Young House Love

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Collecting Ceramic Animals

I took home another ceramic animal.

Is there a support group for this? (Hi my name is Sherry and I hoard porcelain mammals)

I totally understand that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea – not even close – but for some reason they’re like catnip to me. I can’t stay away. And I’ve realized that I’m attracted to certain characteristics when it comes to these fake friends of mine. I don’t like them too cutesy and sweet. In fact I usually like them very hard and prickly looking. For example, my beloved rhino is ruff and tough and armed with horns.

Rhino From Zgallerie Cerami

Kind of like my no-nonsense iron bull.

Ceramic Iron Bull White

And my muscular bite-your-face-off ceramic pooch. And my harsh and haunting concrete greyhound (decked out with a bow for Christmas in this pic). Ok, so he’s not ceramic, but he’s close…

Img 9812

And my serious and angular horse bust (there’s nothing my-little-pony about him).

Denhorsedetailshottarget

Sure I have a few cute-ish porcelain pig hooks (gotta get Clara on the ceramic animal bandwagon early)…

Reveal Paint Deck DIY Pig

… and even some sweet ceramic birds. Sidenote: You know that scene in Cinderella where birds fly through her window and try to dress her? In my dream version they’d be ceramic and instead of dressing me they’d land on all available surfaces and live there permanently.

Desk Phase 2 3

But more often than not I fall hopelessly in love with tough- even sinister- objects that make up for their malice with glossy and chic white exteriors. Maybe it’s that balance of rough and smooth or angular and light that I love.

So when I saw this nasty wart-riddled ceramic frog for $1.99 at Goodwill I had to take him home and add a crisp white coating of high gloss spray paint…

Ceramic Frog Before

There, so much more charming! Almost kissable I’d say. How many points do I get for working two random Disney movie references into one post?

Ceramic Frog After Spraypai

Or is it just me who finds glossy white ceramic frog friends to be approachable and endearing?

It’s probably just me.

But the lesson here is that: something you like from Goodwill (not necessarily the color, but the shape) + spray paint = your own personal state of Nirvana. And it doesn’t have to be white paint either. We think a hot pink or a turquoise frog (or even an antique bronze or hammered platinum one) would look quite posh indeed. Just go with whatever color you’re feeling at the moment. Remember our buddy Lumiere who we recently spruced up? Bam, there it is: a third Disney reference.

What have you guys been collecting or spray painting lately? Is there anything in particular that you’re always on the lookout for? Or any specific animal that you’d like to add to your own personal menagerie?

Comments

  3. Elizabeth says

    Not anything ceramic, but I have totally refreshed several household items recently with white spray paint. First, the handles on my side by side white refrigerator…that”s right…those annoying starting to turn yellow some sort of textured plastic handles! Took them off, sprayed them with some Fusion plastic flat white spray paint and BAM!…looks like a brand new fridge.

    I also spray painted my ceiling A/C vents when I took them down to paint my ceiling…painted them with glossy white spray paint and my ceiling now looks white and bright.

    Have several more spray paint projects pending.

    Reply

  5. Liz W. says

    My mom and I both collect all-things owl. I have a 5 month old who wears clothes with owls, plays with owl toys and sleeps in a owl-spotted pack and play during naptime. Hoot hoot!

    Reply

  6. Lindsay says

    Thanks to you, I too have become addicted to white ceramic animals. My collection currently consists of a big snail and some birds, but I am on the lookout for others. In fact it has also crossed over to white ceramic fruit as well. I love the new frog in white!

    Reply

  7. Amanda@The Hand Me Down House says

    I didn’t realize what a collection of porcelain animals you had!! I’ve been searching for my own set of white birds, but I haven’t found them yet. Maybe my fear is coming true; that people will stop getting rid of their “interesting” home decor at Goodwill when they realize what a wonderful job spray paint can do!

    Love your newest addition to the collection — that froggy turned out toad-ally cute! (haha- you guys always appreciate a good pun, right!?!) :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey D,

      Right now he’s living on our green bookcase in the living room along with his friend the rhino (who lives on the shelf below him). Consider them roommates…

      xo,
      s

  9. Mandy says

    This is awesome! I love animal figurines too, but never realy thought to paint them how I see fit. Love the prickliness of the frog, and how some are hardcore with a soft edge in the white :)

    Reply

  11. Sarah says

    Perhaps it’s not the ceramic, rather your love of all things crisp, clean and white?

    Plus, they double as decor and bookends or paper weights – and you love all things multi-functional.

    :)

    Reply

  12. Jill Stigs says

    Love your frog. Love things that are unexpected like this.
    I smile everytime I see my trio of black wooden penguins I paid $2.50 each for at the Target dollar spot.

    Reply

  14. Becky G says

    I love it! I can’t believe you don’t have the quintessential ceramic animal: the cow creamer! I don’t even drink coffee, but he is always out on my kitchen counter. :)

    I have to tell you about a miracle product. It is called Triple Coat, and you can find it with the craft paint at Hobby Lobby or Michaels (AND I found a spray version at WalMart with their spray paint). It is super glossy and makes everything I spray paint look like it was fire glazed. You must check it out!

    Reply

  15. Alexis @ Our Inspired Home says

    I love the little frog! The other day I saw a bronze flying pig at Michael’s and realllllllly wanted to bring it home but decided not to. I think I might go back and get him now.

    I’ve been spray painting everything lately…bookcases, planters, our fireplace…still have a lot more to do though. My hubby likes to joke that nothing in our house is safe anymore.

    Reply

  16. Jill says

    I must admit, I have the same affection for ceramic animals (ie you’re not crazy in my book)! I too also look at everything and say “I can spray paint that white” and now it’s become a running joke with my husband to say that about anything!

    Reply

  17. Michelle says

    Speaking of all these Disney references, I just found out that Beauty and the Beast comes out on DVD October 5th! Just thought I’d share :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Tiffany,

      The rhino is from ZGallerie, the iron bull is from a flea market, the horse head is from Target, the ceramic birds are from a garage sale, the pig hooks are from a local shop called Mongrel, and the concrete greyhound is from a local garden store. Basically, we find them everywhere!

      xo,
      s

  20. Dana Y. says

    I have an addiction to mirrors. Not just mirrors, but ones with beautifully detailed frames. And I spray paint them white. All of them. I’m actually beginning to think I have a problem. I LOVE your collection of less-than-cute ceramic animals, btw.

    Reply

  21. Amy T says

    Oh, I’m on the bandwagon… in fact, we just finished spray-painting two dozen brightly-colored birds a high-gloss white to use in our wedding centerpieces October 10th. So… I may have some additional birdies to send your way if you’d like a(nother) pair :-D

    Reply

  22. Carmel says

    Love the Disney references – strange things happen when you become parents! It’s a “whole new world” – the way you see things isn’t it? I really like your thing for white animals- it’s your signature- embrace it! Mr. Froggy looks great in white!

    Reply

  23. Hayley says

    All this collecting/spray painting the two of you have been doing could be potentially dangerous for my home! With every post I get more and more ideas, I am dying to spray paint something turquoise to pop against all the black furniture we have!

    Reply

  24. Kathy says

    In my grandmother’s house, ceramic figurines (even Precious Moments babies) looked creepy. In your house, they seem to totally belong. Maybe because you have them appropriately designated to their own spaces, and not holed up in a cabinet together like an army, glaring and threatening to break out at night. (Maybe I’ve seen one too many horror movies…)

    Reply

  25. Mallory says

    I just got a owl for 6 dollars and spray painted it white!!!! My obsession is birds!!!!!! My husband might kill me if I bring home one more bird like item!!!! I live your dog! And frog!!! Where did the dog come from?

    Mal <3

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Mallory,

      The ceramic dog in the sunroom was a HomeGoods score for just $29 a few years back! We’ve seen a similar one for a few hundred dollars on a fancy website recently though- the addiction is catching on!

      xo,
      s

  29. Darnetha says

    I am not so much into ceramic animals, but I did have a love affair with wooden giraffes for awhile:)
    Over the summer I used spray paint on a couple of thrift store finds for my daughters room. Spray paint and I have a love hate relationship!

    Reply

  30. Kristen says

    I’m planning to spray paint some new (to me) lamps tonight. I picked them up at Goodwill yesterday and got home only to realize that I was out of spray paint. I think your animals are cute though and I’m always keeping my eye out for a pair of ceramic birds.

    Reply

  32. Kirsten says

    We recently bought our first house and scored a small room upstairs that is now acting as our walk-in closet. We bought to Expedit cube shelves from Ikea to house each of our clothes. I had a shoe cubby that would fit perfectly between the two to give it a look of a built-in closet organizer. But, it was white, dirty, and 8 years old. So, I spray painted it “Hammered Copper” and it looks amazing between the two dark wood pieces. They pop against the cool gray wall.

    Reply

  33. Ki says

    I LOVE your ceramic animals. I really want a ceramic dog and am just waiting for him/her to come into my life at a reasonable price (or even a total bargain? A girl can dream.)

    Reply

  36. Holly says

    Don’t worry Sherry, your not the only one. I also love collecting ceramic animals. I’ve even spray painted a couple to match the decor of my room as well as some candle sticks.

    Reply

  37. Jennifer says

    I’ve been spray painting baskets that aren’t quite the right color, but fit into the opening I need them for. Also have a stack of frames to tackle for a photo wall.

    Reply

  41. Angela says

    I have to admit, Mr. Frog is probably my least favorite ceramic animal but he does look much better spray painted white.

    P.S. You forgot about the ceramic squirrel John got you a couple years back.

    Reply

  44. Sarah Wilson says

    I understand your addiction, but mine is for brass animals. An etsy search will produce about a hundred. I think they are traditionally paper weights, but I love them. They are all so cute. A lot of them are actually trinket boxes or ashtrays.

    Reply

  45. KJH says

    OK, I don’t even know you, but I read your blog daily. Since I’ve started reading your blog, every time I see a little ceramic critter, I think of you, Sherry. And I don’t even know you! Happy criterizing!

    Reply

  47. Amy says

    I like how you incorporate them- they seem to be spread out and not overbearing. My style is much like yours, but my husband likes the great outdoors to be inside- and likes to display it all. Any suggestions about how to incorporate the two?

    For instance, how would you display a hand-carved burl bowl or bow, feathers, a pile of antlers or arrowheads? We just bought our first house and I want to migrate some of my favorite pieces out of his “nature room,” where his entire collection lives, into our main living area. The only thing I have found yet are elongated glass bulbs that you insert feathers into and hang. I’m also going to try out hanging a printers box for items like the arrowheads.

    We don’t have many decorations yet, just old furniture in desperate need of duvets, and a few picture frames. I am planning to hit up good will and get some spray cans going!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Amy,

      We love natural accents like that too! In fact we have manzanita branches, bamboo blinds, and faux antler candlesticks that we love to mix with our white ceramic finds. We’ve learned that as long as there’s balance (some textured wood things layered with white glossy ones) they can look white at home together, so the key is to add a few things from each category to every room so there’s not one thing that looks like the odd man out. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  48. nikki says

    I’ve had my eye on a pair of (black)ceramic horse head book ends from a local thrift store…I want to get them and paint them white and use on our mid-century credenza holding a few favorite books…but so far they haven’t come down in price enough for my taste ($25). So, I’m waiting.

    Reply

  49. Alison says

    Love this post, I used to love all things black but have been noticing my shift toward white. Perhaps due to YHL!

    PS, I found a minor error, the concrete greyhound is decked out with a bow, not a blow. Might want to fix that!

    Reply

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