A Re-purposed dresser and her vignette of water color art. |
A darling wicker chair she found in one of her favorite shops. |
Since I can remember she has always taken something she bought at a garage sale, consignment shop or an Antique shop and found a way to use it in her home. All of the things she found and sometimes re-purposed really made our family home something special. It was not uncommon for me to come home from school when I was a kid and find her in the garage with a jig saw in hand, sawdust in her hair and a smile on her face. And to this day she is always thinking about how some piece can be used in a different way.
Now I will admit when I was a kid ...and a very polite one at that.....I was not thrilled as my Mom dragged me along with her to Antique Shops or Garage Sales. I found that undeniable odor that is found in most antique shops disconcerting. It is part moth balls and part "scary".... if "scary" can have a smell.
Image via Wikipedia |
And garage sales.....ugh......as a kid I could not understand the thrill of going through what I could only see as someones junk.
But things change and at some point in my life going through an Antique shop became fun.....but I still can't say the same for a garage sale.
So for me I supplement garage sales with Consignments Shops and Thrift stores. The are clean, organized and most importantly for reasons I don't care to mention they are usually Air Conditioned. Yippee!!
Consignment Living , Morgan Hill, Ca. |
And instead of venturing into those dark dank and musty Antique Shops I like to go to Antique Shops like this.
Water Street Antiques and Interiors, Jackson, Ca. |
So as I was saying.......one of the traditional things my Mom and I do is go to Water Street Antiques and Interiors. This place just calls to me. Every time I am there I find something intriguing. It is a 40,000 sq ft warehouse that is filled to the brim . It is well lit, clean, organized......and yes....air conditioned!!! Here are several images:
That's my Mom and she is definitely thinking hard about this piece. |
Check out those Doors in the back.......OMG.....AWESOME!! |
It really is an incredible place with an inventory of Antiques from Europe, Portugal and now they are venturing into India. http://www.waterstreetantiques.com/Water_Street_Antiques_%26_Interiors/Home/Home.html
With shows like "American Pickers" and "Pawn Stars" and with the emphasis of using a design that embraces a Sustainable Design philosophy the popularity of antiquities and collectibles are seeing a resurgence.
I only wish that I would have paid better attention when I was a kid on those excursions to Antique Stores or those yucky garage sales. Shoot...... I am certain there was something of value that was worth re-purposing in that last truck load of stuff we took to Salvation Army.
But the good news .....hmmmm.............. or maybe the bad news is I have a lot more "stuff".......now if only I can convince my husband to put in air conditioning in the garage.
Yep.....that is my garage. |
Oh yeah and guess what.........I am going to be having a garage sale.......SOON!! Can you say FUN!!
5 comments:
Whoa, my husband would have a heart attack if my garage looked like that.
I love the idea of re-purposing stuff though. We have an old house and I love finding stuff from the right era that also works with our modern lifestyle.
hey Girl, thanks for checking out my blog! i love yours, i just added you to the list that i follow. :) happy blogging!
I am so in love with that wicker chair!! Its gorgeous! I wish I had more stuff than i have now lol :)
Greetings Friend....
Thanks for your wonderful comment on my blog & we really do have alot in common! 1 thing is...I LOVE Jackson, CA!! That whole Mother Lode Hwy has me at hello. My hubby loves to gold pan & I love beautiful scenery & junk & tiny off the beaten track towns including Jamestown!! Yummy....
Congratulation on following your soul & going back to school for interior design. The thing I adore about interior design, about any design...is it all crosses over. Crosses over into your home, your art, your photography, your blog, your mind's eye, everything you touch. Oh girl...i can't wait to see you fly!!!
Smiles,
Susie
Ha, hahahaha! Deb! You had me cracking up about the smell of 'scary' & the old lady in dim lit corners of the store!!! Debbie, you are really going to do well in design school, if that doesn't work out there is always writing!! *wink
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