Don't bother trying to find complete dining sets at a flea market--this is your chance to mix things up. For a look that's personal and distinctive, gather different but complementary chairs, and variations on plain white dinnerware.

Wall Sconce

An old-fashioned wall sconce is reborn as an outdoor candlestick (just replace the glass with a simple pillar candle).





















Bakelite Cutlery

Keep Bakelite cutlery handy in an enamelware milk pitcher.





















Metal Chairs

If metal chairs are rusty but worth restoring, do the trick with a bright-white spray-on enamel.





















Antique Birdcage

For your next fete, turn antique birdcages into centerpieces and chandeliers. The look is dramatic, and the wire protects candles. Safety tip: Be sure the flame is at least 8 inches away from the top of the cage.





















Arch Madness

At flea markets, look for nicely weathered garden structures, like this metal trellis from the forties. Here, it's an elegant support for autumn climbing clematis.





















All Photo credit: Andre Baranowski