Friday Finds - 1970's Floor Lamp!

Today I want to show off two vintage lamps found a few weeks apart from the same source down by the Maryland Shore.  And I want to pat myself on the back for spotting them and jumping on the opportunity.  I love them so much, the structural, architectural quality is very striking to me. 

I realized they would need to be rewired and refinished completely.  Luckily my dad was just as excited about the find and has been leading the charge on cleaning them up.  

The first lamp is an over sized (taller than me) angle-poise style, this a gold finish, which Toby is helping to model.  It is missing a base and has lots of rust spots.  Both lamps had been stored outside so this is not unexpected.  The anglepoise won't be finished until after it is moved to the UK and rewired correctly.  I'd love to finish it in a copper like this...

but in my experience I struggle to achieve the finish I want with metallic spray paints, so I will probably go with a glossy black instead.  
Speaking of a glossy black finish, meet our second vintage lamp, the club lamp,from the 1970's (we think).  It has four arcing lamp arms and a dimmer switch, plus a very heavy base, shaped to fit under a sofa.  

The club lamp was in pretty poor condition, with a lot of rust spots and I disliked the original color (mottled gold, black, and red) so we choose to strip it and refinish.  Some people may see it as sacrilege to have stripped the original finish but it's done now so please keep that to yourself.  When you find your own vintage lamp you can do what you like with it.  Besides in this case it was gross and not for resale, so its only value to me was in how it could fit into our new contemporary space.  

Dad used a mix of chemical paint stripper and sandpaper.  He protected the white enameled surface inside of the shades with tape.  From there it was just about finding the right color with spray paint.  We used a primer to prep the lamp for paint.    

My first instinct was to try a pop of mint green, but unfortunately we hated how it came out.  I think the club lamp looks much more classic in black and it looks great at its new home in Ocean City, MD.  

The perfect reading corner!  Best part is the cost, both lamps came from the same salvage place down on the Easternshore and were less than $50 together.    
 Plus we found it very cool to breath new life into a vintage piece like this.

-Nikki

Friday Findings - Fun Stuff!

I picked up this weeks Friday Finds at two local thrift stores and I'm struggling to decide which is my favorite.  There is a little copper tray (with copper-craft guild seal: a mid-century find to add to my collection), a little plant pot, and a very large glass jar.  All for less than $12, and yes I have big plans for that jar, terrarium post coming soon!

- Nicole

Friday Findings - The Art Deco Bar Cart and Coppercraft tumblers.

This weeks Friday findings is classic of our situation here at LongDistanceDIY, bringing pieces together from different continents.

First the Bar cart.  Even though I'm currently away in Maryland I was browsing through Gumtree ads and there it was.  When I spotted this vintage trolly, I immediately sent the link to Matt, knowing that he would appreciate an Art Deco piece.  He must have approved because now it's ours.  The trolley is in solid condition with a pretty Walnut veneer, a nearly identical refinished piece from the 1920's is listed for several hundred on Ebay.  Neat!

Around the same time I was browsing the thrift stores on this side of the pond and came across this set of Mid-Century glass and copper tumblers.  They are an original Coppercraft Guild set, from the early 1960's, and in great condition.  Plus they were under $10!  I'm looking forward to bringing them over and seeing how they look on the bar cart with my copper mugs!

-Nikki

Friday Findings - The G-Plan nesting tables

Mid-Century Modern end tables. We found this set of G-Plan quadrille nesting tables on Gumtree for only £10.  Teak, vintage, and lovely.

They are in amazing condition and I am thrilled with them.  Naturally this has spurred an interest in collecting more pieces from this MCM maker.  Also pictured: our makeshift cardboard rug/draft-blocker, the study is directly above the cellar which lets all the cold air come right in.  

- Nikki

Friday Findings - The Peacock Chair

The Peacock Chair.

We hadn't really unpacked yet...

I am so in love with this chair, it has already become like a throne in the cottage, and funnily enough this was our very first chair purchase.  I actually spotted this on a local 'For-sale' Facebook group, a total steal at £15 and now I can be just like Morticia Addams!  The base is hollow and would be a great place to store a little stool, maybe I'll find one. 

I can't wait till the major renovations are over and we can really start decorating the space.

I also want to show you these four Mid-Century teak chairs that we got for free on Gumtree, I think the seller just wanted them gone at that point.  They were in need of a makeover so look for that post coming soon! 

- Nicole

A sofa, a chest of drawers, the oven.

The first week or so that we were in the cottage there was not a stick of furniture, because well... we didn't have any!