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When browsing thrift stores or yard sales, it’s easy to overlook the stacks of picture frames filled with old photos, artwork, or stitchery. Even an old window frame that I've featured here. But if you take a little extra time to look through frames of all kinds, you’ll often find hidden gems. Most people search for frames that fit a specific photo—but there’s so much more to consider. Here are a few things to look for (and creative ways to use them): 1. Look Beyond the Frame Itself. Check the glass: Sometimes the real value is in the glass, not the frame. You might find: Scratch-free replacements Higher-quality glass Non-glare options Buying a second-hand frame with good glass can be a simple and affordable way to upgrade an existing one. 2. Don’t worry about the colour: Love the shape but not the finish? That’s an easy fix. A quick update can completely transform a frame to suit your décor. Paint it Distress it for a vintage look Decoupage it with decorative paper 3. Don’t pass up good matting: Matting can instantly elevate a photo and give it a more professional look. Even if you don’t need the frame, the mat alone can be worth it. 4. Update matting creatively: If you don’t love the mat: Paint it Cover it with fabric Use wallpaper or scrapbook paper for a unique touch 5. Think Outside the Frame Frames aren’t just for photos. With a little creativity, they can become something entirely new: Add wire or string across the back to hang jewelry, photos, or notes Use a frame to highlight a mirror Frame a light switch or small wall feature for a decorative touch Create a mini bulletin board using fabric or cork backing Turn multiple frames into a gallery wall display 6. Check Before You Buy Before bringing a frame home, take a quick look: Are there cracks—and can they be repaired? Does it include hooks or hanging wire? If it’s a standing frame, does it sit properly? A quick check can save you time and frustration later. I'd love to know: have you found any truly interesting frames while thrifting? What did you create with them afterwards? For more thrifting and upcycling tips as well as Before & After transformations, follow along @furnitureat151 -Bev

Last year, I published a book on how to upcycle vintage furniture and home decor pieces, compiling everything I've learned - and what works really well - when it comes to this process. It felt incredibly good pulling all my years of expertise together and collecting it all in one place. So when those new to the practice of thrifting and upcycling want to begin, I have just the resource for them. If you've been thinking about it, this is your place to start! This journey of growing my business, Furniture at 151 has taught me so many valuable lessons. If your gut is telling you a piece of vintage furniture can be saved, it's almost always worth the effort to restore it so its story can live on for decades to come. Trust your vision. Even if it feels a bit 'out there', take the leap anyway. Sometimes getting swept away in the creative zone is the best medicine. With over a decade's worth of restored dressers, tables, night stands, cabinets, home decor pieces and more, the art of reimagining and recreating vintage items is what I know and love. But here I am with a published book on the subject and accomplishing this new goal has taught me even more. I love telling the story around each item, I enjoy the history and the craftsmanship and connecting with previous owners of each piece as well. I am always thrilled to chat with other upcyclers to hear all about what they're working on and what they're big vision is. It feels really good to offer this kind of support, in the form of my how-to guide, to other creatives like me. I've just experienced my very first author signing at the Indigo store in Guelph, Ontario, and that day brought everything full circle. I was joined by my husband, Len, who also recently published his own book, and getting to share this new chapter with him has been the most meaningful. From my early days of upcycling and envisioning what my business could be, to now having my book here, guiding others, grateful is an understatement. I have a lineup of other upcoming author signings in various locations around southern Ontario and I would love to connect with you and sign your own copy for you, if you're in the area. Come say hi! There are many reasons to upcycle and bring unique, previously-loved pieces back to life and I, of course, have mine. Whatever yours are, I wish you all the creative flow and enjoyment in the process, because there's nothing quite like giving new life to something beautiful, that still has a story to tell. -Bev Purchase a copy of How to Upcycle Vintage Furniture: A Beginner's Guide to DIYing and Upcycling Furniture and Home Decor here!

You know that feeling when your eyes land on something old, tired, but rich in history and possibility? It could be a dresser, a photo frame, a piece of clothing or something unique you found at the local thrift store. Whatever it is, you feel drawn to restoring life and style back into it, returning it to its former glory, or better. Whether you love thrift stores, or garage sales, or browsing online second-hand shops or auctions - I've created an upcycling starter guide to help you begin your journey of restoring the old into the new. For me, I love repurposing furniture and home decor pieces, taking vintage, antique or plain old tired items and transforming them into something beautiful, practical and, of course, useable once more. The creative process behind this kind of transformation is everything. Today, I'm going to share a behind the scenes look at what works best for me, advice that has helped me turn my love of upcycling into a profitable business. To begin, if you haven't heard of the term upcycling, it is the act of reusing and repurposing something old, something that looks worn out, or something that is outdated, and turning it into something lovely, appealing and useable again. How is this done? Here is my go-to list for getting started in a way that feels fun, doable and your most creative! 1. Start Small. There is no need to begin on a large dresser that needs hours and hours of work. Instead, start small, choosing a simple, inexpensive item you can practice on. A picture frame or an interesting vase are good options for your starter pieces. You can use techniques like sanding, painting or adding stencilled graphics to bring these pieces back to life. 2. Look For Good Bones. It's important to choose pieces that are of good quality, are not broken (unless you know an easy way to fix them) and can withstand time and the amount of repurposing you're going to do to them. For me, I always choose dressers that are well-made and in good shape in terms of their 'bones' as I am all about restoring the exterior look and not the physical structure. Keep this in mind as you browse. Choose items that will last for years to come without extensive work on your part. 3. See Beyond the Obvious. That being said, it's key to look beyond an exterior that looks worn out, outdated, or just plan ugly, to the vision of what it could be. It's amazing what a new coat of paint or a completely different colour will do to a piece! You've got to look for the potential in a piece and a little imagination goes a long way! I recommend doing research beforehand to get ideas before you shop. Sometimes if you know you're looking for a mirror that you're going to turn into a coffee table, your search will go so much smoother. 4. Consider the Piece’s Purpose. It's fun to collect interesting things but a savvy upcycler is aware of the purpose of each piece they find. You can ask yourself: Is this decor? Does it have a use? Where would you or your buyer place this in their space? Again, look beyond the piece itself to what it will become after you've repurposed it. 5. Determine the Look You’re Going For It is helpful to consider what style or look you are trying to achieve as you begin thrifting. Is your style more bohemian or more minimalist? Are you more into eclectic vintage finds or practical pieces? When you're aware of your style, you can narrow down your search, while also remembering, you often find the most interesting things in unexpected places! Researching your look beforehand can also give you some great ideas. 6. Search For Bargains. There are a lot of people getting rid of items they no longer want and a lot of thrift stores with amazing deals. Looking for bargains will help you stick to a budget. With upcycling, you're investing time, energy and materials needed for restoring the piece, so you want to account for that when taking on a project and when purchasing an item. 7. Be Brave! Lastly, take the risk! Be brave with your upcycling ventures. Know that most items can be changed, fixed or redone if you don't like the look you created. It truly is about fun, experimentation and saving pieces from the landfill. So be easy on yourself, dive in and let that creativity flow! Saving a piece from the waste, reimagining it into something beautiful once more and renewing its purpose, brings us so much joy. It's a rewarding process that may just be calling your name too and if you're drawn to interesting old things, like me, why not take the leap? If you have any questions about my favourite stores, material or paints I use in the upcycling process, don't hesitate to reach out! Happy thrifting, - Bev, Furniture at 151

- Solid, handmade cabinet, with three permanent shelves, and two glass doors. - This vintage cabinet, in a rustic style, is showing some wear and bumps,-- giving it lots of character - The Inside of the cabinet and the three shelves have been upcycled in a blue-gray colour (Blue Pine from Fusion Mineral paint) and the exterior in a dark charcoal (Ash from Fusion) - Good for storage or to display items – you could have it on your mancave, cabin, or on the porch. It is not overly large so it will fit in many spaces. Measurements: H 49.5", L32", D 13" $195. Pick up in Kitchener

With fall right around the corner, we're sharing tips on how to get organized in your home - so you can feel your best this new season. From the type of decor you choose, to the organizational methods you have in place (i.e. making to-do lists or meal-prepping), it all begins with looking around your living space. Getting organized starts with noticing what you use on the regular and what just sits there, kind of...forgotten, but definitely taking up space. It's about noticing what brings you joy and what really doesn't anymore. The first step is purging. We recommend going through each room and creating a box full of items that you no longer use or no longer feel joyful towards. The more you donate these items to local foundations or those in need, the lighter you'll feel, trust me. Your whole space will change as a result. Out with the old, in with the upcycled, I like to say. Next, comes the declutter game. Now that you've established what is going and what is staying, it's time to make things neat and tidy. This is where the right kind of functional home decor pieces come in. Items like upcycled crates, wall racks, trays and jars are not only gorgeous, fun and trendy, they act as ways to keep areas of your home clutter-free. A crate instantly becomes a place to store all those shoes piled at the front door, or a place for gloves, umbrellas and anything else that gets left behind in the front entranceway. Wall racks become an easy way to hang a jacket, sweater or scarf so that they don't end up tossed on the nearest surface. And trays are an excellent way to display toiletries in your bathroom or tidy up your coffee table. After that, it's all about making habits that count. Routines and healthy habits can help your mind feel organized just as much as your space. You can use vintage chalkboards in your kitchen to list out the menu for the week, the after-school activities, the appointments, reminders or even positive affirmations. Hanging up your clothes in your closet will also become a habit you'll love with labeled hangers that make you feel excited about opening those doors and choosing outfits each day. The summer is always a busy time and there is no better feeling than getting things organized in your home for a new approaching season. What's even better - we have all of the items mentioned above for sale in our shop to make it as easy as possible to say goodbye to clutter and hello to a stunning home and relaxing peace of mind. Your home is your haven, the place you spend the most time, the place filled with countless memories, so why not turn it into a space you absolutely love? For more tips and advice on home organization as well as furniture and decor pieces to help you achieve this, checkout our social media pages. And don't forget to browse our shop for the items that speak the most to you! Happy organizing! - Bev, Furniture at 151