Flea Market Flip

Travel Wall

I am sad that Lara Spenser’s Flea Market Flip television show is no longer on the air. It was inspiring to see Lara and the show contestants purchase items at a flea market, and then give those pieces new life. It also helped me think outside the box as I looked at my own flea market purchases.

Take this room divider, for instance. I found it on Facebook Marketplace for $40. I thought it was a great deal and a pretty piece… but I had no idea what I would do with it. Still…. I have a hard time passing it up. So into my work pile, it went. Then one-day inspiration struck. I took apart the shutters, painted them, and had them installed as shutters for the French doors in our bedroom. I know the photos are terrible, but you get the idea.

Shutters

The chair in the lower right corner of the image above? It’s another flea market find. $20. I sanded it and was going to paint it, then distress it. It was really dirty, with big paint chips peeling off… it was a mess. But after sanding it, I quite like the way it looked. I’m not sure I’ll paint it now. I think I might just put a seat on it and call it done. Can you imagine carving all of that detail??? What an art!

About a year ago, I found 2 end tables… $10 on Facebook Marketplace. I had an idea. It’s taken me a year to get around to it, but I finally finished this project last week. I had the end tables cut into pieces (1/3 and 2/3’s). After I painted them, they found a new home in an alcove at the top of our stairs. I will be hanging photos from our travels on the adjacent walls and putting travel momentes here. I have to dig out a few more things to add. but you get the idea.

We purchased and moved into this house nearly 7 years ago. I didn’t want to buy new furniture, but wanted to furnish it with unique pieces that I discovered and worked with. It’s fun, and I enjoy it. The only thing is that it takes a long time. But at least my work pile is getting a little smaller. Now, I just need to find a new inspirational television program. I’m open to suggestions!

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Comments (4)

  1. Sue Ogden

    Great idea to use the room divider as barn door sliders for your French doors! White and what looks on my monitor like a light blue-gray with the blue highlights is really pretty. I’d put a cushion on the chair, maybe something like a brocade in that same trim blue and call it done. It’s awesome! LUV your travel nook, cute idea. I’ve always wanted to do that type work but the chemical smells and dust just do me in so I do creative painting on small pieces instead or decoupage things like papier mache bunnies, anything without too much smell. It’s good for everyone to have an outlet and some of us still need something physcical besides our digital play!

    May 21, 2021 at 2:53 am
    • Karen Schulz

      Thank you, Sue! You’re right. I chose a light gray paint for the room, but it definitely has blue overtones when on the wall. I was thinking exactly what you are thinking about the chair cushion. I’m glad you like the travel nook too. Thanks. 🙂 I use Fusion Mineral Paint (works like chalk paint, but it has a built-in protective coat so you don’t need to wax, like with chalk paint). It has absolutely no odor. I actually paint in the house with it. The dust when sanding, yeah, that’s another problem if you have to sand a LOT. But with Fusion, you just have to do a super light sand… I mean like just scruff up the piece a bit… 5 minutes… so there’s not much dust. Dust makes me sneeze so this prep works well for me. I totally agree. Having a hands-on hobby definitely is another creative outlet, and for me, gets me away from the computer! 😉 Thanks for your reply.

      May 21, 2021 at 2:02 pm
  2. Stephanie Barry

    All your projects look fantastic! I love to see how you repurpose items. The shutters are such a cool idea!

    May 22, 2021 at 8:54 pm
    • Karen Schulz

      Thank you, Steph. 🙂

      May 23, 2021 at 1:38 pm
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