You know you might be a little crazy
when you realize that you get excited about something that most people would toss away.
when you realize that you get excited about something that most people would toss away.
Something like an old ladder that you can’t really use anymore because it
has been sitting outdoors for years and years and it has weathered too much to be usable.
I love pieces that were once used in everyday life without much of a thought
and are now appreciated for their beauty.
One of my favorite treasures is an old orchard ladder.
This ladder was leaning up against an abandoned barn not far from where we live
and every time I drove by and saw it… I fell more in love with it.
and every time I drove by and saw it… I fell more in love with it.
Even from a distance I could tell it was crusty and rusty and covered in charm
Not to mention that it is super tall and I had just the wall that needed some ladder love
where this forgotten treasure in all it’s worn & weathered glory would be perfect.
where this forgotten treasure in all it’s worn & weathered glory would be perfect.
My husband on the other hand thought I was a little crazy.
“It’s a junky old ladder. Why would you want to put a ladder indoors?
I think it just sounds weird.”
(Can you imagine the raised eyebrows and look he got? Mmhmm. You know the ‘look’
I might add… he get’s that ‘look’ quite frequently ;)! )
So… while the husband was at work
I decided to just stop and ask the owner about that old ladder.
I offered to buy it and was so thrilled when I was told to go ahead and take it.
After a spray down with the hose to get rid of years of cobwebs and spiders
I dragged that crusty, weathered to perfection ladder inside
and set it against that lonely looking wall that was just waiting for it.
and set it against that lonely looking wall that was just waiting for it.
*sigh*
It was love at first sight.
I think I might have even done a little happy dance.
🙂
It’s definite ladder love.
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Imparting Grace
Imparting Grace
This really is a lovely old ladder and is perfection for the place in your home. Love the dried flowers there too. xx's
I would have rescued that beauty, too!
Great job, Courtney!!!
WOW! and it could not look anymore perfect with your soaring ceilings. It's so YOU 🙂
Would also be cute in the kitchen without the back easle – hanging from the ceiling! Lovely!
What an awesome ladder. My dad used to have a ladder very similar. I should find out if he still has that. It looks just gorgeous in your home.
I can understand you very well, i had a moment like that with an old bathtub, which was laying in a construction waste container in front of an old art nouveau mansion. me and my husband were driving home from a business lunch in my small new beetle and as i saw the bathtub, i told my husband that i won't drive home without the bathtub. we asked the construction workers if we could take it, and they told us that we could take it with us if we get it out of the container by ourselves, so we turned down the back seeds of the car, my husband climbed in the container, ruined his new leather shoes and we put that heavy huge old bathtub in, the small car. it was looking out of the car and we only had the dogs leash to secure it. we are always laughing when we remember how that tub found the way in our home 🙂
Courtney, only you could make an old ladder gorgeous! It looks so pretty against the tall wall. Great eye!
I am suffering from big time ladder envy!!! I want one. Had the talk with the Mr. a few months ago, yup, he gave me the eye roll… I gave him the look!
Had a little one that some how did not make it to the new home in the move 6 years ago.. hmmm…
Going back to drool….
Cheers, Gee
Oh my! It's absolutely dreamy! I would be doing a happy dance too.
What an amazing freebie… Just awesome! Perfect fit for those tall ceilings. That ladder has soooo much character! Love it!
Courtney,
What a cool ladder! Looks beautiful displayed with your dried roses! My Husband would have said the same thing LOL!
xx
Anne
What a wonderful find! It's lovely!
HOLY COW….this is the most awesome thing I've seen lately. No WONDER you wanted it. It's just about PERFECT. And those dried bunches of roses are PERFECT on it. I am sooo in love.
That last photo will end up in ROMANTIC HOMES magazine if you will only send it to them…pleazzzzzzzzzzzz….it's just beautiful.
Courtney, oh my word. I'm in love. Lucky lucky you. And FREE! Wow! I love how you have displayed it. Just stunning!!!
What a gorgeous shape it has, and it looks perfect! aren't you glad you have all of us to affirm your sanity?! xo
Love the ladder and the dried roses…
My hired handyman wanted me to get rid of the old wooden ladder in my garage this past weekend. He couldn't quite grasp the idea of using the ladder for something besides a ladder. He kept saying how unsafe it was. I have plans for that ladder…which do not involve climbing.
PERFECT FIT! It had your NAME on it the whole time! LOVE IT! From one sweetie to another~~~Roxie
Courtney, you've really taken home decor to new heights! Sorry, just had to say it. I love this ladder! How in the world did you get it home? It's HUGE! I know what you mean – I was thrilled a few weeks ago to find a little wooden step ladder at a yard sale! I onc took a tall onek, painted it purple and set pots of pinka dn white begonias on the wrungs and set it underneath a tree in my backyard. I loved it! Your ladderis perfect for that tall wall! Enjoy! Oh, how tall is the ladder anyway? Just curious. Hugs, Leena
Cool looking ladder! I can see why your in love.
Dee
Courtney, I'm so glad you ignored that 'husband look'… that ladder is percfect for the height of your wall and just enough distress and shabbiness to make a statement but not take over the room – I love it too!!
What a great find old orchard ladders are great.
I like your idea of putting dried flowers on it.
Denise
Well it has such a fabulous shape to it. Good for you just stopping and asking. One of my neighbors had the greatest birdbath like none I'd ever seen it probably dated back to the 20's or 30's. I was too embarrassed to ask about it of course. Then they moved and left it and still I hesitated to ask the new owners. Then it disappeared from their yard and like 6 months later…I finally met them and after talking for awhile I asked if they'd moved it to the backyard. "No", they said. "It's gone" If I'd known you wanted it, I would have given it to you. I threw it away." So I learned my lesson….ask if you have any idea that they may not want something. So good for you!
Wow!!!! Amazing display Courteney. It's like the ladder was made for your wall. The flowers hung on the ladder are perfect.
my heart is all a pitter patter. I love it too!
Such the perfect ladder for your beauitful home:)
Blessings,
Linda
Courtney,
This ladder is perfect for that wall, what a fantastic find and the flowers only make it better…lucky girl.
I so get it, we went to an Estate sale this past weekend with tons if stuff. I zoned right in on an old wooden ladder…picked it up for just 10 dollars! Yours is way cool.
Can't wait to show my husband this and to put it on my wishlist!
Perfection! Good eye…it was begging to have a new home.
It was love at first sight for me too…it looks like the Eiffel Tower…only smaller, wood and draped in flowers. LOVEIT
Courtney I could see where that crusty rusty ladder was love at first sight!!!! Wow it really has some character. So beautiful. I love that you rescued and reloved that beautiful piece in your home. Adorable.
Kris
That was sooo beautiful, and I`m in love too. Fantastic.
It's WONDERFUL! I mean really really wonderful. And, oh boy do i ever know that look…
Cindy
That's a really old and unusual one, weathered to perfection! Great score and it's beautiful, and an especially good place to dry flowers! Sigh..
I am doing a happy dance with you and for you! That ladder is beyond beautiful and looks like perfection on that tall wall.
I have a super tall one as well but unfortunately, I don't have ceilings high enough to use it indoors. For now, it's outside.
What a great find, the flowers hanging from it are beautiful. It looks like it was made for that spot and I bet it looks like it has always been there.
Cynthia
Love the way it flares out at the bottom.
Incredible, Courtney! I've never seen anything like that. It looks amazing in your home, and you've styled it to perfection! It was meant to be in your gorgeous space!
I think I would have done several happy dances…the ladder is so incredible….looks magnificent in that area of the room!…
Love it-what-from the 20's or 30's? Adore the dried bouquets hanging from it. One could showcase a quilt collection or antique linens, also. Great find.
Ladders any size or condition are a staple for creative people..lol My hubby use to ask that ? too.."why? what?" He knows better now he knows I wl make beautiful w it! Have fun!
LIKE GRAMMA'S HOUSE BLOG
Jonell
That is the prettiest vintage ladder I've ever laid my eyes on, Courtney! The shape and lines are truly amazing! Your addition of the dried roses is perfection plus. And don't worry…you're not alone in getting the "eye" and raised eyebrows. It's a man-thing, I think. lol!
xoxo laurie
What an amazing shape this ladder has ! Great idea to hang the roses to dry. Nobody can top Courtney !
Blessings,
Bee from Los Angeles
Simply amazing!!!!
Orchard ladders are hard to find!!!
Love how it looks on your wall!
Gosh I LVOE that thing!! Perfection in a ladder. Love the shape and of course your styling!! How long will it be before you are hired as a magazine editor?
Everything about this is perfect. What a charming addition to your home!
Oh my….that is one tall ladder. Thanks for sharing.
Hi I visit your blog often LOVE IT and I'm not sure if I've ever commented but I just had to say that's the most beautiful ladder I've ever seen. Your "pretty it up" touches make it even more so.
Love the look!!! LOVE your blog. Ys, I too get those questioning looks from my hb of 2 years (my high school sweetheart 43& years ago). But, he's learning… I think he was pleasantly surprised when I bought a shabby grapevine tree with crappy old xmas decor on it. After I stripped it down and decorated it for autumn I think I saw just a hint of pride from him in what I had done, especially when he saw the price of some in the decorator shops. He even told me mine looked better. :}
It's so pretty with your dried roses, against that wonderful beadboard! Our neighbor put a great, crusty old ladder in his big trash last month, and I hesitated – for just a moment, and then it was gone 🙁 I'm glad someone got their ladder!
Wow! That is a beauty. I can see why you fell in love with it. It looks amazing in your home. Like it was meant to be. We sell A LOT of old ladders in our shop. So your not the only crazy lady out there that appreciates a beautiful piece of art! There is a little shed on the way to my moms which I see every week. Every week I just admire its worn, broken down perfect self. I love it so much, I think I may stop and take pics of it in each season. I can't take the shed, but I could at least have a series of photos of the lovely little thing to admire for ever! You always inspire us, thank you for that!!
Beautiful with all of the flowers drying on it
Fantastic! I love what you've done with it. It's perfect where you have it.
OMG! That ladder is gorgeous…I love it's shape! What a great find 🙂
What a striking piece for your room–a statement piece for sure with it's size and scale. They used to use really tall ladders like that before mini-dwarf varieties of apple trees became more widely available. I learned to graft fruit trees, and created an espaliered Belgian fence out of mini-dwarf apple and pear trees–it only got to 6 feet tall, so no ladders needed for picking!
OH now THAT is a great ladder! Isn't it grand that the owners didn't 'get' it and YOU did!?
What an awesome find! I love old ladders! I have 3, one that is extra tall. A couple of them I'm using in my antique booths and the third is at home while I wait for inspiration to hit as to what I might do with it for my home. I love your orchard ladder. I would love to find one of those some day, which would have been more likely when I lived in the Bitter Root Valley in Montana, but now I'm back in the south with not as many apple orchards around. My dad found a beautiful old fire engine ladder and found a way to use it, outside, of course. How nice of those folks to give it to you and it is simply lovely on your wall with the dried flowers dangling from it!! Your blog is one of my favs!!!
Oh, that ladder. Now I have ladder envy. How wonderful that it was given to you! And what a great place to dry flowers! 🙂
I love this! What a great place to dry all those gorgeous roses! Great find! Thank you for joining me at HSH!
Sherry