Redecorating on a Budget
It is time for another Thrift Shop Thursday. Today is #6 in the series. The items I am sharing today come from three different places, Goodwill, a yard sale and a Flea Market in Virginia. So let’s get started!
First up is my lovely brass deer. I told you I was crushing on the gold again!
I have been stalking Pinterest for months looking for the perfect desk for my new office space. At first, I wanted a white lacquered desk with chrome legs. I was dreaming of a modern sleek style. I love the Jonathan Adler Desk pictured here from Wayfair.
Then I started looking for a white desk with gold legs or gold accents. I found this one at Pottery Barn Teen.
I really like both of these options but did not want to spend that kind of money. Then I started searching Ikea and found this IKEA hack by Just Bella. I thought this was fabulous. It was just what I was looking for and IKEA prices are the best.
I adore the sleek desktop and the gorgeous gold legs. It was just what I wanted. It would be perfect! Then my husband asked, “Do we really need to buy another desk?” I was thinking no, we really don’t need to buy a new desk but oh how I wanted a sleek new desk. My husband suggested we use something we already own. Perhaps, I could use one of the desks we have in the basement. The only two desks
we have in the basement are old, dark antique desks. The complete opposite of what I had been dreaming about…white, lacquered, sleek, modern, and with gold legs.
So this is the desk I am going to be revamping for my office. The desk I have despised because it was so dark and depressing (using Gman’s words).
Yep, I know what you are thinking. The same thing I was thinking… this is not sleek, white nor modern. This is not what I had in mind when I dreamed about my office but the more I looked at it, the more it started to grow on me, just a bit.
O.K. so it was not my first choice but I think I can work with this.
I am really beginning to love the details that were hidden beneath the layers of dark stain.
I started sanding and the details really began to pop.
So, while it may not be the sleek modern desk I was dreaming of I think this desk has lots of character and I am excited to make it mine!
Until next time…
I cannot believe this is week 5 in the Thrift Shop Series. Time is moving much too quickly! This week I am sharing a few old things and something new to me.
Up first is my gold weather vane that I picked up at the consignment shop yesterday.
Today, I am going to share with you exactly why I fell in love with our Island Home and it wasn’t the lovely floral wallpaper that covered just about every inch of that house! Nor was it the lace curtains!
Nope, it was the view.
I knew this was the house for us when I could look right past the ugly! When the sun was setting, it was just magical. I have never seen a sunset more beautiful.
Even though I despised the interior, I fell in love with that house. The house had great bones but it was just ugly, there is no other way to put it…
…oh but the views from just about every room in the house…amazing!
It never gets old! I feel like the minute we cross that bridge everything just gets better. Life just gets easier.
That’s what I am talking about… cocktail hour on the porch watching the sunset!
(Hi Aunt Jen, We Miss You!)
I think this house is best when we have family and friends there for the weekend!
I love the large wrap around porch. I love sitting in the rocking chairs watching the boats glide past, watching the sunset or just reading a good book. There is usually a nice breeze coming in off the bay to keep it cool.
To the left of the wrap around porch, is another one of my favorite spots. It’s a screened in porch with double fans. This is where we like to eat dinner. We have a table out there right now that I haven’t refinished because I keep thinking I need a larger one. I don’t know, maybe I will give it another season and then decide!
LOVE
LOVE
This is the drawbridge you must cross to get on the Island. It is the busiest drawbridge in the United States.
Meet our little turtle that hangs out on the riprap. This little lovely was left behind by the former owners because she was too heavy to move. I find her charming.
So that just about sums up why I love our Island Home. She is not perfect but she is perfect for us!
Until next time…
It’s that time again…Thrift Shop Thursday. Today is #4 in the thrifting series. I am just now beginning to realize how much of my furnishing have come from thrift shops finds. This week everything I am sharing is from our Island home.
Today I am sharing an updated tour of our kitchen in the Island Home. I had previously shared the kitchen here. Even though it was dark and stormy when we were there last, I just love how it feels so comfortable and cozy on our little point on the Island.
The bright white kitchen with the farmhouse table is the center of our home. It opens up to the dining area and the family room.
Today I am sharing something a little different. Even though I have several projects in the works, I thought I would share a little something about my family life. As most of you know, I am a mom to three boys. My oldest is a sophomore in college, my middle will be graduating high school in May and my youngest is in his final year of elementary school. He is also known as my tech guy or Gman. He is the one that handles all things computer related on this blog. It was his idea that we start this little adventure together and so far we have been having the best time (when he is not being a tough boss). We have even dragged my guy (aka my husband) into this adventure with us. Sometimes I imagine a project and he is the one that has to build it for me. I have to say he has been a good sport about it and I think he really enjoys doing my building projects for me (even if he won’t admit it).
O.K. back to my youngest…every year his school does a fundraiser which involves running/walking a 5K. Totally not my thing. Now Pilates, that is something I do and enjoy. Running not so much. Anyway, we have been doing this 5K for a long time, keep in mind that my oldest is a sophomore in college. I told my youngest if he wanted to do it, we would do it with him. It is his last year at the Elementary School. So this morning, we had to drag ourselves out of bed to participate in the 5K.
I told him from the start, I was going to walk and so was his dad. Then when we get there, he is looking at the starting line, the music is pumping and he asked, “can we run in the beginning?” I was looking around for one of his buddies that he could take off running with, no such luck.
Once the race started, my husband and I took off at a slow, slow pace…a nice and easy jog that turned into a leisurely stroll. The little guy just took off. He ran, jogged, walked and tied his shoes twice for a 2nd place finish in his age/gender group!
My guy and I came in dead last! I am not joking when I say this. My guy was a true man and let me cross the finish line before him, so technically, he was dead last!
Congrats Gman!
Thursday seems to roll around much more rapidly, since I started sharing my finds on Thrift Shop Thursday. This week I will be sharing my usual Thrift Shop finds, but I am also going to start sharing some of my bargains from such places as HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and a new to me online shop called Decor Steals. (Click on the link to learn more…love this site)
First up, my dough bowl, I have had this piece for a few years. It was a steal at a local consignment shop. I keep looking for other dough bowls but I am not willing to shell out that kind of money. For me, this one is perfection!
I am sharing an easy DIY wreath. The entire project took about 15 minutes and it has added a pop of color to my white kitchen. At Christmas time, I had a red berry wreath above the cooktop but I only wanted the pop of red during the Christmas Season. If I were a bit more organized, I would have made an Easter wreath, maybe next year.
I stopped by Michaels today and picked up my supplies with my 40% off coupon!
I trimmed up the greenery, then wrapped it around the grapevine wreath, overlapping as I went. Super easy. I have been adding touches of green in both my kitchen and dining room. I really like the pop of green against the white. It just looks so refreshing to me. The shock of green, up against the cabinet in the kitchen and against the white dishes in the dining room, really stands out to me. Can you tell it’s my latest obsession?
I just love when a project is simple and comes together like I pictured in my head. So, what is your favorite color to use to add a pop of color to a neutral room?
Until next time…
We party here:
Tonight I am sharing our Master Bedroom on the Island Home. This part of the home, including the attic lounge area, is not original to the house. I believe these rooms were added about 14 years ago. When the previous owners added the extra space, it created two Master Bedroom areas.
