The Vault Mercantile
Projects...Purpose...and Dreams
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wanted to own an old building...some day...in the way off future when she grew up. Her hearts desire was to own a tiny piece of history...with a story, that she could add her own story too. Well, she grew up and life took her on many journeys, but after many years...just when she was about to bury that 'old building' dream....the opportunity to own an 1875 bank building arrived. With encouragement from her family, she and her husband took the plunge. They became the owners of a vacant old bank building in historic Walnut, Iowa...right on Main Street! This wasn't just any location...it was a destination. Walnut, Iowa is known as 'The Antique Capital' of Iowa by a governor's proclamation even!
The little girl also enjoyed painting, building, and attempting to reuse anything she found that was discarded (including the old bank building), and reading way too many books. Imagine her sheer happiness, when she landed in the Iowa mecca of old and amazing stuff! Not only did she get her old building dream fulfilled, but God had placed it squarely in the middle of a historic downtown, with brick lined streets, victorian houses, amazing people, and more vintage and rustic treasures then her heart ever dared to hope for. She had moved way beyond her alley collecting days. (Click here to read that journey!)
She now writes books, journals, traverses about the Midwest locating amazing finds and collecting their stories, as God continues to write her own adventure journey. She's learned everything can have a purpose. There is no scrap that can't be used for something. And that's...how she lived her life...collecting stories and thanking God for accompanying her on the adventure of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of a few fun things we've done...our projects with purpose...starting with a renovation of a room in our 1875 bank building! If you're curious...find the little girls picture at the bottom...grateful and grown up!
Questions? You can always contact us at thecafe@thenotebookcafe.com!
The little girl also enjoyed painting, building, and attempting to reuse anything she found that was discarded (including the old bank building), and reading way too many books. Imagine her sheer happiness, when she landed in the Iowa mecca of old and amazing stuff! Not only did she get her old building dream fulfilled, but God had placed it squarely in the middle of a historic downtown, with brick lined streets, victorian houses, amazing people, and more vintage and rustic treasures then her heart ever dared to hope for. She had moved way beyond her alley collecting days. (Click here to read that journey!)
She now writes books, journals, traverses about the Midwest locating amazing finds and collecting their stories, as God continues to write her own adventure journey. She's learned everything can have a purpose. There is no scrap that can't be used for something. And that's...how she lived her life...collecting stories and thanking God for accompanying her on the adventure of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of a few fun things we've done...our projects with purpose...starting with a renovation of a room in our 1875 bank building! If you're curious...find the little girls picture at the bottom...grateful and grown up!
Questions? You can always contact us at thecafe@thenotebookcafe.com!
Let's start with the before photo of our 1875 bank building. It had been vacant for 30 years when we purchased it. Here's the before of the 'gathering' room.
Here's the after photo of the exact same space! Lots of work, but totally worth it!
This old buffet top no longer had a purpose. It was a piece nobody wanted. See the AFTER photo!!!
But now...flipped upside down, painted with white chalk paint, replacing the mirror with a chalk board, and adding black iron hooks - it created a shelf and a place to hang coats or book bags, plus a great area to write notes on the chalk board! This is for sale at our Brass Armadillo booth #149 in Des Moines! Priced at $160.00.
A well worn side bar without much purpose or glamor...
After...it makes a great Coffee Bar. We left the doors off for storage and keep coffee, tea, and cups in the drawers! It has a purpose and we use it at The Cafe!
The dining room in this old house was dated and felt like it had been left behind...
...but with carpet removed and floors redone, new paint, old corner cupboards repurposed for another project, architectural and a touch of metal added, and new decor...it looks eclectic and fun!
Corner in the dining room...
This fireplace had seen better days...
New life for this old fireplace. We repainted the brick with paint and sealed with fireproof sealer. We saved the old mantel by staining and lightly distressing it and placed a new tile floor and surround! It is now a focal point in this living room!
This old 'summer porch' in our 100 -year-old fixer upper was being used to store junk...until the day we decided to claim it! See the after photo...full on Farmhouse theme!
This 'junk room' got a complete makeover. Beams were stained, ceiling repaired and painted, all wood trim was painted white, a white wash was applied to the brick, refurbished furniture was painted and, a porch swing was added and here you have it...a great room to enjoy some sweet tea in!
This sweet piece is made from an old Jenny Lind bed. I didn't get the before picture :( It’s painted with white chalk paint. The fabric is wrapped on the bench, but I have not stapled it in case the new owner has different fabric they want to use. I love the buffalo plaid, but a floral or pastel would look adorable too! It’s priced at $175.00
Here's, Shelly Thompson, the little girl in the back yard where the big dream started. Note the Bible in her hand...in God's time, He does answer prayers, even if it takes years.
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All grown up. Shelly now follows God on many adventures. Every day is not perfect, but she's discovered God is always good and...there will always be a treasure to find with a story.
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