Saturday

DIYP #7-Giving Old Things New Life



I like old things. But I'm not really an antique collector.  

I'm not that refined.  I'm a collector of old stuff.

If I see an ancient metal bucket in one of my in-laws rickety barns or an old handmade bird house sitting on the side of the road. I know I could put them to use.

Oh, I'm so kidding about scrounging up free junk and then decorating my home with it.


Or not.

I think there are people paid to do this.  They are called garbage collectors. 

Yep, I'm comfortable with that title.  Because the used shoe fits nicely.

My mom asked me once, "When you guys get some money, will you buy new things?"

Why would I do that? And what does money have to do with it?

Here are some of my favorite old things, I've found new uses for:

1. An old blanket chest that looks lovely wearing red, serving as a coffee table.

2. In my entryway, I have an old dresser without drawers.  I use the top to display seasonal stuff and the shelves as a shoe rack for my kids.


3. My hubby pulled these old window out of a condemned building in Miami.  All you have to do is ask!  The old screen costs $5 at a Flea Market.


4. An old shoe drying rack, I use as kitchen shelves.  I fell in love with this piece at a second hand store.  It came just like that with all the flaking paint!


5. I love my old $10 wagon!  It's rusty and squeaky and the perfect planter!

6. I've had a small (albeit useless) collection of glass doorknobs for years.  How do you like them as a window covering in my bathroom?  The curtain is a single panel that I draped over the knobs. Do you think I would make The Nester proud with this window mistreatment?

7. I bought this little red metal medical table at a flea market for $15.00.  I cleaned it up and let the chipped paint add character to my bathroom.  It holds magazines, kleenex, and other bathroom incidentals. 

8. My battered front porch bench that I rescued from a garage sale for $25.  I love this old bench.  Someone put a cute tin skirt on it to cover up some damage.  Matilda, my rag doll, welcomes our guests and reminds people not to ring the door bell during nap time.

And yes, that would be a dirty diaper on the bench.  What can I say?  It was a doozy!  

So, the next time you come across something old and useless, turn it into something new and useful!


Food for the Soul:

Romans 6:4 "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Get ready for a fun giveaway on Monday! Hint: Take a picture of yourself in your apron because the Apron Queen is visiting THAT family! Really-get your pictures ready!

52 comments:

Monica said...

I wish I had THAT knack for decorating with antiques! I love the look you have going. I think the coffee table is my favorite piece.

Joy said...

How funny... I was seriously going to post a picture of my trash, er... treasure! I cannot tell you how much AWESOME stuff I find on the side of the road or for really cheap at the Antique Mall. You and I would have a field day at the Antique Mall if you were here!

Anyway, you have LOVELY treasures and I LOVE every single one of them! We're like kindred spirits!!! You should have a blog fest on this!

I love the knobs. We have glass knobs on our doors and I've seen people take old knobs and hang them from the ceiling with fishing pole string (like on a patio or something... some kind of windchime)! ADORE the red wagon planter!

The drawerless dresser is amazing and gives me a great idea (I see drawerless, antique dressers ALL the time)! And where on earth did you find that awesome blanket chest?! TOO COOL!

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

I completely agree with Monica...the beautiful red coffee table is my fav, too.

But the doorknobs in the window treatment get the "Most Unusual" award...how in the WORLD did you mount those?? My husband mounted some to a piece of weathered wood and we use them as hat hangers.

You have a knack with old stuff...eh, I mean antiques. :-)

Right up my alley, too! Love it!

Lisa said...

That is just really awesome. Why is it some people just have the eye for that sort of thing. I see it and can't figure out how to use it and throw it away. You take it and make a beautiful home from it. You are a talented person in so many ways, and I thank you for taking the time to blog to enrich other peoples lives. Have a great weekend!

Jamie said...

Look at you...you've got style! Love all your treasures. Stashing shoes in the drawerless dresser is a great idea.

Anonymous said...

You really have a good eye! Our whole house is like that. I call our style "Early yard sale". New mixed with old....well mostly old, with some new stuff I got on sale at Target and Kirklands :)

My favorite picture was the one with the old windows hung on the wall. I love unique old windows and doors.

I love to imagine what happened on the inside of them.
Is that cooky? Ok well then I'm cooky I guess!

Precision Quality Laser said...

I agree with the other commenters, I love the coffee table, its sassy :) You definitely have an eye for style and yes, your mistreatment would make Nester proud!

Precision Quality Laser said...

Oops... I mean it's (sorry, it just bugged me leaving it like it was..lol)

Jennifer said...

Your junk is lovely! I wish I could decorate like you.

Tara @ Feels Like Home said...

I think the whole chest as coffee table thing is very trendy right now. It's not junk; it's chic. :) I want one, but our living room isn't big enough for a coffee table. boo, hiss.

Monkey Giggles said...

Junking is my life style. You are a girl after my own heart.

Love all your projects.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I swear we are related. Long lost cousins or something! My father is appalled at how I decorate, asking me often which dumpster I pulled such-and-such out of. How rude! I tell him it is all about character. I like things that have LIVED and LOVED! Except in men. I like'em my age. :0)

The Fritz Facts said...

I love it. I am always nervous about buying something like that, but know I could do wonderful things with it. Thanks for showing me some ways.

Jerralea said...

Kristen,

I LOVE the drawerless chest idea! I wish I had had one when my kids were little ...

Very creative!

Anonymous said...

You have a great eye for spotting treasure amidst the trash--it's a gift. What you've done with all this stuff? Found the perfect spots to make them fun and functional (bravo...I envy this ability in others).

My favorite is your bench (sans the dirty diaper)...what a delightful welcome to your guests :).

Threeundertwo said...

Thanks for the photo tour! I'm absolutely going to steal the drawerless dresser idea. It's really perfect for shoes.

Cassandra said...

Two things. 1)You like red don't you? and 2) I am SO stealing the drawerless dresser idea. Sorry. COnsider it STO-Len. Well, I will borrow it. And take a picture and give you credit. Sound like a compromise? :)

gina said...

Great pieces- LOVE the red stuff!!

Anonymous said...

The coffee table has to be my favorit, but love the dresser with the drawers out for shoes as well.

Anonymous said...

Those are some lovely items you've collected. I collect old things too. I love old things and old ways.

Anonymous said...

I'm a fellow lover of old, worn out things! lol. That drawer-less dresser by the front door? Ingenius!! I NEVER would have thought of that one! I'm totally in awe. It's a perfect shoe container, that hides the shoes without making them so invisible the kids can never find them.

GREAT post!

Crayl said...

Love cheap and free!

Hey, I know you are a busy woman, but I tagged you for meme at my blog, if you happen to want to check it out.:)
Hope you do.

Marcy Massura said...

I shall never recover from the dirty diaper on the front porch photo. Never. That is the kind of funny I will carry in my heart and use as a comedy pick me up when down!

The Nester said...

I loved every item that you pictured better than the last!! That metal cart, that wagon, those windows!!!!

oh, and you KNOW I am way proud of you and your mistreatin' ways! Love how you used your glass knobs!

I have decided that you are my new best bloggie friend. sorry I haven't stopped by. I have to choose between reading my email or blogs because this computer came over on the mayflower. There is a foot pedal that I have to use to keep the power on.

I've almost funded my new computer--thanks for your help!

I cannot wait to be a normal person again with a normal computer. How many times can I say computer. How much can I possibly write in a comment--see it took me so long to load the comments that I don't want to waste it and write a short comment. This one might have to last you all week. Hate me.

have a great weekend!

Mozi Esme said...

Great spiritual application!

I love that drawer-less dresser turned shoe storage area. I'll have to keep my eyes open for something like that.

marky said...

I envy that decorating knack as well. I just don't have it..but sure enjoy looking at what creative things others have come up with..
Beautiful stuff!

Jen @ One Moms World said...

Oh I am so you! I love old and rustic things.. You have found some great items to fill the house. I agree what does money have to do with it hehe :)

Pregnantly Plump said...

We also re-purpose old items that we find at garage sales, estate auctions, etc. I'm most proud of the old console radio that we made a jewelry cabinet. I absolutly LOVE your dresser with no drawers idea. That is great!

Grateful for Grace said...

For some reason, I got it in my head that your DIY Saturday things were 'linky' things that you do. Guess not, but I posted one anyway thinking I was going to be linking. So, I linked to you.
Ü
I think it's a very cool project!

blessings,
GfG

Pleasing Procrasinator said...

I am a dumpster/garage sale nut.

You have so many great ideas - my favorite is drawerless dresser idea. I have a couple in the garage that I now can use. Thanks.

Sheila said...

Oh my gosh I am so excited I have been looking for "something" to use for the kids shoes by the front door and the dresser you use is perfect!!! Thanks for the great ideas!!

Heather said...

I LOVE your decorating! I especially love the coffee table and the dresser. I wish I had just half of your creativity!

Unknown said...

What style! I decorate like you! Finding old items is like an adrenaline rushed treasure hunt! Where I live we have this sale barn that is full of OLD stuff, pigeons, dirt, grime and bird poop. But if you can see past all of that, you can come away with some really great finds! What could be more fun!

Unknown said...

You realise in the UK some people pay and absolute fortune to have their houses decorated like this, especially for the ornamental pieces like the birdhouse.

I love this look and I'v tried a handful of times to decorate like this but I just don't have the knack of it. The things always look like they've been "strategically placed" and a bit odd.

The little red table is great, it has to be my favourite.

texas girl said...

I LOVE all your decorating ideas; you have a great eye for potential. I would love to decorate like that myself, but unfortunately for me my husband is in the business of health/environmental/safety. He looks at all the trash I see as treasures and screams "Lead based paint!! Lead based paint!!" What a kill-joy :(

Alexia said...

I love your "junk"! Especially the blanket chest! We have an OLD steamer trunk of my great-grandpa's that is falling apart (I need to get it refurbished), but it's my favorite piece of furniture!

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Just love all of your vintage treasures! And they are displayed in such great taste! :) ~Rhonda

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

The old windows are rockin' my socks! You reminded me...I never thought to feature the stuff I found in the trash! Yes; I am a proud dumpster diva. :-)

Blogger said...

I love that sweet RED table in the bathroom, so unexpected, yet perfect at the same time, you have a good eye :)

Nice to meet you,
Bella

Unknown said...

Ok, so what I love the most is... Ya ready ~ That IMAGINATION of yours! That amazes me most. That wagon for a planter? It works like a charm, I just love it! I could go on and on. Thank you for sharing your special finds and how you use them.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Thanks for joining in the party! You've found some really neat treasures out there & your sense of humor really makes them all fun. You did good!

Rhoda

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

I am especially lovin' the entry chest as shoe storage (very clever!) and the little windows! I just did a post yesterday on how i'm going to use glass doorknobs for my windows too! Too funny! :)
And my extended family is now trying to be polite about my decorating style, even though they don't "get it"!! lol I'm with ya!

Anonymous said...

Your beautiful 'finds' are terrific. I love the shelf for your bathroom, the cute chest where shoes are living and the way you use everything. Uou have a great eye for great finds.

Jeanne

Becky said...

WOW! You are an amazing decorator! I love the red medicine table. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

You are so much fun to read! On top of that, you are a fantastic rescuer of treasures! That wagon was terrific and the entry dresser (w/o drawers) was such a creative surprise! The diaper on the bench brought back memories! It was nice to meet you through Rhoda's Thrift Find!

B. said...

I love it! That dresser in the entry way! That old wagon! The old bench! Glass knobs! You are so creative and have a beautiful home. I am going to read some more of your blog!

Rue said...

When I see something as simple as pulling out the drawers in a dresser and using it as shelves I feel like hitting my head and saying Duh! LOL Great finds and wonderful ways to use them :)

rue

Alyce said...

What a great blog..You are very creative and have a wonderful sense of humor, cute thrift/trash finds!

Anonymous said...

I love every single thing. You are the queen. How inspiring.

Mama said...

Wow! You're like me in that you like old "stuff" but not necessarily expensive antiques. Unlike me, however, you are very, very creative. I really, really love the chest table and that lovely white pitcher.

Gabrielle Mader said...

wow..you like crusty old stuff like me..I would say too I'm not ane antique collector. I love your old windows the best and i'm on the lookout for and old wagon or wheel barrow...

Gretchen said...

Ohh! I love the red on the blanket chest!
It looks great ... hmmm, I think I might have to try that on mine!