So long to Young House Love...

I have been reading the Young House Love blog for years (and years...). Unfortunately it looks like blogging has become to much for the young family and, a few weeks ago, they said good-bye the their followers. A quick search of my blog archives told me that I have never actually written anything about them, they have been a part of my "my favorite blogs to visit..." list since I began this blog in 2009.

...since their house looked like this...

...and happy Halloween!!

Furnishing a Living Room and Master Bedroom with Todays Online Thrift Finds

Below are my finds from today that could furnish a living room and master bedroom... with a little DIY magic.

Master bedroom solid wood dresser (picture it painted cream) $80 and it comes with...

... a bedside table (again painted cream)...

... and headboard and bed frame (and again painted cream)...

... and a wood framed mirror (not painted and used in the living room)...

All that for $80! That's why I love used furniture!

Living room extra solid wood chairs (painted cream) 2 x $10 each

Coffee table (also painted cream) $40

 Solid wood dresser (again painted cream & with new hardware) $50
 

Solid wood side table (painted black) $10

 All this for $200!

Just to give you a little inspiration- here's what the extra chairs could look like with a coat of paint...

Thrift Finds and There Unlimited Potential...

Anyone who reads this blog knows I love thrift store finds (or online finds). Here are some of my recent finds and their potential (with a little DIY).

A solid, wood desk (asking $25 on Kijiji)

 ... plus a coat of paint and some new handles equals...

A solid, wood dining table (with leaf, asking $25 on Kijiji)

  ... plus a coat of paint and some chairs equals...

A long, solid wood dresser (asking $30 on Kijiji)

... plus a coat of paint and some new hardware equals...

A large, solid wood buffet and hutch (asking $40 on Kijiji)

... plus a coat of paint, new hardware and great accessories equals...

or...

 

... the possibilities are endless and all done on the cheap!

Cheap to Chic

Have you ever been to a home where someone has clearly tried to decorate, but they haven't quite pulled it off? Instead of looking fabulous, the space just looks cheap...

Here are some of my ideas of where people go wrong...

1) flat, under-stuffed pillows

versus plush, fluffy pillows

  

2)  comforters on beds with no throw cushions

 

versus a duvet and cover and throw pillows

3) wall art hung too high

 

versus properly scaled, wall art hung at the appropriate eye level (i.e., 10-12 inches above furniture or 55-66 inches standing level)

4) skimpy curtains hung improperly (i.e., thin, small curtains hung too low on top of the window and not hung far enough out on the sides of the wall)

versus full curtains hung well above the window frame (to make the window seem bigger) and hung far enough out on the wall beside the window (to allow as much light in as possible)

Budget Decorating with Found Objects

beach pebbles

sea glass

driftwood

sea shells

pine cones

leaves

wood stumps