Sunday, April 25, 2010

Flea Market Finds


Our home is like a big blank canvas. Whilst the renovations were at times challenging, there's something to be said for having the space to re-decorate and nest all over again. 

Speaking of nests, my first Op shop purchase was this nest of tables. I was thinking of painting them white. I'm starting to struggle with colour to be honest. I have a white wall home (airy cream to be exact) and so I need some colour thrown in for good measure but I have absolutely no idea what colour to try. Any suggestions would be well received. 


And then there is the telephone table. If you saw my March post, you'd know I've been looking for a while to find the perfect table to sit under my tree in our front entrance. I love these tables. I was very lucky actually. I mentioned to the mum's at school that I was looking for a table and one of them told me she had one and didn't want it. I wasn't going to take it off her hands for free so...cue conversation...

"take the money"
"no, I don't want any money"
"yes, you must have the money or else I'm not taking it"
"please, I don't want any money, just buy me a coffee"
"a latte hardly repays the favour, unless your thirsty enough for 42"
"No"
"fine, than I will leave the money here and run away with your beautiful table as fast as my thongs will take me"
and so I ran like the wind...
and she didn't catch me although tried hard to throw money at me but wind caught it and blew it back in her face...

 

Like the nest of chairs, I now have the dilemna of whether I should paint it or not and what fabric should I use to recover. 

I love the history of this chair. I took the seat off and began stripping back the tacked on material - over the years the seat had been recovered six times - it was like pass the parcel as I peeled back each layer of material to find a new pattern underneath. 

Head over to Sophie's for more bargain finds.

18 comments:

Renee said...

Haha! Nice finds! I don't paint any furniture. Sean always strips it back to bare wood and and restains and polishes. Always comes up really nice but I do think we might have a bit of wood overload in our house. And I can imagine an old bold floral fabric like I have been using this week in My Creative Space would look fantastic on the chair!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

My parents have those coffee tables, well nest of tables, in rosewood!! My grandparents also had a telephone chair & table like the last image. Oh memories, love posie

Steph said...

I wouldn't touch that telephone table...it looks so lovely next to your tree. :)

Tracey@bountifully said...

I like the black against the white walls. You could always do colour in soft furnishings.

Anonymous said...

i love natural timbers. However, i quite like the look of the nesting tables in black & would be tempted to leave them as they are.

BOB & MABEL said...

Love the telephone table as is, maybe just change the fabric seat. The tables look pretty good black but if it was me I'd paint them a green/grey colour...

Jennie said...

I love your finds.
I would have to say the same as Bob & Mabel!

Tracey said...

I LOVE IT!!!! i don't even mind the fabric seat. lovely!

mel @ loved handmade said...

That phone table is perfect! I love it just the way it is, what a great little find!

sharingjam said...

i love the telephone table... well done!!

Cat said...

I love the telephone table natural just like that. Bob and Mabel mentioned grey for the nesting tables, I think that colour would be perfect. xo

Sarah. Splish Splash Designs said...

I love the telephone table. It looks good as it is, but a new fabric for the cushion would look good.

Sarah said...

'Tis a dilemma, to paint or not to paint?! I always go off how good the wood is. As for the nests they could be any colour. Bright red would look good? Great furniture finds. x

sue said...

I like the plain wood finish of the telephone table too. I must say Sarah's idea of red tables is pretty appealing ...

Justine de Jonge said...

I say don't paint. Maybe you can use a fabric with a bird print? Or perhaps use one of those lovely tea-towels you found a while ago - if they're big enough? :o)

bee said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous things! I like the nesting tables in the black, or as previously suggested perhaps a grey. They have such a bold form, I think they need a bold colour.

small forest said...

Love your tables! I agree with Bee. But ask yourself what your favourite colour is?

Nantucket Mermaid said...

I'd paint it white and then paint flowers all over it....