Trash to Treasure Decorating

Another Junker's Paradise- The Apron Chicks Barn Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Earlier this month, on my way over to the Twin Cities for a big weekend of garage sales, I swung through Stillwater, MN for a visit to The Apron Chicks' barn sale. I'd heard about it from a friend and was glad my travel dates coincided with the sale. Temre and Amy have their sale just 5 times a year, and if you live in the Stillwater area, or you're passing through, I highly suggest you stop by.

Let me give you a little tour.

The Apron Chicks: Temre Pugh and Amy Peterson. You'll find their shop on Facebook at Apron Chicks.

Aren't they cute? Um, I'm not sure who is who. Sorry gals! I'll ask next time.

I pulled up to the driveway and fell in love with the house before I saw the barn.

Dreamy!

Then, I wound my way up the driveway to the barn.

The barn sale overflows into the yard and there were treasures everywhere.

I wanted one of everything, but I restrained myself.

I could have stayed all afternoon. But I'll just have to stop again next time.

Want to stop by the Apron Chicks Barn Sale yourself? Here are the dates for the three remaining sales of 2012:

July 25-27
September 19-21
November 14-16

If you've never been to Stillwater, you'll find it's a town with lots of fun places to spend a day away from the normal grind. Such a quaint town full of shops and restaurants.

If you visit The Apron Chicks, be sure to tell them that you heard about the sale here, on Trash to Treasure Decorating.

Thanks for a pleasant visit, Temre and Amy!

Easy Office Storage - Transformation Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:29:00 +0000

Today's transformation isn't much of a transformation, but I want to show you anyway. Last week, I showed you my closet door improvised desk. This week, I got to thinking how cluttered my desk is, despite my organizing. I wanted to do something about all the little stuff on top.

See what I mean?

I remembered that I had these plastic drawer bins from another project that didn't work out quite they way I had hoped. So, I decided to see if I could attach them somehow under the desk.

By the way, these have decorative scrapbook paper in the fronts so that they look pretty. Plus, I had already spray painted them with plastic spray paint for the other project. They came in white when I bought them.

I removed the plastic drawers and screwed the plastic to the underside of my desk. I recommend using a screw and a washer to make the plastic hold up under pressure (the washer absorbs some strain on the screw).

I put a couple of screws in each.

And then I filled it with my clutter.

Better! Um, except for the trash can that is so prominent in the picture. Sorry. Guess that's keepin' it real. Thank goodness I didn't zoom enough for you to see the dust bunnies!

Budget Office Desk

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I've had an upcycled desk for quite a while, but I needed to make some changes to get more space. My main office desk is a small desk (the kind you buy in a box and assemble at home) and it was was too small for what I do. So, I put an old door on top of the desk and I use the hole from the door knob for my computer cords.

For a while, I've had a cabinet door along the side for more space to put stuff. But there just wasn't enough room.

So I hunted around for another door. My husband found me an old closet door that was just skinny enough to fit the purpose and long enough too! I propped one end on my current desk and the other on a file cabinet.

The lamp cord goes right through the hole left behind by a handle.

My L-shaped configuration.

Now, I can spread out my papers and really dig into a project. I love my Trash to Treasure office!

Need a bigger desk surface in your office? I've seen many doors at garage sales, so I bet you can find one.

Transformation Tuesday: Vanity Table Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I love stories of when someone finds something in the trash and saves it. Those jaw-dropping transformations that most people wouldn't believe possible. That's the heart of Transformation Tuesday!

Aubre Rice from The Rice's World sent me reader mail to show me two items she rescued from the trash and revamped.

First, she took a pretty beat up vanity that looked like this:

And turned it into this:

The poor thing had just one knob when she rescued it. Looks like Aubre took care of that!

And then she rescued this chunk of weathered wood that most people would toss in the firewood pile (by the way, it's bigger than it looks here):

And turned it into this:

Indeed, that transformation reminds us that anything is truly possible. I love it! Thanks for the inspiration Aubre.

Know what I love even more? Aubre did this all for a friend who is redecorating on a tight budget. Sweet. Be sure to stop by The Rice's World to see more about these projects.

Photo of the Week - Spring Blossoms

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:29:00 +0000

Weekend Most Pinteresting Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:15:00 +0000

Here are my most recent favorite blog posts that I discovered on Pinterest:

1. I love this vintage rolling pin turned into a towel bar. There is a tutorial on the Olive Bites blog.

2. I had to hunt around to find the original blog post for this pin!* I guess the problem was it's in a language I don't speak. But the idea is cute! Here's a spool holder made from and old frame and you'll find a picture tutorial on the Trois Fois Rien blog. Well, if you speak French, you'll have more than a picture tutorial!

3. If you have a vintage window with broken glass, you might find this idea useful. If you replace the panes with chicken wire, you'll have this little memo center. See Rusty Rooster Vintage for the tutorial.

4. I hadn't thought about painting my old suitcases before but I really like this whitewashed look. I'll keep it in mind when I'm shopping at yard sales this season. Sometimes I pass them up because they don't look vintage enough. Problem solved!

See the Songbird blog for the rest of the story.

5. I just picked up a giveaway crib (just the headboard and footboard) at a yard sale and I can't wait to try this! So cool. A crib turned chalkboard. Great way to use those ones that aren't considered safe for babies anymore. The Red Kitchen has the full post.

Want more? Check out my Trash to Treasure board on Pinterest.

*One note about Pinterest. Too many pins lead to just a JPG photo, rather than a blog post. I try to fix that and only re-pin to actual posts. Once in a while, I miss one that doesn't have a link, but I try to make sure I give credit to the person who took the time to post these fantastic ideas.

Transformation Tuesday...One More: Amazing Mosaiac Shutters

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Our final Transformation ~~Tuesday~~ Friday feature comes all the way from a reader in Cyprus. I had to look that up on a map to see where it was. Geography isn't my strong point. But I do remember reading stories of Paul the Apostle in Cyprus, so that got me curious. It's a little island in the Mediterranean Sea near Turkey.

Curious now too? It's directly below the K in Turkey on the map below.

Reader Amber Zacharia says a lot of old stuff gets tossed out where she lives, so she "came up with an idea for old cupboard doors. A bit of paint, broken tiles, and broken mirrors" and she created these amazing fake window shutters.

Before

After

I love this! Thank you for sharing Amber!

Have a project to share? Just shoot me an e-mail and I'll feature you on a Transformation Tuesday sometime soon.

Quick Decorating Idea: Furnace Grate and Vintage Window

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I wanted to make a small change on my kitchen wall. The wall is the back side of a built-in china hutch and so there is a window peek-through to the dining room below the wall. I had some stuff up, but wanted something less cluttery.

I decided to use on of my vintage window creations, but then couldn't decide what else to add. I scouted around in some of the junk my husband has rescued for me from his scrap metal pile, and saw this grate. It seemed like the right thing to balance out the washboard I was considering for the other side. I like it. At least for now.

I've actually considered painting that wall a darker color, but for now, I'll live with the cream. I love the rusty finish on the grate! I hung it from a drywall screw in the middle since it needed something heavy enough to hold it up. It's very heavy.

Transformation Tuesday...Continued: Repurposed Farm Pantry

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:30:00 +0000

I've featured projects from Deborah Jean's Dandelion House before, and she just doesn't disappoint with inspiration! A little while ago, I got some reader mail from Deb and I can't wait to show you. She reorganized her kitchen pantry in a big way with repurposing.

Without further ado...more Transformation Tuesday fun--on Wednesday!

Isn't that fabulous?! I love the red! You'll have to check out the blog for Deb's complete makeover, including the chalk labels on vintage jars, the wire baskets, the terrific cabinet makeover and more.

I love that Deb reclaimed the cabinet from the living room and turned it into this. Do you have an armoire or TV cabinet sitting around that you could use for something similar?

Transformation Tuesday - Decoupage Metal Tray

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:56:00 +0000

I've abandoned my poor readers too often lately! Travel and to-Do list have made me set aside the blog for a few weeks. Again. But I'm ready to get back in groove and chat with my reader friends again.

It's been forever since we had a Transformation Tuesday post, so this week, I'll be featuring a couple of posts in a row featuring projects from reader mail.

This Transformation Tuesday project comes from Linn at The Home Project. Sometimes, the simplest transformations are the best! She took this sort of tacky tray (my apologies to the state of New Mexico and the manufacturer of this souvenir platter if I have offended you).

Linn took this metal tray from drab to fab and she has the complete tutorial on her blog.

Isn't that pretty? Who knew it could be so awesome! Well, Linn did, obviously.

She says, "I wanted to share a smaller, more manageable project that anybody can do, even if you don't have a lot of tools or supplies: transforming a metal tray with decoupage.

"I picked up this old metal tray at a thrift shop for $1.50 and bought some pretty paper at the craft store with matching paint for the sides. After doing just a little painting, cutting and gluing I have a brand new tray to use for organizing or carrying things!

I love small and doable projects like this that don't take too long and that give instant satisfaction!"

Check out her blog to see the full project.

I think I have some old serving trays around here somewhere that could use this transformation!

Thanks for the inspiration Linn.

Photo of the Week - April 15

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:40:00 +0000

I've had to step back from the blog once again for a few days at a time. I had to travel for speaking and I have more travel coming in a few days, so the blog gets "back-blogged" on my to-do list.

Mid-April Snow on My Upcycled Yard Decor

Vintage Lamp Turned Plant Hanger/ Bird Feeder

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:28:00 +0000

My husband was about to throw this lamp in the dumpster when a little voice inside said, "I wonder if Michelle would want this?" So he set it aside to have me look at it. Of course, I wanted it! And of course he knows this by now. Something else inside him probably wanted to toss it before I rescued yet more junk and put it somewhere in our house.

Please excuse the ugly deck and yard. It's March. Nothing is pretty yet, but I had the T2T bug and had to decorate something!

You may wonder what I decided to do about the rust and such. I actually like it just as is and left it alone. It will be outside anyway. And I like the glass marble looking part near the base.

This vintage lamp has no electric function anymore. The cord was already broken and removed. But, since the base is filled with cement underneath, it's solid, and I saw it as garden potential. The cement gives it stability and keeps it from tipping over and I found it was perfect for hanging and lightweight plant.

But then I decided it would make a fantastic hanger for my hummingbird feeder (when the weather warms up enough and they come back from migration). I could set an orange in the top for Orioles too. Or, I could put something on top to hold bird seed. We'll see.

I like that I can see it from the dining room window...when the birds come back.

If you found this in the trash, what would you do with it? It's WWYD Wednesday, so feel free to share what you would do/ make out of it in the comments below.

Reality TV Shows Spawn Trash-to-Treasure Craze - CNBC

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000


Source: aetv.com Storage Wars

Have you caught on to the hype yet? CNBC featured the trash to treasure hype in an article about the reality shows that showcase salvaged items:

Reality TV Shows Spawn Trash-to-Treasure Craze

Admit it, you’re a dumpster diver at heart. Or at least you would be one if it were socially acceptable.

Thanks to the popularity of trash-to-treasure reality TV shows, however, you no longer need to roll up your sleeves to get your bargain-hunting fix.Indeed, the show that started it all, "Antiques Roadshow," which debuted in the U.S. some 15 years ago, has spawned a whole new breed of TV programming that uses blind bidding wars and junkyard jockeying to up the emotional ante on the thrill of the hunt

Such shows, including A&E’s "Storage Wars" and the History Channel’s "American Pickers" and "Pawn Stars," have frequently ranked among the top 10 cable shows on Nielsen Co.’s weekly TV ratings. ("Storage Wars," in fact, in which teams of eccentric buyers make a blind bid on repossessed storage units, is the most popular series in A&E’s history.)

Their impact goes way beyond the ability to attract ad dollars, says Greg Dove of the National Flea Market Association, noting the reality-based programs have also helped level the playing field between serious collectors and the yard-sale set.

“It’s bringing in new faces, people from all economic strata,” says Dove. “We’re seeing more and more middle-class and upper-class folks coming to flea markets. Some are just curious, others are seeking collectibles and others are trying to stretch their dollar in a bad economy.”

Read the rest of the article:

Alternative Investing 2011 - Reality TV Shows Spawn Trash-to-Treasure Craze - CNBC

Weekend Pinterest Roundup - Lighting Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:55:00 +0000

It might not be all that Pinteresting to you to know that I'm a Pinterest addict. Do they have 12-step programs for crazy crafters like me? Enjoy the weekend Pinterest roundup of my top 5 favorite posts about T2T light fixtures:

1. I love this flour sifter turned light fixture shown on the Unconsumption blog:

2. How about this upside down birdcage turned chandelier featured on Design Sponge?

3. A vintage lamp made from a colander and an antique toaster from The Polished Pebble:

4. These hanging lights are made from spoons tied together to look like blossoms. Showcased on the Purple Homes blog:

5. Apartment Therapy has ideas for turning old kitchen tools into lights:

Fireplace Makeover - Before and After

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I missed Transformation Tuesday this week, so I thought I'd share on Friday. Yeah. Makes sense to me. Although Transformation Friday just doesn't have the same ring.

I saw this before and after fireplace makeover online and had to share it with you. The Yellow Cape Cody by Sarah Macklem Interiors shows how easy it is to take a dated red brick fireplace and give it a facelift for only the cost of paint mixed with water! I love the whitewashed look.

Before

Photo from The Yellow Cape Cod

After

Photo from The Yellow Cape Cod

Be sure to check out the full post on The Yellow Cape Cod for instructions on how you can do this yourself.

Trash to Treasure Sofa from a Clawfoot Tub

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:35:00 +0000

I thought I had seen it all until I saw claw foot tubs turned into couches! It's been a long time since the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's made the idea popular...so long in fact that I wasn't born yet when the movie cam out. It was certainly long before we ever talked about trash to treasure or going green.

But modern artists are finding new uses for old claw foot tubs once again. In a feature on the ShelterPop blog sofas made by Ruff House Art reveal just how fun the idea can be.

Ruff House Art

See the full feature on ShelterPop (now called Stylist Home).

My Favorite Most Pinteresting Posts from the Past Week

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:52:00 +0000

Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas for people who love trash to treasure decorating! Here are my top five favorite ideas from this past week. I pin back to the blog post, not the Pinterest link for copyright purposes.

I love this upcycled Coca-Cola tub table from Muddaritaville:

All it takes is a glass table top, and that can be salvaged from another table.

These towel holders from Not Just a Housewife are awesome:

This old window turned memo board was from Little Green Bean:

Aren't these dragonflies from table legs and ceiling fan blades from Lucy Designs sweet?

And this Pottery Barn inspired lantern holder from Unskinny Boppy is fantastic:

The great thing about all of these ideas is that they aren't terrible difficult to recreate! More ideas to add to my "if I had time" list. To see more details about any of these projects, click the blog title link above each photo.

WWYD Wednesday - Vintage Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Someone one Craigslist was selling a bunch of these doors from an old school for $45 each. If you bought one, what would you do with it? Would you use it for decorating in some way? Would you alter it, paint it, use it for another purpose? The listing said there is a film over some of the panes, so I'm assuming that even though one is clearer than the rest, it isn't missing.

It's WWYD Wednesday, so feel free to share your ideas on what you would do,or post a link to a blog post showing something you've done with an old door in the comments below.

Transformation Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:11:00 +0000

I promised you part two of the features from blogger Aubre from Ohio. Did you have a chance to check out The Rice's World?

Here are a few more of Aubre's transformations.

She took these cardboard boxes...

...and turned them into this play kitchen center.

These plastic milk jugs became a clever costume.

Aubre refinished this table with a coat of paint.

And, I like how she gave it a distressed look by letting some of the black show. We T2T'ers think alike! We take something old and make it look different, yet still distressed. LOL

This Americana flag became something more modern...

Thanks for sharing Aubre! By the way, I love the color of your wall. I have an accent wall in my office in the same color.

WWYD Wednesday- Pallet Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I see post about pallets all over the web, especially on Pinterest. Craigslist has many listings for free pallets, so what would you do with them? What have you already done with them?

Share your ideas in the comments below, and feel free to link up to a blog post of a pallet project you've done.

Transformation Tuesday- American Girl Dollhouse from TV Center

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +0000

Today's transformation comes from reader Jennifer, from Caught My Fancy blog. Jennifer took a TV entertainment center and turned it into an awesome American Girl doll house!

Jennifer has some close-ups of the detail. It's amazing!

You'll have to check out Jennifer's blog for a detailed, multi-post progress report and how-to if you'd like to make one yourself. I don't have a little girl, but if I did...

WWYD Wednesday - Coffee Table Missing Glass

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:24:00 +0000

I saw this coffee/end table listed for free on Craigslist. It's too far away for me to even consider getting it, however, I wondered what you would do to rescue it if it was in your possession. It's missing all the glass, so it's only a wood frame basically.

Leave your ideas for how you could re-do it, fill in the spaces, etc. to make this a functioning table in the comments below.

Happy Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!

Transformation Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:40:00 +0000

Aubre, from Ohio, sent me some photos of her latest transformations. She's been busy turning trash to treasure! I'll feature some of her ideas this week and then watch for part two later this month. Plus, check out her blog, The Rice's World for more ideas.

This bird bath would certainly add color to a garden!

Aubre took a bunch of windows and transformed them into art.

Doesn't she have fun colorful taste?

This one is my favorite!

This dollhouse got a major upgrade.

Thanks for sharing Aubre! Be sure to grab my "I was featureed" button on the side.

Muted Monday- Photo of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rayburn) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:04:00 +0000