Sunday, May 20, 2007

Yard sale finds

For various reasons, I decided that my husband's break shouldn't be spent on house projects. Frugal or not, I was going to complete our remaining tasks with convenience in mind. Trust me, this man needs a vacation!

My mom and I stopped at a few yard sales yesterday, where I found answers to nearly all of my decorating problems! The long wall of the dining room (where I had planned to hang the pressed leaves) ideally needed a HUGE mirror. Hurrah! A neighbor sold me this Venetian-style mirror for $15. You can't tell from the photo, but it's so large, my husband couldn't carry it alone. It doubles the sunlight from the windows. The delicate etching is an airy contrast against our antiqued black table.Next, we found an old Tennessee mantlepiece, not unlike the one I saw on Ebay. Miracle of miracles, it fits our tiny opening exactly--but is much larger in total scale than anything else I've seen. We only have to trim two inches from its shelf. Since it has exposed nails, it's wrapped in the garage right now.

Now that I had a mantle, what would I do about the bookcases I planned to build along with it? How about this $20 bookshelf and cabinet? It is just shallow enough to go at the end of the living room wall. I wish it were a foot wider. To compensate, I'll hang those framed fern fronds vertically on either side, making the whole unit feel larger.
Now if only he hadn't gone fishing after church, I'd have "after" photos for you!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What great finds!!! That mirror is gorgeous! How wonderful that things came together for you just as you desired. God is soooo good!

Someone Beautiful said...

The mirror is SO beautiful! I have never seen one like it. I delight in seeing the blessings you find. That cabinet/bookshelf is lovely too!

Fianna said...

OOOO!! So lucky!! Great finds!

sheila from life @ #17 said...

Those are great finds! I just love when wants & prices & timing all work out...

Anonymous said...

I wish some of your tag sale, garage sales would happen around here. I go most weekends all over our area and no one is selling anything but old clothing around here. Honestly this weekend I hit 4 sales, one was supposed to be big 4 family sale, I swear other than a TV set or 2 nothing but old clothing. And the prices, my goodness I could almost get new for the price these people were asking. Needless to say I passed it all up. I did hit the local Goodwill store and got a beautiful candle stick. I think it is crystal and I paid 50 cents. That was my total buys this week.

Your buys are beautiful. I know they will give you years of enjoyment.

Roxie in Texas

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate said...

Great Finds! I can't believe you found a mantle, what are the chances of that?

Anonymous said...

Hanging the fern prints vertically on either side of the bookcase is a great idea! I used a similar idea. I bought a beautiful buffet with a hutch, but found I had 3 feet of dead space at either end when I put it in my dining room. I have a set of 7 framed botanical prints. I hung two prints vertically on each side of the buffet and three horizontally above it. The space still looked a little bare, so I placed two dining room chairs on each side of the hutch under the prints. Finally, the proportions worked. I love your mantelpiece, too. I have been hunting for the perfect mantel for several years now--Maybe I will get lucky at my next tag sale. Congratulations on your finds! Kris