And… we’re back! With a story from Cara of Casa Cara about how she repurposed most of the items in her living room:

 When I bought this cottage in May ’09, there were 15 or 16 pieces in the house and basement that I’ve kept and used, including a 1930s stick rattan sofa I painted and fitted out with cushions from Restoration Hardware, a Gothic-style cabinet from a church that now supports my  TV, an antique gate leg table that’s my ‘tech center’ (with modem, phone, printer, etc.) — even mirrors and framed Impressionist prints. The rest of the furnishings here I found on the street in Brooklyn or bought for a few dollars at tag sales and thrift shops. I’ve tried to keep my decorating budget as close to zero as possible. The only thing in my living room I spent real money on was a white couch from IKEA.

All images via Casa Cara

Cara’s not the first person to tell me the previous owners of a home or apartment left items that they’ve ended up keeping and using. I love the idea of finding something really small, like a child’s toy, left behind in a secret hiding spot for years and years. Has that ever happened to you? 

Check back tomorrow to read about one of Cara’s renovation projects.