Preview - What We're Working On

Here are some old-school furniture finds on our rehab waiting list. See one you can imagine refreshed for your house? Email us!

This highboy dresser has great details, and five total drawers. It's not in progress yet, and can be painted any color. A charcoal gray with white/cream accents on handles and details would look good, but there are many great options. Turquoise or magenta with glaze to bring out the details would rock, too. Depends on your style--elegant and sophisticated or a little bit urban/suburban diva?

I know. It looks like my parents' 1970s bedroom set, and probably your parents', too. But with fresh paint, this girl is gonna be gorgeous and sassy. I'm thinking ivory for a quintessential shabby-chic look. She has small drawers behind the middle cabinet; it would be fun if they were painted a happy accent color to surprise you when you opened the door.

This little guy is sized right for a petite bedroom or living room chair. He's already been painted black, and looks really handsome. But we're looking for the perfect fabric for the seat. Let us know if you're interested, and we can put on a fabric of your choosing.

This vanity was in sorry shape when it arrived at Vintage Gypsy. I'm relieved to say it's now adorable, and nearly done, with several coats of black paint and polyurethane, as well as fun detail work and serious rehab. For sale soon with a matching chair and mirror for a complete vanity package.

Coming soon in turquoise and white! You won't believe how cute it is now.

Apologies for the mess. Our workspace is way cluttered (there's so much fun stuff in it). This rocker's curvy arms are fun and organic; the cane is in good shape. It hasn't revealed the true nature of its makeover yet--we're waiting and seeing. It's crazy comfortable, so and would be perfect in a nursery or on a covered porch. You could read a book or rock a baby in this fine item for hours.

Retro Update - Lamp with Vintage Good Looks

The green glass shades on banker's lamps channel a bygone era

--and serious mood lighting. I think of dark wood paneling, shelves full of books, a thick oriental rug on the floor. Like it's the study from the old Clue game. But when you turn it on, the lamp makes for serious ambiance (and task lighting).

I found this reproduction at a thrift store. The tarnished, yellowy bronze plating was tacky, but that green shade--perfect and awesome. So I brought it home and puttered around, trying to jazz up the metalwork without damaging the (not-removable?) shade.

Now it's in my "study" (read: cluttered little office) and I love it. Yay for coat of paint on a thrift-store find. I'm going to redo another one soon for a customer. Pics pending.

Final product (top)

Original not-so-hot here:

Much better--don't you think? :)

Getting Started--We're Under Construction

Have you noticed furniture and decor from a few years ago, while outdated, is usually such better quality than the items in stores today? We sure have, and we're on board with the movement to rehabilitate items with history and potential after a little love investment.

We can't wait to populate this blog with photos of our refurbished furniture and housewares! For years the gals at Vintage Gypsy have been searching for "diamonds in the rough" to rehab. The results? Funky, fun finds--much of it vintage, shabby chic, retro, and primitive--to spice up our homes. But our enthusiasm has grown larger that our houses and storage space, so we've been sharing our items with other folks. Response is so positive we're starting a blog and taking to the Internet to share even more great items.

What can you expect from Vintage Gypsy? Vintage and retro furniture that starts off outdated and ends up colorful, fun, and aligned with the styles in magazines right now. Vintage dishes, linens, decorative items, and holiday decor that support the eco-friendly trend to revive great items from a few decades ago. New lampshades and pillows that coordinate with a modern vintage, shabby chic, or fancy chain store look at more affordable prices.

The focus is on great decor, affordability, recycling, and reveling in the details that make our lives good and our homes comfortable and adorable. We hope you'll join us in the adventure.

-Vintage Gals