Decorating with Wendy

Lost and Found

Isn't it a great feeling when you find something you've been searching for?   Or how about when you find something you weren't looking for...but it turns out to be just what you wanted!  My favorite finds are usually free, or close to it.  I love a bargain, but I also love the fact that I found something that someone else once loved, too.

Maybe they replaced the object, or perhaps they grew tired of it...but, for some reason I never grow tired of the hunt for these great finds.  And, they can be anywhere - garage sales, thrift shops, hand-me-downs, or even on the side of the road.  My friends and family occasionally laugh, because I am forever bringing things home that catch my eye.  But, let me tell you - I have found some great keepers.  I thought I'd share some photos of some of the "keepers" I've found.

Here is a very old copper utensil set that I discovered in a thrift store.  It cost me $5.00, if that.  And, yet it really is an eye-catcher on my wall. 

This is an old picture frame that my sister-in-law actually used as an old photo album.  It was so creative, and always is a conversation piece.  I think she found the frame.

This is an old frame given to me by my dad.  I put cork board on the wall, and put the frame over that.  It is a collage of pictures.

Someone actually saw this and thought of me.  It was an old iron headboard for a twin bed.  I soldered this part off of the frame, and set it on top of the molding above our front door.  We can put anything in it, to change the look, or just leave it alone.  Either way, I think it adds architectural interest to my entry way.

We found this at a garage sale on a rainy day after a night of camping out.  I remember being so glad we stopped to look at it.  We debated getting it, but I just loved it so much, and knew I'd find a place for it.  It was around $40.

Here is a great 6 paneled solid wood door, that I actually found a pair of.  And, best of all, I found them on the curb!  The funny thing is that my husband saw them on the way to work, and he said that he noticed they were gone on the way home - he had an idea of who might have taken them!  I wish I had a picture of the door that was here before.  What a difference!  This is used in our downstairs bathroom.

These are just a sampling of the treasures I've found.  I would love to see what kinds of things other people have found in their searches, as well.  So, if you have any pictures you'd like to share, I'd love to see and hear about them.

Hitting a Brick Wall

Well, the "re-doing my kitchen" fever has come over me again - but this time I'm hitting a brick wall.  Well, actually I'm making one.  This is a narrow wall between my kitchen and my dining room, that I used a faux technique to make look like brick.  I did this on both sides of the wall (so, it looks like brick from both rooms).  This is the view from the dining room.

And, here, is what it looks like from the kitchen: 

And, the side view:

I've always wanted a brick wall somewhere in my home, and now I have one, without laying a single brick! I'm so happy at the way it turned out, that I'm going to expand the brick look into other parts of my kitchen.  I love the natural, "old world charm" it adds to a room.  And, it has a sense of permanence.  It's one thing in our house that I'm sure won't be "here today and gone tomorrow". 

I hope to have the completed project done by the end of the week, so I will post more pictures when it is completed.