We’ve all heard the saying: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That couldn’t be more true for me. In fact, people who know me well know that there’s a whole lot of “trash” out there that is a treasure for me. When I tell people how much of my home is garbage picked, I think they often don’t believe me. The reality is though, that I am a genuine garbage picker. Yes, I admit it. I am a garbage picker. The truth is, a lot of people throw away very good items. All they need is a little cleaning or sprucing up and they are as good as new. I have chairs, pictures, tables, side tables, baskets, and much more that have come from people’s garbage. And you know what? They certainly don’t look like garbage in my home. This stunning leather ottoman/footstool is a great example of that.
I was out with my mom on an errand she was running. We decided to drive by and see our old house from thirty years ago (yes, I just aged myself). It just so happens that someone in the neighborhood was throwing out this lovely ottoman. After we had driven past it, I knew I wanted to turn around and take a closer look. The majority of the time, things I pull over to check out have something really wrong with them, something that is just too expensive or time consuming to fix or correct. This one, thankfully, was an exception. Other than some dust and a castor that was slightly broken, this piece was in perfect shape. I threw it in the backseat and off we went.
This ottoman has no odor, not tears in the leather, and no stains. I was truly surprised when I looked it over and saw it’s near pristine condition. My guess was, the owner just wanted a change. I gave it a good cleaning and disinfecting, and it was as good as new. Anytime you get a garbage pick, it’s always a good idea to give it a solid cleaning. You don’t want anything “gross” coming into your home. I never garbage pick fabric pieces, for example, because there are just too many unknowns with them. Since this one is leather, it was an easy one to inspect, clean, and disinfect.
I absolutely love how this piece looks in my home. The medium/dark toned leather and the brass castors add a very sophisticated, yet relaxed feel to my living room. It feels modern and still vintage and cozy. It also adds an element of warmth to the space that I have been looking for. The texture and tone adds depth and interest next to all these muted tones, and I couldn’t love it more. It is also versatile. This piece can fit into multiple design aesthetics so I will easily be able to adapt it to whatever style I am leaning towards at the moment.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my latest unique find. I am a huge advocate of giving new life to old pieces. I do that a lot through antique shopping or refinishing older furniture, but I also love to do that by pulling pieces from the curb and giving them a second chance in my home. For me, it’s symbolic and represents the new life I have been given through the Lord. It’s my way of expressing and telling my own salvation story, a story that I am so grateful for today.
I’m curious to know, are you a garbage picker too? If so, what are your favorite garbage pick finds? I would love to hear. Thanks for stopping by today and always!
This piece is so beautiful! I grew up in a garbage picking home, so I totally understand where you are coming from. Most of our furniture/decor came straight out of the affluent neighborhood across the street’s garbage. My parents have gotten pickier in their later years and have managed to create a really gorgeous aesthetic using beautiful, garbage-picked leather furniture and tables/chairs. I can only hope to have the free time and drive to get this good at it. I absolutely adore your living room!
I love that!! I’m always amazed at some pieces that get thrown out. They can be very high quality and beautiful! Your parents’ story is really neat!! Thank you for sharing! And thank you for your sweet compliment too!