THRIFTED CHIC: BLACK & WHITE LIVING ROOM on CHAIRISH

I'm humbled and grateful for the recent attention to my black & white living room. No magazine photo shoot or book publication, but it was still nice to see my living room design featured and shared on three separate Internet sites. One site was a surprise site feature I discovered while doing a Google search: My living room was featured as "Steal This Look - Focal Point Styling Edition" at a relatively new site called Chairish. The site used my living room photo to curate a collection of product on their site to sell. Great concept, especially since the site sells cool vintage pieces. Thankfully, Chairish included a link-back to by blog in their feature. The second feature was from HomeGoods, who shared the photo I had pinned (to the Design Happy board) via their social media channels on Facebook and Twitter as a Friday Fave. On Facebook, the photo received 7003 likes and was shared 366 times. One Pinterest, the image was repinned 419 times. Along with these two features, I also received an email from a New Orleans based Stylist / Blogger, author of WhitneyJDecor.com, complimenting me on my style and asking me if she could use my photos to post a feature on her blog - Delighted and grateful, I said yes - You can read Whitney's post at Designer Love: Lynda Quintero-Davids Black and White Living Room. Thank you for the features and shares. Here is the story behind my thrifted chic black & white living room style...

 

 

Of all the seasonal changes I've done to our rental  home here in AZ, I think Jeff and I enjoyed this the most. It's an eclectic mix of past and present - our past with thrift finds from Florida mixed with  unique finds to Arizona (such as the cow skull Jeff brought home from work one day.) The buffet at the window was one of my first thrift finds I refinished for our first home we bought together in 2006, topped with a B&W Rothko print I found here at Goodwill AZ. The directors chairs and wood + chrome end tables were from the Salvation Army thrift in Pembroke Pines, FL, while the lacquered burl wood parson side table was given to use from a neighbor after I was loving it during our neighborhood garage sale. She had told me it was from 1stDibs - which was the first time I had ever heard of it (back in 2009). The white shag rug - is actually two 5x8 rugs - I found on our first paint trip to Home Depot when we moved out to Arizona (a true steal at only $19 each!) 

The black picture frames, with B&W landscape photos (I made from calender images) are old fitting room frames that were going to be trashed at my old job (at JCP). The two silver frames (leaning at the wall unit) were also fitting room frames - I replaced images with fabric my friend Jose gave me back in Florida. The Nate Berkus Fringed Dhurrie Runner was a fantastic find on HSN for only $30. The window rods I was able to repurpose from our Florida home, but I couldn't use any of the panels (even though most are 96"). Since this place we're renting has so many more windows, I washed and hung (8 new) canvas drop cloths for window panels - and I did find enough sheers (long enough) from Goodwill AZ. Both help to defuse the light, block heat in summer and block cold in winter. Other finds from Goodwill are the brass accents, along with some books, trays and bowls too. The black box and stripe boxes were from HomeGoods: one holds remotes, the other holds some of Sephora's cat toys.

 

 

The gold mirror gallery wall is a collection of mirrors I've gathered from working at JCPenney, deals at HomeGoods and finds from thrift. Painting them different shades of gold helped unite them for the focal point behind the sofa. The TV wall unit and one tribal lumbar pillow were from Ikea (3 years apart!) The black shades and maze pillows I picked up at HomeGoods here in AZ, while the chrome buffet lamps, houndstooth throw, and Barcelona chair I got at HomeGoods in Miami. The mercury lamps were from JCP.com (back in '08). The bamboo & glass coffee table (I painted gold) is from Faith Farm Thrift in Ft. Lauderdale, while the small solid wood pedestal table (between the directors chairs) was a $10 find here at Goodwill AZ.

 

 The Ralph Lauren book is probably my favorite gift I've ever received: When I worked at JCPenney, I planned and coordinated the cross-divisional rollout for American Living in our Aventura store. At the time, this launch was a pretty big deal: American Living was deigned by Ralph Lauren exclusively for JCPenney. I think the deal sprung up because the CEO was neighbor to RL - anyhow - my then boss, Mack T. Jones knew of my love and admiration for Ralph Lauren, so when the rollout was complete - meaning our store was set with fixtures, construction, merchandise, signing and display rigs PLUS we had also passed inspection by a corporate visit - including representatives of Ralph Lauren - Mr. Jones called me into his office and gave me the book as a "thank you" for a job well done. He even signed it - and we still keep in touch via LinkedIn.

 The look has definitely been collected over time and done on a slim budget - achievable with a little savvy shopping, a simple shift, and shopping thrift - not to mention, it reflects my wardrobe choices as well! Have you gone thrifting or been to HomeGoods  lately? What were some of your finds?

Thank you again for the features...

 

 

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 ... and thanks for stopping by!

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

THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

As with most of you, now that Thanksgiving has passed -- it's the mad dash to put up Christmas so there is still time to enjoy it!! (Is it my imagination, but is time flying more swiftly than usual??) This was our third year celebrating Thanksgiving here in AZ, and a little unusual at that. The first year, I think we were numb and exhausted from moving across the country (Nov. 16), and last year, Jeff's mom was able to fly out and stay with us the week of Thanksgiving (fun to have had a thrift partner & great to have family for Thanksgiving!) This year, we questioned whether or not to cook the meal because - Jeff was one of the lucky people who got to go into work on Thanksgiving. We decided not to let that spoil our meal or tradition... and although it was rushed, we made the best of it. I baked a pumpkin pie, made my moms sausage stuffing and set the table the night before - tweaking it in the morning... Jeff cooked the bird and all the trimmings, and similar to what  we did last year, we used the Fall decorated stoop to create some festive memories. By 6pm, Jeff was headed out the door to his store, and drove back home at midnight... only to turn around and be leaving at 6am for the more traditional Black Friday morning rush. Grateful for the food on our table and roof over head, here's a peek at the day...

Table set - Before food...

 

Table set - After Chef Jeff cooked us a delicious Thanksgiving fest!

(He LOVES to cook!) 

Since it was only us two, I set the table half as buffet and half with our place-settings. All the serving dishes were set on the table, and I helped fill them after Jeff cooked. Before we sat down, we walked the table to serve ourself, and if we wanted seconds (who doesn't on Thanksgiving?!) it was still within reach...

 

I haven't done as many tablescapes here in AZ as I use to do in FL (we had an actual room vs a space between kitchen & living room) but I was inspired this year by these mustard plaid napkins I got last year at Target. They worked great with the pale harvest gold chargers I also got last year - at Savers thrift...

 

As a table cover, I used the left-over glen plaid fabric, I had used to cover my Milo chairs with... which made me think: Everything pulling together the table was from items I already had...

Goodwill Thrift (2012)

The glen plaid fabric, buffalo check napkins, white dish in gold basket and Gorham silver pitcher

JCPenney (2007)

The turkey platter, Pyrex covered dish, and Amber (Colin Cowie) wine glasses 

FL Thrift Finds (2010)

The brass candlesticks, white bowls, dinner and dessert plates 

Target (2005 & 2012)

The mustard plaid napkins and hurricane

HomeGoods (2006-2012)

The Lenox silverware, clear stemware, birch candle, taper candles, pine cone shakers, wine container, white linen hemstitch runners

The hot plates (trivets covered with buffalo check napkin) are terracotta tiles from FL...

 

The last minute tweak in the morning was using two of my cuff bracelets as a napkin ring...

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving - 2013

 

Thanksgiving 2010 - Our last in Florida (and with my mom)

 

Thanksgiving 2012 - with Jeff's mom... 

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving... 

and you didn't let anything steal your JOY!

Thanks for stopping by - Back to decorating for Christmas!

Glass Thrift Lamp Revamp - Wood Stain & Why

A few months back while out thrifting, I spotted a lamp. I let it go, but couldn't stop thinking about it. Chancing it, I went back to the thrift place (Faith Farm- Ft. Lauderdale), and it was still there. When I see stuff like that, I take it as a "sign" (it was meant to be!)and get it. What made it even more spectacular though was it was 1/2 off that day - so it was only $5. I had shy-ed away from it because it was blue, but I loved its shape and look. I thought I'd probably find some way to change its color, but keep the look and I did. Paint would have been too opaque - It would have highlighted the texture - but not let the glass peek through the hatching. Using a wood stain in ebony did the trick!

Loved the bamboo detail, and the glass peeking through the hatching...

Using the wood stain - it captured the texture, but not the glass...

The only thing is: I guess because the humidity is high in South Florida, it takes a while for wood stain to dry. Having the ceiling fan on helped...

I also had painted the shade - I did take a few pics, but it was with the other phone that was giving me trouble. I spray painted it, and it looked like a solid black linen shade when the light is off... but when the light is on, it has an amazing textured / worn look....

The little B&W vase in the back corner I picked up thrifting in Ft. Lauderdale, probably back in March; it was only $2. The table it's on I thrifted back in the 90's for my apartment. It originally was all light wood _ironically as light as the Ikea baboo platters I hung behind it!). It was such a good price (only $9) and I needed a table, I bought it and painted it two toned. I painted the bottom black, and just used Old English furniture polish to make the top a little darker. It's been with me for about 12 years. It could probably use a quick coat of stain on the top...

Both stacked books were gifts: The bottom book is actually the box cover to the Ralph Laren book my old boss gave to me when I set the launch for American Living (by RL) for the store. The top book, our previous neighbors gave to me after we had a garage sale about 2 years ago...

The thrill of thrift... mixing old and new for a little afternoon redux...

So that's my "Wood Stain and Why" and so glad I gave it a try!

(I think it's going to be my next "go to" remedy for a redux.)

 Thanks for stopping by!



FIVE FRUGAL FINDS TO HELP REFRESH A SPACE

Knowing the homeowners budget and without breaking the bank, I was able to makeover a space without expensive details. I found several charming and functional finds to the easily mix old & new accessories - for much under $20. All I needed was an afternoon (or two) to do a little savvy & thrifty shopping - shifting through clearance and rummaging through thrift - to find these stylish details. To help overspending or accumulate too many returns, I shopped for the details closer to the end of the project. Armed with a list of specifics, here are five frugal finds I gathered for a recent bedroom makeover I did...

Easy on the eye bedside vignette - mixing old (thrifted finds) with

new (clearance goods).

Spotted on Clearance at Homegoods.

Spotted on clearance at Target.

Put together to make a lovely little find.

1. THINK OUT OF THE BOX: I've always liked the look of the structured square container filled with a colorful flower bunch, and that's what I did with these cream rattan tissues boxes I found on clearance at Homegoods for only $2 each. Repurposing the tissue box as the flower containers gave a modern look to these pink corsages I spotted on a clearance end-cap in Target. They were easy to make and a great add for under $16 for a bed & bath makeover . The same concept can be used to also make simple centerpieces for a tablescape - using a globe with water inside and fresh flowers.

Spotted at Goodwill



Easily, two floating shelves can add extra storage space above the WC, but in the meantime, relocating on of the homeowners pictures worked in the space.

2. GIVE FUNCTION TO A FORM: A metal thrifted jar for $3 holds everyday toiletries on the counter- making it easier for the homeowner to get to. It also gives a function to a decorative form on a small counter space.

  3. LAYER LIGHT IN A ROOM: Thrifted ceramic sconces for $2 helped layer light in the bedroom, without having the expense of an electrician.

Also spotted at Goodwill

Stylish jewelry storage in a refinished thrifted console - either use your own family treasures or shop thrift to create your own collection.

4.  ADD ORDER & SHINE WITH A TRAY: A $5 thrifted silver tray adds sparkle and also helps protect the thrifted consoles painted finish. The oval shape is also a nice feminine touch for a (single & in 60's) ladies bedroom.
 

Spotted at Out Of The Closet Thrift Shop

5. IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES: A pair of thrifted silver scalloped bowls, for only $5.99 for the pair, could easily be used as a decorative soap dish in a bathroom or candy dish in the living room - but on a nightstand, they give a pretty place to display personal strands of pearls. Displaying some of your jewelry in a space is a great way to personalize it, plus with pearls, gives a feminine touch.

 

The hammered glass hurricane to the left was another HomeGoods clearance find ($8) - and paired with a pierced tin flower pot from Ikea. It added a lacey detail in the space, without the frill (but after pic taken, I relocated it elsewhere in the room).

The savings from shopping thrift and clearance for accessories plus shopping thrift for the console and end tables, allowed for the splurge on the honey-comb glazed lamps ($60).

 

What frugal finds have you spotted lately?

Happy Thrifty Thursday!