Habitat ReStore Visit & "New Lamp"

It was threatening rain all day today but not a drop fell. The temperature really rose today and it is supposed to be a hot one tomorrow. The humidity is high and my hair is all over the place. It is clear that summer has arrived although the official first day is a few weeks away yet.

Tonight I went to a Habitat for Humanity Community Relations committee meeting. I arrived early to the meeting and so I took a look at the items in the ReStore. I bought a fourth curtain rod to match the three I bought last month. $1.00 was a great deal. I thought I would give you a picture tour of some of the great items available for a fraction of retail prices.

There are dozens of quarts and gallons of paint. Did you know that you can mix the small bottles of acrylic paint from Jo-Ann's or Micheal's into any color of latex paint to change the color? It is a great way to recycle paint. I did it to paint some furniture this past winter. I will have to check back to see if they have a paint color I can use for the chair, table and chest of drawers I will be painting.
Other than paint, nothing updates your home like a new light fixture. Check out the beautiful fixtures hanging from the ceiling at the ReStore.

More light fixtures.
Rolls and rolls of tubing. Aquariums, fountains, ponds? What other use can you think of ?
Ceramic tiles for bathrooms, floors, those projects you see on HGTV. Tile an old table top, tile a bathroom counter top, make a trivet, make a mosaic bird bath.....tons of ideas. The ReStore even has the grout.
Fireplace screens and tools.
Toilets, pedestal sinks, bathroom cabinets and counter tops with molded sinks are readily available. You could easily afford to transform that out of date bathroom and update your home.

The ReStore has a wide selection of refrigerators, ovens and other appliances.
This washer and dryer were is pristine condition and newer than mine. Hmmm........Have you priced new washers and dryers lately?
A footed tub. This would be the perfect addition to the older home that is being refurbished or ....garden art....well, maybe not.

Do you remember the lamp I bought a few weeks ago at a garage sale? Well it cost me a mere $3.00.
This is the before picture of the lamp. The shade was too yellowed to be used although I may try covering it or painting it.
Here is the before picture of the brand new silk lampshade I bought at a garage sale for $3.00. This shade would cost tons more at a store.
Here is the transformation....."Design on a Dime" and "Decorating Cents" eat your heart out!! I rewired the lamp with wire and a plug I already had on hand. I did have to buy a new bulb socket. I also painted the lamp with $1.09 bottle of acrylic paint from Jo-Ann's. The new lamp shade really adds character. This lamp cost me about $11.00. I might add beaded fringe to make it more quirky. Maybe.....
I bought this lamp and shade at Pottery Barn earlier this year. I paid substantially more than $11.00. I will be doing more transformations in the future. I think of it as another form of recycling.