It’s Christmas in July! Today I’m taking advantage of the warm summer days to work outdoors and get a jump on the holiday items I’ll be offering in my booths by transforming old skis into decorative Christmas porch decor!

I have a favorite non-profit/charity thrift store where I spend all my money, lately. They have the BEST furniture and decor items. And I love their staff - such wonderful people. And if all that wasn’t enough, as a bonus, every week the furniture is marked down if it didn’t sell.

Sometimes when I find that piece - you know - that piece that whispers ‘Hello’ from across the room and you’re suddenly standing in front of it, knowing exactly what you want to do to make it pretty (or prettier) so that you can put it back out into the world for a second life of being loved. Sometimes, when that happens, I can control myself. I can wait and hope and come back in a week - or two - and I won’t be crushed it t’s not there anymore. And if it’s not, I tell myself, “Well, somebody loved it and took it home and that’s a good thing.”

That’s not how this story goes.

This quickie makeover features a set of vintage Colonial Manufacturing Company accent chairs I got - as I’m noting quite often as I work through my stash - before the pandemic when thrift stores stopped accepting and selling furniture - and prices were good.  I paid $1.99 apiece for them.

It’s a quickie makeover because they’re sturdy, they didn’t have a lot of cosmetic issues, and - probably most importantly - their upholstery was in relatively good condition.

The quirkiness of these chairs appealed to me. The design of the wood frame reminded me of one of my favorite movies - The 5th Element…

Today’s makeover is a super quick and easy update of a thrifted piano bench with storage. Check out how I gave it a new life with a neutral, creamy paint color and cushioned, upholstered seat!

Sometimes you find a piece that checks all the boxes - lovely curves, well-made, good bones, etc. - and it has to come home with you, but it takes a while for inspiration to strike. That was the case with this Lane pie crust table.