There’s this open air market that I adore shopping at for ‘stock’.
It’s called ‘the curbside.’ 🙂
This is the usual type of specimen I generally jam in the back of my truck, much to my son’s dismay.
So imagine my surprise when I whipped by the below little number the other day.
Brand new.
Let’s take a closer look at that top…
It’s METAL.
All metal hardware intact. VERY cool. And I now officially need some chalk paint to try PRONTO.
I think I’m the last one on earth to not have touched the wonderful world of chalk paint as yet. I’ve actually held off because I was talking to a Canadian company I was hoping to promote. Liquids are something you can’t ship across the border and us Canadians are dyin’ to be in a chalkpaint giveaway, yes?!?! Nothing’s worked out yet so it may be time to hunt some down myself.
So… what would YOU do with a piece like this?
Oh! And this little ensemble even came with a coke bottle cap opener!
YES. Even my upscale finds are a bit junky. 🙂
Always keep your eyes open and have no shame. Curbside shopping is no worse than purchasing something 2nd hand from elsewhere….
Right?!?
Are you embarrassed to curbside shop?
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No…I go walking every morning and often see curbside stuff. I keep thinking about what I could make with it! If I remember it on the way down, I could pick it up! I found a couple of things, including a mirror that’s cute and now in my daughter’s playhouse!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
Wow, what a great find! It doesn’t get much better than that!!!
Donna, The Passionate Home in Langley sells Annie Sloan chalkpaint BUT call before you come. She is having a hard time keeping the stuff in stock. You may want to order some 🙂 What a find! I wish I found stuff like that at “The Curb!” Actually, I kick myself, about 2 years ago a neighbour had a gorgeous Canadiana dining set for free on the curb but I had a broken arm and didn’t know how I was going to get it home. Stupid me didn’t think to ask them to help me! Oh well, you live and you learn!
Dang girl! That’s a score!
Sometimes…but it diminshed over time. I’ve paid for a vacation with curb-surfed finds that were resold. I was so thrilled when my teenage daughter would go curb-surfing on a weekly basis with her friend and like-minded mother. And I converted my sister, who now curb-surfs in a Mercedes! It’s the modern day version of hunting/gathering. It’s the ultimate rush to score a find. Anyone can buy retail — but it takes a creative visionary to see a diamond in the rough at 45 mph!
I learned the joy of curbside shopping from my dad. I used to be embarrassed when he would pull over the car for an old lawnmower, but now I’m SHAMELESS.
That’s where I got my super cute ottoman that I reupholstered!
http://www.insideways.com/2011/02/dumpster-diving.html
LOVE curbside shopping…NO SHAME 😉
Wish that find was mine (wimper), better that it’s in your hands though with all the projects I have awaiting my time. Have fun!
That cupboard is amazing!!! Chalk paint would be perfect!! I need to find a place like that with all the good junk just laid out! Haven’t come across a sale like that…ever!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Hi Donna!
Shopping the curbside is my favorite thing to do!
I’ve read that you can make your own chalk paint… I haven’t tried it yet but here’s a link…
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/2011/09/make-your-own-chalk-paint-for-400.html
Let me know if it works!
Susan
oh heck no…I love curbside shopping. Ya know the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure..or should we say woman’s??
I love curbside, but I am really quick about it. Always feels like I’m stealing.. trash to treasure. Try milk paint, I think they make a brand in Canada. I am wanting to try that too. You mix the powder yourself.
Lori
wow! That’s awesome! I live Outside of a really small town. Like, realllly small( The only thing in the town in a post office.) Anyway, people don’t throw out good stuff. Trash , around here, consists of fast food containers and empty bags of horse feed. haha!
Ah, I NEED to try chalk paint. But I need to make some dollars first to afford it. 😉 I’m stuck on whether to try one of the funk vivid colors or go with one of the neutrals.
Dixie
What a great find! Not too much curbside stuff in this little area of Ohio until “trash days” and then everyone comes out. Then that old saying about the “early bird” comes in to play!
Have a great week,
Cheryl
Hello Donna,
What a great find. Can’t wait to see what you do to this piece to transform it with your unique style. I love trash hunting. My hubby and I have found some amazing items curbside, in the trash.
Smiles, Paula
Wow the “island” is great! (I almost bought the same one at Lowe’s but decided to forgo it…. I’m glad I did as I ended up scoring a set of metal cabinets from Blockbuster when it closed locally)
I love curb shopping! However we haven’t done much in a number of years as NO ONE put anything out of the curb where we lived in Alaska…. in fact most people around us burned their trash. However there was a trash/recycling area about an hour away where you could drop stuff/take whatever you wanted for FREE!! Seriously! It was awesome!!
Its all in the challenge!
Me? Curb shop? Are you kidding? I curb shop AND dumpster dive occasionally – well, I find the stuff in the dumpster & have the hubby get for me later. ;^) I found a great rusty wagon by the curb. Hubby brought me home a dresser and a SWEET only slightly rusty white wrought iron planter. We have all kinds of what I like to call “curb appeal” projects around here! And I literally can’t wait to see how your “appealing” cabinet turns out when YOU get done casting your magic to it!!
Curbside shopping has “paid” off many a time for me! The best score was a mustard milk paint, square nail, chimney cupboard – I sold it at an antique show – as is – for over $400. Blessings from Wisconsin.
No, really … you seriously outdid yourself this time! Love it, can’t wait to see a little chalk paint beauty going on. Am I too embarrassed to shop curbside? Heck no! I even leaned over the rail waaay down into the huge dumpster (at the dump) to retrieve a vintage Flyer sled. If it’s out there to be saved, I’ll save it 🙂
Hi–I’m new. I love your blog and I’ve been lurking. 🙂 You can make your own chalk paint using latex and then adding things in like plaster of paris–google it. I know I saw a couple recipes on a blog called “no minimalist here,” and her projects turned out great. Good luck–the cabinet is wonderful. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Jan
I would call that a great find!!!
Awesome find! I have one of those coke bottle can openers I haven’t found a home for yet in our new house. It used to be in my grandfather’s store (I’m thinking I should put it on the butcher block counter I converted to an island that used to be his meat counter years and years and years ago)
There’s not a lot of curb shopping in these parts, unfortunately. But just a few weeks ago I scored a great old brass chandelier:
http://livingtheroadlesstraveled.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-clearly-have-issues.html
I have no problem curbside shopping. Neither does my husband. He brings home “crap,” too.
Recently he brought home a 3″ tall tiny replication of a bird house that he found in the street. It was weathered yellow painted wood-totally adorable. It is living on our mantel this season.
Great find! Curbside shopping is just another form of thrifty shopping. But an even better deal.
You are so lucky! Geesh, I haven’t ever spotted a curbside find that good:)
I’m definitely a novice at curbside shopping, but certainly not against it. We have a couple trucks come through our neighborhood regularly and put stuff out there we hope they will take….and they usually do!
Now that we bought a new home in a completely different style in need of sprucing, I’m going to join you in shopping the curbside. There are treasures to be found!
Awesome! What a great find! I can’t wait to see the transformation. Definitely super cute potential! And I’m right there beside you in the never-tried-chalk-paint line. One of these days I’ll actually hit place order in my shopping cart. 😉
Love the metal top on that cabinet! I wouldn’t pay the exorbitant shipping for chalk paint–try one of the good “homemade” versions that are popping up. To 1 c. of latex paint (your choice of color), add about 2 T. of calcium cabonate (health food stores), unsanded tile grout (home improvement stores), or Plaster of paris (craft stores). It works, I promise!
Really? Curbside shopping in our neighborhood doesn’t compare. I have got to move north.
I have made my version with the little sample pot of Behr or Martha Stewart mixed with ¼ cup of plaster of paris. You can add water if needed. I plan to try the calcium carbonate when I finished this ginormous bag of plaster of paris.
What an awesome finf! My favorite old chair is a curbside find that I’ve for 29 years now.
Totally! I haven’t found anything that nice curbside yet, but I have found a little chair & once I saw a dresser that I REALLY wanted but it was MEGA heavy & after trying to get it into my car by myself in the middle of rush hour for about 10 min I had to give up 🙁 Sad sad day.
I can’t believe someone would throw that cabinet out. May be they just wanted to see what you would do with it. 🙂
I love curbside shopping, too! I can’t believe how nice your latest find is! Love the metal top. I don’t know if you saw this post by Sherry at No Minimalist Here blog but she did a DIY on how to make your own chalk paint for $4. I think it’s right up your alley. Here’s the link: http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/2011/09/make-your-own-chalk-paint-for-400.html
I am not the least bit embarrassed to shop from the curb. I used to drive through a more affluent neighborhood on my way to work and on Thursdays they would set their unwanted items out.Everything from furniture to tile,constuction materials, I even picked up a chandelier once. I only wish I had a bigger trunk!
Curbside shopping rocks!!! Is it wrong I look forward to garbage day just to see what I can pick up? 🙂 Great find!
I thought I was the only one left that hadn’t tried chalk paint! Now after reading all the comments , I my try to make my own.
First in our community, it is rare that someone leaves anything on the curbside besides the large black garbage bins for the garbage man. Yes, I am some what embarassed to shop the curbside, but I could handle that. But I get teased by my family and so to me that isn’t worth it.
Your curbside find would look great all painted up, Donna. I still love those weathered work horses you found a while back. Curbside is one of my absolute fave places. I have picked up some incredible pieces over the years. Including, a marble top tall chest, vintage lamps, chandeliers, ornate frames, primitive items, folk art signs, a wealth of materials for my projects, the leather arm chair in my living room, etc. As long as your not making a mess, or breaking any laws, go for it.
Seriously?? You found that beautiful table at the curb? That’s pretty awesome and will look great with a coat of chalkpaint. I would shop curbside, or roadside where we live, but people just don’t put out good stuff here! 🙁 Pamela
Seriously! I love this! Who in their right mind would be too proud to curbside shop for a treasure like this? I need to go curbside shopping right now! You, my lady, have inspired me! ~ Barbara
I love curbside finds and yours was a sweet find. I still haven’t tried chalk paint or milk paint either, and my bedroom dresser and night tables are just waiting for a makeover.
I always slow down to check out junk along the road!
Awesome find…love that metal top! And the bottle opener; that’s about $20 right there!
You bet your sweet bippy baby. I go to curby’s all the time. When I see something I can use you bet I’ll pick it up. Heck the price is right. I love what you picked up. I can’t believe someone would throw out something so good. I can’t wait to see the end result of this new find.
You are not the last Chalk Paint Virgin, I am holding out, expecting this fad to pass.
I love this little find! Are you sure they were throwing it out?!
I would paint her black, distress and add wheels… too cute!
I didn’t read through all the comments so someone may have mentioned you can make your own chalk paint! Here’s a good blog about it: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/03/make-your-own-colored-chalkboard-paint/ Good luck!
🙂 Hooray! I am so excited for my new necklace!
Bonus! I’d be hitting the breaks if I saw that on the curb. Looking forward to seeing your AFTER shot!
Are you seriously telling me you found that ona curb? Wow!
And I thought I was the last to try chalk paint. I used it the other day and I think I’m hooked on it…except for the price that is!
Curbside shopping is my absolute favorite kind! I have trained my children to scan the sides of the road while we drive. Sad that they think pulling over to lug something out of ditch, covered in dirt, is NORMAL!
My favorite outdoor table came from a major curbside shopping spree, all done in skirts and heels! I have no shame!
What a SCORE you got by the way!