I’ve restored many items over the past few years. Most of which I have found on the side of the road. Some bought at estate sales and garage sales. Lots of items given to me and a few from thrift stores. I love back lots the most. Most all junk stores and thrift stores have them. It’s where the overflow of donated items go when there is no room on the show room floor. Sometimes you can see the back lot and sometimes they have signs leading you to it. I always ask because you never know if there is one or not. Most often there is and that is where you find the real deals.
At one of my favorite thrift stores there is a back lot and if you wait until the weather is bad you get the best deals. I know its hard to shop in the rain and cold but that is when they cut the prices to the bone. A few weeks ago we had a few rainy days and I happened to be near the store so I went by. I strolled the inside of the store first and found a few small items to restore. Nothing in the furniture area spoke to me so I checked out and went to the back lot. I was getting really cold and wet so I started to head off to my car. As I walked by a pile of what I thought was cheap furniture I saw the edge of a round table. I removed what was on top and around it. She was beautiful but in need of TLC and lots of it.
I inquired on the price and I couldn’t say yes quick enough. I checked out and paid $10. I couldn’t believe it, what a deal and what an easy project to restore. So I thought it would be an easy project. When I got it home into my studio I promise you the past owner never wiped this table, not once I’m sure. There was so much build up on it I had to use a degreaser cleaner and let it set. After hours of cleaning and lots of elbow grease it was ready to sand. I normally don’t sand if I’m going to paint but the food stains and grease stains needed that extra step to make sure they didn’t bleed through. A full paint out with 3 coats made this makeover almost complete. As always I sanded the edges to shabby chic it up and boy did this piece shine. It went from crappy to happy in just one day.
I believe there is nothing that can’t be restored. Sometimes if the damage is to far gone you can at least salvage a few of the parts. Adding those parts to something else to bring back life is the most amazing feeling. I didn’t have to add anything to this table only hard work, elbow grease and time. It now will serve as a gathering place in someone’s home. It will serve as a place to gather for dinner, do homework and have conversations. It was raining the day I found it. One more day in the bad weather It might have been to far gone with only a few salvage parts. Restoring it has made it whole again.
