Kensie Kate |
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
$2000 worth of love
I had been looking for something to put behind my dining table. I wanted something tall because my ceilings are tall and of my furniture feels like it's all the same height. I came across this picture on Apartment Therapy. I loved the etagere and how they were using it at a bar/bookshelf/display case. Thus it became my dining room inspiration!
And then I saw this one. And I knew I had to have this EXACT one. I did an image search on Google and found that it was made by Milo Baughman and can run from $500-$2000 online!
I love, love, love it! The accessories are just the in the initial stages, I just threw what I had laying around. So far so good!
Apartment Therapy |
Emily Henderson |
I ended up finding one on Craigslist up in LA. It was brass and I had chrome accents already in the dining room chairs and lamps. So I thought I would spray it chrome. Fortunately for me the woman sold it before I could get there to pick it up. I spent the next several hours kicking myself for not offering her more money, not being quick enough to email her, etc. It was a deep sadness for missing out on the PERFECT piece of furniture.
Thank goodness for the Craigslist App. I was laying on the couch wallowing in despair and decided to tweak my search criteria. It was listed as a "trophy case". And it was chrome. I emailed them immediately. It was the best fifty dollars I have ever spent. Granted it was in horrible condition. I spent 3 hours lovingly restoring it to it shiny chromeness. And here she is...
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Dad came for a visit and was put to work
My dad flew down for a few days to help me with house stuff. Poor guy ended up spending most of the time on a ladder hanging and re-handing draperies and art. First up was the draperies. I have been obsessed with this pattern for years. I am so excited that I finally got to buy these curtains. My friend Summer has an amazing online store for pillows and curtains. I purchased them from her website www.etsy.com/shop/nenavon.
My dad finally hung my quadrille mirror. So glad it's not still leaning against the wall, I can finally use it to check my hair before leaving the house:)
Thanks Dad for the great visit and help with the house, it's coming along!
Next up was picture hanging. I have these four pictures that I had taken in Italy years ago. I hung them with the starburst mirror, but ultimately I would like to do a gallery wall above the sofa. For now, I am using what I have and saving $$.
My dad finally hung my quadrille mirror. So glad it's not still leaning against the wall, I can finally use it to check my hair before leaving the house:)
And lastly my dad convinced me to buy a TV! I had not owned a TV for three years and never really missed having one. Something switched in me after buying my home. I wanted to hang out in the living room, but there was no reason to. It needed an anchor, and it has become my new beloved TV. I am happy to say my evenings are now filled with all shows BravoTV. My dad would be less than proud:)
Thanks Dad for the great visit and help with the house, it's coming along!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Bargain Hunting
I have also made a very conscious decision to bargain hunt, wait for sales and use coupons whenever I am going to make a purchase. Example, the picture below. I knew I wanted to purchase both items and instead of going out and buying them STAT, I waited. I got the mirror on clearance at Lowe's and saved $20. I also got the table on clearance from Cost Plus. I think the original price was around $150, I snagged it on sale for $99, with an additional 10% off coupon! woo hoo, a bargain shopper was born:)
Next up, the fridge. It was something I obviously needed in the kitchen and wanted Stainless to match the other appliances. I scoured Craigslist for days. Most of them were running $250-$350. I kept waiting for just the right one and ended up finding someone that had only used it in their garage for drinks. It was in pristine condition and I got it for $200.
And then there is this beauty! I had been wanting to get an ottoman that I could use at a cocktail table. I started looking and was shocked at how expensive they were. $300-$450!!! and none of the fabrics were all that great. I went to a store near my house that re-sells model home furniture. This sad ottoman had obviously been around for quite some time, the fabric is an awful denim, that had faded from where a tray sat on it for years. I asked for a discount and was told no. So I waited. I went back a few weeks later and talked to someone else. She said the ottoman had been in their store for over a year and a half. I again asked for a discount and she said yes. Originally $145, I paid $85! Of course now I have to pay for fabric to recover it. But all said it will still be less than a new $300 ottoman.
This is the fabric I have chosen from Calico Corners. $29.95/yard plus a 20% off coupon.
Then I headed back to Craigslist for some dining room chairs. I have the Ikea Docksta table, however the top is in horrible condition due to sitting outside for a year. I was kind of at a loss of what to do with it when I found a great deal. I got a table and chair set for $40. I put the glass on top of the Docksta and will use it until I find something better. I love the chairs, they are the same style as chairs by Marcel Breuer(1928). I looked online for Breuer chairs, and they usually run around $150 each. So four for $40 was a deal in my book. Again, I need to recover them. I am still trying to find the perfect fabric...
As for the table base, I may put it back on Craigslist with the smoked glass when I find a new dining table
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