In the basement

When I first started going to estate sales regularly, and with a purpose other than looking for some cool thing for myself, I tended to avoid garages and basements. They're generally full of dirty tools and lawn implements (the garages) and junk that was banished from the main living area (the basements). I've learned though now that it pays to look through everything.


The stool above was off in a corner of a basement workshop at a rather lackluster sale I hit on Saturday. Covered in cobwebs I kind of looked past it at first, then started noticing it had a nice slender line. Closer inspection revealed some really old turquoise paint with heavy wear. I took it back to the workshop, cleaned it up, gave it a coat of clear polyurethane, and it was ready to go. I think it would be great in an empty corner with a huge urn or figural sculpture. As my booth inventory is sorely lacking in huge urns and statuary, a planter and a pair of old Fitz & Floyd monkey candlesticks are filling in.

At a sale last weekend I picked up the little round stand pictured above. It was dark stained pine and while not in the basement, still covered with dust. After cleaning and deglossing and three coats of ivory paint all it needed was a rubdown with some antiquing glaze and a coat of poly and voila, sweet little table that could fit in anywhere. The old plate tray (in rough shape, it would be ideal for filling with candles, and priced accordingly!) and Homer Laughlin ironstone pitcher are auction finds that have been hanging out on the shelf at the workshop waiting for the right place and time.

7 comments:

hello gorgeous said...

I have some Fitz & Floyd fall thingamajigs from my days at Marshall Field's - a pumpkin and a gourd or something. I still love them - they just don't go with anything.

Karena said...

Eddie the soup looks delish. Where is your booth? I will come and visit soon! You are in the Kansas City area right?

Karena said...

David, I am getting my favortite guys mixed up, sorry about that!

David said...

Hi Karena, yes I'm in KC. My booth is upstairs in the loft at Mission Road. I'm only there about once a week so it's easy to miss me, usually Sunday afternoons, but go, it's always fun to walk around the mall and see what everyone has.

Karena said...

I will go, can't wait! Does your booth in the loft have a name?

David said...

I'd like to have a name, but I can't quite figure out what to call it. I think the space number is 295E.

Decorina said...

How about Midwestern Malaise? For the name of your booth, that is. Or something similar:

Midwestern Mash Up
Midwestern Missing Link
Middling Midwestern
Midwestern Francois? or French