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    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Ballard Design inspired Drying Rack

    Ballard Design inspired Drying Rack

    Published by Gail | Published December 6, 2009 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How to make a Ballard Design inspired Drying Rack out of crib parts.

     

    My Repurposed Life Drying Rack Inspired by Ballard Desisgn

    This is theirs:

    And here is mine:
    repurposed crib rail

    drying rackI started out with a simple box shape. (note to self, I need to stop taking pictures on this horrible table!)

    crib rail repurposedI got the perfect crib rail from Cathy. I have several crib rails, but they are spindles or rectangular shapes. I think those odd shapes may leave bumps in clothes dried on them. I cut the rail in half using my compound miter saw.

    drying rack boxI added a bead board back. Gluing and nailing it in place.

    heirloom white paint

    I went to Walmart to get some Rustoleum Heirloom white, and they don't stock it at my store. I picked up Krylon Ivory (I think it was ivory) I used 2 cans for the box and the rails. I then decided to go to Meijer and get Rustoleum Heirloom White. I bought it in spray and a quart. In this picture you can see, the left side is the Rustoleum Heirloom White and the right side is the Krylon. The Rustoleum Heirloom White in this picture is brushed on from the quart can. I like really good coverage on this bead board. Doesn't the Rustoleum Heirloom White look so much better than the Krylon Ivory? Rustoleum is the ONLY way to go!

    rustoleum heirloom white

    strong magnets While looking for the Rutsoleum Heirloom White at Wally world, I found these magnets. See those little words Super Strong! Huge understatement! The cards of magnets hanging on the hook at the store were all stuck together! I had to peel them off their neighbors! When I opened the package, two of the magnets found each other, and I could hardly get them separated! I used two of the magnets along with two small washers.

    ribbon

    The only fabric store I have near my house is Hancock. It's not the best, but I can get some really good deals there. This spool of ribbon was 70% off.

    hinges

    It was rainy last week, so I had to work on this in the living room on a scrap piece of carpet. (to protect the drying rack and the hardwood floors) You know I am the repurpose queen, and I recycle anything I can. These hinges are off of some bifolding doors that I use for shutter projects.

    ribbon

    I stapled the ribbon to this wooden "separator". I then glued it with Liquid Nails to the inner top corner of the box. I used this "separator so that the rail (when shut) would be flush with the box.

    ballard design inpired drying rack

    By now, ya'll know that I rarely use any of my projects in my own house. I would LOVE to have this, but I have absolutely NO place to put it. Sad, but true. So, I have it staged on a table. It is leaning slightly so that it won't tip over. (it's hard to not say "tump", as I grew up saying it all the time)

    ballard inspired drying rack

    Here, you can see that I stapled the ribbon to the rail so that it will extend out for drying. You can also see the separator.

    magnet closure

    I used E6000 to glue the washers and the magnets.

    ribbon support

    ballard inspired drying rack

    I believe that lightweight clothes would dry on this rack even with it closed. You'll notice that my version has twice as many rungs as the small BD rack has.

    ballard design inspired drying rack

    This is with the rack closed. The ribbon just rests neatly behind the rail sides.

    ballard design inspired drying rack

    Side view, you can see that it is leaning so that it doesn't tump (can't help myself) over.

    Ballard Design inpsired drying rack

    Side view closed. By the way, the magnets hold it shut very well, even with two thicknesses of the ribbon.

    ballard design inpired drying rack

    One last full sized view. I have been wanting to make one of these for so long. It just took a while to find the perfect crib rail. I still have half of it left! 🙂
    gail

    Check out my other repurposed crib projects here

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    1. girlfromwva

      January 30, 2014 at 10:48 am

      Great drying rack! (my daughter could totally use that!) love how you took your inspiration and made yours even better!

      Reply
    2. Kammy's Korner

      January 30, 2014 at 8:12 am

      Gail, you are amazing! I have a crib to do that with - I'll hire you to make it for me! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Susan

      January 30, 2014 at 6:54 am

      I want one!!! You are a genius Gail... your version is excellent! I bet you have a great house with all these awesome things you make!

      Reply
    4. Rosanna lasher

      January 20, 2014 at 6:36 pm

      I haven't made one myself, but I saw one in the Ballard catalogue and just loved it! But I couldn't bring myself to spend that much on one. So my dad who is an awesome woodworker made me one for my birthday! Yours looks great!

      Reply
    5. Paula

      June 06, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      This is EXACTLY the post I have been looking for !!!! So excited, I got my crib for $20 this morning and I am gonna be working on a project!! Thanks for the tutorial!! Beautiful!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.net

        June 06, 2013 at 3:42 pm

        Yay! So happy you found My Repurposed Life Paula! 🙂

        have fun creating your own version!

        gail

    6. Susan @ homeroad.net

      November 20, 2012 at 11:34 am

      Great idea! I love this and you did such a great job Gail! (I wouldn't have any place in my house for it either)
      Susan

      Reply
    7. frances

      November 20, 2012 at 9:54 am

      fantastic Idea can't wait to make one myself Cheers Frances

      Reply
    8. ConsigningChrissy

      June 30, 2011 at 2:09 am

      What a fabulous IDEA & tutorial!! We've shared it with our readers!! http://consignmentmommies.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?BlogID=419&PostID=199031

      Reply
    9. Carron

      June 24, 2011 at 1:35 am

      I loved this 🙂 I made one in lime green for our brightly colored mud room & I use it for swimming clothes & cloth diapers! Thank you for posting the how to! I can't even imagine our laundry room without it!

      Reply
    10. Sarah.

      July 15, 2010 at 1:58 am

      I've been eyeing that rack at Ballard for a while now, wondering what the best way would be to make one. The crib rail is perfect. The whole thing looks amazing!

      Reply
    11. Chantel

      April 20, 2010 at 2:29 am

      Thanks for the link to your drying rack. I'm sorry I didn't see it before. I think I could spend days and days just looking through your blog alone. You are so incredibly creative and I am getting such great inspiration from you. We are building a house and I just can't wait to get to work on some projects (in between all the stuff that comes with 4 kids (one of them a 10 week old baby). 🙂

      Reply
    12. Proper Prim

      December 07, 2009 at 6:13 pm

      Gail I can't tell you how much I love that... I am definitely saving this for my laundry room... that is on the list for the summertime... I actually have the side rail already this is perfect... thanks so much for posting this... you did a fantastic job... and your instructions are so easy.

      Reply
    13. Tricia Anne

      December 07, 2009 at 1:56 pm

      Great job! :o)
      Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

      Reply
    14. Rhonda

      December 07, 2009 at 4:41 am

      I love it! I want one! This is going to be bookmarked for sure!!! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    15. Nancy

      December 07, 2009 at 4:20 am

      That is so brilliant! That's one of the best projects I've seen done. Great work!

      Nancy

      Reply
    16. ~ RM

      December 07, 2009 at 3:38 am

      Wonderful job! If I had a pretty laundry room, I would beg you for one of these.... Somehow, I just know my ugly 'ol basement washroom just couldn't do it justice... 😉

      Reply
    17. Miss-tearious

      October 23, 2009 at 11:17 pm

      Wow! I really want to make one of these, but I honestly doubt my skills. 🙁

      You are SO talented!

      Reply
    18. Miss Mustard Seed

      October 20, 2009 at 11:57 pm

      I love that project! It reminds me of the old drying racks from the 1940's and 50's that every good housewife had in her kitchen. You did a great job on the knock-off.

      Reply
    19. Kimm at Reinvented

      October 20, 2009 at 11:17 am

      Wow, girl, you are one awesome combination of creativity and talent! I love it, it's WAY better than the Ballard version.

      Reply
    20. Lissa

      October 20, 2009 at 2:52 am

      LOVE it! That will be a wonderful addition to my laundry room someday...

      Reply
    21. Barb

      October 19, 2009 at 12:30 am

      very nice!!

      barbara jean

      Reply
    22. cindy@cottageinstincts

      October 18, 2009 at 1:43 pm

      Cool beans! I actually found an old antique one that I want to paint and hang, but the laundry room is at the end of my 'to makeover' list. :o)
      peace.

      Reply
    23. Julie G.

      October 17, 2009 at 3:23 am

      Brilliant!! Our HOA does not "allow" clothes lines, and I've seen the drying racks, but thought they wouldn't hold jeans or anything like that. But..I bet the crib slats would!! I am going to try making one (or two) and hanging them on my fence. No one will see them because they won't be above the fence line, and if someone asks...I'll have them closes and say..clothesline? what clothesline? Thanks for the tutorial!!

      Reply
    24. Michelle

      October 16, 2009 at 4:01 pm

      So cool! I just love this!

      Reply
    25. Summer Rae

      October 16, 2009 at 3:57 pm

      Stopped by from the Creative Cats link party. Thanks for sharing. Great idea!

      Reply
    26. Andy Porter

      October 16, 2009 at 3:06 pm

      That is so amazing!! Wow!! What a cool idea to use a crib rail!! Really really nice job!!

      Reply
    27. Sharon

      October 16, 2009 at 6:33 pm

      Love it ... crib rail to drying rack.

      Reply
    28. { L }

      October 16, 2009 at 3:20 am

      Wow! I am absolutely impressed with this! Yours looks better than Ballard's. Well done.

      Reply
    29. Sarah

      October 15, 2009 at 4:41 pm

      wow, this is so impressive!

      Reply
    30. One Shabby Old House

      October 15, 2009 at 2:09 pm

      Awesome. I want to make one now and I can see by your great instructions that I can do it myself.
      Love it
      Thank you girlfriend
      Becky

      Reply
    31. Shady Lady!

      October 15, 2009 at 2:05 pm

      seriously - that is awesome!

      Reply
    32. Lee Laurie

      October 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm

      This is amazing and functional! WOW! I have some old baby bed rails out in storage. I might have to try this! Thanks!

      Reply
    33. Sheri

      October 15, 2009 at 12:22 pm

      I book marked this so I could always find it. I've talked to my hubby about making a drying rack in the past but his question is always the same "What will you dry on it?" LOL

      Thanks for linking to me!

      Reply
    34. Mary Ellen (megardengal)

      October 15, 2009 at 12:01 pm

      Wow I never would have thought to make something like this!! I am sure you saved a ton of money making it yourself instead of buying it too!

      How very clever you are!!

      blessings
      mary

      Reply
    35. michelle@somedaycrafts

      October 15, 2009 at 11:45 am

      That is awesome! Wish I could do that!

      Reply
    36. Nori

      October 15, 2009 at 6:08 am

      Amazing job!!! I love this and soooooo want to do it.

      Reply
    37. Brittany

      October 15, 2009 at 5:03 am

      i love this look! great job.

      Reply
    38. mommynoodles

      October 15, 2009 at 3:57 am

      Great job!! I love it!!

      Natalie,

      Reply
    39. Anne~fiona and twig

      October 15, 2009 at 3:45 am

      Yours looks better. Lots.
      Ha! You say "tump" too??? I thought I was the only one!
      Anne

      Reply
    40. Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

      October 15, 2009 at 3:39 am

      I absolutely love this!! I'm so inspired, although I'm sure I'll never get around to making my own. I would totally buy it from you, though!!

      Reply
    41. Marla

      October 15, 2009 at 3:16 am

      You are officially my new hero! That project is amazing. I would love a place like that to hang tidbits of laundry.

      Reply
    42. Leslee

      October 15, 2009 at 3:14 am

      You should sell this...I would totally buy one. I've been looking at the one for ballards for MONTHS now & just couldnt justify buying it.

      Reply
    43. Mandy

      October 15, 2009 at 2:48 am

      Love it! You did a great job 🙂

      Reply
    44. Elizabeth (blue clear sky)

      October 15, 2009 at 1:41 am

      That is so pretty and functional too!

      Reply
    45. Shannon

      October 15, 2009 at 3:00 am

      Great Job, looks amazing! I would love to have one of those in my laundry area.

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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