A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Jonathon Narvey for the blog Build Direct. We talked about how taking care of the small design details in your home can make a big difference. If you want to be totally freaked out, click here to listen to my weird voice.
Kelly’s first dumpster dive
This is a vintage walnut dresser that I bought a couple of months ago from Tribute Decor:
![dresser walnut[3]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZjqumYtcJbM/T9sx6K2BBJI/AAAAAAAAINY/bRYDXJuCTBg/s1600-h/dresser-walnut34.jpg "dresser walnut[3]")
This is what I picked out of somebody’s garbage yesterday:
And he had a friend (I think this one is a she):
Are you kidding me?! It’s the same furniture, right down to the drawer pulls!
Yes, those are Christmas lights hanging from the eaves trough. And yes, that’s moss between the driveway pavers.
Don’t judge me :-) And no, the dressers didn’t come home in the smart cars!
My garbage finds are kind of beat up and need lots of TLC, but these babies were 100% free – and you can’t really go wrong with free. I’ll have to replace a couple of pulls and fix some drawers (I mean, hubby will be fixing some drawers). And I think the wood is beyond refinishing, so I’ll probably be painting this vintage twosome. Maybe I’ll do something like this dresser by Beth at Make Me Pretty Again. She gave it a cobalt blue milk paint treatment. Love!
This ombre dresser by Jordan at Little Yellow Barn is cool.
I’m diggin’ this black & white dresser by Linda at It All Started With Paint.
![black_and_white_painted_dresser[7]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-efAiZ6odbsE/T9syYapwMhI/AAAAAAAAIK8/3DXV2UqSBU0/s1600-h/black_and_white_painted_dresser73.jpg "black_and_white_painted_dresser[7]")
I don’t know the source for this pretty stencilled dresser that I pinned, but it was obviously done by someone with lots of talent and creativity and a really steady hand :-)
Here’s a fun & colourful twist on the Union Jack by Sheridan at The Southern Eclectic.
I haven’t decided what way to go with these two pieces yet, but I know I’ll be using PARA paint because this is going to be my first PARA Paints Blog Crew project :-)
I have just a few colours to choose from…. the Architecture Kit literally just arrived!
And speaking of blog crew projects, I’ve got a really big one that I’ve started planning. I’ll give you the details soon – it has a little something to do with my latest obsession, Homestyler. And it may or may not involve a bathroom…
Have you found any treasures in the trash? Did you dive right in, or did you sneak back in the dark so nobody would see you? :-)
Happy weekend!
I'm off to listen to your interview Kelly and btw everyone thinks they have a weird voice. Love the dresser with the stencilled dresser and great dumpster diving. And of course, I've picked up stuff from the curb many, many times....and right in the open.
ReplyDeleteI thought your interview was great, voice and all! I also agree with Lisa, everyone thinks that they have a weird voice. I just did my first cookie decorating video tutorial, I don't like the sound of my voice on it either and after taking three days to learn how to do the video I'm sick of listening to myself :)
ReplyDeleteOooh do you think the dressers were separated at birth! I know the handles look quite tired but I think they are sweet? I’d love to see something ombre on them!
ReplyDeleteWe all think we sound weird...but your just listening on a fabulous grand scale...congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWow those dresssers are amazing!Great finds!
p.s. around here if you don't pick it up when you see it ...you will loose!
ReplyDeleteI love it when there is a hard rubbish collection - I love other people's throw aways - I have picked up rolled up rugs twice now when out on a jog, hoisted them under my arm and kept running then sold them on ebay !!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant! I really love the drawers painted in a gradation of blue-green, really really inspiring, fresh and contemporary looking. This is proper recycling! The world is your oyster isnt it when you are armed with all those fab paint colours. Great post.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I think all of us have experienced the same reaction when we have heard our own voice when technology is involved and have exclaimed 'is that really me, oh my God'. Personally if its any consolation, I think your interview went exceptionally well and you didn't really sound bad.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your 'excellent' latest dumpster finds, I think you may have their sexes confused as usually the triple ones are female and the smaller ones (the highboys) are male. (We don't want them suffering from an identity complex.) The last time I went dumpster diving was many years ago for Wine bottle labels that I eventually embedded in epoxy for a small table top. My kids were so embarrassed to think that their Mother was foraging through people's garbage cans seeking them out as they didn't have the recycle bins back then. Yes, they were the good old days. Up to your elbows in trash .... ha, ha.
Looking forward to seeing what you do with your treasures. -Brenda-
P.S: You may want to scoot over to Miss Mustard Seed as she may have some dress-up ideas posted on her Blog as well.
HI Kelly...thanks for dropping by...whenyou get your morning glories up please post a pic...I always forget to start from seed early enough and mine look kinda sad!...
ReplyDeleteWow!! That's so crazy you found matching pieces for the one you just bought! I can't wait to see what you do with them! We picked up a Lexington king bedframe and nightstand a few months ago from the curb, and it was actually in amazing shape!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you found that in a dumpster! Amazing!I really like the last inspiration image although you can't go wrong with either one. Can't wait to see what you do :)
ReplyDeleteI can't get over those 3D images from Home|Styler! That's crazytown! And your dumpster dive was certainly worth it ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't decide which of your inspirations is my favourite, either. Maybe the colourful union jack or the ombre dresser. So much fun!
Kelly, I'm jealous of your find. That's all i can say! Excited to see what you'll do with these dressers. I think you should do the ombre effect, it'll look awesome in your house! Keep us posted :)
ReplyDeleteI'm leaning towards the ombre effect for my dressers - just need to decide on the colours :-)
DeleteKelly
Where will the dresser be placed in your house? Maybe a gradient of black to grey will be really nice :)
DeleteI haven't decided yet - we'll be putting a bedroom in the basement at some point, so they'll probably go in there. I'm definitely leaning towards the ombre/gradient look.
DeleteKelly
You have scored big time!!! I've only lucked out once so far with treasures from the trash, and luck out it was. I came across a solid maple vintage dry bar at the garbage dump, and have since turned it into a TV cabinet for my daughter. It's painted turquoise now, and is such a fun, cheerful piece in her room :-) I love the first inspiration dresser you showed - that blue is incredible! Can't wait to see what you do with these two lucky finds!!!
ReplyDeleteKelly, was just cleaning up my Computer (project file) and came across a website that I've had bookmarked for awhile that you may be interested in applying to your project. It is called O'verlays (Danika & Cheryle) and they carry fretwork panels that you can order. They are more suitable for Ikea products but can be applied to many things. Do not have the source how I came across their website so hopefully it is new to you and I'm not being repetitious. Hugs
ReplyDelete-Brenda-
P.S: Don't know about you, but I find the Google Search Engine really sucks since they now go by IP Address reason why I'm mentiong it to you.
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