Here are a few tips on how to decorate with junk. If you love junk but hate clutter then these tips are for you. Don’t buy just to buy. Is there a purpose and a vision for the junk you are purchasing?
My friends and I love junk but we hate clutter. To the average onlooker, this would appear to be a trailer load of TRASH!!! Not so! It is a trailer load of TREASURES or soon-to-be treasures. Some of the pieces are perfectly imperfect just the way they are. Some will need a little tender loving care and some will require a complete makeover. We didn’t buy just to buy. There was a purpose and a vision for everything we bought. This trip was primarily hunting for our own homes and only a very few items for resale.
This was the last stop on our Antiques Weekend Road Trip. Buried underneath the chairs the bedframe, and the white enamel pot are two very industrial, nautical looking columns.
Tip 1: Where are you going to put what you just purchased? Think about it.
These columns are part of a sweet story on our last day at Warrenton. I hope I can do it justice. Mrs. Hackishack spotted these two extremely heavy pieces with just the right crusty, chippiness. She struck a deal with the vendor, paid him and told him we would bring the trailer in when we finished shopping. As we browsed a bit more under his tent, this cute little gal rushed into his space and asked the price of the columns as he was attaching a sold tag to them. He pointed to my friend and said, “She just bought them.”
Disheartened, she proclaimed, “I knew I should have waited to go to the port-a-potty!!!”
This is what she missed out on and my friend, Mrs. Hacki Shack came home with.
The treasures have found a new home in her real estate office.
Aren’t they fantastic? But that is not the end of the story. We took a little coconut pie break and then went back to the same vendor. You never know when you might see something else that needs to come home with you. There were two large metal frame that looked like they might work as a bases for coffee tables. My friend decided not to purchase those.
Tip 2: Mix rusty, crusty, chippy junk with other finishes. See the table above.
Not everything in your space needs to be chippy and distressed. When you decorate with junk, soften the look with fabric or cushions and add a few plants.
Now we were ready to go and get the trailer. But we needed to stop at the very first booth we visited that day and pick up 2 chairs the Mrs. Hackishack had purchased.
They were cute acid green chairs with needlepoint cushions. Again, they were just the right color with the perfect amount of distress on them. And there she was! The cute gal that had missed out on the columns earlier. And guess what? Yep! She was looking for “those 2 green chairs”! The vendor pointed to my friend and said, “She bought them!” We had a really good laugh about their taste being so similar. But this is still not the end of the story. When we pulled our trailer into that field to get the columns – there SHE was with her trailer. And she was loading up the big metal frames that my friend had looked at earlier. It was just too funny!
This was my little box of treasures. I knew I had a spot for the coffee pot.
Tip 3: Will your pieces be decorative or functional?
If it your pieces are functional make sure that they are actually usable. The coffee pot had holes so it could not be used as a functional piece. But the cabinet was solid ready to be used a functional piece.
It was the perfect size to fill the spot on the Coffee Rack.
The pedestal dish has a place in my bathroom. Whew!!! I am so glad that project is finished.
I actually found two more pieces for the bathroom on our road trip.
The cabinet and the planter were two items on my list. The cabinet had to be narrow for that space and the height was a bonus. The planter was repurposed to hold towels.
Tip 4: Hunt for unique pieces that you love and that are your style.
Just because it’s chippy and distressed doesn’t mean that it will work with your style. Your style might be Victorian, French Country or Modern. Pick pieces that work into your style.
Also on my list were items for the upcoming wedding.
Black lace for votives and burgundy lace for table runners. I didn’t find the lace for the table runners, but I found narrow burgundy lace and decided to experiment.
My daughter-in-law to be had a Pinterest board that really helped me to be able to hunt for items for the May the 4th WEDDING. It was to be a Bohemian Gothic wedding with just a touch of Star Wars.
CLICK on the image above for instructions to the LACE EMBELLISHED VOTIVES.
The other thing I came home with was an array of images that I hope to paint.
I photographed the mason jars as the morning sun hit them sending out that breathtaking “BALL” reflection/shadow.
Here is my watercolor painting. Now I just need to think of a title.
With all the shopping, decorating, wedding preparations (now finished) and Mother’s Day tomorrow, I was reminded of Proverbs 31. I want to share that with you from the Message and I hope you can see it thru the eyes of your every day, crazy-busy and occasional junk hunting life. The italics are mine.
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons (or lace), and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails (takes road trips) to faraway places and brings back exotic (crusty, rusty, chippy) surprises (treasures).
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden (goes to an estate sale or garage sale).
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth (painting, upholstery, sometimes cooking) diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows (it rarely snows in Texas); their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful (t-shirts and paint-splotched jeans) linens and silks .
Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers (coffee shop).
She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters (junk she bought) she knits to the dress shops (vintage markets).
Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things, but you, my friend, you’ve outclassed them all!”
And just in case you missed it or you read this too fast, let me say it again.
“Many women have done wonderful things, but you, my friend, you’ve outclassed them all!”
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
’til next time,
Nathalie
Leave a Reply