Decorating Woes + Yardsale Finds

Hi guys. So last we left off I bought a lovely golden-yellow, velvety sofa from FODAC thriftstore. I think we might have also discussed how I painted the living room purple.

Okay sooo here's the thing.

 I think purple is great, but it's not as "me" as I thought. Also keep in mind, I picked out this dusty purple-ish grey color too,  more of  a blue-purple than a red-purple.

I like it, but I don't love it...that the couch has so much more potential than that.
I think that there's so many dark colors around...like the other dark purple loveseat, that it's not balancing like I want it to.  I think I'm in this like decorating twilight zone right now, and I just can't make it work.

 I think I should take a break, even though this will bother me for as long as it stands. Lol.

::sighs:: whatever

We'll see what's next in color. I have some ideas....

Remember this is the other wall color visible in the space... you can see it from the living room

So its making it interesting to pick out a color....

So over the weekend the boyfriend and I went to a school YardSale. It was pretty awesome, but overwhelming. It was actually quite organized but the sheer volume was outrageous! lol

We came out spending $45 on eveything.....

-(a pretty much brand new) push mower

-An awesome rustic looking circle mirror

-2 tops, and a 90s light jean Levis jacket (for me)

-A  beautiful, huge,amazing(ly heavy) wool rug

-An  adorable old, yellow desk lamp

-A few books

I love the vibrant colors in this rug.... I can't believe we got it for $20.

Anyway...feel free to suggest paint colors...I'm still open.

Chalkboard painted wall craze.....

Lately I've been on a decorating rampage. Not one where much progress is made, just the kind where you plot extensively. I am back to the "tv room" now. We finally bought the small red expedit bookcase from Ikea a few days ago for our rapidly growing home library.  It's in the room with the bamboo directors chairs, red branches and blue vase....remember? Anyway....I've decided on navy blue chalkboard paint. I debated on black for days, but I decided to try something different. I've been dying to do navy blue somewhere and the bf wasn't really down with that idea...until I told him that I wanted to do chalkboard navy blue.

Love the abundance of creative space here....

My space is smaller, but not as small as this nook. What a cute little desk lamp and faux bookcase. 

Originally I wanted to incoporate this idea into the kitchen...but its already sooo dark in there....

I think I'm gonna settle for this instead. It's just as handy, and I can move it if I need to.

I feel a DIY project coming on! Here's a cute magnetic chalkboard DIY from designsponge.

I wonder how navy my navy is... not sure. I had to encourage the counter guy that he could indeed create a custom navy-ish paint. He was reluctant but pleased when he saw how well he mixed it. I wonder if it looks like this?.....

Or more like this...

Hopefully it doesn't look too peacock blue....I've already got a peacock wall.

: /

Now which grey for the opposite walls.....hmmm.

I love this set up with the branches and picnic table by the way... so fresh and outdoorsy!  

This grey is a little too pinky-blush, I think.

This grey appears "bluer" I like how it looks with the orange and red pictures.

::Something to consider::

I'll just have to keep looking. There will be photos when I decide!



Peacock Blue Dining room!

Hi guys....

Much has happened since the last time we chatted. I've actually picked a paint color and painted a room....well a rather long accent wall actually. (Which is kind of a big deal-- considering how indecisive I can be with paint color.)

About 3 months ago I made a sketch of what I wanted the dining room to "do" color-wise. I wanted blue, oranges, reds, and browns. I think I finally made that happen! This still a work in progress though.

The new color on the walls is Behr: Peacock blue. 

Right now, I'm holding/borrowing this orange vintage shelving unit for a friend. Apparently, it used to have drawers, but I think this is a much cool way to use this unit. It may house my growing mug obsession collection for the time being. You may also see a few pieces that look familiar, like the recently thrifted Mid century modern valet chair and the wall ornament/tray.

Also not pictured are the new yellow curtains and curtain rod that I purchased from Goodwill. For those of you who don't know, cute curtain rods can be sooo expensive! Luckily, the one I found at Goodwill was $6 and had those curtain clips so you don't have to go through the whole "string-the-curtain activity," which is almost as fun as the "fold-the-fitted-sheet activity."

Another recent decorative purchase was this brand-new shower curtain (with hooks from GW). I love stripes and other linear patterns that are black and white, so I had to buy this $4 shower curtain from Value Village when I spotted it.

I'm looking forward to painting the bathroom soon.  I know you can't see the whole curtain but, It's kind of beachy, but also ethnic print-y. What colors (or patterns) do you think would complement the black and white design that I started with?

Thrifting Adventure... "Sensible shoes" and decor

I stopped by one of my favorite Goodwill locations on Thursday and ran upon these lovelies. I felt that I needed some "sensible shoes" to work in because a pair of black flats that my mom has been trying to dispose of for a couple years was not cutting it anymore. I mean you can't wear flats like flip flops, it's not good for your feet. And heels aren't either.... anyway....

The "nude" and black pair are great because they are neutral and "go" with anything I would wear, and the brown ones are outside of my "zone", but at the same time they aren't. I like how they're so "mature"... can't wait to make them look "fun".

These brown Circa shoes are cute on AND super comfy, which I wasn't expecting.

They are actually one of those stylish comfy shoe brands I think... and I guess you pay for that because they're $89.00 online.  Needless to say I paid under $12 for both perfectly new pairs, together.

 

•  Nude shoe- Tahari, Goodwill
• Brown shoe- Circa Joan & David, Goodwill

 Okay guys...we finally settled on a paint color for the tv room and bought some paint today. Buuut...it's a surprise! I'm kinda nervous about it too. lol. It's so much easier to decorate someone else space.

These are two 24x24" throw pillows that I thrifted from Goodwill the other day. They were pretty much brand new, besides the fact that someone tried to snip an rip the tags off.  I hadn't bought pillows from a thrift store until about a week ago. A good decorator friend of mine basically gave me the 411 on thrifting for linens n' things. After a couple really good washes I felt completely at ease about them. 

Are they still throw pillows if they're too large to throw?

I also found this wicker sun mirror. I think this piece is so adorable. It reminds me of something my grandma might have above her dining room table, and that's why I love it. I've been debating on giving it a nice gold coat of paint...

Closet Poll

One thing that thrifting does, if you aren't totally into name brands, is teach you what brands you do like. Surprisingly I went through my closet and found that I gravitate towards Anne Klein, Kimchi Blue (which I hadn't heard of) , JCrew, and one particular vintage brand that I can't recall at the moment. 

What brands do you find yourself gravitating towards unexpectedly?

Tuesday's mini thrifting adventure.... Fabric and Accessories!

Today I went to Value Village on my way home and found some pieces I've been looking for.

As you know the TV room is under construction. I found some fabric and a green glass piece to add.

 

Here's the outfit I'm cutting pillows from....

And here is a really neat piece.  This is a vintage green sangria pitcher with a red wicker-like or raffia stopper. How cool is that? 

I was looking it up and apparently you put ice in the concave bulb part and then place the "raffia stopper" in to hold the ice keeping your wine cool but not watery. What a neat little thing. 

 This necklace was so neat to me...I haaad to get it. Its obviously handmade and the beads are what drew me to it. The sort of juxtaposed "fancy" gold beads and lime green plastic ones that I often played with as a child had me wanting to buy this cool piece. What an interesting combination of beads. Its not what I would have done... but that's what made me like it!

I definitely had a box of those green beads...mixed in with the ones we used for my hair.

::Sighs:: The good ol' days. 

Oh! I also got a couple of pairs of shades yesterday. My previous two vintage pairs are gone... :( 

So yesterday I got a couple pairs to play with.... 

Yay!

Thrifted: Handmade Guatemalan belt and cowrie shell fabric!

I am officially on a mission to find all of those tunics and dresses with beautiful ethnic patterns that I neglected to purchase over the past month. If you are a thrifter you know that you never really find the same things day to day, let alone month to month, so I guess I mean I will be finding similar clothing to turn into pillows. I had some luck today! I found two dresses made of a lovely African cowrie shell fabric... but first, my belt.

(My mom has been doing some thrifting of her own and bought me that long sleeved, black and white tie-dye maxi dress that I LOVE!) 

I was making a quick run into Goodwill when I passed the belt rack...and had to backtrack. Now I've seen quite a few of these belts for the past three years. It's strange but I was finding one everytime I went thrifting, and I guess that was a turn off. Not sure why. Anyway this one was somehow different to me and I immediately picked it up. Maybe the colors just needed to line up properly in my mind.

This belt is apparently handmade and ironically in Guatemala. I went to San Juan de Laguna, Guatemala spring break last year and never saw one. But of course I saw many other beautiful handcrafted items... I actually bought a purse and a couple of scarves. 

That was truly an amazing place both ethereal and just.... real. ::wistful sighs::

 

 

Anyway... I eventually I made it around to the clothes to search for what I actually came to look for.

And yay! I found a dress with this cowrie shell pattern I can butcher into a couple of throw pillows. Of course I have to try the dress on first... you know just to see, but then throw pillows will ensue. Lol!

I want to make them for the two bamboo chairs that we have in the TV room. They are kinda like director's chairs except they're made of bamboo. Then I want to find some green fabric with a unique pattern to put on the loveseat on the other side of the room. Deciding on a paint color has been crazy... I can't wait till I get this room finished so I can enjoy the finished product for a while... and then start over! Ha!

Thrifted: Retro Pedestal Cups

You all may not know, but my two favorite items (that isn't clothing) to check out at thrift stores are chairs and cups. How strange, I know... but those are my favorite things to scope out. Now obviously I don't buy every chair I fall in love with, but a girl can dream right?  Yesterday I found this adorable set of retro pedestal cups from Value Village. Every time I picked one up I hoped for the next. Fortunately I found the whole set. YAY!

I know the lady at the checkout counter was probably like... "Why is this girl buying these dirty cups?" They were a little dusty, but I soaked them in a nice hot apple cider vinegar and soap bath, though I won't be drinking out of them. 

These were also in great condition, decals still intact and everything.

I've looked up a few pedestal cups, but I haven't seen any with the cool gold metallic accents like these.  $0.87 for the set!

WI$H List, Chairs n' Stuff

Hey guys I want to start a post called "WI$H List" where I just post about things that I've been drooling over. I mean most of us troll the internet endlessly while we're at work or school so why not share the latest drool-worthy items topping our wish lists?

It's cool because you never know when you will come across something that you may be able to draw inspiration from, DIY, or find in a thrift store near you.

Anyway, as you know I've been tossing around ideas for TV room decor, here's just a few things I've been eyeballing.  

(I really need to be looking at paint... but this is the fun part.)

Anthropologie is a great place to get inspired. They always have great pieces, so if you get a chance, stop in your local store. They always smell AMAZING and the decorations will make you feel like you've fallen into Wonderland. I will say that they are pricey, but if you can stand the initial heartbreak don't let that stop you from checking it out!  :)

And since we are talking about Anthropologie... aren't these cute?

Mala wingtip heels. $148, but cute nonetheless.

I've been trying to think of a good shoe DIY lately... Haven't really seen anything that I'm dying to try yet. I think I will just have to get a shoe and get busy experimenting. Have you seen any good shoe DIYs?

Decorative Pieces

The best thing about moving is being able to redecorate a space you love. I've recently started collecting pieces to decorate with. I have a bazillion things to start with, but buying or creating something new is always fun. Emphasis on create if you are on a tight budget. Anyway...these are a few things that I've thrifted or made recently.

I've always loved raw, natural pieces in my space. So I decided to bring some good ole sticks from the yard into the sitting room/TV room.



I spray painted them for a little twist, plus I love red as an accent color! The neighbor (who I hadn't met up until this point) yelled across his yard "What are you doing?!" I mean I was dressed in pajamas, holding 6 foot tall branches and red spray paint crackling away at 9am on a Saturday.  (And even after I explained I received the blank stare. lol)

This rug is a favorite... I saw it from across the thrift store an was drawn to it. I've actually been looking for this pattern on a top or a cardigan, but I haven't found it. I'm sure the two guys standing in front of it thought I was crazy... but I don't know I didn't bother to look at their faces. Ha. This rug is originally from  World Market, a great place to get ideas, because they are a bit expensive.  They do have great sales on jewelry and hand bags sometimes though! Rug originally $119, thrifted for under $10. 

The vase is something that i really wouldn't have picked a year ago. Its so... blue, and I used to have a much smaller version in my room as a kid with a plant in it. I think the size of it sold me though. Its about 1.5 feet tall and pretty wide. I could put my leg in it up to my thigh.

The TV room is first on the checklist of rooms, but knowing me I will jump around a bit. I will make sure I post updates....
Picking paint this weekend!