TIPS TO REPURPOSE VINTAGE FINDS

I love when I find something I did not know I needed for my home. I love to figure out how to repurpose vintage finds. And, I love it more when I find a way how to repurpose a find that has a little history.

I know this time of year is crazy, but it also the time when people haul a ton of stuff to Goodwill or unload on Facebook Marketplace. This tips will hopefully help you avoid a few mistakes I have made with vintage finds.

If you scroll to the end of this post you will see other repurposed projects here at Everyday Edits.

                   I went thru a phase where, in between work or social commitments, I would stop into this popular vintage store in Castle Rock (between Denver and Colorado Springs). 

One day, in between the farmhouse finds and the chippy paint candle holders, I found a brassy, metal mailbox. I love mailboxes and sadly our suburban neighborhood does not have individual mailboxes. 

In hindsight, I should have left the brassy finish, but this was my paint everything navy or white phase.

TAP INTO THE HISTORY

My love for mailboxes started with Mrs. Olson’s rural access to the newly formed Pony Express, conveniently located, at Olson’s Mercantile. 

I studied up on vintage mailboxes as I contemplated what to do with mine. Did you know in 1923 it was mandatory that every home had a mailbox? You can read the reason why here.

Vintage Find Tip

When searching for finds I recommend making a list of 2-3 items. If not, you might end up with a ceramic pig or a lead-wick candle.

The challenge in repurposing is to make sure the item works with your home. Unless it is a conversation piece. I love to ask questions (what, where, when, how & why) when friends have antiques or garage sale finds.

LOCATION

When browsing through garage sales, Goodwill, or antique stores, with your list, make sure to have more than one location in mind.

My husband and I found these vintage doors in Denver. We fell in love with the idea of vintage doors, but when we installed them in this room they looked like two doors bolted to the wall.

I planned to have the mailbox next to our back door and to use the scrolled (newspaper roll) to hold keys or dog leases.

Unfortunately, neither keys nor dog leashes were needed next to the door that leads to the backyard.

Needless to say, that mailbox went around the block (house) a few times before it found its forever home in my home office.

With an ongoing office refresh, the vintage mailbox found a new home in my office, right next to the door.

And, in hindsight, the brassy finish would look amazing in my recently repainted home office.

This vintage mailbox was a cute addition above the light switch. I loved the serendipity moment when I realized the mailbox ended up next to a door. Maybe not the front door, but my home office door.

Serendipity, right? 

 With the tiny door lift, centered on the front of the mailbox, the mailbox was ready for a re-purposed life.

Although this mailbox no longer holds the local newspaper I want to find a purpose for the scrolled arms. Please leave suggestions in the comments or email me here.  

But, what I love most about this mailbox is it reminds us of the low-tech version of mail delivery.

The little key entry on the front panel reminds us of a simple security measure. 

In today’s email-packed inboxes, this vintage mailbox no longer holds mail; instead, it holds the stories from homeowners’ past. 

Thank you for stopping by and please check out other repurposed projects here. Here is a fun way to repurpose children’s cowboy boots!

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