THRIFT LATTICE LAMP REVAMP & SPRING VIGNETTE

The Spring weather here in AZ has been amazing lately - perfect for outdoor painting projects and thrifting. Over the weekend, I drove out of my area to  explore some thrift shops more north and I picked up an awesome lamp to makeover. Since I'm done with spring cleaning and purging, I decided to restyle the bedroom for Spring / Summer and this lamp was the perfect little update for a window vignette, on my chest drawers. The lamp had awesome scale & texture - plus it was a GREAT deal at 50% off the thrift price at Goodwill AZ during their Super Saturday Sale. When lamps easily go for $50 each and up, finding this for only $7.50 was a steal! It didn't have a shade, but I had seen one sitting on the top of one of their fixtures that would work great, also for 50% off of $3 - Shades too can easily run $20 and up, depending on their size, pattern and material.  Since I was refreshing a few accessories with blue, I only used half a can of paint plus I already had the Primer, a harp and a finial, although I'd like to find a more decorative finial to really make it special. I have been looking at the blue & white ginger jar lamps at HomeGoods, but they're out of my budget ($69 - $99 ea) and I did see a solid navy Ralph Lauren lamp at HomeGoods, but it too was $99. I didn't want to blow my entire gift-card on the one item, so I used those lamps as inspiration to create this Look For Less for my Spring / Summer Bedroom ReStyle. Blue Ralph Lauren lamps on their 'Home' site go for $600 - $1800 -- and my thrift lamp + revamp total came to only $11 total, which is why I heart thrifting: You never know what treasure you'll find, you can personalize it, and you save these items from ending up in a land-fill. Here's a thrift lattice lamp revamp...

The all-in-one Before & After + How To DIY is above (perfect for pinning!)

Below is the breakdown and vignette details... 

Color Inspiration from Ralph Lauren Lamps

 

The lamp had been passed over since March 6!  

Thrift Tip: Look at style + texture + scale when thrifting for home accents: Anything can be refreshed and coordinate with your decor with a fresh coat of paint!

 

I use foil to cover the socket and painters tape for crisp edges.

 

After cleaning the lamp, I gave it two coats of Primer (since the lamp was glazed ceramic). This will help the new gloss paint better adhere to the lamp.

 

Using gloss on this piece really helps show off its texture & details, plus the furniture in the space is flat finished. Gloss accents add interest in a space.

 

 

 Here's a peek at the other accessories I painted at the same time - all with the same serpentine line...

 

These terracotta urns I've had since my apartment days - LOVE their shape + weight. They originally were their natural color (terracotta) but I've painted them white, black & gold, back to white, and now the blue. I may add banding at the neck with sisal rope.

 

These rattan storage jars were black when I bought them (from Pier 1) back in '07, and I painted them white in 2010, which made a great base now for the navy to be a true blue.  Painting Tip: Whenever painting something woven, paint upside down FIRST to ensure an even and strong coverage.

  

These accessories have the serpentine line (a "serpentine line is an "S" shaped form), similar to the lamp. The lamp originally had a white base, I thought I would like to keep, so I had covered it, But when I removed the tape after painting, I didn't like it. Rather than spray the base the same as the lamp, I dry-brushed the Old Navy paint I still have from the buffet I painted last year (see Summer ReStyle) and it worked to still give a two-tone effect - which contrasts better on the silver-leaf chest of drawers...

 

I love the texture & scale of the shade, but since it's so old, how would I clean it before adding it to the bedroom? A light brushing took away some of the dust from the textured crevices and I sealed it with two coats of clear matte sealer. It brought back its life and made the shade look like new. It's texture & tone pairs great with the sifting baskets I've collected here in AZ, and I use as wall decor...

 

Since we're renting, I'm not spending money on making custom draperies. A great alternative for panels to frame a window is to use drop cloths (you can paint your own design or leave natural) or buy patterned tablecloths. For us: this window faces north, so it doesn't get direct sun and doesn't need heavy black panels. These linen blend cloths with a blue ticking stripe helped to soften the window lines and frame the bedroom vignette. I picked up the pair at HomeGoods for under $35, which is a great deal on panels, especially since these are both 108".

Layers of light are essential to a Bedroom ReStyle: Here I included natural, ambient and a scented candle, from HomeGoods.

 

Details for the vignette:

Lattice Lamp + Burlap Shade - Thrift ($9 + $2 for half can of paint)

Sifting basket as a tray - Thrift ($1)

Small glass dish with shell - Thrift ($2)

Blue Book - Thrift ($.50)

Keepsake shell - our anniversary trip to San Diego 2012

Blue & White covered jar & vase - Ross (both under $20)

White pedestal bowl - TurnStyle Consignment $2

White linen sheer from West Elm - Thrift ($4)

Scented candle + 2 cloths as panels - HomeGoods (gift-card)

Branches (Free)

Blossoms - Micheal's ('05)

Silver-leaf chest of drawers - Florida Furniture Clearance Center ('05) $200

Merging old and new + new to you = Personalizing Your Style!

Do you shop thrift?

What was your latest find? 

You may also enjoy reading:

Thrift Tips & Blue Finds For Summer

Relaxed Summer ReStyle Home Tour Video

Thanks for stopping by!

 Note: This post is sponsored by HomeGoods and the Happy By Design project. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Shopping Around: Comp Shopping Good Better Best

Funny how after all the years I worked in retail, I won't pay full price for anything. Between shopping off season, sales, discounts and knowing which sources to go to, I find ways to save money and still create a stylish look for a home (or now an office) on a small budget. It's not about settling for less, but being flexible and creative when creating a space. Even when I planned floor moves at JCP, I'd present three options - Think Good - Better - Best. I see myself doing the same process when shopping around for a project - wanting to get the most bang for your buck. Originally, I had included a beautiful piece I spotted online at ZGallerie - Blossom Melody - good, but priced at $300. When I took my client shopping, and showed her, she really liked it, but I sensed she was taken back by the tag. Keeping that in mind, along with adding up the other items needed for the makeover, I kept an eye out for a lower priced replacement.

ZGalllerie - Blossom Melody - $300

 

 

 

REVISION TO POST: Found exact match for a $200 SAVINGS

 

Blossoms Wall Art at Bed Bath and Beyond only $99

 

World Market - Garden Party

I thought I had found the right replacement at World Market - Garden Party by Jodi Maas - a canvas, slightly smaller than the ZGallerie canvas, but better priced at $99 and on sale for $79. The colors are perfect (the shades of green/blue) and the organic lines will be a great contrast to the Bradstreet Slipper chairs I found at Wayfair. But Saturday, the deal got even better...

 Lowes - Ode To Spring

While out Saturday, I popped in Lowes. No joke -- Out of the corner of my eye , while on my way to the restroom, I noticed that blue-green color in a box I had just passed by. I walked back to it and pulled up a great looking blossom canvas, even better than the one at World Market (because it had more blossoms, less branch and no orange) -- but the BEST part was the price: only $39.98 for Lowes - Ode To Spring Would you believe, I put it back... walked away... and said, "No, I'll regret it." So I went back and got it. When I put it in my holding space with the other items I've collected for the makeover, I couldn't be happier! This gives $200+ back into the budget to put towards something else (like a console table).

 

The colors keep changing in the light...

 

The Bradstreet Slipper Chair has blue + Green + Grey in it - LOVE it!

The picture on the floor is of 2 olioboards I printed to one cardstock for my notebook.

Patience pays and again, not all great deals are online. NOT that I'm knocking e-commerce at all: great to "know-before-you-go" shopping, what stores are  charging for the item you're looking for. Than you'll know if/when you're getting a good deal at a brick & mortar store. Some other finds I spotted at Lowes...

 AWESOME Greek Key pillow covers at Lowes...

 

Yes - Only 6.98!

 

Window panels with fretwork banding...

 

Since the blossoms canvas will be in the reception area, these two smaller canvas pieces can work on the bookcase in the office to give it a little color...

"IF" there is extra money at the end of the project, or the client decides she REALLY wants the ZGallerie one (and won't mind going over budget), I'll gladly go do an exchange run. And there is a pretty cool connection to the ZGallerie Blossom Melody wall art: the artist, Lynlie Carson, is from Arizona. In the meantime, its become an inspiration piece along with her existing Tao wall art to remain...

 

Client pieces (above) inspired the original concept (below)...

 

UPDATE: Space has been installed since post - and client (plus her clients) are THRILLED with the end result! Post + tour coming up shortly!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

SNEAK PEEK: CHANDLER OFFICE REDESIGN

Seeing an email of four little words brought a smile to my face: "your order has shipped" means I can continue the course as planned! The plan isn't for me, but for a doctor's office makeover & update project I'm working on - my first here in Arizona! Happy and grateful for it. The project had first started out as helping to pick out a replacement sofa... and then some chairs... then the office space... and grew to include updating the adjoining reception area. For the reception area, I picked out a pair of stripe slipper chairs from the Angelo Surmelis Bradstreet collection I spotted on Wayfair.com. Before purchasing them, I wanted to see a swatch of the actual colors - but at the site, none were available. Not a problem though: I occasionally tweet with Angelo, so I sent him a DM (Direct Message) to ask if a swatch was available, and he gave me the email of a contact. About two weeks later, I received a postcard image of the chair (as a settee - looks great!) with a swatch. When I went to my second meeting for the office makeover, I was able to share the image and swatch with my client - and she loved it. After firming up a few other selections for the makeover, I placed the order and it's shipping! Now I need to brave the cold temps outside to re-organize the garage to make space for this Wayfair order... plus a few other items I picked up locally and the pieces I'm having shipped here for the makeover. Here's a peek at the process...

Sample from Angelo...

 

Love the look for the space - Just may need to stain the legs a little darker: more black - less red. 

 

Using Olioboard, I was able to create these info pages, making it easier to make selections during my second meeting with the client. Keeping all project info (samples, Olioboards, sources) together in a binder makes it SO easy to show during meet-ups and when shopping locally.

 

Bradstreet Slipper Chair pair - by Angelo Surmelis - at Wayfair

I actually got these for a really good price. When I first saw them online in December, they were on sale then back to regular price, then on sale again PLUS an extra 10% off!

Having extra samples of paint swatches makes it much easier to carry into store to match VS the entire color deck. I also picked up the two wall color paint samples at my local Benjamin Moore (Desert Green for main office area and Jack In The Beanstalk for the reception area). Since the green changes color with lighting and other items in the space, I also picked up a color I found online called "Unusual Grey" (and oh is it!) from Sherwin Williams. I'm painting these onto foamcore panels as samples rather than mess up her walls (she still needs to see clients).

 

 Blossom Melody Canvas at Z Gallerie 

Above is wall art for the reception area I spotted online at ZGallerie. When we went on a shopping trip two weeks ago, I showed it to my client and she REALLY liked it - but it's $300. We're not totally removing it from the plan - it depends on other expenses. I spotted an option for less the other day when I popped into World Market, and it's on sale...

 

 

Garden Party at World Market

 Going vertical in the small space may actually work better...

And it will still have the same feel from mixing the graphic stripe chair with the organic abstract wall art...

 

(existing reception area space)

After spending a day together shopping, I observed more about my client to make me revise my plan. Above is my original concept for the reception area + counseling area. The counseling area is a little too contrasting with the B&W pattern. To sooth & calm the space, but still have pattern, I opted for more grey & white pattern with touches of black. To give more light to the space (gets very dark in the late evening when she is still seeing clients) I'm going for white drum shades...

 

Original counseling area concept (above)

Revised counseling area concept (below) 

I really wanted to have used these window panels (below) in the counseling area, but the actual pair in the store (JCP) has a more warm-taupe background VS the more icy-cool image shown online. Since there is a taupe stripe in the  slipper chairs, I'll use them in the reception area.

Steeple Grey Studio Hudson panels at JCP.

Although these panels are on back-order online, they are available at the store.

 

Chloe Sofa in slate at Macy's.

The sofa was ordered too, but that will take a little longer to ship out because the grey fabric selected wasn't a stock fabric - The sofa is scheduled to arrive in LA by early March, and be delivered the following week, which is when the space will be painted, and new light fixtures will be installed. Although I was hesitant on the fabric selection (only available in velvet) the classic style & tufting are great for the space - but more importantly the SIZE is perfect. This was the first sofa choice I had shown my client, and any other option just didn't measure-up. Seriously: many sofas are 80+ inches and love seats are too small. This is an apartment size sofa at 76" which will fit perfectly to replace the existing sofa.

 Ordering the screen today - The organic print will give balance to the graphic prints in the space plus relate to the existing (and sentimental) wall art: a trio of signed Tao prints.

I'm still hunting for a pair of (reasonably priced) oval back chairs - preferably in an ebony finish with a grey & white pattern. I'm not opposed to thrifting & refinishing them myself, but haven't found them here yet. Maybe today will be my lucky day :) 

Wish me luck

Thanks for stopping by!