Thrifty!

April 12th, 2011

Awhile ago I found this super amazing mini chrome arc lamp and thought, oh I really love it, it’s so amazing and 70′s and sexy and sassy and makes my mouth water. The only problem is that it’s all by its lonesome.

BAM!

Now I’ve got a pair. How is this possible? By what crazy miracle, right?

Well, one day I get this text message from Sharon that is like, hey, is this your lamp? Then the picture pops up and I freak out, because yes, it is the other half to my lamp and someone I know is standing very close to it. I asked where are you? Where is it? How do I get my greedy hands on it? Turns out it’s in an antique mall (you know the kind, with all the booths of faux Victorian and beanie baby stuff) and because the place doesn’t traffic in “vintage modern” stuff it turns out that the price is delectable.

I immediately text back buy buy buy and amazingly she did because she is amazing. Now it’s here chilling in the bedroom even though my plans for finishing the bedroom do not necessarily include these bad boys. I have another place I’ve been dreaming of putting them…

Gratuitous dog photos, I know, but it’s becoming kind of an issue to take photos without these two getting all up in my grill. Truthfully, more like Bowie getting all up in it, since he’s the camera slut.

The bedroom needs some work. The textiles are whacktastic, but mainly they are functional place holders – except for this brown blanket which I love and will always remain. (Thanks Summer!)

Still need:

highboy
headboard
bigger rug
closet handles
proper bedding

Never ending stuff to do around here, peeps. Important, life altering, serious high minded work to be done – like picking out sheets once and for all. Serious business, I’m telling you.
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    44 Comments

    1. Tonia on 04/12/2011:

      OH Snap! I’ve been hunting high and low for these lamps. I had a gold pharmacy style floor lamp, and recently found one exactly like for 4 bucks. I’m so jealous :) , now Im going to have to start my hunt again after seeing yours. I had forgotten about them….

    2. bianca of terri planty on 04/12/2011:

      lucky lady! that rocks.
      the dogs are looking pretty cute too.
      love how iggy is like screw all of you, i am sleepy.

    3. sudha on 04/12/2011:

      awesome!! i have been looking for a floor one for so long…never knew there were table versions as well…sweet!

    4. Raina @ If the Lamp Shade Fits on 04/12/2011:

      The blogosphere is magical. Congrats!

    5. Michelle | GOLD-HEARTED GIRL on 04/12/2011:

      Those lamps rule! Yes, I said rule. But seriously, I can’t think of a better word…they’re just…they rule.

    6. tracy on 04/12/2011:

      damn those lamps. (and i can never get enough of those pups.)

    7. Florian on 04/12/2011:

      LOL. You Americans and your bedding. And all those cushions and pillows and bedspreads. Just gimme one pillow and a duvet covered in plain white cotton, no patterns, no nothing, and I’m a happy boy.

      In American hotels it always takes me forever just to declutter the bed. And where do you put the stuff, when you’re sleeping? Heaped in pile on the floor, for the germy germs to crawl in?

      Seriously it looks gorgeous. I love the italian seventies vibe of the lamp and they go great with the brown bedspread and the burly tables.

    8. Fat Cat on 04/12/2011:

      Jeez ! Your thrifting skills rule !

      Florian’s comment made me laugh – I was just thinking the same :-)

      Why don’t you like your covers ? The black and white ones are awesome.

    9. ALICE IN DESIGNLAND on 04/12/2011:

      How fortunate you are to have friends who look out for you while shopping. If only I had such kind buddies. I’m with Fat Cat I think I like the current bedding. It will be even better once you have a headboard to anchor things.

    10. Mea on 04/12/2011:

      These dogs are killing me. I never liked dogs. I never liked Chihuahuas. Now I freaking love them and can’t stop grinning stupidly everytime I see one.
      Lamps are awesome but need some colourful contrast e.g. on the wall above. I love the blanket WITH THESE pillows.

    11. Tamisha on 04/12/2011:

      Love the new lamps. What happened to the old ones, with all their “I dream of Jeannie” gorgeousness?

    12. L on 04/12/2011:

      Magnificent combo: lamps + textiles + cute pups. Seriously, what’s wrong with your beddressing? Me ‘n’ Fat Cat wanna know.

    13. Suzy8track on 04/12/2011:

      OK…its official…I hate you! Kidding of course…but I am totally jealous of your lamps!

    14. Laura on 04/12/2011:

      The lamps are sick! You must have some good karma coming from somewhere. I’ve made this suggestion before and I can’t help repeating—as the bed is wider than the space between the windows, instead of a regular headboard I think a wall of West Elm canvas window panels in flax (which are super cheap and match your awesome blanket) hung from the ceiling the length of the bed wall would do the trick. They’d act as a visual anchor for the bed, quiet the room, and block some morning rays. There! I won’t say that anymore. Promise.

    15. Conan on 04/12/2011:

      Anybody that has a problem with photos of adorable puppies can leave my blog alone as far as I’m concerned. Actually, right now it’s mostly our kitten that’s been inspecting our bathroom remodel and making sure everything is going to plan.

      But yeah, I love it when the powers of the internet unite to make your house more awesome. That’s how we got our clawfooted tub for super cheap.

    16. lisa @ fixityourself.com on 04/12/2011:

      love those tables and the lamps look great! i’m so amazed at the thrifty good luck of other people . . . .

    17. Brittan on 04/12/2011:

      your dogs are killing me softly with their cuteness. I wannnttt one….

      I love the lamps, and I LOVE this blog! xo

    18. Samara@ metalista jewelry on 04/12/2011:

      I’m confused – did you get rid of the teak head board. I loved that so much. Or maybe this is a different room.

    19. molly on 04/12/2011:

      love your bedroom. where did you get that bedding. its amamzing.

    20. Alessandro on 04/12/2011:

      I don’t even want to hear what you paid for those cuz i am so jealous, haha, just kiddding. I recently saw the exact lamp for sale at a vintage shop nearby and it was selling for $250. I wanted it but decided the price was too steep. I bet you paid nowhere near that price from the sound of your post.

    21. Ashley on 04/12/2011:

      What did you ever do with your Original BTC lamps? Are they up for grabs?

    22. my little apartment on 04/12/2011:

      nooooooo! eff youuuuuu! that is what I neeeeeeeed!

    23. maya on 04/12/2011:

      ohhhhhhhh!

    24. Amanda on 04/12/2011:

      AWESOME!

      I am lovin me some sad Bowie mouth. Look at the pic- he has a sad face:) Those wrinkles…

    25. Rebecca on 04/12/2011:

      LOVE those lamps. and those puppies. Bowie can be as camera slutty as he wants because he is CUTE!

    26. Leslie on 04/12/2011:

      Where did you get those black and white pillow shams????? I LOVE them!! And you, of course. ;)

    27. Lena on 04/12/2011:

      @Leslie: I believe they are from Ikea. The other side is orange, I think.

    28. laurenjanelle on 04/12/2011:

      I had a similar thing happen to me a few years ago. I had this wonderful appleseed necklace that was my mom’s in the 60′s. I had worn it so much that the seeds had broken off in a lot of places and it wasn’t wearable anymore. I was in a vintage clothes shop and my friends picked up a necklace that looked exactly like it. I was so excited. Thankfully there were two of them so we were both able to get them. You lamps are much cooler than my necklace so I can only imagine how excited you are!

    29. Tanya from Dans le Townhouse on 04/12/2011:

      Some folks have all the luck! Buy a lotto ticket while you’re still lucky. Lamp looks lovely with its partner.

    30. Angie on 04/12/2011:

      Once again sweet find! But I love the picture of your boys, Bowie is a cutie!!

    31. jennifer on 04/12/2011:

      well if you must know @florian, americans have REALLY big heads and it takes a lot of pillows to hold them up at night. i’ve got like 16 on my bed.

    32. modernhaus on 04/12/2011:

      Oh Bowie, I can’t help it. I quiero Taco Bell every time I see you…

    33. Central-Portugal on 04/12/2011:

      Lucky you! Those lamps are amazing.

    34. THE BRICK HOUSE on 04/13/2011:

      I really need to get some threaded comments going. It is such a pain when I need to reply.

      The BTC will be for sale, very soon.

      The bedding is mostly from Target, the brown bedspread was found by modernhaus & then sadly handed over to me.

      I just don’t like the bedding. I want something simpler – I would LOVE to go all white, but have been forbidden by Jeremy and the dogs. Maybe I’ll do it just to spite them.

      I need three pillow to sleep comfortably. Because I’m an over indulged American.

    35. orea on 04/13/2011:

      i love the bedding all together. it’s the best bedding you’ve posted. the crazy prints look amazing together!

    36. pam on 04/13/2011:

      Awesome, gorgeous lamps. Congratulations.

      Ikea has some nice mid-tone grey linen for $5.99/yard. Why not have some made up into a duvet, shams and pillowcases? I seem to recall you were looking at such but the prices were sky-high (I covet same). A drycleaner could probably do it for you, one who does simple clothing repairs, as they often do simple seamstress jobs like curtains…or surely there’s some old lady in Hemet who takes in sewing. Ask at a local fabric shop. In my experience, white’s not that bad–cheap, easy to replace, bleachable–so maybe a good combo for you, too.

      And thanks for the spelling corrections. It makes your posts much easier to read.

      Just finished (well, almost) a kitchen reno in my 1966 house in Austin. OMG, so happy. You are an inspiration; thank you.

      Pam

    37. erin@designcrisis on 04/13/2011:

      Your thrift karma is truly epic!

    38. Hilary Inspired on 04/13/2011:

      WOW! Seriously cool…this is the kind of thing we thrifters usually only dream of!

    39. jennifer on 04/13/2011:

      love the pups! they fit perfectly into your room! =)

    40. Jen on 04/14/2011:

      The dogs are ALWAYS a treat and the bedding looks all kinds of killer. I have all white and dogs. Spare yourself the pain and laundry detergent.

    41. Anna on 04/14/2011:

      radical. some great friends you got there.

    42. annie on 04/17/2011:

      Yes, I do know those kind of antique malls with beanie babies and other crap, etc. Very funny! Hard to believe you (or Sharon) actually found your lamp. Meant to be!

    43. Rick on 04/26/2011:

      Ahhh I wish my girls were more like Bowie. Thye are so camera shy. I think the flash has adverse effects on them.
      Can’t wait to see it all with a headboard. I love the lamps.

    44. Danielle on 06/14/2011:

      You are the thrifting GOD! You have such great luck…why can’t I ever find anything that sexy!?!

      I would be happy to take them off your hands when you decide to sell them! Please let me know…I need those bad boyz…badly!

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