trash to treasure..

one of nest's favourite things to do is to scour secondhand stores & garage sales for old furniture & pieces to restore & love!  we believe in the philosophy of not always having to buy 'new' to style your home.  yes there are lots of junk items out there, but there are also lots of vintage items that could tell many stories.

in light of tonights episode of the block, which will feature contestants buying secondhand & basic furniture items to restore & use in their room styling, i thought i would share some before & after pieces that i have transformed from trash to treasure..

inspired? all you need is some paint (yes I love white!), maybe some fabric or door handles & some elbow grease & you to can revamp some vintage pieces that talk..

table set table talk

we had a dinner party on the weekend made fabulous by sharing with wonderful friends that made the table talk, but there were a few little details i needed to add to make sure the table was set!

firstly the invitations - tho the date was set i was a bit late getting the official invite out, of course i couldn't find any gorgeous invitations at the last minute!

so i came home & put together my own from my ikea napkins, plastic silver cutlery, paper plate, 

our little mud by nest tag for effect (& a magnet on the back for the fridge!) 

 next time i will be better planned & get my friend

 Jo at Cranky Mammas Cards & Things to do them for me!

so invites were out, but i now had more guests than i did dinner plates & glasses... so i spent a fabulous afternoon scouring second hand stores to find some items with plenty of vintage 'table talk'..

the stories that could be told by this dinner set of 6 plates, 6 sides & 6 bowls - all for $3 !! 

 i actually love it so much i will use it as my every day set!  

the blue set i had set the theme of mismatched vintage chic in my favourite blue & white colour, with a rustic little fragrant touch of white shells, rosemary twig & staar anise & a little splash of ikea napkin to match the invites

one can never have enough cocktail glasses, especially @ 10cents each!  i have also been known as the platter queen, so what were a couple more silver platters to add to my collection, for all of 50c!

instead of flowers i potted some white pratia seedlings in some square glass candle holders left 

over from our wedding, the little white star flower on them is just so sweet! 

 i will now plant the seedlings in my garden so i will always have my centre piece!  

a simple tea light in my nanna's old crystal bowls & fleur dy lys wine glasses lined the centre of the table & gave a stunning effect on the gorgeous 'bargain' target white embossed cotton tablecloths!

with a minimal budget, a little bit of thought & a willingness to shop in places you don't necessarily find brand new things - (also try garage sales, ebay & borrowing from friends) -

 you never know what 'treasures' you will find amongst someone else's 'trash'

 (or as i like to refer to it as vintage pieces that talk!) -

 our table was set & our table talked!

table set

table talk

after all that i almost forgot the finishing touch... food! 

 thank goodness for my sous chefs & donna hay & her 'no time to cook' book!!

table & chairs

bargain find!

worth getting up early to exercise this morning.. found this gorgeous intact table & chair set for $10 on my morning walk!! love a garage sale.. it is all about an eye for a bargain!  i was going to repaint it but decided i love the rustic character as is, with a few comfy cushions, perfect to relax in on the deck..