One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

You would be surprised what gems you can find when you look around you on the streets. So many people throw away perfectly good items, or items that could be perfectly good, if given a little love and attention. 

For example, I once found a mirror frame on the street. It was just a basic frame and had no mirror in it, but it was a sturdy frame. So, I took the frame home. I cleaned it, sanded it down, painted it and decorated it with glass beads. When it was finished, I took it to a shop and had a mirror fitted. I gave it to my mum when she moved into her new house. It now hangs in her hallway and it looks fantastic. It cost me about 50 TL to fix it up, but it would cost around 300 TL to buy it new in a shop. 

Another time, I found a white cupboard that had probably been in someone’s bathroom. I brought it home and it is in the corner of our balcony. We use it a lot and it is very handy.

Recently, I found another mirror. It had a mirror in it so all I needed to do was clean it up and give it a paint. I painted it in a way that makes it look like an antique. It is hanging in our front room and looks great!

The last thing I found was four dining chairs. I started working on them, but I haven’t had enough time to finish them. They need the seat replacing, which means I have to go to a shop to get some materials. Hopefully, I will find the time for this soon. They are really good, well-made chairs in an art deco style and I can’t understand why someone would just throw them on the street, but it’s their loss and my gain!