I love this little cart. It is one of my most favorite parts of my home.
First published December 5, 2016
A few weeks ago, my husband spent half a Saturday helping our neighbors set up a wood play area in their backyard. In my day, we called play areas “swing sets” but now they are much fancier and can do everything from babysitting your children to doing your taxes. Besides giving him a beer, they sent him home with a metal cart that they no longer needed and were going to throw away.
This you need to know about my husband, he is an acquirer of junk.
He will come in the garage door every week and say things like:
WOW LOOK AT THE NEW HOSE I FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!
Or
WOULD YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE PROPANE TANKS GEORGE GAVE ME!
Or
THE NEW NEIGHBORS PUT A CRAPPY PLASTIC SHELVING UNIT IN THEIR GARAGE PILE. SO NOW IT’S OUR CRAPPY NEW PLASTIC SHELVING UNIT!
He comes by it honestly, with his dad being a hoarder of all things meaningful and not. This is what we got in exchange for my husband helping a neighbor in need:
Our neighbors are better than yours.
Anyway, normally I would roll this to the curb for garbage day. But I actually grew attached to the little fella.
Yes, it is a little rough around the edges, but so am I as of late.
Perimenopause kicking my ass and all.
Hmm, this has potential. Shelves, wheels, metal. All the things I seem to lean towards in furniture.
I should feel right at ease when I am wheeled into the nursing home.
It reminded me of something…
A cart I’ve had my eyes on for years at IKEA.
The RASKOG Trolley.
An ugly name for a cute piece of furniture.
But these babies were 40 bucks. I couldn’t justify buying one without knowing what in the hell I would put inside of those compartments.
So I decided I was going to turn my crappy metal cart into a RASKOG trolley.
All the RASKOG trolleys will bow down to my crappy metal cart and be in awe of it.
After a little elbow grease, of course.
And Ocean Mist spray paint.
My crappy little metal cart turned into something pretty amazing.
Yes, it’s the same metal cart.
Even better than a RASKOG because it has shelves!
I can’t stop looking at it.
I even Googled “IKEA name generator” so I could name my homemade RASKOG trolley.
It came up with the name SVICKLACK.
Which I believe translates to “explosive diarrhea” in Swedish.
2021 note- I love my SVICKLACK explosive diarrhea green cart. And it’s still in the same spot.
omg! You did a great job! I have a beige metal 1950’s typewriter stand that sure does need a coat of paint….now that I see how freakin’ awesome something meh can be with just some paint! Thank you for the inspiration once again!
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I am so glad I can help! Spray paint is the best way to change anything. I really think when I get old and wrinkly I am going to be asked to be spray painted.
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Holy Svicklack Batman!!! This looks like just the cure for your Gilmore hangover. Good for you for not judging this sweet cart by it’s gnarly yellow top. A fabulous svicklack in the rough!
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Yes! The perfect cure!
Svicklack. Just fun to say.
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I’m digging the entire makeover! I have the little RASKOG cart that was a birthday gift years ago. It’s perfect for holding my craft paint and such. But your fancy new cart can hold so much more! The styling of it is fabulous. Seriously – I’m loving it! Nice job. 😀
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That is a great idea!
I still love the Raskog though. 🙂
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Oh I love it so much!!!
Good job, Mike!
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Now I just need to teach him how to spray paint!
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That is super-cute. I’ve had similar thoughts about that Ikea version–so cute, but not real function for me. Love what you did with yours!
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I feel like I could find things to put in those Raskog baskets but then I would need to buy those things.
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You are awesome! I suck with a can of spray paint. Boy do I have some sadly painted furniture your husband could come get. We threw throw cloths over it….you are amazing. I love your eye, which sounds funny but YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
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My eye loves you too. I wish we lived closer. For more reasons than helping you spray paint. 🙂
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I love it! The color is fabulous. Your humor makes me laugh. I always come away from your blog smiling. =)
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This comment makes me so happy. I am glad you feel that way. 🙂
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I love it! And I love the way you styled it! I love the baskets! I love you! I am excited about this cart.
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SO AM I!! I am staring at it right now and it makes me so happy.
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It’s lovely, and I like how you styled it.
If only a secondhand hose could have as much potential, or that there was a use for multiple propane tanks.
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Exactly. But I am sure Pinterest has something out there…..
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Too funny!! I love it! And I too have coveted that same IKEA cart… We are hoarders of cast offs too… and I know just the brown and gold cart hiding in my closet waiting for a fresh coat of paint… Thanks for the inspiration!
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I have stuff like that around here too because HOARDER husband. 😉
I am glad I could inspire you!
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Oh, yes … the magic of paint. Love it!
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Amen.
Thank you!
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Love it, Love the color. I want one just like i t.
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I love it so much! Amazing what a little paint can do!
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Wow, it turned out great! Those go for big bucks in the antique mall where I have my spaces… over $100.00! I love the color you chose.
Tania
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WHOA! I had no idea!! I won’t sell this baby but it makes me want to go find more lol!
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I found a 60s style bedside table with two drawers at the thrift store for $4. I gave it a coat of royal blue spray paint and it is perfect in my bathroom to hold our medical supplies and my husband’s hair trimmer. Spray paint can transform lots of things. I just painted two half 55 gallon barrels hunter green to match the trim to our cabin to make large planters for my growing blueberry bushes. The barrel was a free discard so that was two large planters for the cost of a can of paint. I did find that the spray paint with primer included did not stick as well on plastic as it did on wood. – Margy
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This is what I love about spray paint! It can transform so many things!
Painting plastic is a lot harder than wood or even metal for that matter.
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I LOVE this!! Now I want your husband to find me a metal cart! This would be great for storing my kids’ library books, toys and other crap! 🙂
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I need to send him out more often! Less hoses, more metal carts. 🙂
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Wow, now I want to make something totally cool and give it a Swedish name! LOVE the color. thanks for linking up to Funtastic Friday!
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I really think that giving every project I do a Swedish name will make it that much more special. 🙂
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All the RASKOG carts in the world will bow (or is that bowel) down to your little SVICKLACK cart. She’s gorgeous Kari. Good on you and hubby for recognizing her potential.
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What a nice way to say it! And I love that you used the word bowel in my comment section.
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Oh my gosh…I sound like your husband 😦 I’m so glad you kept it and made her new again! Plus, I love that Ocean Mist color. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be featuring you and your new green cart at tonight’s Funtastic Friday party!
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I AM SO EXCITED!! Heading there now!! Thank you so much!
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You’re so welcome 😀
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I am totally in love with that color you chose! You will be featured in tomorrow To grandma’s house we go party, thanks for sharing with us, hope to see you there!
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I am so excited!! Thank you!!
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Your makeover of this rolling cart with the green spray paint is super! I’m old enough to remember when those metal rolling carts were present in many, many kitchens. You really brought yours back to life, and it’s functional and attractive for a long time to come.
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My Gramma had one of those in her farmhouse a long time ago. I love “vintage” items. I am a “vintage” item, so that might be why.
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By the way, I just visited your blog and LOVE it so much. You aren’t on Bloglovin so I am not able to follow your posts. 😦 But I wanted to let you know that my daughters call my mom Mamie so I feel a kinship with you. 🙂
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I thought coffee was going to shoot out of my nose at your new Swedish name. That made the post even better for me! I have a new idea for the cart in my garage. Thank you!!
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I love that coffee almost shot out of your nose. And I mean that in the best possible way. I want to see pictures of your new cart! 🙂
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Reblogged this on A Grace Full Life.
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That looks so pretty with a new coat of paint!
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Thank you! I still love the color. ❤️
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