Time to get creative… a challenge with prizes!

I’m totally addicted to craigslist.  As in, I’m always looking at it, even when I don’t have a need for anything particular.  So during my browsing this evening I ran across this very unusual desk for only $25:

Not my usual style but there’s just SOMETHING about it.  Before I knew it, I was e-mailing the owner to make arrangements to pick it up tomorrow.  I already know my husband is going to think I’m crazy… and that’s where you all come in.  If it’s still available and I buy it, what should I do with it?

The ad says that it’s wood but need some TLC.  To me that means some sanding and maybe staining or paint.  My youngest children still need a small desk for their room so it could possibly go in there.  I don’t think I ever told ya’ll that I bought the $20 dresser that I featured on this craigslist Monday for their room.  My plan is to paint it a glossy red.  And you know they already have the white headboards.  So what do you think about me painting this desk white to put in their room?  (If it’s still available.)

Or maybe I don’t use it in their room at all.  I could paint it black and use it in my hallway.  I also needed a small shelving unit to go next to my reading chair…

This is my challenge to ya’ll.  Leave a comment with your suggestions for how I can work this desk into my home and the person who’s idea I use will receive a little goody bag.  (And if I don’t get the desk for some reason, I’ll write your names on slips of paper and have my youngest pull a name at random from a hat… so if you participate, you have the chance at a goody bag either way!)

There you go!  I can’t wait to  see what ideas ya’ll come up with…

DIY Thursday: Jen’s $20 decorating project

Have ya’ll noticed that I’m a theme kind of girl?  I’ve pretty much settled on a theme for every day of the week.  Not to say I might not mix it up every once in a while, but I figure it’ll help keep things fairly consistent and give you something to look forward to!

It’s been a couple of weeks since I featured a $20 decorating project, so I thought it was definitely time for another one.  Unfortunately, my state of ongoing illness meant that I haven’t completed ANYTHING in weeks.  But, luckily, I’ve made friends with some amazing people online… including the wonderfully talented Jen of Sanctuary Arts at Home (did you read her interview?  If not… GO READ IT!).  I put Jen to the challenge and I think she more than met it!

Look how she transformed a bathroom door with $19, scrap paper, glue, and mirrors from Ikea.

Before:

After:

Now she’s got a cutely decorated door with bi-level, mini-toothbrushing stations for her family.  That’s what $20 and a little ingenuity can get you!

The full tutorial is over at Jen’s blog… while you’re there, check out her other great tutorials, like this one, which will teach you more about using decoupage techniques to transform your home.

Happy DIYing!

In the Trenches: Featuring Aja, The Super Shopper!

I know I have said this EVERY Wednesday since this feature began, but seriously, I AM SO EXCITED about the designer that I’m featuring today, I could squeal! You see,Aja is the inspiration behind the “In the Trenches” feature.

It all started when I was browsing the flickr home decorating groups. I kept seeing these beautifully put together rooms by this one person. The kind of rooms that I would want to live in… rooms where you could curl up with your kids and read a book or have friends over to hang. I’d added so many of this person’s pictures to my favorites that I felt like a stalker. Then, just as I was clicking on the profile link, it hit me… I could interview Super Shopper for A Beautiful Abode! This was design that was meant to beshared… A few e-mails later… voila! The new feature was born.

Aja would have been the first feature, but technology (and old e-mail addresses) worked against us. Fortunately, we both persevered… and I am so extremely pleased to finally present you with the interview below:

I know that you are an amazing decorator, but not much else. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Aja and I am 28 year old design junkie. My husband and I moved to Newport News, VA from NJ about five years ago and we’ve been living in our first home for three years now. My husband could probably tell you better than I, that I loooove to shop, but not just shop, bargain shop. I get a natural high from buying something on sale or better yet “clearance”. I also have a fascination with change, I like to decorate a room and then see how little I can spend to change the look. My friends say I’m nuts, and sometimes I agree!

How would you describe your decorating style?

My overall decorating style is modern. The clean lines, repetition, symmetry, and unclutteredness (is that a word?) give me a sense of calm and order. I find it very hard to function in chaos. I also love beadboard, baskets, plantation shutters, shaker style furniture, and lots of other design elements that go along with country stylings, as long as the space still has a clean and unfussy feel.

How did your style evolve? Were you just born with a gift and knack for designing a beautiful living space or did you learn through trial and error?

I think I’ve always had a good design sense; even as a child I would give “mental makeovers” to any space that I saw as unappealing. As I got older I began to do a little more experimenting with decorating. When I moved into my first apartment my creative juices really started flowing because I now had a canvas to bring my ideas to life. Budget has was always a been big concern, so I’ve always had to make do with what I had or could afford, but I would never let budget stop me. I learned that when you had less money you just had to be more creative.

Do you plan your room designs? If so, can you describe the planning process for us? And if not, can you explain how you make sure that your finds create a cohesive design?

I always plan my rooms before I take any action, that way I know what to keep an eye out for when I’m shopping. My ideas are usually inspired by something that will get my design wheels turning, and it can come from anywhere, a piece of art, a pillow, a plate, a magazine tear out, anything really, but almost always it is the color or combination of colors that get me going. I find it so much easier to decorate when I have something to refer back to in order to stay on track. After I’ve figured out the look I want, I began my research. This usually consist of online window shopping. If I find something I like or that inspires me I copy and paste the pic to a MS Word doc. I am usually able to find a picture of just about anything online and if I can’t, I’ll scan the object, then add it to my Word doc. When I have all my ideas together I print out the sheet(s) and carry those around with me when I shop. I find this is a lot easier that carrying around clippings, paint chips, and fabric swatches.

When shopping I try to stick with furniture and accessories that are versatile and easy to change, such as slipcovered upholstery, poster frames instead of actual artwork, throw pillows with removeable covers, and accesories that can be used in multiple rooms. This allows me the flexibility to change things up each season with minimal investment. Knowing what I like keeps my style and decor cohesive, I make sure my purchases can be used in at least two different spaces/rooms before I buy it.

Which room(s) in your home do you like best and why?

That depends on the time of year. During fall and winter I love my bedroom, it’s small very cozy. It gets very little sunlight this time of year and that makes it great for snoozing, cuddling in the bed to watch a movie, and reading.

During spring and summer the sun porch rocks! I like to do my eating, reading, crafting, internet surfing, and afternoon napping out there. The sunshine is amazing and the AC is on remote control.

Did you have a/any challenging areas and if so, why were they challenging and how did you overcome their challenges?

The master bedroom had to be the biggest challenge design wise. Our previous bedroom was almost twice as large as our current bedroom, so we had to figure out a way to make it just as functional but with a lot less space and storage. Other than the two small his and hers closets, the room lacked sufficient storage for our clothing. I solved this problem by flanking the bed with dressers rather than nightstands. This allowed us extra room for our folded clothing. I also had to forego the vanity that I had previously used for applying my make up and styling my hair, due to lack of space. I addressed this by adding a folding barstool that I could store on the side of the dresser. The barstool serves double duty by holding our extra pillows and bedding at night. Upgrading to a flat panel tv made it possible to use a narrower tv stand and gain storage for books, magazines and bedding, all behind closed doors.

Overall, most of our design, storage, and organization needs were met in the new space and we are happy with the outcome!

What is the most important (or best) piece of advice you can offer to readers who are in the process of creating their own budget friendly, beautiful abode?

I think the best thing you can do before embarking on a design project is:

1. Get in touch with yourself.

You need to define your style and find out what “you like”. I recommend going thru design magazines and books, blogs, window shopping at your favorite stores and discovering new ones. Creating an inspiration board has always helped me. I think seeing all your likes and ideas in one place can help identify what works and what doesn’t.

2. Commit.

Decorating on a budget could mean more of an investment of your time and it is easy to become discouraged when you can’t find the perfect shade of red for your throw pillow and stay within your budget. You will have to do a lot more hunting or waiting (for an item to go on sale or clearance).

3. Use your resources.

If you do a lot of shopping in person don’t forget to check out the store’s website. Quite often you can find the same item on the website cheaper or vice versa. It’s also a good idea to know your merchants return policies. I sometimes puchase things at regular price and wait for it to go on sale. Then I’ll take my reciept back to the merchant and get a price adjustment.

4. Think creatively.

That beautiful set of sheets could be you new shower curtain or streched canvas art. A pair of napkins can make a unique throw pillow with just an hour and a few dollars investment. Take those pretty note cards you got on clearance and frame them for easy and inexpensive art. Decorating on a budget requires thinking outside the box.

5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

The biggest and best design lessons I’ve learned were through mistakes that I have made!

*******

Isn’t Aja a true doll for sharing such wonderful advice with us? She was also kind enough to include a copy of her most recent inspiration board, a redesign of her family room for the spring, which you can download: Family Room Inspiration Board (it’s a Word document). Look at what a change she accomplished for $35!!!

Before:

After:

Visit Aja’s flickr set to get a full tour of her beautiful home. And be sure to leave plenty of comments to let her know how much you enjoyed the interview!

Tackle It Tuesday: Sewing a straight line

I bet ya’ll thought I missed this week’s Tackle It Tuesday, huh? Nope. I’ve just been a busy little bee, sewing away at my tasks for the day. I started off this morning with this pile:

A pile consisting of 5 yards red cotton twill, 6 yards white cotton, 4 yards of multi-colored striped cotton, and a half yard each of a multi-colored dotted cotton and a plain yellow cotton. Oh, and let’s not forget the 4 rolls of black and white coordinating ribbon.

The goal was to complete the following for the on-going redesign of my youngest children’s room:

• red curtains with black ribbon
• white fabric blinds with black ribbon
• multi-colored striped bed skirts
• two yellow pillows
• two multi-colored dotted pillows

I swear it didn’t seem too ambitious when I started. In fact, a storm had knocked out our internet, so it appeared to be the perfect way to spend a web-free day.

HAH!

Somehow I forgot that I am by no means a professional seamstress. All I can say is that at 9:00 pm (eastern), I’ve just about finished the curtains. Just. About.

Yeah, that’s right. ONLY. THE. CURTAINS.

sigh.

One day I’ll learn how to make realistic goals.

Don’t forget to visit the Tackle It Tuesday page to see what everyone else is tackling:

Craigslist Monday: Getting Ready for Outdoor Living

The sun is shining so brightly today and as I stare out at the brilliant blue sky, my mind is completely on warm weather. This year, I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to make my patio as beautiful as the rest of my living spaces… so the theme for today’s craigslist Monday is outdoor living!

My first find is perfect for building the bones of an outdoor living space. I’ve seen these rattan armchairs new in Pier 1 for over $200 a piece, so to get a pair for $100 is a great deal! You could cover the cushions with an outdoor fabric and place them together with a little metal side table for a perfect place to relax and watch the Spring flowers grow. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/585698079.html

This next piece is really meant for the indoors, but it’s so pretty, and I think it would be gorgeous on a covered patio or in a sunroom with the rattan armchairs above.  Can you imagine this armoire filled with pretty pots and dishes, ready for an afternoon snack?  And at $125 the price is pretty too.  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/585362218.html

Finally, if you’re looking for a good deal on a standard patio set, you can’t really beat this five piece set.  It includes a nice round table, four chairs, and cushions and appears to be in good condition.  It’s a nice rust-proof aluminum too.  All for $100.   http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/585057355.html

Happy Spring dreaming!

Inspiration Friday: The photography of Alicia Bock

By now I’m sure you all know that my preferred medicine for illness, bad days, or any reason what-so-ever is inspiring design. This week, along with trying to steal cat naps whenever the kids seemed slightly quiet, I’ve been building up my immune system by gazing fervently at the gorgeous photography of Alicia Bock.

I found this first photo via etsy (and don’t ya’ll dare buy it, because it’s on MY wish list!):

And then I went to visit her website where she has more beautiful prints available in various sizes as well as notecards and postcards. Here are a few more of her images that I fell in love with.

If you get a free moment this weekend, go and visit her shop. Beautiful art is a must for a beautiful home and supporting such a wonderful artist by purchasing her reasonably priced prints is the kind of thing that has to get you Karma brownie points…

Hope ya’ll have a great weekend… and if you’re in the market for fabric, Hancock Fabric is having an in-store only 50% off sale. Ends tomorrow though, so get going!

In the Trenches: Featuring Jen of Sanctuary Arts at Home

Are you all as excited about the new interview today as I am?!?! In case you haven’t visited her blog previously, Jen is a wife, at-home mom, and handpainted furniture artist in Illinois. Her work is so gorgeous that it tempts me to change my design style so that I can purchase a few pieces for my home.

Jen’s personality is as warm and beautiful as her art pieces. Which is why she’s adding a new role to her list of accomplishments: Television personality! Read on to find out more about this talented and multifaceted artist:

May I gush for a moment? You are such an amazingly talented designer/artist! The first night I visited your blog and website, I literally spent a good hour looking at your handpainted furniture. Every piece was so beautiful and lust worthy. Share with us how you got started? Do you have an art background or was this a talent that you stumbled upon?

Back when I was 17, I was originally a theatre/art major (and, actually, what I received my Associate’s Degree for) but I was at a loss as to what to do after jr. college because I thought “well, nobody makes any money in art, that’s not a very stable career.” I only had 10 credit hours left to graduate and I was dating a firefighter and he suggested the EMT class to kill the credit hours.

I took it and I loved it! It was exciting, and stable money-wise, so I started testing for fire departments, got into paramedic school, and got hired as the first and only woman at a full-time career department as a firefighter/paramedic. I loved it, but after I got married (my hubby is a cop) we didn’t want two of us in high risk jobs so I “retired” so to speak. And started doing craft shows for money (this was after a stint as a personal trainer… let me just say, I was a bad personal trainer….) and then did a few projects like murals and furniture for friends and my business grew word of mouth.

Each of your pieces share a certain elegance that I really appreciate, but at the same time, each piece is unique. Where do you draw your inspiration?

A lot from antique pieces. I love botanical art as a passion, so that theme shows up a lot, and I love the art of 17th and 18 century Italy and France. Sometimes I’ll just see something and think, this just needs to have pomegranates on it. This part is going to sound very eccentric-but sometimes the furniture kind of tells me when I look at it what it wants to have done.

How would you describe your personal design aesthetic? Does your artwork reflect your personal style? if not, what would you say is the difference?

My design aesthetic…I have 2 preschooler’s and a toddler. I like to tell people it’s early Fisher-Price with a twist of post-modern Little Tyke’s (wink). I guess my main adult aesthetic is eclectic with a bit of French country; a smidge of Traditional with a hint of Europe and a big dash of trash… actually I mean thrift. Always on a budget, a lot of what I put in my home had been thrifted, resaled or yard-saled and has a coat or two of paint slapped on.

From the pictures I’ve seen, your home looks picture perfect! You’ve set up all these wonderful little vignettes and tablescapes… worthy of Victoria magazine I’d say. Do you have any suggestions for readers who may be trying to put together those little finishing touches that make your home look so put-together?

I just put together what I love, and when I get bored with something I move it from one floor to another. I do try to do little grouping of related objects. Right now in my living room on the console, I have all “natural” themed items…

My biggest piece of decorating advice in regards to accessorizing is one I am passing on from my girlfriend, Amy, an interior redesigner. “Shop your own home first.” Most people have enough stuff. And they don’t need to buy more stuff. Half of it might be in the attic or buried in a box; but see what you can do with what you have; it might just need a coat of paint, or just might need to be used in a new way.

We both have young children, yet somehow your home always looks so pretty and adult… every picture i take would have matchbox cars or stuffed animals in it! How do you keep things looking so gorgeous with three young girls at home?

I’m laughing, because everything looks good for pictures. With 3 kids age 5 and under, most days my husband walks though the house and whistles the theme from “Sanford and Son.” It’s such a mess! I shove a lot of things into baskets or drawers and I always wait to take pictures until they are in bed. I have recently banished most of the toys except for a few of the baby’s to the downstairs and those go into a basket. If it doesn’t fit into the basket it stay’s downstairs (where I can close the curtain in the doorway so I don’t have to look how they’ve trashed it.). I have to admit, I’m a bad mom, I don’t make them pick up the basement every day…

I know that you are also a stay at home mom who decorates on a budget. Will you share with our readers how you determine a budget for your decorating projects?

Mostly the change in the bottom of my purse!

Seriously… I had an orange juice container I filled halfway with in 3 months from change in my purse (I never spend my change, that’s an Oprah tip…) and around the house… it had $70! Also, when you shop thrift, that can go a long, long way….I spend a lot of the birthday and Christmas money I’m given on my house. Also, if I have a garage sale, I get to use that money to decorate with. While I don’t have a set budget, I try to save up over time when I want something new like curtains. And I garbage pick a lot. It’s free.

As an expert in revitalizing thrifted furniture that other people have given up on, can you share thrifting tips with us? How do you determine if a piece is worth saving? How rickety is too rickety… or is there such a thing?

I’m a huge fan of Gorilla Glue and Aleen’s tacky glue. Rickety, if it’s meant to hold any weight, is bad. A little shake to shimmy is okay, sometimes a fresh glue will fix it up. But Good wood is really important. Pass on laminate or pressboard. There’s no quality. A smoky (cigarette) smell is okay because most of the time a good wash, cleaning and fresh paint will take care of it. Always pass on anything that has water marks up the back and sides, smells/looks mildewy or moldy or has a funk to it you just can’t place. I am sure stuff ends up in thrift stores that has been in basement floods and who knows if that involved sewage or not so it’s better to be safe than sorry (This goes for garbage picking too.).

Also, when buying thrift, never look at the color of an item. Especially furniture. Almost everything decent can be repainted or reupholstered. Some of the best furniture starts out as the ugliest color….

We both know that “blogland” is a huge place and the finding the best blogs can be hard work! We found each other through Manuela… who are some bloggers that you consider MUST see for decorating inspiration?

Besides Manuela, I love, love love, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Angela at the Cottage Magpie, Notes from a Cottage Industry, Sadie Olive, the Paris apartment, and Debbie Egizio’s Beat of My Art. Those are always on my “daily read” list if I’m in hurry. But I do have to say I have so many other favorites, I actually read every blog on my blog roll at some point almost everyday, even if it’s just a click in to see if there is anything new.

************

All of the photos accompanying this interview are of Jen’s home and work. Please drop by her blog, Sanctuary Arts at Home, to comment and show her our appreciation for chatting with us! You can also see more of her work and learn how to make your own painted furniture masterpieces. (But if you’re like me and hopelessly paint disabled, take a peek at her business site to see what lovelies she has available for you to purchase!) And if you’re in the Illinios area, keep your eye out for “Inside Studio 180″ where you’ll get to experience Jen’s sparkling personality as she keeps you in the know about the local art scene.

Tackle It Tuesday: Laundry and Soup

Cough, cough. Sniff. Cough. Sniff. Sniff.

ACHOO!!!

Excuse me. I’m still sick. And I really want to curl up in my bed with a pretty magazine and my mommy. (Hear that mom?!?! Almost 34 years old and I still need you to rub my head when I’m sick.)

Unfortunately, children and my laundry pile are calling me. Oh, there’s actually a HUGE list of other things I should be doing today, but I’ve wised up finally and realized that if Momma doesn’t take care of herself, she can’t take care of anyone else. So although I really need to:

• sew curtains for Ian and Catie’s room
• make fabric blinds for I and C’s room (via the great tutorial from two straight lines)
• line their new (to them) dresser drawers (via the great tutorial from Design*Sponge)
• finish the decorative paint details on their walls
• hang pictures
• buy desk
• solve book storage
• clean the rest of the house!!!
• laundry

Umm… yeah. The only thing that is going to happen is laundry. (Repeat with me “Momma has to take care of herself to take care of anyone else. Momma has to take care of herself to take care of anyone else…” Surely I’ll stop feeling guilty about it after a little while?!?)

Don’t forget to check out how everyone else is progressing (just click):

Craigslist Monday: What’s a bargain hunter to do?

Try as I might, I couldn’t find anything on craigslist that I thought was worth featuring. I know, you’re hugely disappointed, right? But that’s the nature of bargain hunting. Some days you score big. Other days-nada!

So, what’s a bargain hunter to do when the normal hunting ground dries up? In my case crawl into bed with a hot cup of tea and some nyquil. And soup. Definitely chicken soup. Maybe the craigslist dry spell will end when my cold goes away.

But I’m not going to leave you empty handed… oh, no. Instead I’m going to point you off to a few great reads to keep you entertained:

• Have you been hankering for a large scale art piece? Jessica at How About Orange has a great tutorial for turning a large piece of fabric into a great wall hanging.
• Don’t feel like being crafty? Why not browse the Poppytalk Handmade Online Artists Market and buy some indie art instead.
• Budget decorating not taking up enough of your spare time? Visit Smith Magazine and begin a new addiction reading six word memoirs.

Finally, why not give your brain a little workout with some online scrabble at Scrabulous? (I warn you, this can be very addictive! Especially since you can play your friends via e-mail now as well…)

My bed is calling my dears… see you tomorrow! And don’t forget to check in Wednesday for the new “In the Trenches” interview.

Bonus Inspiration! Kid friendly design…

I wasn’t very satisfied with yesterday’s post; I suppose that’s what happens when you try too hard to work through your “to do” list when you’re actually sick.  Anyway, because I felt I’d gyped you, I’m giving you a bonus inspiration post.  A few weeks ago Tricia asked about kid friendly design and ever since I’ve been keeping my eye out for living rooms that would work for regular families… you know, the kind like mine, where there are crazy boys who run everywhere and have matchbox car races over everything.  It’s been a difficult hunt, I’ll admit.  Either designers have much better mannered children than I do or most people who have their rooms professionally designed keep their children in the basement… But I have assembled a few rooms that I thought had potential and that’s what I’m presenting to you now.

Designs from Whitehouse Builders:

From Designer Zina Samek:

From Designer Loretta Willis:

Hope ya’ll are a fabulous Saturday.  I’m going to sip hot tea and take a nap…