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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Decorating Thrift Style

One of the best things about owning an older home is how much fun it is to decorate.  Having many architectural details can create challenges with modern day living but overall, I think hubby and I have done a pretty good job of blending the old with the new.

One of my favorite spots during the warmer weather is our front porch still displaying all of its original charm since being built in 1891. This is where I enjoy my evening cup of coffee and with the view of the water and harbour, I'm happy to take my time and sometimes head inside for a refill.

When it was time to set up this special "quiet" space, I knew I couldn't just head to the nearest department store to find furniture for the cozy look I wanted to create. So in keeping with my love of reusing and recycling, I headed to our local thrift shop and yard sales.


The antique glass light fixture hanging over the window was found at a yard sale for $5 and casts a gentle glow through the circles and stars in the fancy arch at night;

The wicker chair on the right was purchased at a yard sale for $1 and even though there are worn areas in the back, the seat and legs are still sturdy;

The larger wicker chair on the left was sitting at the side of the road with a "Free" sign on it, you gotta love that!

The pink roses and gingham pillow sham that covers the old cushion on the "Free" chair was purchased for $1 at a thrift shop;

The antique wicker plant stand in the center was purchased at a yard sale for only $20 and is in exceptional condition;

The old metal canning pot on the floor to the left was purchased at a yard sale for $1 and looks striking with the wave petunia and vines spilling out of it;

The large white enamel pot with bright red accents at the base of the wicker plant stand was purchased at a yard sale for $1 and is the perfect companion to the wicker;

The plastic "pot" hidden in the top of the wicker plant stand is lined with plastic and was an old drywall compound bucket, now reinvented as a waterproof planter.
So for less than $30 and in keeping with my love of being environmentally conscious,  I have the perfect place to enjoy the harbor view!

What have you found at yard sales and thrift shops to create your favorite space?

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53 comments:

Unknown said...

I would love to sit out there too! Thanks for following! I'm following you back. Look forward to reading more!!

Melanie said...

Love it! That looks so beautiful! :)

Have a great week!
Melanie

Inspiring You To Save! said...

Thanks for stopping by. I'm your newest follower!

Kayni said...

i love yard sales and thrift shops too. i'm a first time homeowner and in the process of redecorating, painting my house. i love your quiet space. your post reminded me that i need to also create my own quiet space. thank you for sharing.

Cameron said...

beautiful!!

I'm a new follower from FMBT!

Michelle said...

thanks for following me. I'm following back!

Amy said...

just so pretty and I love the yellow..

Unknown said...

OH that is beautiful.. I need ya'll to come help me decorate my house lol

Kayni said...

by the way, i have two awards for you. i hope you don't mind.

Amber said...

How pretty! I found my vintage black and white buffet table at a thrift store for $19.99! :)

Connie K said...

your space looks so relaxing ! great job too !

liz said...

So charming and inviting!

Pam said...

Awesome porch decoration!!!

Unknown said...

New follower from Tuesday blog hopping.

Happy Tuesday!

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Deana said...

Hey, thanks for the follow! Back at ya:)
www.momstheglue.blogspot.com

kassidy's notes said...

thank you for the visit. i'm following you :)

adrienzgirl said...

I love finding treasures that someone else has discarded as well. All of your finds look lovely together. But the chair, that was "free"? AMAZING!

Danielle said...

Wow, that looks great. I bet the people that trashed that stuff would hate to see how amazing it looks!

Linda Medrano said...

I love the look you've created there! Gorgeous! Our house was built in 1880 and it's a "stick house" Victorian, sometimes called an Eastlake. We are constantly working to restore it and will be for the next 100 years I'm sure!

June said...

I love the white wicker and vintage look all for a great price!!

ethelmaepotter! said...

Oh, it's enchanting! The buttery yellow is absolutely perfect, and the light fixture is gorgeous! LOVE the pots and the chairs! It looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting - pure old fashioned Americana.

My great finds on my porch are a tea cart which I found at a yard sale for $1, spray painted white, and gave the wheels a coating of black; and a small maple table which my daughter was throwing out. They both look fantastic. I get compliments all the time on my huge Roman concrete pots, which are actually cheap Dollar Store styrofoam-plastic. I can't believe they've held up for 10 years! And last year, when I was growing flowers to fill our yard for our daughter's wedding, I used whatever I could find, spray painted in coordinating colors - cream, terra cotta, copper, white, and gray - everything from those cheap green plastic liners to paint cans to cat litter buckets!

Anonymous said...

OMG! Gorgeous!

lauren said...

Following you back!

http://my365toaSize5.blogspot.com

Kelly said...

Thanks for stopping by, I'm following you back :)
Have a great week!!

Ro said...

Just love the star cut outs on the woodwork! I've never seen anything quite like that before. Very nice! And the whole little tableau looks so very inviting. A lovely welcoming look.

Babes Mami said...

I love it! I love older homes too, they have history and stories and are lived in.

Twee Poppets said...

Following back! Thanks! :)

http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com

SueFitz said...

Coming over from TFB

Great site

http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/

Helene said...

The stars were the first thing I noticed in the arch....that's adorable!!!

Your porch looks lovely and I would've never guessed that you got all those items for so cheap! I never have that kind of luck!

mimilovesall8 said...

Your porch is darling! I love the info about yourself!
I just started blogging 2 weeks ago and I need followers . I am currently hosting a giveaway so maybe you can stop by and look around and enter the giveaway.
I followed you too!Thanks, mimilovesall8.blogspot.com

Ally said...

Wow, that looks like such an inviting place to kick back with a book or magazine. I love the star-shaped cut outs.

FourthGradeNothing.com

Buckeroomama said...

What great finds! I wish I have the knack for putting together "non-set" things as nicely as you do. :)

SuziCate said...

I really need to start checking out the thrift stores!

David said...

thanks for following... i am following you back!

HeartsMakeFamilies said...

That looks like a totally awesome place to sit out there. I wish I could do shopping like that. I really stink at it.

JoJo said...

I love older homes and your front porch is quaint and and adorable!

Unknown said...

Was the wood (stars) molding originally there? If so, that is beyond gorgeous. Do you still have my guest room ready? I can just imagine sitting there on the porch, chit chatting the night away.

MollyinMinn said...

Great post! I just found a wonderful oak 4-piece desk set for my boys for $10. When you find good stuff, it's so worth the effort!

Annie Z said...

Fantastic! You have such a wonderful talent for decorating and creating amazing beauty out of recycled pieces. I just love this!

Hollywood Glamorous said...

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Love your blog, followed a few days prior! Luv it!

Heather said...

I love what you have done with that spot. I thought that chair was the one you had snagged off of the side of the road! I do like the look of your entryway, but have ya ever noticed it is in the shape of a slice of bread.

I had to laugh at your final question, cause that would be practically everything in my house!!

Mae Rae said...

that is the greatest little spot. My camp kitchen is completely thrift shop, yardsale, and side of the road finds. We love it.

LeAnn said...

thank you for following The Squeaky Grocery Cart

Kristi said...

Love this! It's fun to find great deals and free is even better. :) Thanks for stopping by. I'm following you back.

Debbiedoos said...

So charming Deb...I of course love it!!~ Looks like a great place to hang out and enjoy the beauty around you. This is a great post to link up to my party goings on now:)

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

It looks wonderful! I just found some "curbside" wicker pieces that I am working on now. I love a good trash day! LOL

Have a wonderful weekend!

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Stopping by from debbiedoos party! Love your little nook there! Love the thrifty purchases even more! Thanks for stopping by my little blog!!

gayle said...

I love your poarch look!! I don't like yard/garage sales but do go to the Goodwill Store!

Vintagesouthernlife said...

Love your porch. It looks so inviting. Annette

Debbiedoos said...

Hi Deb...glad you joined in on the party. Would you mind adding my link to your post....I see you had some new visitors...cool, I have a nice group of ladies who love this party and always are so kind to take visits to others:) Have a great weekend. Debbie

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Very pretty! Nice job on decorating the porch! You certainly did well price wise. Very cozy looking!

Gretchen Seefried said...

It is just perfect! I would not change a single thing!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

What a lovely spot for a cup of tea!! And I am in love with the color of yellow that your home is painted!! Just charming!!

Debbie