There is no part of my house even close to being ready for prime time - still too many things to fix and update and hang. My beautiful house in Memphis was architecturally pretty enough that if it was not all gussied up it stood fine on its own. This house, well it needs the lily gilded.
Gilding and budget are often mutually exclusive so I turn to garage sales and thrift stores and discount stores and craigslist. Eventually with lots of hard work and a tad bit of vision (and maybe some rose colored spectacles) I can pull it into a cohesive whole. But in the mean time I have to collect things as I find them.
Here are some of my latest finds . . .
$20 chair off of craigslist - probably from a local casino hotel. It had never been used and in fact needed to have the cushion covered. Covered in $3 damask from Joann remnant table.
$9 Bunny picture - salvation army - want to have a porch with this as my central decorating point some days - I am not a rooster person but do love Bunnies.
$7 pair of mirrors from Goodwill - I am always attracted to square frames
$300 Craigslist There is a matching sleeper sofa to this that I did not snap a picture of as well. Broyhill and while 15 years old in great condition and perfect for the playroom
$7 Goodwill for a pair of 26" square Matelasse pillows - one had a slight dirt mark on it - a quick wash in tide and oxyclean and both are absolutely pristine
$30 Craigslist - pair of Lexington end tables - if I get tired of the pine finish I could see these in a neat painted finish with new hardware - or done in pastels with crystal knobs for a little girl's room
$80 - consignment store - Ethan Allen reading chair in Catherine's sitting room - I need to find a footstool for it but it is oh so comfy and perfect condition
$100 desk/vanity craigslist $7 chair craigslist $2 chair pad Garage Sale - need to get the right accessories
And my newest find - you have to look at the lines and the potential not at the current picture lol - we spend lots of time on our covered patio and I am tired of the cold iron mesh chairs and table with no personality so I thought these could be dressed up with indoor/outdoor fabric and would be fun to decorate around. But do I leave the chippy paint and simply reupholster in stark plain white, repaint the chairs - black or white do I add touches of silver or gold? Dramatic french scroll upholstery or something simple? Not sure but here are my "new" Henredon chairs $40 for all 4
Here are three great excuses if you are need to excuse your secondhand shopping
1. It is less expensive and you find some real treasures
2. It is a "greener" solution than buying new
3. you are giving funds to charity when you buy at the thrift shops
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