Archive for the ‘thrifty’ Category

Thrifty!

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Oh my.

I just checked and the last time I went thrifting was in May – and come on that didn’t even really count. I mean I went to one estate sale and one thrift store on the way home which is pretty much like not going at all, you know, like dog years are to human years – two months not thrifting is like two years to me. Damn you crazy day job schedule!

On the way home from a botched trip of fun I made The Boy stop at my favorite Salvation Army in hopes of beating some traffic. I blame him. He found this painting of Captain Seaman or whatnot and pointed it out to me. Even though a moratorium was placed on buying any new art, I just couldn’t resist.

Look at that wee little child molester mustache and the lazy eye. Classic.

In order to show off Captain Cool Guy’s installation here is a sneaky peek at how the master bedroom is shaping up. The new dresser is chillaxing, waiting for an oily rub down and the bed is in some desperate need of attention. Still have a lot to do, but hopefully it turns out all right.

Anyone have a source for a perfect light gray duvet? That is super affordable and awesomely simple. Speaking of, why are bed linens so fugly and expensive!?

Craigslist

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

I picked up a vintage Danish dresser off a lady out in the desert. It was weird. Craigslist is weird sometimes.

I drove a good two hours after work in about 120 degree heat to get to her place in Indio. When I got out to her dismal place the piece was WAY MORE damaged than her posting or pictures alluded to. Chips, missing veneer, scratches, water damaged – pretty much the gamut of shit that can go wrong with furniture. Originally I had talked her down to $100 via email when it was clear that the listing had been languishing on CL for some time, but when I arrived and saw what kind of shape the dresser was in I was like I will give you forty bucks and you should thank me.

We argued. She gave me a sob story about her divorce after 30 years and her ten kids. I sweated in the UNBEARABLE heat. She talked me up, I talked her down and finally we arrived at  a price under a $100 but over $40. Pretty much I didn’t want to have wasted my time driving all the way out there.

I’m going to fix it up as much as I can and have it live in the master bedroom. Since we got rid of almost everything in there at the big sale this is one of the first steps for the big redecoration of the master bedroom – yet again.

Hopefully by the end of summer we can pull it together. I’ve got some projects brewing…

Thrifty!

Monday, May 24th, 2010

I don’t know if anyone has noticed but I have gone a whole month without thrifting – which must be some sort of crazy miracle. We’ve been so consumed with prepping and painting the exterior that all that fun weekend free time evaporated into sunburns, sore backs and clumps of paint stuck in various body hair.

This Sunday there was a freak thunderstorm that rolled into Hemet that destroyed our plans to finish up painting the front of the house. I took the opportunity to break my thrifting dry spell and hit up a 50% off estate sale and a couple of thrift stores including the brand new Goodwill (Hemet’s one and only).

The estate sale was pretty much a depressing bust but I went enticed by and ended up buying this vintage spider leg table. I’m kind of clueless about where to put it in the house but was sold on the low price and elegant curves. When I pulled up to the house with my loot the Boy sarcastically stated, “Oh, another table? Yeah, we totally need some more of those.”

The new Goodwill doesn’t have a huge furniture or home wear section but I did spy this credenza for $50. It was in pretty rough shape and wasn’t super design exciting, so I passed on it even though I’ve been on the hunt for a credenza for the master bedroom.

I did pick up some ceramic pieces…of course…

I loved the graphic black etched pattern on this little pitcher. I wish it was larger – I’d totally use it too water my thirsty house plants.

I also grabbed this vintage Heath serving bowl and platter set. It’s pretty large and in fairly decent shape. Great for chips…or stew…or soup? Good for something…