May 4th, 2009
Rust and Relics
I love antique stores. In the past month I have bought:
- A perfectly shaped dish for resting my baby oil bottle in, so I can be moisturized without ruining our bathroom cabinet. ($3)
- A giant dusty pink 1950’s jewlery box ($4)
- A solid wood credenza/side board/buffet that perfectly fits the piano window in our living room ($150)
This weekend was spent rifling through the back rooms of these stores, wiping off dust, inspecting scratches and wear, hoisting it into the car, out to the car, finding old books and spoons inside our new piece of furniture when we got it home, and polishing it up so that it’s new again.
It’s funny how one piece of furniture can make a room – but now we have a real dining room. There is a place to keep our Saturday newspapers, games, good cutlery, and for fresh flowers where they’ll catch the light just so.
It’s coming up to a year since we moved into our first house, and slowly – with a lot of DIY work & a lot more to come- it’s starting to really feel like a home. I can’t wait to see how it feels by the fall.
Next Projects:
- Build raised beds in the backyard, then plan & plant my vegetable garden
- Start composting
- Gut & re-model the mud room off the back of the house
- Stain the desk a deep chocolate brown
- Learn how to make white wine sangrias
What projects are you working on?
Very cute. I love antiques/vintage things as well however I never get myself to the antique shops. Instead I pour longingly over all the items in Pottery Barn wishing that everything was cheaper.
I SHOULD go antique shopping though…I might find some good things like you do!
Oh and currently I am working on furnishing my room.
When I have a (real) home, I want to be as thrifty and creative as you. Seriously. I’m loving the buffet! And this post makes me want to go antiquing.
I love that piece of furniture! I wish I knew of some good places around here to go looking….but then I haven’t taken the time fully yet either ;) I wish I could see what your house looked like…..with your style I’m sure it’s amazing!
What a beautiful piece of furniture! Nice find!:)
Wow! That side table thing really did fit exactly perfectly! How awesome!
I am sooooooooo excited to have found your blog again!!! I’ve been so sad without knowing where you’d gone to!
The credenza is gorgeous, it really is a perfect fit right there! And if you need someone to be your sangria guinea pig…I’m here!
I find your house so cozy. I am instantly jealous of anyone who has their own home; Jonathan & I can’t wait to move into a real house, rather than renting an apartment.
If we were to get a house, I would definitely get some tips & tricks from you, because your house is so stinkin’ cute. It makes me think of hot tea & fire-places. :]
My goal is just to get rid of a bunch of stuff. I seem to have become a pack rat – I want to have beautiful empty space with some key items to set the tone.
I also have some serious redecorating to do in the spare room.office. Right now it’s theme is clutter/storage.
Awesome buffet!
xo
Oh wow – that looks really fabulous! Go you! :)
Love it!! I’m jealous of you! I’m craving to do DIY projects but I’ve done enough with the apartment and we’re moving this Summer. I can’t wait to do whatever I want with our house! Hopefully our yard will allow room for us to plant an orange tree.
Oh! I love your new furniture find! Nice job! My projects include refinancing our home, sewing a few pillows and trying to better organize our home!
I love the new credenza; it seems to be the perfect size. Not to mention additional storage is always fantastic to have!
Projects… well I will be moving in August so I need to start sorting/donating/selling things that I won’t need (either moving home or in with Irish). We also need to finish the tiling project that Irish and I started, oh, I don’t know, a month ago? it’s halfway done but the weekends are so packed we just haven’t found the time to do it yet. We need to suck it up and finish. =)
There aren’t many antique stores in my area, which is really disappointing. Your finds are absolutely lovely, though! What a great project to have!
Oh I loooove finding things that are just the perfect fit. Yay for you, that buffet is amazing!
Composting is definitely on our list of things to start. I also have a shade garden I need to plant in the backyard. That project always tends to fall at the bottom of my list.
Wow, that buffet looks amazing. Good find!
There’s a couple people at work who have the little compost worms under their kitchen sinks at home. I think this would be a cool idea, but admittedly, I’m afraid of having worms in the house for the mere “ick” factor.
I’ve never been antiquing but this makes me want to start. Gorgeous pieces. I’m currently working on my herb garden. A small project but a good one.
I love antiques, or even antique-style, things! I’ll bet your home looks amazing all over already.
My current project is actually finding a place we can make ours… ;)
Oh how fun! New projects? Simplifying my life. I have ridiculous amounts of stuff and clutter and it’s really bringing me down. My spring/summer project is to drastically reduce the STUFF I own :)
oooh, i love it. such a gorgeous & classic piece of furniture. i love your style miss. :) and seriously, that fit? it was totally meant to be. so perfect.
The city should be having their annual sale on inexpensive compost bins soon.
Jessica is deep, deep into gardening mode already.
So happy for you! My friend and I spent the better part of Saturday going through antique shops and just exploring. It was the most fun I’ve had in a while.
This is exciting! I love when a house really starts to feel like a home. I’d love to see pictures. (I enjoy design ideas.) i can’t wait to start decorating my own home!