Curbside Junking Finds
Spring is a busy time for vintage and junk treasure hunters! This week I’m sharing what came home with me this spring; projects waiting for their refresh, their new lease on life! The other day I shared the treasures I’d found at sales I attended {“Spring Vintage Finds, a.k.a. Couldn’t Hold Back”}. Today I’ll show you the load I came home with one day while curbside junking!
This cute garden cart, above, was the first pickup of the morn. The coffee was flowing and the 80’s classics blasting from the speakers! I’ve sold so many of these cute carts in the past; I’m excited for the opportunity to refresh it with some poly and keep it for myself. I love it’s subtle coloration. The question I’m pondering is whether I should plant it full of succulents as yard art, or whether I should actually use it for function (and still enjoy it’s vintage handsomeness)? Thoughts?
Luckily this curvy, beefy dresser was found early enough in the day so I could easily muscle it into the back of my van myself without re-organizing the whole load! I am intrigued with it’s design and details. What era do you think it’s from? Maybe the late 50’s or 60’s because of it’s shaded, earthy green paint job? I have not come across many pieces like this, and am curious about it’s history. If anyone can shed some light, I’d appreciate it!
This piece is almost the perfect dimension to be built into our upstairs hallway, beneath another glass front antique cupboard we put in. We had thought we needed to get custom cabinetry built, but this option would be so much cheaper (free;) and way more unique! I’m crossing my fingers we can make it work and I can paint the two pieces up to harmonize. Stay tuned!
Of course, when roadside junking, there’s always a little fear and trepidation when you open drawers and doors…
Yipes! These old wigs kind of freaked me out when I opened the top drawer of this dresser! Luckily there were no other scary creatures inside! You just never know….
This old trunk had been retrofitted with sliding handcrafted drawers to be used as garage organization. I was charmed by it’s character and beefiness, but it’s pretty stinky inside. This one needs some major scrubbing with bleach and some hot sunshine. I’m not really a red girl, but the gray paint peeking out might interest me; maybe there’s even more colors hiding. Can’t wait to get my sander going! I love the old hardware. Think this one is more appealing to me hanging on a wall; maybe in my new office?
(Yes, these pics were taken back in April, after our 2 foot snowstorm!)
This rolly stool has already come in handy in the garage and the driveway! Just can’t beat the function of these old, beefy stools; they don’t make them like this anymore (or they’re way expensive).
This beautiful old chair was just one of those, “I can’t just leave this beautiful old chair here to be thrown in a landfill” moments. I really want to breathe new life into this beauty! The shape is so pretty, the wood is in really good shape, and I’d love to see it upholstered in some vintage grainsack, or a totally modern, swirly fabric. But honestly, I have no room in this already vintage-full house of mine, so we’ll see…
I rescued 2 huge boxes of books from next to this old bookshelf. A former pastor or his kids must have been cleaning out an office, because I scored enough good, christian books to last my family a lifetime of reading! We will be theological scholars if we get through them all! I’m hoping to refresh this bookshelf into a little shorter version with some vertical dividers and have it sitting on an industrial desk in my new office. Creating an office for myself is on my summer to-do list when it’s too hot to be outside!
This vintage Costco stool was actually bought at one of the church sales for $2. It was almost free! It just seemed to fit into this post better, since it is a piece of furniture. The green fabric is hideous, in my opinion, and the finish is different than my other chrome ones. But I’m still hoping to create some feedsack slipcovers {“Feedsacks, Flour Sacks, or Grain Sacks? Is there a difference?“} for my collection of vintage metal stools to coordinate with my kitchen sitting area {“Adding Vintage Feedsacks to New Furniture Seats”}. We’re using some wood stools now, and they’re just not as comfortable as the old metal ones!
So I can honestly say my screen porch is now bursting at the seams with DIY projects! I really need to have a sale, but haven’t had enough time this spring! And I have to admit, it’s really hard to part with pieces that have so much potential! I wish I could just wave my magic wand and turn them into the loveliness I can picture in my mind! And I really just don’t have room in my life for all the greatness, even if they were re-imagined! Oh, the struggle of being a junk lover that doesn’t want to be a hoarder! Can anyone else relate?
Do you have a stash of furniture waiting to be refreshed and re-imagined? I hope I’m not the only one! If you can’t get enough of curbside treasure hunting, check out my post, “Curbside Junking Adventures and Tips”. Hope you enjoyed seeing my springtime curbside junking finds! Thank goodness the junk trail is slowing down for the season!
Sharing at these lovely parties:
To Grandma’s House We Go
Eek–those wigs! Great finds, Lora! I look forward to seeing how you use the piece in your hallway! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks, Cecilia! Yes, I need to have some driveway project days!
Great finds! I love that chair. My garage currently has a set of tall caned dining chairs, an outdoor wicker sofa, and a random bentwood chair, all of which local people were giving away for free in a Facebook buy/sell group I follow. Now I need to find time to work on it all.
Those freebie finds sound wonderful, Danielle! Now that the weather is nice, I’m hoping to get some furniture projects done, too!
Hand up for me!
I usually need hubz to help me lift things and while he is at work is curb side shopping prime time lol but he and I have found many things some needig tlc but many in excellent usable condition as was.
It’s mind blowing what people throw away, don’t you think? I’m pretty glad they do, though;)
HAD to stop by and say hello to a fellow LORA! We are few and far between! Lol.
You are so right, LORA! I usually try to say hi to the few out there, too! Been stopping people to spell my name right my whole life! Thanks for saying “Hi”!
Please girl… have you seen my garage! lol!
I love all your finds and I’m still just in awe that you can find that kind of thing on the curb!! We don’t have that here!
Tania
Garages aren’t for parking cars, are they? And I held myself back from many junking days this year…too much temptation!
Love your treasures; I will NEVER have enough bookshelves and can’t imagine making one smaller! I would fix these up and put them on Craigslist (in Maine we have a site called Maine Yard Sales, too) if you don’t have room for themt; 1) make a few bucks without booth rent, 2) show husband these had potential *and you were right) , 3) have more money to go thrifting! Win-win-win in my book! Or enjoy them in your home for a while, then sell them! Did you salvage the wigs; our local cancer center uses them. Or after a good wash, they’re always good for Halloween!
Love your advice, Kathy! Don’t exactly know what happened to the wigs…