Category Archives: decor

Thrifty Finds – Estate Sale Scores

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Kay Bojesen Monkeys

Just a couple of things to share from this weeks estate sale stops.   If we’re anything… we’re persistent!  We never miss a chance to find something beautiful or useful.

As you may already know we have been collecting Russel Wright dishes for many many years.  (See some of our collection >> HERE.)  At one point I had so much that it was overflowing into other rooms and bordered on hoarding.  The madness had to stop… so we sold lots of it on ebay or to friends.  We do use it every day and unless it’s a really special ….

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Cha cha cha changes…

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coffee creamer -New

I can’t seem to have a thought in my head without breaking out in song!  Thank you David Bowie.  Changing things in my house is a constant and I’m always doing tiny things that keep my hands and mind busy.  Little things start to get on my nerves and I have to cha cha cha change them!

It could be that I’m trying to distract myself from the bedroom cabinet project.. which is almost finished!  While I was playing lovely assistant to my husband as he fixed the squeaky shower valve in the bathroom it only made me notice ….

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just gonna insta-fake-it

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Instagram Fake - House

I admit, I’m a lover of the Instagram app available on iPhone. Unfortunately I do not currently own one but I’m working on changing that. I think I would have so much fun having a decent camera at my finger tips. There are so many moments when I’m wondering around town and think “if only”. Picture perfect moments pass me by. DANG!

It also doesn’t help that some of my favorite blogs in the past week have featured their Instagram pictures and I’m so JEALOUS! There’s just something about that filtered /vintage look that turns me on. Really that shouldn’t surprise ….

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digital mags = pretty places

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EST to buy

WARNING: Dirty Word Alert! There is one… but it’s relevant.

In the past year I have really gotten into the idea of digital magazines. Subscribing to so many paper publications I inevitably end up with way too many… and then feel guilty about throwing them out. I always try to purge and go through all these beautiful magazines and get them to a recycling center. Technology has really helped me with my ongoing battle and guilt of buying and then throwing away. I’m really trying to think more about what gets thrown into a landfill and what I ….

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Secret Doors: letting the outside in

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Sliding Glass Panels

I think we can all agree that getting some fresh air is good for the soul… and mind, and body for that matter. I also know that many mid-century modern architects loved to design homes in a way that allowed nature and the outdoors to become part of your indoor living space. Many felt it was important to blend the two. Frank Lloyd Wright referred to it as open-plan living, to bring the outside in. Architect Richard Neutra was another who said, “Place man in relationship to nature; that’s where he developed and where he feels most at home!”

Their intent ….

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Let There Be Light

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Artemide Tolomeo Floor Lamp

We’re getting closer and closer to finishing our bedroom and I’m starting to gather some of the things I’ll need to pull it all together. I got the rug delivered and now it was time to do my part for the economy and spend a little cash on some bedroom reading lamps. Richie calls me the queen of tight wads and…. well, I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you! I admit, I hold on tight to my money and I’m NOT a frivolous spender. HOWEVER, saving your money and buying things that will bring you years of enjoyment ….

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Designer: Jens Risom

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Jens Risom Chairs

Renovation is S-L-O-W. At least it is at my house. My father-in-law told me over the Easter weekend that I could have built a new house by now. (sigh) Of course he was joking and he loves to tease me because I’m a perfectionist. I enjoy his teasing… it’s love in the most fun way! Here’s the thing, though…. slow is not really a good thing in the blogging world. But who cares, right! So lets just say screw the renovation talk for now and lets talk about a designer we love – Jens Risom.

Jens Risom, who designed the first ….

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DIY: silkscreen

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Front Atrium

It’s been a busy week at my day job, and I found myself brain dead by the end of each day. Hours and hours of starting at a computer screen writing code for an upcoming event that required online ticket sales and tons of graphics just about drained all my creative juices. I was determined to take advantage of this 3-day weekend and not only relax but try something I’ve been dying to try… silkscreening. I really want to silkscreen some fabric for our bedroom project… maybe some pillows, curtains, anything. Something that is mine, not bought, and made by ….

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This weeks finds

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Hand Carved Wood Man

I’ve been a little too quiet this week…sorry. My “real job” is sucking the life out of me and taking me away from the fun stuff I enjoy. I always try to make time for the fun stuff, rest assured! So I thought I’d do a quick little update on some cool things Richie found this week. He always manages to come home with something, even if it’s small enough to fit in his hand… there’s always a little something.

Richie has many talents. One of course is renovation, the other is his musical abilities, another is his annoying ability to ….

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Art Find: Emil Bisttram

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Emil Bisttram Modern Abstract Painting

Yes, I’m still working like crazy on the master bedroom and making great progress… but lets face it taking pictures of paint drying is not so fantastic. For you or me. HA!HA!
It has always been my intention to share more than just renovation work on this blog as we are hunters and collectors of many cool and funky finds and love to share. Ten years ago it was much easier to find something FANTASTIC but it’s getting more and more difficult. I think blogs, television, ebay, and the internet in general has made people think twice about the things they ….

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Yarn-It!

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yarn poms and bottle

I have nothing but complaints lately so I haven’t posted anything. It’s been a rough few days and I feel like I’m moving in slow motion. So I’ve decided to just breathe deep and tell you about it later… but for now I’ll share some pictures of a few fun things I did last week. Come on… it’s better than complaining. And just think, you’ll have that to look forward to.

When I’m feeling stressed it’s better for me to just sit down and do mindless things. I needed to do that.. and quick! So I pulled out some rolls of ….

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useful and beautiful?

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pen and pad

My weekend is for big home projects and weekdays are for obsessing over the little things. I’ve seen this quote just about all my adult life and always think “Yes, that’s how I feel”. It has helped me to not keep every little thing just because I have it.  If it’s not useful or beautiful or sometimes both then I’ll have to try something else.

My little pea brain just cant understand why some of the things we use and are surrounded by everyday have to be so damn ugly. (don’t get me started on telephone ….

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painted rocks

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painted rocks

I had a choice last night…..  I could sit in front of the TV and hunt alligators with my husband, (yes, he thinks he could be a “swamp person”), or I could do something creative and fun with my time. I decided that listening to music and painting would be a much better choice for me. So I did some necessary painting and some “not so necessary” painting. I bet you can guess which one I liked most!

I put my second coat of white paint on one side of the closet shelves so they’ll get good and dry overnight and ….

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Master Bedroom Inspiration

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master bedroom inspiration

While working on the master bedroom this weekend my thoughts repeatedly drift from what I’m working on to how the heck this project is going to come together.  I’m bad about getting ahead of myself …. but when I’m finally done, I want to have everything I need.

I’ve known for over a year now that I wanted to use black and green in the room and gray is always a given because of the beams and woodwork. The stained concrete floors are a dark chocolate brown, which I have no intention of changing. The floors were stained during the original ….

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Estate Sale Finds – Part 2

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small roulette

I can’t really remember the last time I “shopped”. Unless it’s for groceries or something from the fabric/craft store I’m really not that great of a consumer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for lovely things but just don’t like the idea of having the same things that every neighbor on my street has. Having unique items… collected items… whether they be clothing, home decor, or just little metal pieces of junk are much more exciting to me. Richie feels the same way. So naturally estate sales are part of our life and have ….

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