It is possible that I am feeling a tad discarded. Oh don’t worry, I’ll be fine. It’s also possible I am being a tad melodramatic. Still, the feeling of being discarded is there and I remind myself that discarded items can be perfectly useful.
One day, while driving up one of the many hills in San Francisco, my husband and I spotted this discarded piece of furniture. It’s a smallish bookshelf and to me it looks like it was hand made.
Upon closer inspection, my husband did not like it, but I did and it came home with us. It was filthy and serving as a dusty high-rise for many spiders. I scrubbed it and scrubbed it and left it outside in the backyard for many days.
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My husband suggested I put it back out on the street, but I assured him I wanted the thing, I just wasn’t ready to bring it in, not yet. It needed some cleaning and a little something else. Then it came to me: wood stain! That’s when I took some Minwax Waterbased Stain to it. My husband still didn’t like it when it was done, but I do and now I sleep sandwiched between it and my husband. It has become my nightstand.
What’s the moral of the story?
Not everyone is going to love you, some may cast you aside, but if you are lucky someone who wants and needs you will come along, dust you off, and keep you close.
or
Just because something has been discarded, doesn’t mean it isn’t perfectly useful.
or
Get over yourself, it’s just an old bookshelf that you refinished.
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Disclosure: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Blogger Network, I was provided with a gift card that I used to buy the finish for the bookshelf. All statements and opinions are mine.
Your last one made me laugh– yes some people do like to be a little dramatic about most things in life. My husband always worries when I pick something up off the street too
Fabulous. Some of my favorite pieces of furniture has been someone’s castaways.
you make me smile, sugarplum! :~) thank you! xoxox
(and that is a lovely nightstand! well done you!)
What a great nightstand.
It’s even more beautiful now!!!
Well I do take his point. But as long as you washed it over with bleach and a scrubbing brush, I’m sure it’s now fine! Good job!
This post made me smile, great job on the shelf!
I think it turned out fantastic! I love furniture with a story. And just so you know, yours is one of the few blogs I keep up with regularly. I don’t usually comment on blogs because I read them on my phone during nap time and its a hassle to type on that thing, but I make a point of going back to my computer later at night to write here…
Well, you know I love both you and your blog. I love that you let me know you found me through SpanglishBaby.com because I didn’t know how you found me, I was just glad you did.
Congratulations on becoming landed gentry.
I Loooove! WOW.
I think it turned out nicely!
or if you get dented and covered in grime, stand on the street and a young funny mom will come along and miniwax you.
I love your nightstand. I brought home a set of terracotta pots and my folks were not happy. I washed, scrubbed and painted it a dark red. Then, they all showed it off to anyone who visited 😛
It is time to repaint it again. Thinking of a blue this time.
I’ve always noticed, the discards that become a part of the family quickly become favorites.
I love it. It’s lovely.
I think you made a great job and it makes a perfect bedside table.
I like it, and it does look handmade! Quality wood is always so much better than the cheap pressed word you have to pay a fortune for and then it lasts only a year or so.
It came out great!
Gorgeous job! I’m a firm believer in paints and stains. Solid wood is so versatile. Great find.