Creating something out of someone else’s throw aways

Creating something out of someone else’s throw aways has really been my lifestyle for a long time. I grew up poor so I’m sure that’s probably where it all began. God blessed me with the ability to make something out of those throw aways as a gift. Because of that, although we have moved, I am going to continue to show you ways you can do the same with your own home, with pictures from the home we moved from. I started at the front door in this post here. Turning left from the stairway is the living room.

Needing to use the family room for a guest bedroom, we used this room as a family room/living room the last several years since both are children got married. Therefore we staged the room and these are the pictures you are seeing. We were told for resale a family room is better then an extra bedroom(I will show you that room in another post). Unfortunately, being the last room to set up, we had to use what we had; the budget was spent. Maybe you can relate to that in your own life.

The cupboard in the corner was a curb find. However it didn’t look like that when we found it, it was missing some parts and pieces. My husband is good with wood, so he fixed it back up and I painted it. Along with that I decoupaged fabric on the doors. We have used it many places in our home and it has had many looks. Cupboards like this one or china hutches etc. are always a good find. So if you see one on the curb, a sale or give away, grab it; you won’t be sorry you did. In another post, I will tell you how we have used this one, it’s many looks, and ideas how to use yours.

Believe it or not, many people throw out wing back chairs and I happen to love them so I have several. I clean them up really well, wash the covers, etc. Even if I don’t like the fabric I can make a cover or buy one for it. In this case we bought this one.

Since we didn’t have another couch we used a loveseat that our neighbor had left us in the house next door. We got a cover for it and made it work. The ottoman in front of the love seat was red and that wasn’t going to work. I made a quick cover for it out of a shower curtain I had. Another thing to pick up is shower curtains, or large table cloths, you can usually get them cheaper then large pieces of fabric. The tray on top of the ottoman was just white which would have worked but just to add a little color I took a scrap piece of fabric and decoupaged it on the inside. You can make your own pillow covers very simply, I will show you how in another post.

Every chair in this room was off the curb, and much of the decor. The cute round table in the corner  that was already blue and distressed, yep you guessed it, off the curb. I have seen that table in catalogs and it is expensive. It amazes me what people throw away. I lived near a very wealthy town and when they had clean up days you could find almost anything. They knew people were going to pick it up so some people would tape the remotes, screws, instruction books, etc. to the item.

The tall antique wooden ladder in the corner was in the garage when we moved there. I tell you all this because I want to share that God does provide everything we need. Are you willing to be happy with what He provides? Look for His blessings, they come in many different packages and from many different places. Don’t look at just what you see, see it for what it could be. That’s how God sees us.

Below is what the room looked like after all our stuff was out. One more little story, believe it or not, we found the heavy anaglypta wallpaper border on the curb as well. It had been hung before, taken down and rolled up. Since it was so heavily made it was in great shape, and we “just so happened” to have just enough. We had many people think it was ornate plaster work. We put crown moulding above and a small trim board below.  I wish the pictures showed it better. We had a lot of fun with this house. Many great memories.

Creating something out of someone else’s throw aways can be fun. Show me what you have made from your throw aways. I would love to see them.