How I Transformed a Thrifted Coppercraft Basket Into Cottage Wall Decor

Have you ever spotted something at a thrift store, walked away from it, and then found yourself thinking about it the entire time you were shopping?

That was me with this vintage Coppercraft basket of flowers wall hanging.

At first glance, I wasn't sure about it. The copper and black finish wasn't really my style, but I kept picturing it painted cottage white with a little distressing around the details. The longer I wandered through the thrift store, the more that basket stayed on my mind.

When I finally circled back and picked it up, I discovered it was only 99 cents. Anyone else have a certain song pop in their head?

What Does Thrifted Mean?

If you've ever wondered what "thrifted" means, it simply refers to an item purchased secondhand from a thrift store, yard sale, estate sale, flea market, or similar source.

Some thrifted finds are wonderful exactly as they are. Others just need a little imagination to become something special.

This Coppercraft basket definitely fell into the second category.

Before the Makeover

Before

The piece featured a copper and black finish with beautiful floral details and a beaded border around the basket. Even though the colors weren't quite right for our cottage home, I could see plenty of potential hiding underneath.

One thing I've learned over the years is to trust that little voice that keeps bringing you back to an item. Sometimes the pieces that don't look like much at first become your favorite transformations.

Before painting anything, I gave the piece a quick cleaning with a bleach wipe.

While turning it over, I noticed a mark stamped on the back: Coppercraft.

Researching the Coppercraft Mark

Whenever I find a vintage piece, I like to do a little homework before changing it.

The first person I called was my mother. She has always been my go-to source for vintage brands and home decor from years gone by.

She immediately recognized the Coppercraft name, indicating she had a few of their pieces long ago. She also remembered Grandma had a few of their decorative wall pieces.

After doing a bit more research, I found that similar Coppercraft pieces are still widely available on the secondhand market. Since this wasn't an especially rare find, I felt comfortable moving forward with the makeover I had envisioned from the beginning.

And that vision was cottage white.

How I Gave This Thrifted Coppercraft Piece a Cottage Makeover

Step 1: Apply Two Coats of Paint

Using a small brush, I worked cottage white paint into all the nooks and crannies of the design.

The flowers, leaves, basket weave pattern, and decorative beading required a little patience, but that's also what makes pieces like this so charming.

I applied two coats of paint to ensure complete coverage.

Step 2: Distress the Details

   

Once the paint had dried, I lightly distressed the raised details using sandpaper.

You can also achieve a distressed finish with dark wax, Rub 'n Buff, or paint, but I wanted some of the original copper and black finish to peek through in certain areas.

The distressing highlighted all of the details that first caught my eye at the thrift store.

And that beaded trim around the basket? It might be my favorite part.

I have a weakness for anything with beaded trim.

In process

The Finished Coppercraft Makeover

This piece is looking a little lonely, don't you think?

As soon as the distressing was finished, I knew this piece was going to stay.

The only question was where to hang it.

I carried it from room to room before finally deciding on the hallway. It replaced a piece that had been hanging there for years, and suddenly the wall felt more like "us."

The lighter finish allows all those beautiful details to stand out, while still preserving some of the character of the original piece.

It's amazing what a little paint and some sandpaper can do.

A Little Note Before You Go

This thrift store find almost stayed on the shelf.

Instead, for 99 cents and a little creativity, it became a piece of cottage-style wall decor that looks right at home in our hallway.

Not bad for something I nearly walked away from.

Have you ever found a thrift store item that kept calling your name until you finally went back for it?

Ciao,

Cara