See this plate holder? It cost me $3.00!
We have been spending the last few weekends checking out the local thrift stores. After 15 years we are finally re-doing some of the rooms in the house! I love decorating (and fashion just in case you couldn't tell. LOL). As a kid while others were hanging out I had my head buried in a book or magazine. Usually a romance novel in an exotic locations, women wearing fancy dresses and living in beautiful homes. I knew even as a teen that I wanted to be in fashion or some type of decorating business. Back then I had big dreams that included design school and moving to NY or Atlanta to become a buyer for a big design firm or chain store! Instead I met and married the love of my life and started raising kids. No matter where we have lived I have always decorated my home. My kids grew up with a china on the dining table, porcelain figurines, and flowers! Lots of silk flowers because I couldn't afford the real ones! LOL
I sprayed the shelf with some medal paint and added the pineapple plates that I got for $1.00! I'm going for a french country/tropical feel (and yes, I made that up)!
This wall sconce/shelf was a yucky color so I sprayed it with the same paint I used on the plate rack. Now I just need to find something cute to put on the shelf! Who knows what I will find this week while scouting the thrift stores (and yes, finding the great bargains is just as much fun as the decorating itself).
Speaking of paint I decided to stain the end tables I brought last week with a dark ebony stain rather just painting them black. I have never done this before so this should be very interesting to say the least!
The kitchen is not safe from my decorating frenzy either! That room is getting new flooring (free thanks to a cousin who gave us a boat load of tile this past summer). And hopefully I will finally get to paint the cabinets. These napkin rings and the sconce were $2.00 each.
The mitts and dishrags came from the dollar store. Again, think bargain, bargain. Decorating does not have to be overly expensive!
I can't wait to fill this bucket with flowers. I'm thinking hydrangeas and peonies!!! I went to Michael's Sunday and found lots of floral stems on sale, just need to decide on colors!
This plate holder can cost you $30 if brought new. I picked it up for $4.00! And the plates were $2.00. If you look real close you can see the paint samples I'm looking at for the diningroom. The bottom will have panels painted white and the top will be green.
I did pick up the these lovely candleholders from Michael's while there. All of their cottage theme items are 40% off this week.
Yes, I am obsessed with sconces!!! These were originally $7.00. I looked at them when we went a few days ago and left them there because of the price. The next day they were 50% off!!!! I'm going to spray paint them a nice shiny white and hang photos above them so that they will look as if they are being used as a shelf!
I picked up these lovely (and very heavy) palm tree candlesticks from the same shop that I picked up the sconces above. They were $10.00 but by waiting an additional day I got them for $5.00!!!! They can be used in the familyroom, the kitchen, or the diningroom. I love rotating items from room to room, and on a few occasions they will show up as part of my set up for a party or special event.
Speaking of special events. As many dinners as we hold at WABC, I never seem to have enough serving dishes. So when I see a plate rack for $3.00 I would be crazy not to pick it up. Several of my dishes were used just this past weekend at the Rainbow Tea that was held at church. I'm sure this one will make it to the table eventually.
The best find of the entire weekend was this mirror that is proudly holding court in my diningroom now. I saw this a few days ago and fell in love with it right away, but it was $60.00!!! There was no way I was going to pay that amount at a thrift store (even though I knew if it was it a traditional store it would have been close to $150-$200). A few days later when Marc and I went back for the 50 % sale I checked to see if the mirror was still there. I couldn't find it so I grabbed my other finds and headed for the check out line. Guess what was leaning up against the counter as if it was waiting for me? My first thought was that it had been sold but when Marc asked the clerk she said no...I'm telling you it was fate. HAHA I can't wait to see how it looks once I paint the wall a bit darker. I have the feeling its really going to stand out. Sorry for the long post, but if your a decorating junkie like me you won't mind.
I'm really picky when it comes to thrift shop shopping and I'm serious about saving money when I shop. Thankfully I know a bit about what items are good quality (and a good bargain) so I don't just pick up items to be picking them up. Also I will be sending lots of stuff to my local thrift store in the coming weeks because when you add more stuff something has to go. Best part is that this allows me to support our local Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters.
