This is my dumpster dive find ... the flower photography on top is a gift from my Dad, who is a talented nature photographer
Outside of my apartment building, there is a free-for-all area where the contents of entire apartments get dumped when people move. I don’t know why, but it seems like they literally just empty the entire apartment and dump everything out back. On Wednesdays or Thursdays, it all gets picked up when the city collectors arrive. Until then, it’s Open Season on rummaging.
Since it’s the beginning of a new month, last night there were two apartments worth of stuff out back. I braved the crowd of other rummaging residents and scored this wicked little crescent table. I really don’t have a spot for it per se, BUT I’m going to practice my furniture distressing skills on this piece before I attack my dresser. I bet that when I’m finished, I could sell it for $30 or so. That’s how much you’d pay for it in Wal-Mart, but instead it’s custom painted and made of real wood.
I recently found this blog called Centsational Girl, and I’m in LOVE. I’d been searching for a word that describes my style and the things that I like, and through Centsational Girl I realized that my style is Shabby Chic. It’s perfect for me because it’s recycled elegance … I can dumpster dive from behind my apartment, do an hour of finishing, and have a beautiful original piece. I’ve been looking into this decorating style, and half the fun is scoring all these funky pieces from flea markets, and refinishing them to make them your own. Cheap, custom, and timeless. Beautiful!
In apartment related news, I’ve decided I probably don’t want to paint, except MAYBE two walls in my kitchen a pale sage green. I’ve grown kind of partial to the paint colour in my unit, an almost-peachy neutral, which is really warm in the mornings and kind of neutral at night. It would cost about $50+ per room to paint (I have no supplies of my own, I’d have to buy rollers and trays), and even though it’s illegal to ask someone to pay a fine to repaint the walls after you leave, I know it’s common practice for many large apartment corporations, and I really don’t want the headache of knowing that they’ll go after me when I leave. Maybe I’ll change my mind in a couple of months, but for now, it’s not worth the stress, either now to paint, or when I move to fight the property management. For now … I can hardly wait to show you the photos from the dining room, in a month when I can afford a centrepiece of pink and white hydrangeas, it’s going to be a stunner!
I have also had some ideas for businesses that I want to start in a couple of years. I’m enjoying my job at present and it’s a great way to build some capital, while using my evenings and weekends to work on projects that will develop the skills I’ll need. But I am already plotting some ideas … I’m throwing around the idea of a Euro-sabbatical, going over for a year or more to live. It’s going to be entirely dependent on my work situation, my romantic situation, etc., but I don’t want to wait TOO long to go on a big adventure. Life’s too short … but at the same time, I could really use the stability for a couple of years.
So here’s the plan:
-Work for and live in Toronto for a minimum of two more years, pay off my car, build my investments and cash supply as much as I can, have as many adventures as I can
-Travel as much as possible in the interim – try and take a three week trip to somewhere, like Tanzania for Kilimanjaro, or Machu Picchu.
-Go on Euro-adventure for a year; live in France, England or Ireland, continuing to work in some capacity. Either put all furniture into storage, or sell it (don’t worry Mom, I would DEFINITELY store your beautiful kitchenette set and whatever bed frame I end up buying). Find a way to store my car, or sell it.
-Come back and start my own business
The thought of selling/storing all this stuff that I’m working on accumulating is making me feel a little nauseous, but at the same time, life is meant for having adventures, and I don’t want to NOT go on an international adventure simply because I have “stuff” holding me back. So even as I acquire all these beautiful things, I’m doing my best to put myself in a mindset of detachment, ready to let go of it all if necessary. I should be grateful that I have the opportunity to have such lovely items, before they get donated/given away/sold to someone else who will appreciate their beauty.
After all, all I need is a really solid dumpster dive when I get back, and I’m back in the game.
I did exactly what you’re aiming to do … sold some stuff, put some stuff in storage, and went on an international adventure for 2 years. The experience is so, so, so, so worth it. The hassles of selling/storing your items will seem trifling in comparison … 10 years down the road (heck, 10 days down the road!) you won’t even remember those hassles anymore.
Also, I love finding the stuff people leave behind when they move out! I got two great couches and an awesome shelving rack this way.
Hi Paula, WOW! I’m so glad to hear that. The thought of doing that right now is scary and stressful and it makes me want to live like a monk for the next two years, but that’s not living either. The only thing constant is change, I guess!
Be careful dumpster diving. You never know. Some of that stuff might be sitting on the curb because it’s infested with bedbugs…eeekk! I’ve had bedbug scares in my building before and believe me, they are NOT fun.
DO NOT TAKE STUFF FROM THE DUMPSTERS BEHIND YOUR BUILDING!!!!
OK, panicky voice over, but seriously don’t do it ever, ever, ever again! Haha. The bedbug problem in the city is still totally out of control and those fuckers are crafty and this is exactly how it spreads. I would also strongly caution against getting anything (especially something made of fabric) from Craigslist or at the Good Will. Maybe I’m paranoid, but the few bucks I’d save is so not worth the nightmare that would come from getting bedbugs (and I do LOVE dumpster diving…haha).
If you really want a good deal on free stuff, it might be worth your time to drive out to the suburbs outside of the city and check out that stuff. In the summer, they have rotating Salvage Weeks, where people put all their big stuff out on the front lawn for a week, and people can pick and choose, and then at the end of the week the city picks it up. Goes all summer. There’s also the Re-Use Centre in Burlington, which is great. Just don’t take free stuff in the city!
Lol, my fault, I should have clarified my rules for dumpster diving:
a) never actually take things from dumpsters. If it’s beside a dumpster (like it is by my building) and at least 15 feet away, it’s good.
b) never take anything with fabric, including couches, beds, cushions, etc.
c) never EVER take anything bed related
d) only take things that are solid wood or plastic.
Don’t worry, I would never be gross…I called it dumpster diving because it is essentially picking through other people’s trash, but there are no actual dumpsters involved.
Hahaha. OK, fair enough! Though I’d still be totally wary of ANYTHING that’s been discarded in this city, period. But I live in an area with a lot of high rises, so bed bugs are a problem, and I’m paranoid.
But if I was in the suburbs and I saw ANYTHING that looked awesome next to someone’s trash can…yeah, I’d take it. Haha.
Oh, but an FYI: Bedbugs can live in wooden and plastic things. And they can live for up to 18 months without drinking anyone’s blood and…oh man, I’m getting itchy just typing this.
Yikes!!! Okay, I will be re-examining the table tonight, and if there is even the smallest hint of cracks and bugs, out it goes. I may actually dunk it in my bathtub and drown the suckers. I don’t want to give it up!!!
I’m in a high rise area too … my building has very few reports of bed bugs, but even just one or two make me nervous!!!
I know if people are moving they will often leave tons of stuff because it’s not worth packing and taking it with them. It’s nice that there is a designated area so you don’t have to actually pick through the dumpster.
whew. I thought you were really DUMPSTER diving for FOOD (I’ve read that on other blogs before.)
Although garbage picking is much more acceptable and safer in my mind. My Dad does it all the time. He finds broken electronics and takes it for parts or to fix, Good find!