Flea Market Flip – Wall Art and More!
Flea markets, antique stores, Good Will centers and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores all have potential finds that can be turned into wall art, vintage character accents, and more – with very little effort. Check out these tips from Martha Stewart and other leading home and garden blogs for ideas and inspiration.
One-of-a-Kind Reclaimed Wall Art
Better Homes and Gardens’ slide show of ideas starts with a simple notion and lots of smallish frames attractively arranged above a large antique buffet. Using silhouette portraits in mismatched frames becomes a unified motif when grouped with seemingly random intention. Use the floor to lay out and figure out the arrangement of frames, snap a photo with your phone and then start hanging!
Likewise, snapping up mirrors of various shapes and sizes – squares, rectangles, round or oval – can create a beautiful and functional section of wall art. BHG suggests you make copycats cut out of newsprint in the shape of the mirrors and then hung with painters tape to find the perfect arrangement.
Shop around your favorite haunts and newly advertised estate sales for an assortment of woven baskets to mount in a bohemian configuration on a bedroom wall. And lest you think this is an idea exclusive to BHG, look at this Etsy page featuring five “best-selling” African Binga and Tonga wall baskets from the Maasai Shop in Kenya, or these Del Sol baskets from Serena & Lily (for a pricey $698)!
Reclaim a few wooden signs, metal letters, and antique wall decor to add texture and interest to an otherwise empty space, like the wall adjacent to a stairway. Collect items in different profiles that convey a particular theme, like items with a rustic cabin vibe or vintage sports feel (patches, pictures and gear). For tips on how to hang, just click here.
Architectural Salvage for DIY Projects
You can find flea markets and resale shops that do the salvaging for you, like Queen City Architectural Salvage in Denver at 4750 Brighton Blvd. There you’ll find all the fixings for the perfect flea market flip — from antique stained-glass windows and iron radiators, to corbels and accent pieces that would make Lara Spencer green with envy.
You can incorporate salvaged pieces into a newer home to give it a sense of history and classic character. Take for example, the vintage mantels that Queen City comes across in their salvage expeditions. And those antique corbels? They can easily support a piece of glass to create a contemporary office niche, like this one from BHG.
Wooden theater seats can become outdoor seating with weather-proof fabric pillows. And reclaimed doors, outfitted with antique hardware, make awesome barn doors with a sliding track above an entry or other threshold in your house. Here’s an easy way to hang one, if that’s a favorite look. The door’s timeworn beauty is more than a conversation starter – it can add atmosphere to an otherwise average-looking doorway!
The salvaged pieces in this bedroom have been gussied up with a distressed finish to coordinate a cozy collection that matches the existing paint and décor. From a paneled shutter with a vintage sconce to an antique mantelpiece masquerading as a faux fireplace, this guest room has lots to look at and admire for visitors and guests.
Décor and More from Martha
Martha Stewart can turn a pair of oversized jeans, denim overalls and pants into denim aprons for crafting, cooking or gardening. Denim is durable, and if you keep or make some pockets, you can have your tools handy as needed!
If you find a vintage bottle to use as a vase, check out these tips from Martha about how to paint glass. And these mason jars that were manufactured clear, Martha transforms with sea glass paint and milk glass paint. Using medium sized chains and an awl, Martha created hanging votives that have that authentic look and style.
DIY Creativity in Colliers Hill
Autumn in the master-planned community of Colliers Hill means a little bit of everything – from helping kids with online learning, to spending a little DIY time on favorite projects. Explore the many and varied model homes from Richmond American Homes and Century Communities – and coming this winter – K B Home paired products. Check out the many amenities and all the architectural possibilities in Colliers Hill from the high $300s.
