Columbus Day Weekend Projects

I couldn't have taken off four better days weather wise.  I had big plans and many projects I intended to complete.  Saturday I did my usual yard sale shopping.  I don't know what I am going to do with myself when winter arrives and the yard sales go the way of the dinosaur at least temporarily.

A year ago I purchased a primitive style desk covered in many layers of paint at a yard sale.  I paid $5 for it.   With all of my other obligations it has sat in my garage since then.   This weekend I took it out and set my mind to completing its transformation.  I used paint stripper to take off what I could.  Then I sanded it down with my electric sander and course grit paper.  I spray painted it cream and added some nice deco style silver knobs to the drawer.  What a feeling of satisfaction.  To shed light on the situation I hung up a 1960's wicker swag lamp.

Moving my new gem to its spot in the corner of the Master Bedroom meant making space for it.  It gave me incentive to do much more.  I also moved in from the garage a mid century modern stand I bought at the Thrift Store a while back.  It too was only $5.  It needed just a bit of a wipe down and I added two storage baskets to the bottom shelf.   I made a wall unit out of it by combining it with a bookshelf I had found on one of my Auction House excursions.  I don't remember what I paid for it but I am sure it was cheap.  Above the wall unit hangs another yard sale find.  It is a Maio City Scene I found for $2.  To update it I painted the frame a nice glossy black.

 
At the far corner of the room sits my $12 recovered Estate Sale chair, $5 Thrift Store ottoman and $5 Flea Market floor lamp.  I can't wait to curl up in my new reading corner with a good book and a cup of coffee.  Maybe next time I take a few days off I will get to enjoy that pleasure.

 

My Retro Bar Cart

If you find yourself one of these at a flea market or yard sale scoop it up.  I found this one at a yard sale for $1.00.  I believe it is an old Costco kitchen cart.  It even has an electric outlet attached that plugs into the wall to plug in your blender for mixing margaritas or your coffee pot if an Irish Coffee is more to your liking.  It would be the perfect retro bar cart for my new mid century modern decor. 

I cleaned it up with soap and water.  I unscrewed the metal shelves from the base for painting.  I scuffed up the surface a bit so the paint would adhere better.  I painted the two lower shelves a glossy black and the top shelf and the base with a metallic silver spray paint.  After letting it dry overnight I put it back together (of course, not after a trip to the hardware store to replace the screw I managed to loose somewhere in the garage).

All it needed now was a little set dressing.  I placed an acrylic tray with matching ice bucket, stainless drink shaker and blue corked glass bottle on the top shelf.  On the middle shelf I placed a small round ruffled silver tray with blue and white teapot and sake cups.  Finally, on the bottom shelf I placed a shallow rectangular  wicker basket and four black and gold retro tumblers.   All of the items used are items I found at yard sales or flea markets or that I bought at my favorite auction house.  It makes for a very collected over time look.  Check it out.