Serious Saturday Sale!

  

This was a dangerous day.  Sage Antiques, one of my favorite vintage shops had a massive and fabulous sale where everything was 40-50% off.  I told you, it was dangerous!  During my first trip there (there were two) I snagged two rusty metal baskets and a grain sack with a bold blue stripe (I caved and picked up some pink candles yesterday and threw them in the photo!).  My friend found a beautiful candelabra for a serious song… I’ll have to photograph next time I’m over at the cute historic district home she and her husband are restoring.

Day goes on… Enter Husband who loves one of a kind pieces almost as much as 50% sales.  We head back for Sage Sale Round 2.    While our Kitchen remodel is a few years off, we checked “Island” off the list today with this old worktable, which we’ll keep in the Entry for the time being. 

Originally from a warehouse in Long Beach, Ca it’s got drill holes and patina galore all over it.   When my parents bought an old farm table for their Kitchen, my grandfather looked at them incredulously and said, “You PAID MONEY for this???”  I don’t know if he would take this table if you PAID HIM, and I’m laughing just imagining what he would say over it!

 

Lastly, we found these metal lockers that we’ll use as a tool cabinet in our garage.  The chic tool cabinet idea pleased the Designer and the price pleased the Husband.  After realizing it was less expensive than the ones he’s been eyeing at Home Depot it took me all of maybe oh, a millisecond, to tell him to buy it!  I can imagine so many more great uses for it too… books in a study, toiletries in a bathroom, even in a Kitchen as a pantry!  Can’t wait for Round 3, where we pick up the pieces (no not more shopping!).

Do you have any vintage finds you’ve repurposed for your home?  Do share!

Recycling P.S.

One really can't escape the window frame turned mirror idea (not that I've tried, of course!).

Look at this beauty I found this morning!

Visit Cote de Texas to see the rest of this house!

My next virtual stop brought me to COCOCOZY and yet another amazing mirror (and it's on sale)!

It reminds me of the not-on-sale antique mirror I posted last week...

High or Low, there's a window turned mirror to be had by all!

Recycling

There's nothing that quite catches the look of a steel frame casement window. They are so elegant and make the window itself worth looking at.

Many of these windows that were installed in Europe and even the U.S. are being torn out and replaced for newer and more energy efficient windows... with these being single pane, I suppose the green girl in me can't criticize too much.

{Photo via Parterre}

So what are steel frame window lover's to do??? Recycle of course!

Refit with mirrored panes and voila... fabulous, vintage, eco-chic mirror at your service.

{Photo via Trouve}

A used window frame should be steal right? Oh no no...welcome to the world of Antiques! Large antique window mirrors usually go for a killing, especially if they're European. Beauty does come with a price.

{Photo via Relics}

Though in my financial logic, you're really getting a 2 for 1... it looks like you've added window when hung against your wall AND it provides the functionality of a mirror. See, in a convoluted way it can be made reasonable.

{Photo via Ballard Designs}

Even without my logic, there are options to be had. Many retailers now sell reproductions in more affordable price ranges. In contrast to higher end antique stores where the mirrors are usually already made, you might find raw frames at good prices at consignment shops or salvage yards. You are left to do the legwork of turning it into a mirror, though you now have the option to select the type of mirror that goes into the frame (or any other surface at that- try cork!).

The last option is one I've tried and tested... cutting out the middle man.

While walking my dog past my neighbors house a few weeks ago I saw a discarded old steel window, broken panes and all, out for bulk trash collection. I stopped dead in my tracks... I barely knew my neighbors, but I had to have their trash! Getting it was the issue... it was a little embarrassing, I mean I was oogling at their garbage for goodness sakes! I contemplated just going and taking it, though they have a security camera and it was inconveniently angled right on the window... I thought about going in the middle of the night in all black, though the chance of being caught and branded as the neighborhood's sketchy klepto designer kaboshed that idea. I had to ask them for it... there was no other way. So I practiced my spiel on the phone with my sister, she wished me good luck with my dumpster diving, and across the street I went. Luckily my nice neighbor encouraged my "recycling" and didn't make me feel awkward at all. The next morning in 38 degree weather, my husband and I lifted my 38 degree steel window and brought it home. That 150 ft walk never felt so far, but I now have a vintage steel window frame gracing my garage and awaiting a new look.