks he builds on top of makeshift antique stove bases. We think with the right top paired with a nice vintage base it could make a wonderful unique coffee table...

While I (Wes) grew up with antique wood stoves in my parents home, and know the utility of them first hand, most people don't really have a good use for them these days so old parts can be had for cheap. The shop owner said he found his bases in a vintage stove restoration shop in Nashua, NH (anyone know of the place?) and for not a lot of money the same shop will sandblast and paint the base with a very durable primer. You can then paint whatever color you want on top of the primer and have a top cut to fit from your choice of material. As a testament to their durability the shop owner said he leaves them out year round in the Nantucket weather and while he has had to rebuild the wood tops he hasn't touched the bases in years. I think we'd love a classic black base with a nice white carrera marble top cut to fit. What would you do?

Comments (9)

Love the tables. The trunks, not so much.

posted by mirandabee on October 23rd 2009 at 8:14pm
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I saw one of these turned into an ottoman. It was really great.

posted by aaakid on October 23rd 2009 at 9:15pm
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Maybe the outdoor setting is not the most flattering choice for displaying reclaimed appliances?

posted by amed studio on October 23rd 2009 at 9:35pm
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The ottoman idea is great -- even better perhaps than the coffee table idea, since these stove bases seem rather low. And they're probably quite heavy, which means they wouldn't shift around when you put your feet on them... now I'm going to be on the lookout for one of these!

posted by mirandabee on October 24th 2009 at 8:14am
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You'd never find anything like that over here, I can tell you! However, taking inspiration from the trunks, while they wouldn't suit my purpose, I spotted a trunk going on my local Freecycle site today and have asked for it. It's described as being a 'school trunk' and the mind boggles but, I'm hoping to use it as a low level surface as well as for storage.... won't know what I've bagged until I go to collect it on Monday!

Incidently, I saw "Duplex" for the first time last night and instantly thought of AT! I wondered if anyone had experienced similar dilemmas to that of the unfortunate couple in the movie....

posted by AcrossThePond on October 24th 2009 at 12:36pm
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those are so cute! make mine turquoise

posted by SydneyBristow on October 24th 2009 at 5:39pm
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the stove bottom is really cute. Somehow makes me think of Alice in Wonderland. The wood table top part could have been picked better. Either painted too or laquered.

posted by Aster on October 24th 2009 at 6:25pm
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LOVE!!!!!!!

posted by NorNor on October 24th 2009 at 7:54pm
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I use one with a marble top outdoors for a table in a garden sitting area. It stays out all year without being damaged. I tried it in the house but it is too low and heavy.

posted by dodo on October 26th 2009 at 2:11pm
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