Coast to Country

I love giving new life to thrift store treasures! When you come across old taxidermy pieces with outdated floral arrangements, don’t pass them by—they can be beautifully transformed into modern decor with a little creativity.

The Thrift Store Discovery

This 1970s cloche with real taxidermy butterflies and yellow flowers initially looked like something straight out of Grandma’s house. But instead of leaving it behind, I saw the potential to turn it into something fresh and stylish for my home.

The Transformation Process

Bringing this nostalgic piece into a contemporary setting was a fun and rewarding project over my morning coffee. In a stroke of luck, I found vintage magnolia flowers at the same thrift store—talk about serendipity!

Working with real or taxidermy butterflies requires a gentle touch. I carefully removed the petals near the butterfly, and thankfully, they peeled off easily from the old hot glue. The wooden base already had drilled holes, making it simple to replace the old, dated flowers with the magnolias. I checked the height and width multiple times to ensure everything fit perfectly under the glass dome.

The Finishing Touches

Once the flowers were arranged, I carefully selected placements for the butterflies, ensuring they had enough clearance inside the dome. A dab of hot glue secured them in place. To complete the transformation, I painted the base a soft, vintage-inspired white, adding to its elegant, shabby chic charm.

The Final Result

The final result exceeded my expectations! This project showed me how even the most outdated pieces can become unique statement decor. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more hidden gems like this.

I also found some beautifully framed butterflies that I will be keeping as they are, without any updates!