7 Easy (but Super-Impressive) DIY Projects for Common Flea-Market Finds
Dish towels are a necessity in every kitchen, and a row of vintage glass knobs is a pretty way to help keep them organized. The knobs here date from the 1850s through the 1940s. Small knobs like the one on the left were usually found on medicine cabinets; the larger knobs probably came from dres
It's difficult to find a complete ses of vintage knobs -- but a mixed-up assortment can look just as nice, and individual pieces often turn up at flea markets and salvage yards. Attach knobs to the wall with screws at least three inches long to prevent them from loosening. Screws should fit snugly and be tightened flush against the front of the knobs.
The Find: Stamp Carousels
Introduced in the early 1900s, these devices helped office clerks and postal workers keep their rubber stamps close at hand. Original cast-iron models eventually gave way to mass-produced aluminum ones; self-inking stamps led to their fade from popularity by the '70s.
We spray-painted a caddy to serve as a handy toothbrush holder. Use high-gloss spray paint, which is easy to clean and gives the holder a classic porcelain-enamel look.
The Find: Enamelware Organizers
A clutter-prone desk quickly becomes an organized and cheerful workspace with the addition of a few handsome enamelware pieces. Made of porcelain-coated metal, these sturdy, streamlined items are plentiful at flea markets and tag sales. The shallow trays were originally designed to accommodate dental tools; the deeper boxes to keep refrigerated food fresh in the days before plastic.
Reusing Enamelware
Because enamelware is nonporous, it is easy to keep clean. For this reason, photo developers in the early 20th century used enameled emulsion trays. Such pieces are equally useful in the kitchen today.
Create a unified ensemble by transforming a tray into a bulletin board: Mount it with a platter hanger, and use magnets instead of tacks to attach papers to the 'board.'
The Find: Illuminated Milk Glass
Milk glass has an opalescent glow that becomes truly luminous when coupled with candles. The white milk-glass vases, compotes, tumblers, and plates pictured here were manufactured in the '40s and '50s and can be found in abundance at antiques shops and tag sales.
Making Milk-Glass Candle Holders
To make a milk-glass sconce, attach a plate hanger to the back of the plate. The hanger's wire tips will virtually disappear if you paint the exposed wire with white nail polish.
Mounted behind a candle, the lacy openwork of a milk-glass dessert plate casts a beautiful patterned shadow.
Their sleek glass and porcelain rods long gone or broken, the enameled, ceramic, and metal towel-bar supports of the '30s and '40s often turn up at flea markets and salvage shops. But what can you do with them? Why, show off the hardware in other rooms!
The Necessary Materials
You will need only three things: the towel-bar holders themselves (the ceramic blue pieces), a copper pipe, and copper S hooks for hanging pots and pans.
Ceramic hardware grips copper pipe to hold copper pots and pans hanging from S hooks, also made out of copper.
The hanging copper-pipe rack in the kitchen needs to be sturdy enough to support heavy pots and pans. For stability, the pipe sould be no more than 4 feet long: You can have it cut at a hardware store for a nominal fee. Properly anchored hardware is also important. If you have drywall, you will need to use toggle bolts.
The Find: Candlelight Fixtures
Lots of early-20th-century porcelain ceiling and wall fixtures in excellent condition turn up at flea markets. Flipped over and centered on saucers, they make pretty candlesticks.
It has been many moons since chandeliers first had their candles replaced by light bulbs, for practicality's sake. So why not, then, set candles into old bulb sockets -- for romance? Smaller sockets are just right for votive candles, which won't block your view of that special face. Wax that collects in the socket can be removed the same way you would clean any candlestick, so the fixture can always resume its original function.
From Platter to Mirror
If the platter or plate is split into several pieces, glue them together with ceramic epoxy, and allow them to dry. Measure the plate, and cut the mirror to match. You may need a professional glass cutter to custom-cut the mirror. Use ceramic epoxy to attach the mirror permanently and mounting tape if you think you may want to eventually remove the mirror.
A Beribboned Illusion
Although this transferware-framed mirror seems to dangle from a beribboned picture nail, it's actually secured by a plate hanger.
Your Reflection, on a Platter
Mount an elegant platter above the bathroom sink for flattering reflections. To mount, grip the platter's edge with a plate hanger of the appropriate size.
