What’s new with the old?
You don’t have to be an antique professional to find value in old items. It just takes some practice to repurpose something that’s aged in a contemporary way. There are lots of simple and creative ways to refashion the old into the new. If you need some inspiration before your next shopping trip to Mile High Marketplace, here are some tips:
Do not strive for perfection. Look beyond the nicks, scratches, missing knobs and bad paint. Find the “bones” of the piece. If you like its basic structure and style, you can solve all of the above issues easily.
Buy a good staple gun. If you are looking for a great chair at a flea market, will probably need reupholstered it. A yard of fun fabric can go along way with a staple gun. (Hey, and you can find both at the Marketplace.)
Just paint it. If your old item looks worn out and tired, there is nothing better (and more simple) than a fresh coat of paint. Brush on a new coat or use spray paint. This will quickly and efficiently hide water marks, stains, dings, dents and other imperfections.
Change out pulls & knobs. Remove those old oak knobs and give an outdated piece an updated look. You will be amazed at the assortment of knobs and pulls available at the Marketplace or your favorite hobby store.
Look for the unexpected. Always look beyond a piece’s intended use. In the right bathroom and with the right fixtures, an old headboard can become an interesting towel rack. A weathered farmhouse door is the perfect room divider. And an old black travel trunk with a touch of white chalk becomes an instant Tic Tac Toe board.
