The Beach Cottage sitting room has, for most part of Sunday afternoon been looking like this.
~~~~~
So, Saturday morning dawns windy at the Beach Cottage, all is quiet and it's a rare weekend morning with absolutely no kids' sport – no runs at 6.30am to training, no soccer matches or umpiring. After a long week with mucho of the above Mr BC was zonko, Mr Teenage BC was snoring, Miss BC was out cold and even the little one was snoozing still….but I was for some reason wide awake and up and about early.
And what else can one do on a Saturday morning, Down Under, in Spring? Of course, check the local paper, start plotting a route of garage sales, make some tea, and sneak off into the sun for treasure…
I did just that and set off full of anticipation. First few stops were abysmal – you know those garage sales where you think, errrm, hello, just why did you bother? By the third one of these, full of unwanted dollar-store-gifts from the nineties, I was ready to throw in the towel and so decided on just two more on my way home. So arrived at the last one, just about 5 or so minutes from the cottage, advertised as a 'street sale' but with just one house number – I spied it as I drove along, bustling with balloons and banners and the like.
I had to park a bit further on and as I walked up the pavement on the opposite side of the street, a just-so gentleman was standing on the grass…I smiled as I went to cross over and he waved and pointed away from the one with the balloons and told me "deceased estate, this way" – of course, you can imagine my ears pricked up at 'deceased estate' – vintage things floated in front of my eyes and I followed his lead down a path of newly built houses on a shared drive – the farthest you could get from somewhere you might find a deceased estate.
But oh. Oh. Oh. There were treasures.
And a couple of dealers.
As soon as I saw the dealers stalking, I knew I had to be quick. So I scooted around – picked up an old meat safe/cupboard (I'll show you that soon – mucho eye-rolling from both Mr BC and Mr Teenage BC), a bundle of vintage kitchen things, a white hand-embroidered linen bag for the WC, 1940's bamboo umbrella (lurve) and an old-fasioned towell rail - all for $20.
Too easy.
As I walked back down the newly, perfectly paved driveway with my oh-so-wonderful vintage things, the man at the end smiled and said something along the lines of I had scored… of course I had, that is what this is all about, isn't it, on a Saturday morning without the kids? I took my haul to the car, telling him we'd be back for the meat safe and then I thought 'I can't leave that trunk'.
I'd seen the trunk, covered, squashed in the corner, camaouflaged with bric-a-brac and hand-etched vintage glassware and assumed, mistakenly that it wasn't for sale but I loved it, it was sooooooo what I had been after for such a very long time.
So I shut the boot of the car and went back. I asked him was the trunk for sale. And he said yes.
One hundred bucks.
I swallowed hard. I thought Mr Beach Cotttage may well kill me if I spend that, at the moment, on another trunk (there really is one already in the garage waiting for paint).
But, truly, I just couldn't leave her there…I mean, as I learnt, she came from Hungary (complete with old yellowed photos of the ship she was on) in the 1940's, just after the war, in a migrant ship. I mean, she had real vintage lettering on the side.
She was mine.
And so here we are, Sunday afternoon in the Beach Cottage, re-arranging our tiny sitting room to accommodate our newly found treasure.
I am and she, I think, is, eagerly awaiting her initiation tomorrow with a thorough clean, some serious primping and of course, a crash course in with all things white – stop by to see, of course, I'm blogging it…
Do I even need to tell you how many favours I had to promise to swing this one???
I'll let you guess…and tell me what sorta favours you'd do to get this baby in your cotttage? ;-)
Love ya.
S
xo
blogged for Rhoda's thrift event at Southern Hospitality, the last one for a while ;-(
EDITED TO ADD: sorry I obviously didn't make it clear that I am NOT painting over this one – the whole reason I loved her was the wood and the lettering and the just general already gorgeousness!!!!! and thanks so much to Maria from here who took the time to translate the words for me, I was going to have a go online myself so now I don't have to, the power of the internet eh? So 'Fekete means Black and István means Steven, In Hungary the first name comes after the family name. So it belonged to a man'…I have more of the story on this old trunk to come…it certainly has some history with it! S xo
Hi!
Your beach cottage is fantastic,I love it!
I like all your white, it’s very relaxing.
Came and see my blog with lots of color!
Sarah it’s just amazing! I would likely have to wager to stop shopping for home decor in order to convince my hubby to budge on that one, but it is SO cool there’s a chance he’d agree with it, all bargaining aside. Can’t wait to see it all cleaned up and with a gorgeous ‘Beach Cottage’ vignette atop.
Great score but don’t you dare paint that trunk.
IT’S PHENOMENAL!!!
I would have found a way to get it too.
You would have thought about that baby for YEARS if you hadn’t!
You have such a good eye!
Layla
I love it. I’d leave it just as it is, but I can’t wait to see what you do to it!
There is no way you could’ve let her go with dealers!! So glad she found her home with you!
SMiles!
Michelle
OOOOOOO MY GOSH, YOU FIND THE COOLEST STUFF…EVER.
I found some old silver iced tea spoons that i’m quite happy about…but that’s not nearly as cool as an old trunk !
WOW! That is fab! I can’t wait for you to work you magic on it! Congrats on the BIG score!
Hi, I have been following your blog, you are creating amazing things.
I love your makeovers but my heart is beating harder now as I really wouldn’t want to see that Hungarian historical touch to disappear. It really is a great treasure and congrats for finding it. I am sure she will be beautiful though.
I am Hungarian and was surprised when I saw your new treasure.
Fekete means Black and István means Steven, In Hungary the first name comes after the family name. So it belonged to a man.
Congrats on the find again and have fun with the transformation.
Maria
Oohhh what a find!
love
Alison
x
That is a one of a kind find! You HAD to have it. And it needs to be in a home that appreciates its history. Think of how much stuff you have salvaged for free (like your window). If you added up what you might have paid for all that, it would be WAY more than $100. (I’m really good at this!)
I’m malaysian residing in Hungary and when I saw the trunk i said “wow” out loud! Like Maria, I wish you wouldn’t paint it but it may not fit the look of your living room …
You know there are not many sources for vintage garage sale in Hungary, this is indeed a great score!
You find the BEST stuff. I’m sitting here in awe. Love it.
What a fantastic find – you certainly have luck and a good eye!
Pomona x
Ooh it’s beautiful!
I bet it will look great after you give it your beach cottage treatment. Can’t wait to see it!
Too funny – you struck gold on your saleing yesterday, and I only spent $1! I found an adorable antique jewelry chest/table that’s going to be sanded down today and painted in teal and brown. Of course it won’t match anything, but I’m obsessing over the color combo and this is just the item to try it on!
Any favor would be well worth it…can’t wait to see it….hurry up would you!!! Chrissy
How neat is that Sarah, having a blogger who was able to translate the name of the owner!!!!
I just know you won’t paint it and cover up the writing……right? Perhaps it needs nothing more than a clean and light polish – how fortuitous that it has casters as it looks like a heavy trunk to move around on your beautiful floors.
Great find dear – and I agree with Sue above, the price makes up for the freebies you’ve found. We have to train the men to understand this, lol!
Oh Sarah, what a beauty! You’re surely not going to cover that lettering, are you? I know I sound like your mother, but are you going to COVER that phenomenal lettering? I should sign this Ms. Nosy Busy-body who’s business it is truly not!
Brenda
Wow! I think it looks quit nice just the way it is in the Beach Cottage…so glad you found her.
I’m not Hungarian or Australian. I live in Idaho, USA, but I agree–don’t paint it. This coming from one who has fallen in love with everything white thanks to you. To think of that history gone from a few strokes of a paint brush makes me sad.
I love love love what you do. I’ve been inspired in such a way as never before. I feel as though I’ve finally found my decorating style thanks to your blog–and abundance of talent.
Thank you for sharing it.
As much as I *love* your white beach cottage Sarah, I have to agree with everyone else. Painting the trunk would erase her history. This is a piece to sit back and enjoy as it is, and think about how far she has traveled to finally find you.
DeAna I so agree with you! I too have been inspired by you and your blog Sarah. For a long time I wasn’t clear on what my “style” was. Then I found your blog and felt as though I’d come home. My interest in beach/coastal decorating has blossomed and opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
Thank you!
Oh so lovely, Sarah! She is definitely a fabulous find….swoon!
Smiles,
Rachel
Oh you are a total legend! Favours????… I’d pull out all stops for that one! A-M xx
Please,please,puh-lease tell me you’re not gonna paint that gem!!!
Clean it,ever so carefully,and leave it as is.
Puh—lease!!!
let me tell you I was NEVER gonna paint it girls…sorry thought I made that clear!
xo
Sarah this was such a great find. I would be hard pressed to pay the $100. also but it will be such a signature piece. I can’t wait to see it in place. It seems that my favor “juju” doesn’t work very well with my husband these days. You’re going to have to disclose what favors you promised! ha ha he he
woah. seriously woah. I am so jealous, but she is in good hands now that you have her! I also could not have paid the 100 bucks, even with favors! have fun decorating her and loving her!
Can’t wait to see it in it’s new home. And I agree, it doesn’t need paint. Some things are just meant to be left the way they are…Perfect!
Well, Sarah you out did yourself once again. I can’t wait to see it in it’s final show place in your beautiful cottage. I’m ashamed to even think about the “goodies” I would promise my husband so that I could buy that trunk. LOL
Have a happy day.
Vicki
P.S. I really enjoyed the comments from Maria explaining what all the lettering meant. WOW – a real bit of history.
That is just waaaaaaaay beyond cool! WOW!
m ^..^
Can’t wait to see a few photos of the inside…..Mr BC sure is getting it easy this month!!!!! Did I tell you about my offer to Mr Scratch? (safe bet!)
Sarah, Mmmm… I probably would have made the same offer and promises as you to get that chest
Alison
Oh gosh Sarah loved going along for the ride with you and what a TREASURE. You will always love this and i do too! Mel xxx
omgosh, Sarah….I can’t even BELIEVE you found this magnificent trunk. It is to die for and couldn’t be prettier ANYwhere than in your beach cottage.
I knew you wouldn’t even THINK about painting over that marvelous lettering…that IS the trunk!!
Beutiful!! And, a $hundred bucks for it is CHEAP!!
You are too funny! It was wise to take the trunk, regardless of the favors. It is absolutely gorgeous!
I’m laughing over everyone’s posts – the outcry! lol
I actually think it would look great with a freshly painted white top, and just spiff up the front and sides, leaving the lettering and patina.
LOVING IT! Don’t ya just love a good score? I found a vintagey old pic-a-nic basket the other day and thought “Ohhh this would be so good painted white.” I think you’re rubbing off on me!
You would have regreted that forever if you didn’t get it! Great find!
you absolutely scored! yes, you would have had remorse had you not gotten it! Good for you!
gorgeous find! perfect just the way it is – I’m jealous.
Hi Sarah…what a totally AWESOME find…& at just $100 bucks…
Cannot wait to see what else you managed to find..
just makes me think back to my MANY garage sales before me ebay days..jee wiz…you would have LUUVED those!!
hatboxes..trunks..old ice chest…GGRR!!! i was a silly billy!!
xx andrea
Oh you really had me laughing because I so know those sales! Sometimes I follow some signs that say – estate sale – for miles and when I get there it’s not even as good as a yard sale.
Its like they dumped their garbage cans out on the lawn, plus as you said, a smattering of dollar store items.
But that chest is spectacular! A magical find!
Tracy
OK, when I see, “….The BEST Cottage thrift score so far” in your header, my heart skips a beat.
And you absolutely delivered! I would have paid a hundred for that…especially given the fabulous haul you got for a mere 20 bucks. Have to say, I’m dying to see the 1940′s bamboo umbrella!!
Some things are just meant to be Sarah – no matter what they cost. I’d say money well spent. She is a beauty.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Congratulations on the trunk! However, your story makes me sad! You see, my mother and her family came overr from Ireland when she was just 3 years old and their whole world was in their trunk. We had the trunk in our house for years but when my parents divorced she had an aunt keep it in her garage (in Ohio) and we lived in CA…so, kinda hard to get to…and, I was still young. Unfortunately, I kept telling my husband that we should make a trip to Ohio to get that trunk…we never did and now the aunt has passed away and who knows whatever happened to that trunk!! Anyway, your trunk is fabulous and it will be great in your home! Thanks for shaing the story!