Estate Sales & Makeovers

With this post, I decided to cover two of my favorite things: Estate Sales and Makeovers. I have previously written about estate sales and how much I like them. Estate sales aren’t just for buyers seeking out antiques and jewelry with a history. These days more and more younger shoppers come in to buy things they could easily be buying in a store.

My daughter Melody and her roommate just rented their first apartment. They needed everything to set up their kitchen like plates, a toaster, mixing bowls, blender, silverware, etc. The girls are on a really tight budget and needed quite a few things, so buying them retail just wasn’t an option for them.

Over the summer, my daughter yielded a brand new blender for just $4 and a vacuum cleaner for $2 at a local estate sale. The girls also bought a solid, wood kitchen table with four chairs for just $50.

My favorite things to find at estate sales are tools, paint and fabric. I have no use for fancy dinner plates, instead I look for practical items that have every day appeal.

It is not uncommon to find tools that have barely been put to use and are in pristine condition. I recently bought a Black & Decker jig saw for just $2. The saw is in perfect condition.

Also, recycling is the norm in my house. The idea of salvaging a piece of furniture or tool to prevent it from ending up in a landfill has sensible appeal to me. It’s fun to repaint or recover a find to give it a fresh, new feel.

This brings me to the night stand. Many years ago, I bought this night stand at a thrift store in Los Angeles. I think I paid $3, and since then, the night stand has ‘followed’ us from house to house. After all these years, the night stand is still sturdy and solid, but sort of ‘bruised.’

I decided to give it a fresh, new look. Both primer and paint for this project were purchased at an estate sale. Both cans were completely new and unopened and cost me 50 cents each. No store will EVER have a deal this good.

I sanded the night stand, primed and painted it. I added some turqouise acrylic paint to the white paint for the top. I sealed it with Polyurethane. The knob was spray painted black.

I sanded the night stand, primed and painted it. I added some turquoise acrylic paint to the white paint for the top. I sealed it with Polyurethane. The knob was spray painted black.

If you have never been to an estate sale, check Craigslist and I am positive you will find one in your area. Who knows, you just might score something of real value!