


I often get asked "where do I start?". People want to know how to re create the mismatched vintage look in their own home. One of the first things I say is "think outside the square". When you look at a piece of furniture ask yourself what else could it be used for. In other words "use me for something else". A food cabinet for towel storage, a chest of drawers as a TV stand or a kitchen hutch as a display cabinet. I often see uses for things other than the intended. Don't be afraid to try this. I recently purchased a vintage meat safe for my bathroom. Yes, my bathroom. It now holds my towels, perfumes and the likes. I will share it tomorrow in the revealing of my bathroom makeover project. Yipee, it's finished.
Can't wait to see your bathroom makeover Simone and so curious about the meat safe.
ReplyDelete-marie
Goegeous, you really have the ability to see a renewed life for things, don't you? I love the little cabinet in the second pic and am definitely looking forward to seeing the meatsafe :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more Simone. I have a wonderful old meat safe I use for all my good china and crystal and an antique chinese buffet that the TV sits on. It makes life much more interesting doesn't it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvellous idea, I need bedside tables, but I haven't found any and I think because basically most are quite dull. I need to look for something that can just work in the space and it doesn't need to be made for that job. Thank you xxx
ReplyDeleteSimone, you have been a great inspiration for me. I love the beach vintage style and am slowly working my way towards achieving it in our home. Thank you. Felicity
ReplyDeleteThe mismatched vintage look definitely takes some collecting over time and for some who want instant gratification, that can be hard. I love your tip on using things for other purposes. So excited to see your bathroom!
ReplyDeletecan't wait to see it, love the above photos.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back to check out your bathroom...that sounds funny! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHey Simone! Thank you for being such a great inspiration to so many of us. I am starting to reorganise and decorate our home and have used many of your great ideas as inspiration....enjoy your day. Felicity
ReplyDeleteBut you make it look so easy, my dear! I don't think the vintage look would work for me at all, its not my natural style... but I respect and admire when others do it well -- and your use of colour and textures is nothing if not inspirational!
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures in this post and the colours.
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice Simone, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletelooking forward to the reveal, simone!
ReplyDeletexo
elyse
You mean like an old sewing machine for a t.v. stand?
ReplyDeleteOoo I can't wait to see your finished bathroom!
ReplyDeletel love diferent uses in the things!!yes, why not ... try,try,try and try !!! ...l agree with you!!...l loveeeee the first photo!!!!besos simonne!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Simone, I so agree...we need to think outside the square...that's also how you get the best bargins, cheers Katherine
ReplyDeleteYep! Think outside the box! Can't wait to see your re-do!
ReplyDeletem ^..^
Amazing what you can come up with when you think 'outside the square'
ReplyDeleteLook forward to 'big reveal'
Alison
really looking forwar to seeing your bathroom Simone, Have a great day,
ReplyDeletelaura, summerhousexxx
Like you, I love to mismatch almost everything.. furniture old vintagey ones and new ones, tablesetting with new and old teacups and they are always not in the same pattern or flowers.. coz it gives me full satisfaction seeing all these new and old ones blend beautifully together!
ReplyDeletei repurpose stuff all the time and visitors leave looking a bit perplexed sometimes, but it's fun to think outside of the box. i love the idea of a meatlocker for towels. can't wait to see the reveal!!! take care
ReplyDeletesue
Very friendly decor... Love it all. Lezlee
ReplyDeleteI just adore the colours. I need to use more colour like you do! Such an inspiring post. Now for the new television cabinet..... maybe a chest of drawers! xx
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that...I just took a couple of friends g-saling with me and when they saw an old wood thingy, I saw a Christmas angel wings...when they saw old metal cans, I saw great planters. I just thought everybody saw that kind of stuff...but I guess not!
ReplyDeletei love finding new ways to use things in interesting ways... this is a fabulous cheery post simone... love it
ReplyDeletehope you are well friend xx pam
Thanks Simone. After reading your post, I turned an ugly corner of my kitchen which housed my rubbish bin into a corner which now houses a lovely bookcase with flowers, candles and momentos on display. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteVery good advice Simone. I'm so glad you share your ideas with us!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marcia
I do that, too. :) I can't wait to see your bathroom makeover.
ReplyDeletegreat inspiration and philosophy of life!
ReplyDeleteI love using things in a different way too Simone. You are wonderful at it and I can't wait to see your new bathroom - YAY!!!!~ Tina xx
ReplyDeleteCan't agree with you more Simone!
ReplyDeleteI'm redoing a hall table ... it's 6 ft long and we're thinking of using it for a computer/study table ... it's still beautiful and functional and it will be partly on show.Using things in unconventional ways is what makes us Blissfully Unique! ( heehee, a little plug going on there :) )
Can't wait to see more of your designs :)
Can't wait to see your bathroom!
ReplyDeleteLove this post, I use a second hand tv cabinet as my pantry,its beautiful and it gets a fair bit of attention from guests. Cant wait for bathroom pics xx
ReplyDeleteThat is such wonderful advice! You're always so clever with the way you put your items to use.
ReplyDeleteYou have some really great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI have an nice antique pump-peddle sewing machine that worked great for a tv stand and at the time my vcr fit perfectly on the peddle.
hey, i love the way you flip flopped your blog! keeps it fun :) hmmmm, now you have me thinking. also i love this post as i too try to look at other functions for things. even with materials, i'll walk through home depot's or hardware stores and think of what i can do with materials that are typically used for something completely different. great post!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post!
ReplyDeletePS LOVE the paddles on the wall near the TV :)
those are great tips Simone, it is nice to find things and repurpose, them, I usually hang on to boxes and jars, especially in interesting shapes, because I think I can reuse them for storage options.
ReplyDeleteCoool can't wait.
ReplyDeleteMelinda
That's a good tip! I don't think I look at things like that.
ReplyDeleteOh I love the photos! This is exactly how I'd love to have my appartment look like, cute, colourful, shabby romantic and a bit quirky maybe :)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I have to make compromisses with my boyfriend all of the time cause he lives here, too ;)
Yeh, we have an old vintage chest of drawers that we use as a tv stand - it's lovely!
ReplyDeletelove all your mismatches!!
ReplyDeleteJust talked the hubby out of buying a new modern stand for our new TV!!!
Also your redo of your bathroom looks fanastic!!
Oh I really LOVE it when you show us parts of your beautiful home. You are definitely an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love this inspirational post, Simone. When I was at art school we always delighted in our roadside finds that we could transform. It's a good mantra to live life by as well. xx
ReplyDeleteThis is such an inspirational post! I want to go home and redecorate right now. Vintage and beach are two of my favorite things... I'm so glad I found your blog!
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