Nothing but potential…

Found this incredible piece on the street in the neighborhood. Thankfully my friend April was there to help me load it. Lifting and carrying the top cushion is a two person job, let along the base. It is 6 feet long and 24 inches deep. I think it would make a great ottoman for the metal three-piece sofa I bought recently and put on my 3rd floor. Not sure when I will get around to doing something with it. The base looks like it was covered in ticking.

It looks like it was some type of sofa with a back attached to a base. My neighbor is going to saw off the metal pieces.

Here is what the back of the top cushion looks like.

Blogged for Rhoda’s Southern Hospitality Today’s Thrifty Treasures.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

All this for $2…

My friend Kathy gave me the monitor and black wireless mouse, my friends Linda and Bill gave me the keyboard, and I bought the orange wireless mouse at my friend Karen’s garage sale for $2. Is this where the saying “It pays to have friends.” comes from?

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Too paint or not…

My friend Kate gave me this table. Her father made it. I have been waffling about painting the top white. I plan to put it on the front or back porch.

Blogged for Today’s Thrifty Treasures. Stop by and visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Recent free finds…

Found 4 sets of the wood doors above. Painted and hinged together they would make a great headboard or screen. The lamp below has some nice details…painted it may look good hanging on the porch.

Love the white basket/planter. The wood director’s chair just needs some fun fabric. A little glue and paint, and two round trays (which I have) will make good use of the folding stands.

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles.

• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Latest Freebies...

Found these goodies next to a dumpster in the neighborhood. As usual, I was walking the dog and spotted a large glass bowl (not pictured as I gave it to my friend Melinda), picture, candles with holders, round quiche type dish, small pie plates, yardstick and a coffee design napkin holder. There were other items outside and inside the dumpster...I could only carry so much while holding the dog's leash.

Found these items at the end of March...as we all know most people move out of apartments at the end of the month...so that is a great time to stalk the dumpsters around apartment buildings, condos and townhouses. I also found some white, wood shutter style doors on the street...I will post a picture of those soon.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

This week’s free finds…

Gotta love the weekends…because folks do some cleaning and toss stuff out. On Sunday I found two  RUSTY metal cabinets. I haven’t ever cleaned anything that was this rusty. The P L A N . . . clean up the rust (do you sand it, if so, with what?), seal the remaining rust and spray paint white.  I am thinking that if all goes well, including getting the left door open on the double door cabinet…I will try to put it in my bedroom closet to replace the dresser that is in there. I have always wanted a cabinet in my tiny closet, as you can open the doors and see everything at once with out having to open each drawer…yes, I am lazy! I actually think it will make the two turns on my 1906 narrow stairway…unlike the other free find cabinet. By the way, I sold the other free find on Craigslist…the buyer lived just a few blocks away and was planning to paint it and use as a linen closet in a cabin…so perfect…make me happy!

I even like the lock on the cabinets.

This single unit will probably end up in the garage or basement. If it goes in the garage I may put some plastic bins in it and use to hold my recycling…that way I won’t have to look at all those goodies each time I get in my car.

Thanks for stopping by…

Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Free Finds…

I found thirteen planters in the garbage in the neighborhood. I love the design on the four in the picture above – see close up of the design in the photo below.

I was thinking of painting the pots black and putting them in my next garage sale. What color do you think I should paint them? There are actually five pots in the picture below…one is stuck inside the other…I need to figure out how to get it out.

I noticed on the ones below that they say Target sample and have the name of the buyer. Makes sense since Target is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Freebies continued...

More freebies. There is a street close to where I live that almost weekly has good items out on the curb. Here is what I found this week. The chair is missing part of the back and needs minor work. Not sure I am going to keep it, may try to fix the back and recover the seat and donate it.

The metal computer stand is in perfect condition and it is on rollers...very heavy.

The computer table will come in handy, as I have been spending a lot more time online since I started following blogs and started blogging. I usually work with the laptop on my lap, which is not good for my wrists, elbows and back. Now I can sit on the couch and roll the table right over to me. The keyboard tray is pretty deep...I think it will hold a keyboard and wrist rest and it is deep enough to hold my laptop...if I decide I am not going to put the laptop on the upper level.

It goes as low as 25" and high as 37". When I am tired of sitting I can stand up and continue surfing the net. It could also be used for various other projects and as a TV tray.

Check out my previous finds from the neighborhood.
More Freebies
Fringe Benefits of Walking the dog

More Freebies...

I can't bare to see good stuff in the trash on its way to a landfill. Last Saturday I was driving home from the grocery store and scooped up a table on wheels and a chair (not pictured) out of the trash. The table had a wood top with metal legs and the chair was black and plastic...but so cool looking. I was thrilled when my friend Kate saw their potential and agreed to take them.

On Monday heading out of my driveway I noticed a table on wheels and a chair (pictured) in the neighbor's trash. I took the table to use as another firewood holder (see my previous post Handy firewood containers...) and the chair as it will look good with a little white spray paint and may end up in the kitchen. Here is my firewood stash.

Fringe benefits of walking the dog...

I am getting more than exercise walking the dog these days. While walking the dog last week I found the wood door and while walking the dog today I found the cream cabinet. Fortunately my friend Kathy was around to help me load the door, unfortunately I had to load the cabinet by myself. I only dropped it once...no damage. The plan is to get the broken pane on the door replaced and paint it white. and during the winter months use it in place of the screen door on the porch. Click on photos to enlarge.

The cabinet is sturdy. Love the molding on the top and the beadboard back and the old fashion design on the doors. The cream cabinet has multiple possibilities...may paint it and use it as a wardrobe in my tiny closet or it may end up as storage for quilt fabric if I can find room in the house or in the garage or basement as storage or for sale on craigslist. My first choice is to put it in the closet...it would be wonderful to open the doors and see all the clothes at once versus having to open dresser drawers. Height (46.5) and width (12.75) aren't the problem, it is the length (45.5).