Oh, what sweet bliss it is to walk into a thrift store not knowing what you’ll find, and walk out with a piece of history at your side. My kids and I went to get some play clothes and I walked out with more than I came for. BIG SURPRISE, right? What you see below is a giddy me perched on top of an antique dressing table about to become a desk.
Who would leave this behind with price tag of $10 and also had a 35% off coupon burning a hole in their pocket? Not ME! tee hee!
Yippee!! It’s time for Trash to Treasure Tuesday where my blogger friends and I get together to share project to inspire you. You will see their projects in a minute, as is there’s nothing better than getting together with like-minded folks to share what you love. Most certainly one of my favorite projects are old gems like this. I’m sure you can see how it’s been worn down, so I plan to turn this into a black antique vanity with rustic, refined feel. Check it out…
I purchased this from a lady who bought it as a project piece. She had started with it and decided it wasn’t something she wanted to complete because she was expecting a new baby soon. I fell in love with the
I don’t wonder if I should rename myself the hot mess mama. Not because I myself am a hot mess (though I can be at times – aren’t we all?), but because of these crazy pieces I bring home then ask my self…why did you do this?! hahaha!! Being a sucker for the worn down, dilapidated pieces is my calling and this Art Deco vanity is one that gave me a run for my money.
You see in the before picture here I’m smiling like a kid in a candy store. However, during the middle of working on it I don’t know if I was smiling quite so big…still smiling, but the fun wore off a bit. Why, you ask? Well, it was a whole lotta work that was totally doable, but I was running out of
Do you ever have conversations with someone that leave you saying, “That was really weird”? While perusing Craigslist I came upon this piece advertised as a desk. To me it looked like a vanity without a mirror. I called to inquire and he said he still had it. Sweet! Stay with me as I show you how this “desk” became a vintage vanity painted a soft tea rose pink.
I continued to ask the seller if there was anything wrong with it and if it was smoke-free. He replied that it was solid as a rock, smoke-free, and would take him quite some time to dismantle it to get it out of his basement. He also said he had another buyer coming to see it first. I said, “Oh, it’s that big?” He replied, “Yes, and you’ll need help to load it.” I went on to ask more questions, but still getting the feeling like something was off.
Having a bedroom vanity used to be a thing of the times and then they faded out. However, not long ago they have been making a comeback and I love it! I feel they add a useful piece of furniture to your decor while creating that timeless feel. One of my most requested custom pieces from my shop is a vintage vanity. It’s been awhile since I have done one, so today’s the day and it includes a giveaway! (fist pump action going on!)
*post sponsored by Zibra and Rustic Brands and does contain affiliate links so you can find the products I love to use too! (see full disclosure)
Let me introduce you to this gorgeous vintage vanity made by Kroehler. This gem is made of walnut…oh yeah…they don’t make them like this anymore! It has a broken pull and some worn-through wear to the surface, but otherwise is perfect candidate for
Do you ever find a piece of furniture that you would love to have at a flea market, thrift store or garage sale, but it’s missing something? I mean like you find a desk, but want a vanity, or a vanity without a chair? Don’t let that stop you because I’m going to give you some tips on how to make your very own custom furniture by mixing and matching. Ooh…let the fun begin!
For instance, I had a client, Shelly, contact me who had always wanted a trifold dressing table like this one I did a year or so ago for my shop. You wouldn’t know that the bench wasn’t original to it, but I found them on different occasions. (story HERE)
As I began my search for a dressing table like this one, I always find dressing tables (or vanities) without a chair or bench. Here is the one I found and she liked.
The vanity had some missing veneer, and had some chemical and highlighter stains, but was solid as a rock, not to mention that gorgeous mirror!
I’m taking a walk down memory lane today. Won’t you join me? I have always wanted to do a round-up of all the different vanity makeovers that I have worked on over the last three years (time flies when you’re having fun!). Now I can share them with you all in one place.
So let’s step back in time to see all the different sets that have come through my possession and into my shop to new owners.
My very first project EVER, was this little Art Deco waterfall vanity I found at Goodwill for $5. This was before they’ve started to jack up their prices ridiculously for damaged goods. tsk.
Not having really started furniture for sale yet, it sat for a few months before I could tackle it because I was already painting the exterior and interior of our home all by myself. But boy, what a job this little thing was! The veneer was in horrible shape and the entire piece needed sanded down and repaired. It had no mirror, but I found one through Etsy. It arrived busted and FedEx replaced it with a new one. Whew!
This was when I fell in love with my favorite seconds paint aqua color I have used again, and again.
The rest of these won’t be in chronological order, but pretty close, and I’ve tried to find all the various ones I’ve worked on. Crazy to see how my photography and staging have changed.
This next Art Deco beauty I named, My Painted Lady. What a glamorous piece that convinced me paint can do amazing things.
Scored this for $50 and learned so much in repair and detailing.
Today is all about my favorite project of the month – Themed Furniture Makeover Day!! What could be more fun than getting together with a bunch of furniture girls to do what we love? Today’s theme is all about Industrial…I love it. ♥ Normally, I would have done some sort of factory industrial-type build or makeover, but I chose to go a different route, and have a very fun Art Deco piece to show you today.
Enter in this vintage dressing table…
Isn’t she pretty and full of character? Hailing in with a mirror of ginormous proportions (50″ diameter to be exact), and all-over goodness.
One of my favorite times each year comes in early April when our city has a four-week long cleanup, where everyone can set up to a pickup truck load of unwanteds curbside. That my friends, is a picker’s dream. This time around I scored an antique vanity. SCORE!
It would take me all day to share with you the goodies I have scored over the years, from an old piano face used in my bedroom to perfectly functional antique furniture. I call it “Trashure“. Amazing what people will throw out. Hence the saying, “One man’s trash is another woman’s treasure”. tee hee hee.
This year though, I had made a promise to myself to not go “junking”. My workshop was full and I really didn’t want to bring home more stuff until I cleaned it out. I was doing good until my neighbor came over and said, “You should really go see this desk around the corner. I think it’s an antique and something you would like. The trash truck is coming, so you better hurry up.” Alarm bells go off in my head and my pulse quickens.
Needless to say, I quickly crammed packed up my 6 kids and headed around the corner to find this…
Ummm….yeah…that would be a GORGEOUS ANTIQUE VANITY!! I stuffed that baby into the back of my suburban with it hanging out over my tailgate. It’s all good since I didn’t have far to go, but one things for sure, I wasn’t leaving it there.
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