Comments on: Home decor gone ridiculous

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 07:18:56 +0000

My new self, yes, paint does wonders.

Another Anna, I was always afraid of chopping up (repurposing) my furniture, but my wife has done some neat things with what we already have. I agree!

By: Another Anna

Another Anna — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:30:06 +0000

When I do buy things (usually at yard sales or thrift shops), I make sure they’re good quality, will wear well, have more than one possible use, and are aesthetically fairly neutral. That way, when we move or rearrange rooms, it’s easy to repurpose what we have, rather than buy new things. Some examples… rug/wall hanging/window seat cover; bench/end table/bedside table; curtain/tablecloth/scarf (no kidding); coffee table/TV stand; desk/kitchen table/ dining table…

And for decorative oomph, I can always make new pillows or curtains or tablecloths, which are much cheaper than new furniture.

By: my new self

my new self — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:41:38 +0000

We picked up a neat retro lamp for $2.00 at a garage sale. It was really ugly though, so we bought a can of spray paint ~$2.00 and painted the base. We took the shade off of a broken lamp we already had. It looks great, and cost a total of around $4.00.

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 06:04:52 +0000

Deputy Headmistress, very clever!

By: deputyheadmistress

deputyheadmistress — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 02:08:10 +0000

My potrack. We have a kitchen with no cupboards, and we cook for 9 people every day, most of us home for all three meals. I wanted a potrack. I picked up this thing-that-was-not-a-potrack at a second hand store for six dollars, turned it over, hubby hung it up and now it is a potrack. http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2005/11/kitchen-solutions.html

Needing more space in my kitchen, I put a hutch (picked up free) on top of a workbench (free when friend’s moved).

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 04:06:40 +0000

That’s a nice job, Kim! My wife, too, has done wonders with spray paint. Good money savings!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 23:57:42 +0000

I really wanted a mirror for over our fireplace, so I went to the thrift store, bought and old bathroom vanity cabinet with a huge oval mirror as the door. Then I bought some picture hanging hardware and a can of black spray paint and turned it into this. I spent about $14 for what was at least $40 in home stores.

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 03:56:36 +0000

Actually Jim, it’s the one in Woodbridge VA, right across from Potomac Mills outlet mall. The whole Ikea experience was pretty overwhelming the first time I went there.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 20:28:00 +0000

Are you talking about the College Park IKEA? I moved into the area the weekend it opened up, IKEA is awesome.

As for me, I like to add things to the house as I go along – don’t spend a whole lot all at once. I have a townhouse that is more than enough room for me and so I have yet to really furnish the basement.

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:18:38 +0000

Aha!! Be content with what you have! What a novel idea! That saves the most money of all.