Before this very LOOOONNNGGG post begins ( sorry about that, I have missed you!), I have to show you my anniversary card from Hubby.
Here is the front of the card:
and here is the inside.
I thought it was the PERFECT anniversary card from a dude who had moved my stuff around for two weeks now while I try to settle in.
Unpacking is 99% complete and decorating has begun in earnest. Because I am way more savvy than my last move about bargain shopping I decided to challenge myself for decorating our new home:
- Use as many of the things I currently own to decorate my new house as possible. If I loved them enough to lug them across south-east Texas, the least I can do is find a spot for them!
- Incorporate elements from the color scheme I have chosen in the main rooms. Bedrooms will have their own personality.
- Keep the decorating budget to $200 per room. I love a challenge.
When we started this adventure of moving into a new home, it was our plan to downsize. That did not happen. We found a great home, on a cul de sac, near our jobs that was 60 square feet bigger than our City House. Because we planned on downsizing I cleaned house. I sold, gifted and donated a ton. If I did not love it or need it- out it went. I must tell you folks, it was a little liberating. What we kept for in the house fit in a 16 foot Pods Container and a 16 foot storage unit.
For the first time in my life we have empty drawers in the kitchen, and space in the closet. We are still working through a lack of storage in the bathrooms but I have a plan for that. Additional cabinets are in our future.
Before we moved in I worked feverishly on getting some unique furniture pieces ready and we will continue to add. If you click on the links it will take you to the projects we have been working on. We got a French Provincial dresser and headboard ready, and coral colored end tables
a beverage station for the back porch,
recovered dining room chairs, and found some awesome yellow chairs at a garage sale. My favorite pieces have made the move. My mudroom bench is in, although it is a little worse for the wear- it will need some touch up paint.
My farmhouse table made the trip too. In the near future there will be a bench at the foot of our bed, a back porch that my son says is going to look like the inside of a bag of Skittles, a unique kitchen island using this beauty below,
a home office and a media center for the TV. (wait until you see the dresser Hubby found for me on Craig’s List!
All that being said… I am WAAY short on accessories. I just don’t have enough unique items to make the home feel lived in. I have focused so much on the furniture that I just didn’t think about the little things that make a home unique. I have not been buying those items. A visit from my friend Shahana confirmed that we just don’t have enough “stuff”. She came over to help me decorate the top of the pie safe and cabinets but we were just stumped.
Right now it looks so…generic. new. mass produced. NOT ME AT ALL
The best option for me to decorate is also earth friendly. Resale, re-purpose and create. Oh, and clearance/sale shopping. Yes there are going to be some new things too.
This painting is in our family room.
A quick trip with Shahana to Goodwill and $69.00 later I got everything below including this awesome huge basket,
this jug (It had a light kit in it, but they had not damaged the jug- I think it is old for real, which I love),
these matching lamps that are going to be worked over ( Hubby is being a little resistant to my painting the glass- so I think the shades are getting painted along with all the metal on them…for now…in the spirit of world home peace),
this ornate frame with a print in it that is going to be an art project ( think herringbone and check out one of my pages on Pinterest- New Home Pinterest Page),
a chicken plate to hang, ( I have a shelf project in store for above the buffet that will incorporate the chicken plate.) these three platters that will look awesome on the Skittle porch,
this woven greenish tray,
and this huge metal can of some sort. I love the can but am just not sure what it was for. Right now it has a barn painted on it but that is only temporary. It is going to get stripped, a paint job, a big sanding and hopefully it will look it’s rustic aged self again.
Here is the running total for the bedrooms: (I will have previews of the kitchen, breakfast room and den on Sunday)
Master Bedroom
$20.00 for two new lamps and shades
$10.00 for I Love You More Pillow–Yay Kirkland’s one day deal sales- get on their email list if you have one near by. They send out alerts when they put items on sale for 24 hours only.
$92.00 for Burlap Curtains- I found these 96″ curtains on sale for $23.00 a panel at Hancock Fabrics- lined natural burlap, so they had to come to our house. I am making curtains for the den/dining/family room but they will not be lined.
More to come. The bench needs nail head trim so there will be an additional cost and we desperately need artwork. i think there is a project in my future.
Green Bedroom
The dresser and headboard were purchased for $80.00 and painted for $15.00.
The curtains were $30.00.
A $20.00 World Market shade and a 12.00 accent pillow.
Front Bedroom
Wow this room is going to be a beauty! No hints on this one because I am so excited for you to see the before and after of this room. The only thing I am showing you that is finished for the room is this awesome lamp.
Purchased for $2.00 at a resale shop, I spray painted the nasty amber glass and metal ($4.00 for a can of spray paint- new avacado). The shade was $1.00 at a church garage sale. Love it. Love it more that the whole lamp cost $7.00. I am planning a DIY on lamps soon. They are not hard to take apart and re-do.
I have also purchased some fabric for pillow shams- $6.00
Art work $29.00
Oops paint for the furniture I will be painting- $2.00
Not too bad huh? I made a haul! I am working feverishly on getting the items settled in to their new homes.
I will be updating the rooms and will be adding pictures to the cul de sac page on the blog. The fun is beginning.
The Southern Belle is scheduled to arrive this evening! We are so very excited to have her come visit and I have all the items required for a burlap pillow project lined up. She requested it, I promise!
Leave a Reply