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Vintage Typewriter Makeover

August 27, 2012 by girlinspired 39 Comments

 I have a favorite antique shop.  I’m telling you, this guy is awesome.  It could be because I’m a stay at home mom that doesn’t get out much to socialize with adults, but I really think Paul, the shop owner, has a special fondness for me.  He always has something that I like and always gives me a price that I can’t resist.  One time, last year, I stopped in with wild abandon to snatch up an iron bed for my mom.  When Paul said he thought of me when he found it, I knew I was part of the inner circle.  Made my whole week.  Really, though, the guy probably thinks I’m nuts.  He must wonder what I do with all my treasures that I drag home.  He rarely asks.  Last week, he had two typewriters stashed in the shop.  I asked how much he wanted for them, but I had to leave them behind.  See, I have a rule that I have to come up with a legitimate use for an item before I drag it home.  Mostly, I need a good story for my husband.  A “this is why I’m stashing another old, dusty thing in the garage” sort of story.  So I came up with a “good use” and went to get one of the typewriters.  I was so excited, this treasure went straight to the top of the project list.  I cleaned the cobwebs out of it with a toothbrush and taped it up good.  A few coats of pink spray paint and I have a great little photo prop.  
before
after  
It’s funny because Paul actually asked what I was going to do with the typewriter.  I mumbled something about painting it pink.  I don’t think that was the right answer; he seemed to cringe a little.  Oh well.  I think she came out preeeeettty.  That’s a good use, right?  To look pretty?
  What do you think?  Do you like the pink typewriter??  Do you have a favorite antique shop?  Why is it your favorite?  Does anyone else ever pretend they’re part of an inner circle? 
Roses are ‘Abraham Darby’ by David Austin
 

Filed Under: Crafting Tagged With: home decor, paint, vintage finds

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Comments

  1. Joanna says

    August 27, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    I LOVE the typewriter. It’s gorgeous, so pretty in pink! A vast improvement. Well done!

    Reply
  2. Annie says

    August 27, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    What a Great idea!!! Love it so much!! I have a Royal typewriter in turquoise, but I have been on the search for a pink one!!
    Annie
    Here is my typewriter
    http://mermaidsmurmur.blogspot.com/2011/11/treasure-hunting.html

    Reply
  3. Mona @ la la by mona says

    August 27, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Holy wow! I LOVE the new pink! She’s useful AND pretty!

    Reply
  4. Simple Simon & Co says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I scored three different typewriters this summer at garage sales…but the painting idea is AWESOME! Love it!

    Reply
  5. Simple Simon & Co says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I scored three different typewriters this summer at garage sales…but the painting idea is AWESOME! Love it!

    Reply
  6. Simple Simon & Co says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I scored three different typewriters this summer at garage sales…but the painting idea is AWESOME! Love it!

    Reply
  7. Kris says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    SO STINKIN’ cute!!!! I have an old turquoise one! And I have a “Paul” too. Only her name is Teri! How lucky are we?!!
    XO KRis

    Reply
  8. nest full of eggs says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    so pretty !!!

    Reply
  9. Megan Hemphill says

    August 27, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I think its a perfect use for an old typewriter! Now I have pink typewriter envy. Oh, this is going to be difficult….

    Reply
  10. Marty says

    August 27, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Aaaadddorable!!

    Reply
  11. gator says

    August 27, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Beautiful, my fav lil shop in my area is Alice And Jay’s in Sasser, Georgia !
    http://www.aliceandjays.com

    Reply
  12. JustPam says

    August 27, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    I never would have thought to do this. It is a real beauty. I love vintage items and even had a few of these old typewriter that I got rid of. NOw I wish I hadn’t.

    Reply
  13. Марина Усатенко says

    August 27, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    A-ha-ha! It’s beautiful!))))) In Ukraine antique shops are expensive, but some kind of antique markets…These are my favorite places!)))))) I even prefer some dusty thing to a new dress)) And my husband also always asks “O my God! What do you need this for??”

    Reply
  14. Erin says

    August 27, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    This makes me want to go spray paint something old! The pink is gorgeous! Love it.

    Reply
  15. Deanne says

    August 28, 2012 at 2:36 am

    the pink is perfect- so cute!!!!!

    Reply
  16. Falafel and the Bee says

    August 28, 2012 at 3:26 am

    Oh my goodness that is BEAUTIFUL!!
    You did a great job. I love the pink.
    Fabulously vintage.
    ~Michelle

    Reply
  17. Emily says

    August 28, 2012 at 4:34 am

    This is SO GORGEOUS!

    Creamyclothes.blogspot.com

    Reply
  18. Sunae says

    August 28, 2012 at 9:17 am

    LOVE the pink! I also have a favourite antique shop – it’s called Carrington Bazaar and it’s simply gorgeous! Lined with vintage clothes and full of treasures! Just waiting to move in to my own place before I start buying beautiful things for it and worm my way into the “inner circle” haha 🙂

    Reply
  19. Laura says

    August 28, 2012 at 7:00 pm

    It’s gorgeous. What a fantastic prop.

    Reply
  20. Creations By Cindy says

    August 28, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    LOVE IT! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    Reply
  21. Carol Pack Urban says

    August 28, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Gorgeous! I love all things vintage and {slurp} love pink!

    Reply
  22. Leah Roy says

    August 28, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    Most adorable typewriter ever! The color is so sweet and beautiful. Where ya gonna put it?

    Reply
  23. Gina says

    August 29, 2012 at 5:06 am

    my heart did a little happy skip as the photo of the pink typewriter loaded!! So cute! I have used my vintage typewriter both as a prop and to type but have never thought to paint it. Great idea!

    Reply
  24. Stephanie says

    September 1, 2012 at 3:24 am

    Love this idea. I can’t believe you didn’t get the paint on the keys! I know I would 🙂 Great makeover, I think Paul would be proud.

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    January 15, 2013 at 5:40 am

    Love it! I want it!! What an excellent idea, if I ever see an old typewriter like that here in Brisbane Australia where we live, I’d definitely buy that and give it a pink coat:)

    Maddy

    Reply
  26. vintage typewriter shop says

    January 22, 2013 at 9:56 am

    Thanks a lot for sharing us about this update. Hope you will not get tired on making posts as informative as this.

    Reply
  27. Passionate Quilter says

    February 5, 2013 at 2:43 am

    No, no, no…we need ‘during’ pictures! I love the before and after, but would love to see the process of how you did it. I would have a mess! Yours looks awesome. Great job on the blog too.

    Reply
  28. jerline says

    May 5, 2013 at 7:52 pm

    Hi,

    The typewriter looks great! I want to do the same to my typewriter. I am curious to know what type of paint was used to give it that nice finish

    Reply
    • girlinspired says

      May 5, 2013 at 8:37 pm

      Hi! Thank you! I just used regular Rustoleum spray paint in satin, as best I can remember. I just taped off and used newspaper to cover the parts I didn’t want painted. Good luck!

      Reply
  29. Hedgerow Rose says

    June 6, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Well, my goodness you just gave me the best idea of what to do with my vintage typewriter which doesn’t work at all and could use a facelift–Thank you! Lovely photos, and looks perfect with good ol’ Abe Darby. 🙂

    Reply
  30. David says

    July 30, 2013 at 12:37 am

    I’m researching on repainting typewriters, what was your process in repainting the typewriter? Did you sand it down or did you just repaint on top of the original paint job? I’m asking because I have a number of typewriters that need good repainting. Just some minor touches to some ugly scuffs that are an eye sore.

    I own an online store that specialises in typewriters hence my question.

    Hope to hear from you.

    Reply
  31. Kalena says

    October 16, 2013 at 12:13 pm

    Its gorgeous! What a great job you did. May I ask what color pink you choose and brand of spray paint.

    Reply
    • girlinspired says

      October 17, 2013 at 2:31 pm

      Thanks Kalena, I can’t say for sure because it was so long ago, but knowing myself, I think I probably used Rust-o-leum spray paint and there aren’t too many options for the color. It would be whichever is a baby pink or soft pink, something like that.

      Reply
  32. Claire La Secretaire says

    February 7, 2014 at 8:43 am

    Well done this looks amazing! You can also make the keys white, I often transform the keys on mine to white and putting an accent colour on the shift keys. Like the ones here: http://www.clairelasecretaire.com/gallery/4579073878

    Reply
  33. alicia says

    February 21, 2014 at 9:33 am

    cool

    Reply
  34. R says

    August 8, 2014 at 9:26 am

    Beautiful! Anthro was selling repainted vintage typewriters for $700 a piece (http://kasbahmod.com/)

    Reply
  35. Kelly Vickers says

    June 22, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    I see these old typewriters at yard sales nearly every weekend, and now have four of them (all bought for under ten dollars), and they work….especially after installing a fresh ribbon. I am totally going to copy your idea. The transformation is amazing, and pink is perfect.

    Reply
  36. Michele says

    March 24, 2016 at 7:15 am

    Really love this project, but I wouldn’t have the courage to do it! I think the pink is perfect…..although turquoise would be good too. I have an old Ernest Hemingway typewriter that I love, just wish it would work a little better.
    And the David Austin roses!! I could write a paragraph on them alone. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  37. Tina says

    November 16, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    love love love….just picked up this exact same typewriter tonight and did all the cleaning and wanted to paint it when i came across yours…eeekk
    Can’t wait to get the paint now!!!! Mine will be used in staging for furniture I sell…did i mention I LOVE IT

    Reply

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