Vintage Goodies Giveaway
Here's the giveaway...I won't tease you or make you wait to view it, but I will enlist your help. I was on my way home from work today and saw the signs for an estate sale. It was in an area of fairly new homes so I didn't have my hopes up. Well, I'm glad I stopped. The old lady who had lived there was quite the crafter and didn't get rid of anything. Wow, lot's of neat stuff, there was probably even more but I got to the sale three hours after it started. What I did get was some buttons, trims, quilted hexagon fabric, old cookbook pamphlets from the 40's and 50's and some christmas trimmings.
All this to say, I was able to add even more items to my giveaway! Included in the vintage goodie giveaway is a pillow from an old quilt block, Cath Kidston's Vintage Style book, old nine patch quilt blocks, squares of fabric, LOTS of buttons, a cute little avon soap dish, packaged bindings and trimmings along with a BIG bag of trimmings that I got today. I have some pillowcases, fabric, and other items that I'll finish gathering and post another picture this weekend.
So how do you win this? Well give me advice on what to do with my gossip bench!
I have wanted a telephone gossip bench ever since I was in elementary school. I went to my friend Katie's house for a sleepover and her family had one of these in their upstairs hallway outside her bedroom door. For some reason it made a huge impression on me. Well, I finally found one I liked for $5.00 - yeah! I have looked online and I know that there were many of these made, some are currently for sale on ebay and such.
Well, I have it - but I don't know what to do with it. Obviously the green vinyl seat cover HAS to come off. That is just plain ugly. Do I recover with oilcloth, home dec fabric, leave the dark wood, paint it black, white or a color. I'm not afraid of color and always see such great before and afters, but am lost on this one.
So leave a comment on this post telling me what you would do to make over this gossip bench (and link to pictures or fabrics if you want). I'll randomly pick the winner on the 15th.
Oh, and you get an extra point if you admit that you also painted your walls but not your wood trim when you first moved in to an old house that needs lots of work (after 5 years!). Hey I was pregnant when we moved in and then have had another baby - and anyway, I would rather quilt than paint trim!
Can't wait to hear everyone's suggestions!
* Remember to leave your e-mail so I can contact you or check back on the 15th for the winner.
Winner announced on this post, congrats!
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 4:41PM
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Reader Comments (13)
I'd take off the seat then sand the wood. I would then paint it a dark blue or yellow. Let that dry. Then paint an off white color on top. Let that dry. Now the fun part. Sand the whole piece to get that distressed, aged look. I think the results will be fabulous. As for the seat. Pick a nice heavy duty fabric and some durable foam. Remove the old cover and staple the new fabric over the foam. I really think you'll have a nice piece.
Lisa
OOOH I love that bench. I would paint it white and sand the edges a bit to give it a worn look, and recover the seat in a lime green or nest egg blue polka dot. And put a cute basket under it and some books in the cubby......by the way I really want that bench. :) -Allison
What a great find! I would paint it a shiny black and cover the seat in a patterned home dec fabric that would really pop. Maybe a bright red and white floral or retro design. Then I might give it some extra bling with some shiny brass hardware.
I would sand, paint the wood black, get some new foam cut for the cushion and cover it in a nice bright print featuring your favourite colour!
What a fantastic find!! I would love anyone of those to hold and think where it has been for 50 yrs. I would personally let my kids go nuts on the furniture... but sanding and painting... i think black and white fabric or even denim for the cushion... good luck with it!!
xo Steph
Yep I second the paint then recover the cushion!! Love that too by the way and the vintage goodies are Sew pretty!!!
I kinda like the vintage look and I love the green seat! but the real question is - where are you going to put it?
Oh, this bench is wonderful wonderful! I'd change the seat fabric and leave the beautiful brown wood. Let's see... I think a nice vintage - look decorator fabric would look nice.
Oh, we painted the walls of our last house (c. 1915) and did not paint the trim until we had to move. Its sad that we did work that made the house look better for buyers and did not do it earlier for ourselves!
Would LOVE to win this great giveaway - thanks!!
I agree with Grace. I would just sand it and refinish it in the original color. I love vintage furniture and this one looks good in its own skin.
Great giveaway! Thanks.
Great find! I would sand it down and paint it antique white. I would redo the seat with a large polka dot fabric in a fun color or even just blue. I would put an ivy style plant on the table portion and let it grow down the side to the floor.
I don't think I have ever painted the trim in our house. Better yet, we closed in our dining room and turned it into a bedroom for our daughter...we haven't even put up trim yet and it has been 7 years...oops lol
I would leave it like it is but...take the green vynl off and put a little more padding on the seat and recover it to match your halway or where ever you are going to put it. I would use wonderful fabric from your stash....I love color so...go wild with it. Love your vintage collection.
Great find! I love it!
I'd like to change the fabric... Perhaps some flower fabric with colour (pink, yellow, green,...).
I'dn't paint it! I like the brown colour!
I would leave the wood as it is, maybe just use a good application of Murphy's oil soap on it to bring out the grain lines. Then, definitely get rid of the olive green cushion. Add a little extra padding and a bright cheery print and you're good to go. You could even make interchangeable cushions for it to match the seasons. Hope this helps.