I’ve been dragging treasures home since I was a kid. I’ve always seen purpose and potential in other’s cast-offs. I don’t consider myself a dumpster diver by any means, but if it’s set to the curb, then it’s fair game. Some people call this hobby “trash to treasure“, but I prefer to call it “curb to cottage“. I don’t see trash when someone sets cool stuff at the curb; I see new life, new home, new purpose. I can’t remember ever driving around on trash day checking curbs. My treasure finds just seem to happen, providence, in the right place at the right time.

A few weeks ago I was dropping my daughter off at a babysitting job. As I pulled up to

the curb, I saw it, a real gem. There stood a lonesome black dining chair. It had such “curb appeal”. I asked the owner, a friend, if she was getting rid of it. Yes! I tossed it in my car’s back seat and headed home, knowing right where I’d place it in my garden. I love garden chairs! They add creativity and coziness to any garden.

Did you know that garden chairs were an actual “thing” in the 18th century? My hubby, a very smart man, informed me of this when he saw my little treasure. Gardens were becoming less formal and people wanted to sit and enjoy their flowers. Lightweight wooden chairs, called Forest Chairs, were made for that very purpose. They were later called Windsor Chairs. I guess that’s why they look so at home in my gardens.

What do you think of my happy red chairs?! Neighborhood renters kicked them to the curb before moving. A little paint gave them new life for their new home.

I came across a white iron bed railing while on my way to the cemetery in old historic Independence. I’m not sure who was more excited, me when I found it or the woman who didn’t want it. I knew that it would make a wonderful fence for a cottage garden.

My close friend, who I have walked, talked, and prayed through the joys and sorrows of life, shares in the passion for bargains and curb to cottage finds. She will occasionally stumble upon a prized item and give me a call to see if I’m interested. She was the finder of these iron patio chairs. They came as a set of four and were originally green. I used them as seating for our fire pit at Little Blue Cottage. When I moved to Comfy Lane Cottage, the green looked out of place, so I sprayed them brown to match the color of a wicker bench and trim on our home.

Here they are again, after I painted them Colonial RED for our new firepit area.

Years ago my Babe and I decided that a curvy brick path would be a nice addition to Comfy Lane Cottage’s front exterior. The yard was quite shady and hard to grow grass. It didn’t help that we had worn a path through the grass, blazing a shortcut trail to the front door. My hubby found bargain bricks on Craigs List, and we hauled them home ourselves. The previous brick owners had tossed a rain barrel to the curb and gave me their blessing to give it a new home. Actually, they were new owners fixing up the house and had no idea what that big brown plastic jug was in their backyard. Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water when gardening.

I have all kinds of watering cans for my gardens, but they’re so pretty that I end up setting them out as part of garden decor. My Babe, a functional kind of guy, likes to use empty milk jugs to water our endless potted herb collection. I spotted this plastic green watering can one day….curbside, of course! It’s functional to his liking but also prettier than a milk jug. We are definitely a functional meets froufrou kind of couple! If it satisfies both, then it’s a winner.

I came across this vintage suitcase while working on wedding decorations. I couldn’t believe that someone had tossed it to the curb! The color blue was perfect. I knew that it would make a great celebratory “just married” sign for the reception. The lavender watering can was also a curb to cottage find that looked adorable filled with flowers. I had no idea how to decorate a wedding tent, but with lots of creativity and resourcefulness, it all came together beautifully.

I saved my best curb to cottage find for last! While jogging through the park one afternoon, I saw a trailer filled with old wooden framed windows of all different sizes. I started asking around to find the owner of those prize winning windows. A house with its backyard next to the park was having new windows installed. The workers were going to just trash the windows. Not only did they allow me to have as many of the windows as I wanted, but they gave me their card to obtain future FREE windows. I sprinted home to get my husband, and we filled our vehicles with old windows. We made several hauls that day. We’d already talked about building a greenhouse using our old windows saved from when we installed new thermal windows at Comfy Lane Cottage. What a find! What a blessing!

While jogging recently, I stopped and thanked the woman who was the previous owner of those windows. I shared with her what we had done with them, and she was tickled to hear that her windows were now a new home to our plants.

I have a few personal rules that I follow whenever I see a curbside find. I pass them on to those of you who might have previously driven by an item or two, not realizing the treasure before you.

TIPS FOR CURB TO COTTAGE

• Ask first, just in case! If it’s clearly marked FREE or on top of the trash can, then I don’t check with the owner.
• Check for bugs. I clean my treasures once home and if in doubt, spray for bugs.
• If I don’t need an item or don’t have a plan for it, then I don’t take it. (I recently told my Babe that his Pack Rat tendency is inhibiting my Pack Rat tendency! No room!)
• A fresh coat of paint and imagination does wonders to many items. A vision is often needed.

If you enjoyed the Garden Edition of Curb to Cottage, then I know you don’t want to miss the next edition coming soon, where I’ll share the many recycled and repurposed treasures inside of our home. I’d love to hear about some of your curb to cottage finds.