First there was a fortunate event. We found a giant piece of art in a pretty wood frame selling for $20 at a yard sale in our neighborhood. And when I say giant, I mean giant. It’s over 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. The only issue with it was there was a small dent in the frame, which is totally not a big deal for us, so we went for it.
John wasn’t really a huge fan of the painting itself, but we figured you couldn’t even get a canvas this big and build a wood frame around it for $20, so it was a good deal if only for the “base” that it gave us (we could always paint over the artwork or place a large print over it, etc). And in the meantime, while we figured out what we wanted to frame/paint on top, I thought I would just lean it up on the back of the buffet to see how the scale looked since we were thinking about hanging it there. But before I could say crapIshouldbemorecareful I had somehow managed to knock the glass based lamp off the left side of the buffet while leaning the hulking new piece of art there.
Thank goodness Clara was sitting in her yellow highchair at the dining table eating (no worries about her bare feet and the glass) but we were having a random power outage (it only lasted about an hour) so that meant I had to sweep and sweep and sweep until I was sure all the glass was gone since I couldn’t vacuum that corner just to be sure until the power came back on. So that’s two unfortunate events going on (broken lamp + power outage). Not the end of the world, but… #Bummers.
Bet you didn’t see this coming…
Seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up. The picture that had been leaning just fine against the wall for about thirty minutes while I cleaned up the broken lamp suddenly shifted, sending the other lamp flying over the edge along with the art itself, our bowl of postcards, and my little resin pineapple.
But somewhat miraculously, the cord for the lamp was juuuust short enough to keep it from shattering everywhere. #Luckylittlelamp
As you can see from the picture above the last one, a few small pineapple points broke off in the fall, but thankfully it’s not noticeable. And the art (which doesn’t have a glass pane, just a wood frame around the perimeter) and the ceramic bowl full of postcards weren’t harmed in the fall. Whew. #CanThingsPleaseStopJumpingOffThisBuffet?
Around this time John came home from an errand he was running so I got to tell him about all the chaos he had missed. Thankfully the power was back on at this point so I vacuumed the corner while John used a heavy duty anchor to hang our jumpy little painting once and for all. Seemed like the only surefire way to get him under control (the painting, not John).
Then I let out more than a few sighs of relief. It’s not necessarily art we would have picked out in a store for $300, but for $20 from a yard sale it definitely works for now. And we’d love to use it as a backdrop for a print that’s more our speed someday – or even paint over it to see if we can whip up something more “us” eventually. Until then, I’m just happy he’s staying. on. the. friggin. wall.
So perhaps I jinxed that poor glass lamp when I mentioned that we had him for over five years in this post (they were actually from our wedding registry) but somebody was looking out for his twin brother.
Thankfully all of the items on the buffet are just there on a “for now” basis, since we’re just working with things we already have. But someday I’d love to upgrade to two matching lamps that feel a little more special (maybe with sculptural bases like the artichoke ones in the bedroom, or a fun bold colored shade). You know we’ll keep you posted!
I still kind of can’t believe that the frame somehow jumped over the faux coral and the ceramic leaf dish and only managed to topple the bowl and the lamp (neither of which broke). Maybe there were some fortunate events worked in there with the unfortunate ones.
And for anyone wondering where Clara was while I shot the after pics, I’ll give you a hint:
Yup, the girl likes to run through my shots. Sometimes while holding “her” iPad. Kids!
Any fortunate or unfortunate events going on at your house? Did you see the third unfortunate event coming after I shared those first two? I didn’t. That’s for sure. Scared the bejeesus out of me. Although I gotta admit Clara was some good comic relief. She totally shouted “oh no, it fall down!” from her high chair. And then she went on to mutter something about “the picture fell down and hurt the head.” Pretty cute…
Cheryl Thornton says
so sorry your lamp got broken…but I love the art – its calming and beautiful and shouldn’t be painted over…
Amber says
I agree with Sandy about the vinyl and the paint, but in the reverse. I love that painting and wish I could have it, I’ve been looking for something with the sea in that size, to no avail. So, I think you should reverse Sandy’s idea so that you end up with a quote in white letters over the painted scene. Just my two cents. : )
YoungHouseLove says
Another fun idea!
xo,
s
robin @ our semi organic life says
On a better note than most of these stories… I once dropped a slippery, wet, heavy, ceramic crock pot dish (the inside part of a crock pot) on a tile floor from about 4′ up. And it survived!
Carli says
Yikes! Sometimes when it rains it poors hey? Thankfully everything is sorted out and things can officially stop falling off that buffet now! PS. I just LOVE the buffet. The way you have it decorated and how the colours tie in with your punchy, yellow front door. So cheery. It’s like your whole home smiles. And on that note, I just have to say, your home decor and design style constantly serve as inspiration for me to really move into my home, and to make it smile right back at me. When I think of homey and cozy, I think of how you two have made this house a home that is exactly you. Thanks for the continued inspiration. Much appreciated!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Carli! You’re so sweet!
xo,
s
ruthy says
I had just bought some pretty jars from world market to store things in my kitchen. One of the jars I filled with 2 pounds of ground coffee I had just grounded–I’ve developed carpel tunnel in my pregnancy, and the next day I dropped the jar with all my freshly ground coffee, and of course half of it spilled behind the fridge. argh.
YoungHouseLove says
Argh!!
xo,
s
S @ keepitneat says
I actually REALLY like the new painting! It does make that side of the room seem more floatier/dream-like with the new buffet vs. the intense color and contrast on the other side with the built-ins, but I do think a bolder lamp and/or shade could help balance that out. I vote for keeping the pic, it’s a nice change of pace and adds a soothing element to the entryway!
Kyle says
Did I miss something… When/why did you put the slipcovers back on the chairs? Did the spray painting not work out long term? Update please!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes the spray paint is just fine! I’m just lazy. I put the covers on the chairs for Clara’s party since we brought them outside (toddlers + cupcakes = slipcovers, please!). Just haven’t taken them off or washed them yet! Lazy I tell ya. That was May!
xo,
s
Monica says
Sorry about your lamp. That is just crazy how the art managed to jump off the buffet. I actually really like the art in the frame. I think the colors look great with your room and since you like to vacation at the beach, I think you should keep it. :)
Anne says
What a bummer! But if it means anything, I kind of like it better with one lamp now.
Is this the first wedding registry item to get broken? I was so bummed when one of our pot lids broke, it was all in slow motion too!
YoungHouseLove says
I think so, well other than a plate or two. Wait, our vacuum cleaner bit the dust too, but I guess this is something that shattered so it’s more dramatic. Haha.
xo,
s
Erica says
I had what could be an unfortunate event in any other circumstance last night. We have these terrible kitchen cabinets that have only been painted once since the house was built in 1952. Unfortunately the person who painted them, did it incorrectly. When we bought the house tens years ago I said it had to be fixed. Ten years later, I have decided the only way I will get to it is if I piece it out so I am doing one cabinet at a time as I have it. Little did I know how much work it was going to take. I have to scrap every last bit of paint they put incorrectly on the cabinets. My best guess is they put latex over oil base without sanding and no primer, quite possibly only one coat. Since I have already made this short story long, I will get to my fortunate event. Last night I was pulling the painters tape off and when I pulled it off the decorative piece that connects the two cabinets over my window it pulled some of that nasty paint off. A little less paint scraping for me. Needless to say I coated that whole section with painters tape and (fingers crossed) just possibly maybe it will pull the rest of that paint off. Can’t wait to find out tonight.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that would be awesome! Here’s hoping!
xo,
s
Daniel says
Yes, we have a yellow glass lamp very similar to yours. We had 2 matching ones but our son knocked one off of the end table onto the ground. Somehow the glass did not break but the lampshade did. Right now we are trying to superglue and repair it.
Stacey says
Within the first three days of moving into our first house I broke one of four beautiful water glasses, the soap dish at the bath, and caused my brand-spanking-new vacuum cleaner to smoke! But I was happy I managed to get all three mishaps out of the way in a short space of time. Your three unfortunate events seemed to happen in an exceptionally short space of time! I think the antique buffet may be protesting – scary stuff!
Once again, THANK YOU for all the inspiration. I DIYed 8 miniature pictures for our kitchen this weekend for a bright, fun little focal point and channeled your framed hallway the whole time!
Ashley says
Hmmm…was that small dent foreshadowing?
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously! I think the art is klutzy.
xo,
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
A couple of weeks ago I was trying to push the back of a frame out (from the front side so I was also pushing on the glass) so that I could fill it. Unfortunately, I didn’t pry those little things up enough and the glass just buckled in half. Then last week I dropped our glass pepper grinder and it shattered on the floor – so there were pepper kernels and glass all over the place.
Sherry, we also hung a huge piece of art/print over our bed – it is over 4.5 feet by 3 feet – I’m still hoping it doesn’t fall on our heads at night.
http://29ruehouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/empire-state-of-mind.html
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome! I hope it never falls!
xo,
s
cappy says
watch her with that IPAD!!! Our unfortunate event was a few days ago when our 3 y/o had our ipad and it dropped on the floor (two feet away) shattering the glass face!!!! The Ipad still works but is useless since the glass shattered into a thousand little pieces (not good for finger swiping!) Now we are looking for a third party company to replace just the glass but that means apple will not warrenty it with a third party involvement. And apple does not replace the glass-they will give you a refurnished one for replacement for twice the money of the third party (around $200+). Just a little heads up on that one. Usually we are so careful with her holding the ipad, we just got pretty busy doing a house project when the accident happen.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! We have an OtterBox cover (the same one we have on our cell phones) so it thankfully is pretty tough, but I’m sure she could kill it somehow! Haha. We definitely keep an eye out and encourage being gentle!
xo,
s
ShellyP says
Ouch!!!
I like the art work; the scale is about right for both the buffet and the room (larger still would be ops). I hope you save the light kit and shade from the broken lamp (now in lamp heaven with several of my mid-century lamps that came to a similar demise as your wedding registry lamp).
One thought I had was to purchase a large glass demijohn bottle at Home Goods (similar to the green vase you have in your hallway but larger) and use the lamp kit to turn the demijohn into a lamp (no drilling of holes necessary). Find a large shade and cover it with an interesting fabric. The scale of a large lamp and assymetry (spelling) might be a nice change up from the smaller scale stuff that is happening. That particular room would benefit from large scale/proportion choices because of the large space, large table, large window, expansive floor space.
Great $20 score on that art work!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I totally saved the shade and the light kit! I want to drop it into a vase or something to make a new lamp!
xo,
s
emily says
I know you said you’re going to replace the single lamp with two matching ones, but I sort of like the asymmetry of just having one lamp and the yellow urn. It gives the buffet some visual interest. Hope you can find a happy (and safe!) home for the remaining lamp! And glad that the coral was spared!
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of people are saying that actually! I’m sure we’ll live with it a while and just see where we end up! Definitely don’t hate it for now, though!
xo,
s
Donna says
Hmmmmm. Even as we speak I have a large picture on a table with a linen cloth, a large ceramic lamp that I got from my sister, and a really cool white ceramic shell. The picture is leaning up against the wall, waiting to be hung over the table. But, if one of the animals gets to it first, and pulls on that cloth…I think I’ll call my husband and have him put the picture back on the floor for now.
P.S. I like the one lamp, too, only I also do not wish the other had been broken. :(
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
Man talk about a domino effect! Glad no humans or animals were hurt in the furniture “rearranging” process!
Amanda says
Yikes! That would make me stick to plastic-ware for the rest of the day.
This is going to sound weird, but I actually like how it looks more with only one lamp. (Not that I would wish harm to a very nice lamp, though. Poor lamp, rest in pieces.)
Glad that nobody was hurt!
Steph says
I actually like that painting above the buffet a lot! You should consider painting the frame the dark blue from the bookcases across the room, I bet it would look awesome! :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun idea too!
xo,
s
Rotem says
Haha, you should have a “Where’s Waldo” or actually “Where’s Clara” post, with a bunch of pictures like the last one :))
She is so cute, and its awesome to see how comfortable she is with her parents running around the house with a camera in their hand half the time :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s a fun idea! She and Burger are always photo bombing us!
xo,
s
Sara says
I love the buffet with that art! Please don’t paint over it. Maybe you can fix the dented frame with some wood putty and paint/stain?
I had a series of unfortunate events 2 weeks ago: I had repainted a section of wall and left the paint can at the top of the basement steps as a reminder to take it back downstairs. My husband was taking his huge hockey equipment bag downstairs (at my request), didn’t see the paint can, kicked it and it opened as it rolled down the stairs splattering everything in its path with paint. While I was frantically cleaning paint off the wooden stairs and painted walls (luckily the same color and it all came off the stairs- phew!), my husband realized he couldn’t find his wedding ring which he had left on the kitchen table. I had just cleared the table and it was garbage night. Cut to me in paint covered pajamas and hair going through all our week-old garbage and recycling and searching the sidewalk outside our house and under our neighbors cars for the lost wedding ring. AND if you can believe it, our 1 yr old daughter had pooped on the carpet earlier in the evening. disaster night. Luckily, we found the wedding ring and the poop and paint cleaned up without a trace…
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man! That sounds like a hard night! So glad it all worked out!
xo,
s
Starr @ The Kiefer Cottage says
Sorry for the lamp fiasco–when it rains, it pours with disaster, at least in our house.
Nancy says
Now you can guess why it has a chip
in it’s frame. It has a history of
trying to escape! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously!!
xo,
s
Erin says
Ahhh! You are making me want to hang all my leaning pictures in my house. We have a few, and luckily nothing so far, but I’m sure it is only a matter of time.
janelle says
I’ve been searching for some art to do this project: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/08/song-lyric-wall-art-diy-project.html
Maybe you’ve seen it floating around pinterest… It seems like a great idea to spruce up some art you’re not totally in love with!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo,
s
Tamara says
that’s awesome!
Marissa@ohhhsolovely says
the whole buffet area is coming out so nicely! i love it when i get a good buy on something & don’t have to buy new!
Jes says
Someone in my apartment building got bedbugs, so now we’re all being treated. I have laundered, or at least hot dried, every piece of clothing, bedding, pillow, curtain, pot holder, and place mat I own. To keep the bugs out they’re all in 10 and 20 gallon ziplock bags and have to stay there through the treatments, so I’m living out of bags for weeks. It’s like moving without going anywhere. And the bags are taking up most of the floor space.
And then my sewing machine jammed, gave me an error message, and could not be fixed with rebooting or waiting it out. I even took my quilt project out of a ziplock to work on it because I couldn’t take waiting anymore.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks in my apartment. Some things have been ruined, but nothing as sentimental as your lamp. That’s such a bummer.
This doesn’t seem to be the care free, vacation minded summer some would have us believe it should be.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man! John totally feels your pain (his apartment got bedbugs back when we lived in NY and it was the worst). Hope things turn around soon!
xo,
s
mary says
Maybe aftershocks from the recent small-ish earthquake? Really, there was one early Tuesday morning…or is Louisa County too far away?
YoungHouseLove says
Didn’t even know that!? How did I miss that.
xo,
s
Zoë says
Hmm, I might be too emotionally invested in the goings-on at your house – I totally just did the hand-over-open-mouth thing while sitting at my desk when I saw the second lamp overboard shot. There may have been an inaudible gasp in there too. I don’t think anyone noticed though.
As for disasters at home, we are currently in the process of getting our house ready to put on the market, and while cleaning up my son’s room yesterday, I discovered a rather large hole in the wall left behind by our builders when we had our bathroom renovated a couple of months ago now. It should be an easy fix for them, but I’m glad we discovered it now, rather than on a home inspection/walk-through ahead of a potential sale.
Trish says
holy crap on a stick, what the heck kind of day was that? Glad everyone was OK, but sorry about the lamp – love those! Best of luck for a better day.
Trish
http://www.mash-upchic.blogspot.com
PS – woodfiller on that frame with a paint job will be good to go!
Jordan says
AW! I am sorry to hear about the loss :(
However, I love the art in that frame! From the pictures, it pairs really nicely with your wall color and the buffet color!
Julie B says
But the dent looks like a YHL heart!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahahahahahhaahah!
xo,
s
Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says
Oh no! Not your glass bottomed lamp…I loved that pairing on there. Well at least you have your health right?
My best, Lynn
Lindsey says
Is there a chance that this is a….haunted buffet?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it’s possible! Or a klutzy piece of art!
xo,
s
Laura says
I’m glad that nothing else broke! I wanted to let you know that your blog (and Burger) inspired me to adopt a 6 year old chihuahua yesterday from the Humane League. She was found with over 200 other chihuahuas in a home in Harrisburg. She is the sweetest baby girl in the world. Isn’t it great that you are inspiring people beyond DYI and decor? Thank you YHL and Mr. Burger :)
https://www.facebook.com/#!/humaneleague – She is the beautiful brindle :) I hope this brightens your day!!
YoungHouseLove says
Awwwwww Burger is so pleased! Us too! Hope she is the best little pooch ever!
xo,
s
Tamara says
This ENTIRE scenario would totally happen at my house. The only difference being that everything that could break would!
Regarding the art, here’s a thought. I once bought a $5 thrift-store folk/childish painting of a sailboat in water. The painting alone was nothing remarkable. However, I took a black sharpie and hand-printed/scrawled lyrics to various sailing/sea/ocean songs right over the top of the entire painting. I sold it for $50 in our shop. It strikes me as just the sort of funky/personal detail y’all might like. Maybe write down the names of beaches you’ve visited together? Kind of like your jars of sand, etc. from your trips?
You can always paint over the whole thing at a later date, but for the short-term, it would be a fun conversation piece.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun idea too! You guys are the best!
xo,
s
Mary says
my two year old loves “her” ipad too!
Casey says
This is cracking me up right now because—Sunday night, 3am, in our bedroom, a frame literally just fell off the wall over the dresser. Scared.the.crap. out of us. It was about 40″x18″, and the frame broke apart at all four corners, but the art and glass fell straight down between the dresser and the wall and were completely unharmed. Also, somehow the dresser AND the tv sitting on it were both completely unharmed/unscratched. I just dropped the frame off to be repaired at a local gallery (only $10!) and came back to read this. Weird things happening lately… artwork getting all crazy!
Other fortunate event—no kids woke up even though it was INSANELY loud. Unfortunate event—my husband and I were both too rattled to fall back asleep for a LONG time!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man! We had a smoke detector go off in the middle of the night (no fire, just a low battery) and it scared us half to death! Clara miraculously slept through it but Burger cowered in the corner. Poor guy!
xo,
s
Mary says
and it is amazing how well she can work it! (her ipad,I mean)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! She can zoom, scroll, turn on a video, lower the volume, it’s amazing!!
xo,
s
Cori says
Wow, you need to keep an eye on that picture…clearly, the previous owner had a similar problem with it, as evidenced by the dent in the frame. He’s a jumpy little bugger!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, totally!
xo,
s
Rachel says
I’m sorry the lamp broke, but I actually really like the asymmetrical balance going on now – it kind of feels like someone walking in the front door would be welcomed in (the shorter yellow canister on the left and the taller lamp on the right) instead of having a big lamp block their view. Maybe it sounds crazy, but since it’s less “matchy-matchy,” it feels like it fits your style more (with a somewhat traditional buffet, the more untraditional setup on top feels right). I guess I’m looking for the bright side here – as Bob Ross says, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” :)
Constance says
I actually totally love that paiting (now)! I, like you, wouldn’t have thought so first looking at it, but once it was hung on the wall with your well-accessorized buffet it totally transformed it. You just never can tell. Good find!
And yes to unfortuante accidents. We just moved and while unwrapping, managed to break not one, but two sentimental china pieces. I would normally say, “ah well, something breaks in every move”, but we don’t even have that many sentimental pieces to begin with. I would have settled for some every day dishes breaks instead. That’s totally the way it goes :)
Koliti says
The grey hound & the goose are two perfectly good eye-witnesses, but they ain’t talking.
Did Clara catch a picture of it on her iPad?
Where was Burger? Sleeping on the job?
Super glad there were no injuries with the broken glass.
I do enjoy the “long-view” shots of the room with the buffet – gives a broader look at how everything plays with each other. In your original post, I think the buffet was hogging all the shots.
Hey, so maybe the buffet doesn’t want to share the spot light….hmmmmm
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, seriously! Everyone was sitting around while it happened. Except for Burger who was totally sleeping on the job!
xo,
s
Karyn says
You guys seriously have the best yardsale finds!
When my husband and I lived in our first house we used a bakers rack for our china (we had no kids at the time, so we thought it was okay.) One night my husband tripped and fell into it (surprisingly he wasn’t drunk) and dishes came crashing down. He only broke 2 luckily. But for some reason he decided to replay his fall, thus knocking down 2 more dishes which sadly broke our wedding toasting flutes on their way down. Needless to say, he slept on the patio that night :)
Trissi V. says
My mother always says, “Good or bad, things ALWAYS happen in three’s”. Seems to ring true more times than not.
Katie says
So sorry about your lamp! On a site note, did you hear about the lady in North Carolina who bought a huge canvas at Goodwill for $9.99 – with the intentions of painting over it because she thought it was ugly – only to find out it was valued at $15,000 – $20,000 ?!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome! I love that story!
xo,
s
Wendy Woodall says
Maybe that buffet is haunted!
YoungHouseLove says
Totally possible!
xo,
s
Meg says
I agree that the painting is haunted. The dent in the frame tells you that this has happened before. Spooky. Those people must have been so happy to see it go. :)