It has been a while since I’ve done a blog post. Sorry about that. It has been super busy — and frankly, I have been a bit overwhelmed by everything that has been happening in the last year in our country — that I was much too emotional energy to write. But I’m back — excited to start posting fun things again. I’ve been busy with Hospitality and Vacation Rental Designs and creating unique ideas that will help them stand out in a very busy market! Found objects are not just about creating a wow factor — but about bring items with soul and character into your design projects — whether it is your home, business, hotel, motel, inn or vacation rental — it really does add character and warmth to any space.
The gallery walls in the newly renovated rooms at Basin Harbor Resort, a historic hotel, resort, inn, on the shores of Lake Champlain. The found objects, artwork, original oil paintings, vintage art pieces and décor, we found at look antique shops, second hand locations and flea markets. We also added the shiplap wall to add character and depth to the rooms.
Shadow boxed vintage nautical flags is an easy way to give a lakefront room some character. These flags are all different in the Champlain House building at Basin Harbor Resort.
This bedroom styling project for Yankee Barn Home and Cottages and Bungalows Magazine was a fun one because I could show with a search at your favorite antique shop, you can create a whole room with found objects. These lovely antiques are from Vermont Antiques Mall in Woodstock, Vermont.
An old wicker table that was once dark brown got a paint job — this bold green really makes the piece pop in the room, giving it a more contemporary feel to the farmhouse.
This live edge headboard is created from found piece at a lumber yard. Many lumber yards are given trees from urban projects or felled trees from a storm or even under water. These reclaimed pieces of wood can really add character to any space — as a headboard, table or even wall art. The rooms at Main and Mountain Bar and Motel, are all unique thanks to these special pieces of found wood.
Sometimes a found object is something as simple as cabinet doors. We renovated this entire house to become a fun vacation rental (check out the cool story about the kitchen on Domino) and reused the old cabinet doors we took out of the closet and painted them gray and created a headboard. Other fun found objects here are the second hand side tables, vase, wall art and pillow made from an old skirt.
Giving an old dresser a contemporary look, just took some black stain and new knobs. I love turning old dressers into vanities and for this barn- turned vacation home — was not different. This home was futured in Country Home Magazine, Dwell, and Yankee Magazine.
This old kitchen cabinet was turned on its side — literally — and given some stripes and feet. Instant coffee table. This is just one of the many DIY’s featured in my book, Salvage Secrets Design and Décor. Found at a Rebuild Center for only a few dollars, it transforms this room into a more modern and hip space to be in. .
The ways to use found objects are endless. From porch posts cut in half and used as part of the lobby bar to a vintage wooden box for décor… get creative with found things. You will have a blast.