Monday, July 16, 2012

before and afters

Decorating doesn't have to be expensive.
Sometimes, all you need is a thrift store, paint, and a little ingenuity.

I went to Goodwill and picked up a few inexpensive 
things that I knew I could transform.
First up is this wood shadow box. It was $1.99.


I spray-painted it black and put it on top of the bookshelf
in the guest room/office/craft room.
It was fun filling it with rubber stamps and a couple of little
porcelain birds. I need to find a few more tiny objects to place in
the other small cubbies.
 

The view of the entire bookcase (which I also rearranged and added books to)...
 

I have a fondness for wrought iron pieces. Maybe because my grandpa
was a welder and ornamental iron artist?
This piece was 99 cents.
 

I spray-painted it white and wanted to put it in the corner of the
doorway going into the kitchen, but the walls weren't level and 
Brian wasn't keen on the idea of using 8 screws to hold this piece in place.
I told him, "Don't worry, I'll find a spot for it!"
And, I did.
 



I love wooden candle holders ~ they're so easy to paint.
Another 99 cent item.
Here's the old-fashioned before...


And the light-blue, distressed after.
Ignore the candle that doesn't fit - didn't have anything else at the time.


The two red wooden candlesticks are previous Goodwill finds.


Last up is this wicker mirror that I found for $1.99.
(I didn't get a chance to take a photo before I covered the mirror.)


I spray-painted the wicker white, and am using the piece on top of
a vintage secretary desk (it belonged to my grandma) in my bedroom.



Have you had any luck with thrift shopping for household items
where you live?



6 comments:

  1. All it takes is creativity to see things in a new light, and you are good at that! :-) The little shadow box is so perfect for your stamps!

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  2. Wow, Melanie! You did great. Such inexpensive pieces that you easily transformed. Beautiful! have a wonderful day. Tammy

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  3. Hi Melanie
    your pictures are so pretty, you really have a good sense of style.
    No, I have not been to any yardsales or thrift stores lately and now I want to!

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  4. You can find some great stuff at GW if you check often enough. I think you're right... you don't have to have a lot of money to decorate just a since of style.

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  5. What great finds~ I love thrifting and transforming old pieces. It just makes my heart sing ~ I haven't picked up anything lately, but now you've got me in the mood to go ~ bravo ~ wonderful job ~

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  6. Great finds and refinishing! I love the iron piece in the window. I have been looking for a shadow box like your but haven't found one yet. :)

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