Southern Hill Cottage
1218 West Broad St 2nd floor, Groveland, FL. (407) 494-5867
in Classic Treasures
Southernhillcottage.com
I’m a southern girl at heart although God decided Southern California was my starting point I finally found my way back to the deep South. I love anything chippy, shabby or downright old! If it’s not crackly it don’t belong in my southern cottage.
April 6th and 7th in Lakeland, FL- Fancy Flea is a collection of vendors and artisans joining on the streets of downtown Lakeland to help buyers find the perfect cottage, shabby or vintage one of a kind!
Hey Ya’ll!
I know I just posted about my new shop location but I just couldn’t put down my ol’ laptop without showing a peek about my latest EEK to Chic finds. I just love finding a neglected item and making it beautiful again.
If ya’ll have read my previous posts then you know that I never spend over $20 for any one item. Well, one of my favorite picking spots is a little thrift store on the outskirts of Groveland, Florida simply called Thrift.
This is what I picked recently:
BEFORE
Price: $5.00
AFTER
This lamp was pretty cute before but I couldn’t resist adding some “Paris” stenciling and some creamy white paint. I love how it turned out!
Next is this 1940s sewing table- unfortunately the sewing machine was missing but folded up this table would make a great desk!
BEFORE
Price: $15.00
After:
I love coupling it with this chippy chair- aren’t they a perfect pair?
And finally- I found one of my “dream wants”- one of those pieces that I’ve been oh-so-wanting for so long that I could never find in my price range. My hubby was driving- la la la LA… and suddenly I turned my head and saw it in front of an old junk shop. I usually don’t use that term (because I love junk!) but in this case the store actually was actually called Junk Shop.
Ta Da! A vintage Radio Flyer! From the tin body and inflatable wheels, I’m guessing this baby is from the 50s.
I can’t wait until Christmas to put some vintage dollies and teddy bears in here and stage it under the tree. Yes, I’m one of those people- the kind that think about decorating for Christmas way too soon.
And I hope you are too.
Before I sign off- I just want to thank you for reading my blog. Someone is there, right? Just kidding. Now back to doing a little adoption research before I go to bed. But more about that later. (I told you I was full of surprises!)
Ya’ll come back now,
Rachel
Hey Ya’ll,
Wow. Sorry I haven’t been around for a few days- but so much has been happening it’s hard to know where to start.
Dun dun da da! I now have an official brick and mortar location for Southern Hill Cottage! Which brings me to this little thing called kismet. In my favorite book, Anne of Avonlea, Anne talks alot about kismet and providence- two old fashioned words that basically mean fate. Do you believe in fate? I always thought I did. But lately I’ve been having a hard time wondering if the hard things in life are meant to be or just unlucky accidents. But then something happened that… well, just had to be kismet.
About ten miles away from our house, just as you start to get into the farm country of dirt roads and Spanish Oaks, is a huge Victorian mansion that I’ve been in love with since the moment I saw it (three years and three months- but who’s counting?) It’s pretty much my dream house. And the fact that it’s been vacant for the last forty years and is reportedly haunted just adds to it’s allure.
And as I pass it to drive my son to the park or with my hubby to the movies- a little voice inside me has always said, “Someday you’re gonna be able to drive up to that house and just walk in.” Which is ridiculous since the house is three times the price we could ever afford. But nonetheless the voice persisted.
And then, two days ago, while perusing craigslist for some flea market finds- I saw an ad. ANTIQUE VENDORS WANTED- INQUIRE AT 1118 Broad St. And there it was, next to the ad, the picture of THE HOUSE. My dream house. Known locally as The Edge House.
Fast forward one phone call and two hours and I was driving up to my dream house and… the door was open. The inside of the house was even better than I expected- shiny hardwood floors led the way to a vintage kitchen complete with a pot belly stove, creamy shingled wood walls showcased built in brick fireplaces and gingerbread woodwork was overhead clawfoot tubs . And don’t even get me started on the wrap around verandas! Needless to say, I made a deal with the owner on the spot. And now I have an official permanent shop in the house that I knew I would somehow be a part of. Kismet? I’m starting to think so.
Ya’ll come back now,
Rachel
So, if ya’ll read part 1 you’d know I’m on the search for a bargain at my favorite picking spot. In a perfect world I’d be purchasing this vintage bicycle planter below- don’t you just love it?
But since I’m going to be cheap thrifty – we’re still off on our search for The Find-something shabby chic, unique and twenty dollars or under. After heading up from the outdoor pavilion, I’m starting to break a sweat (remember that winter here in FL is 75 degrees with slight humidity) and after getting two texts from my hubby letting me know my five year old can’t find his favorite toy and is starting a meltdown I’m starting to get a little antsy.
After all, this is 40,000 square feet of antique heaven at Renningers! If you can’t find THE FIND here , where can you?
Then I see it! Adjacent to my friend, Miss Joan’s shop, is a simple indoor/outdoor shop where a chippy, crackly little perfect-shade-of-shabby-chic-green table is sitting. As casually as I try to appear (so as to not to drive up the price) I’m pretty sure the crazy gleam in my eye tells these husband and wife owners that I’m smitten!
“How much is THIS?” I blurt out, blowing my crazy for antiques! cool as a cucumber cover. But luckily, I’m a repeat customer and when the owner offers it for sale at twenty dollars even- I’m sold. And I’m pretty sure I see a twinkle of satisfaction in their eyes as I usually would have haggled it down to at least fifteen. Okay…ten. But today, I’m content to have just accomplished my mission.
So as I pull away from Renningers with The Find of The Day- I’m already pondering how to incorporate my new little table into my living room. I’m pretty sure I have a few cool ideas that might give the room a fresh vignette. But to find out what I’m thinking you’ll just have to stay tuned- cause this mama has to rush home to find my son’s teddy. Ya’ll come back now!
Gable Cottage 