Craigslist Monday: A feminine sitting room for under $350

Happy Monday, Budget Decorators!

I’m running a little late with today’s Craigslist Monday because I just finished up the interview questions for Carrie and Danielle. If all goes according to plans, their interview will be up a week from Friday (on April 11th). You can’t understand how hard it was to decide on the questions to ask them… they’re the kind of women who inspire me so much, I could have picked their brains for ages and ages. Hopefully, I asked the right questions and ya’ll will enjoy the interview!

Anyway, let’s jump in with today’s finds. Starting with this great bookcase for only $20!

Can you believe this is only $20?!? (I know Jen, I can hear you asking me why I haven’t run out and bought it! I’m actually thinking it’s more Manuela’s style…) I can see it painted white or black to give it a french country style… but, you could also paint it a bright color like fire engine red or marine blue to give it an eclectic, modern POP! http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/625370043.html

And what about this lovely white wicker chair and table set for $45?

Great for a little sitting room or covered patio… and it looks like it’s in excellent condition. (Doesn’t that picture make you want to see the inside of this person’s home? I bet she/he could give us a few decorating tips! Maybe I should e-mail them…) http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/624975291.html

Hey, I just realized that this is working out to be a great little sanctuary… can’t you see that chair and table in a cozy little sitting room with that bookcase? Let’s see how we can finish it up…

How about this?

Isn’t that pretty? You can’t find 5′ x 8′ rug anywhere for $50 (although, that said, I would still ask them if they would take $40 for it… cause I’m into bargaining like that!LOL!) http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/624916696.html

Oh, isn’t this shaping up to be a lovely room?!? Let’s see if we can find a lamp to finish it off…

Oh, but wait… how about this rose covered sofa for $199?

I’m not normally the flowered sofa type girl, but wouldn’t this be perfect for the room we’re creating? A girly cottage style sitting room… and how often can you get a sofa that’s in good condition for $199. I bet there’s some bargaining leeway in that price too, because it’s being sold atA Classy Flea (a flea market/resale type shop). I’d ask them if they’d take $175 for it… http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/624868748.html

Hmm… now that we have the sofa, I suppose we have to get rid of the rug, huh? Oh well, guess it would have to go back on craigslist– but at least, if we bought it for $40 but list it for $70, we’ll make a profit on it! (On the other hand, that’s why you should always buy the bones of a room first, before you buy the accessories… saves money in the long run.)

In the meanwhile, let’s get this lamp:

They’re asking $30, but I’d offer $20… chances are, we’d meet in the middle at $25. And it’s a great fit for our little wicker table. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/623274814.html

I would REALLY like a rug to go in this room. Let’s try that one more time… Ah, here’s where I run into trouble because I rarely mix a lot of patterns… what do you think, would any of these work to finish off our room?

8′ x 10′ Cotton Persian rug for $60:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/623274814.html

or maybe this 7.5′ x 5.5′ Persian Rug for $60?

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/618136270.html

Or maybe the answer is none of the above? Melissa, Courtney, either of you wanna weigh in with rules on mixing patterns?

I don’t know if we end up with a rug or not, but we do get very close to the bones of a pretty sitting room for less than $350. And had a little fun at the same time, flexing our design muscles! : )

Tomorrow, I’m really, truly, honestly, going to reveal pictures of Ian and Catie’s redecorated bedroom. Really. I promise! See ya then.

xoxo,

Shauntelle

Craigslist Monday: What $20 will buy…

Happy Monday bargain hunters!

I received such a nice response to last week’s Craigslist Monday that I thought I’d try it again. This time I set my goal even lower, and decided to see what a $20 bill would buy. I’ll admit I figured it would end up being a couple of pillows… but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised at the deals I came across. Check ‘em out:

$15 for the pair

Honestly, I was in shock when I found these. It’s the PAIR for $15! If you don’t understand my excitement, then you need to look here and here to see comparable vintage style lamps retailing for over $150 each. If I could have found a good place to use them in my townhouse, they would definitely have come home with me. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/612786300.html

$20 for the pair

Okay, I can see some of you wincing at these chairs. They aren’t my style either… BUT they have my favorite shade of orange AND they are only $20 for the pair. As I considered them, it occurred to me that with some fabric glue and some trim or cool fabric, you could really rock these out. I’m thinking something cool and funky, Anthropologie style… maybe applying some crewel work to the back like this or picking a large pattern fabric similar to this rug and applying a medallion in the center of each chair’s back. A little imagination and you could easily end up with a high design look for waay less than $40. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/616847380.html

Elbow grease, paint, and $10

Yes, this is a cheap laminate bookcase. Nothing special. But did you visit any of the links from Friday’s inspiration post? Specifically this link which transformed a plain old cheapie bookcase just like this $10 beauty into this:

Cool, right? This is a project that’s actually on my “to do” list and just think how much fancy storage you could get for $20 (counting the $10 for the bookcase, $4 for spray paint, and another $6 for the plumbing pipes). http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/616361689.html

There were plenty of other $10-$20 finds, including shelving, side tables, coffee tables, and other lamps, but these were the ones that inspired me the most at first glance.

I realize that many of you that read my blog aren’t in the Atlanta area or even close… even though it makes me sad that you can’t get in on these good bargains, the main reason I keep up withCraigslist Monday is to encourage you to look at things with an open mind. I think that the more you fill yourself with inspiring images and project ideas, the easier it is for you to imagine new and unexpected ways to transform items that are within your budget into pieces that you can feel proud of. And THAT is the real secret to being a successful budget decorator!

Until tomorrow!

Shauntelle

Craigslist Monday: What $40 will buy…

Hello my budget decorating lovelies!

Sorry for the late post…I’ve been possessed trying to finish a few projects that I jumped into this weekend.  Although I was disappointed that our budget was too tight this week for me to do any bargain hunting, I am VERY happy about the progress I’ve made on some of my works-in-progress.  Tomorrow’s Tackle It Tuesday post will have great pictures!  : )

But on to the finds for today.  A friend of mine was lamenting about her tight budget this weekend and how she feels like she’ll never be able to get her apartment decorated on the little bit of extra money she has.  So, in her honor, today’s post focuses on great buys for $40 or less.

Let’s start with this great modern chair from West Elm:

It’s currently on sale on the West Elm website for $99.00.  But through the greatness of craigslist, you (or my friend) could call it yours for a mere $20!  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/609237406.html

If your taste runs more toward antiques, look at this beautiful vintage sewing table:

If I could work it into my decor, I would spend $35 on this little beauty in a heart beat!  Even if you don’t sew, it would make a very elegant little side table or even bedside table.  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/609237406.html

The deal of the day HAS to be this $10 dresser:

Depending on your style, it could be perfect the way it is.  But I’m thinking with a little paint and new feet and knobs, it could rival this Montego dresser from  Pottery Barn:

Adding in a little extra for paint, knobs, and feet, you would still easily have saved at least $1300!  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/609102472.html

Finally, the piece that makes me wish, once again, that I wasn’t 500 miles away from Tricia:

This glider AND ottoman are only $25!  That’s right, $25!  It makes me ill, cause it’s so perfect for the nursery project… sure, we’d have to make or cover the cushions with new fabric, but even that wouldn’t make this cost more than $40!  (Do you feel me sighing Tricia?!?) http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/608220716.html 

The moral of this post?  With patience, persistance, and creativity, you CAN create a beautiful home on the smallest budget.

Happy decorating!

 Shauntelle

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!

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.

Craigslist Monday: Furnish an apartment for less than $500

Happy Monday Budget Decorators!

Did ya’ll have a great weekend? I started some major projects…AND ran into a pole in our brand new truck! : ( As you can imagine, the hubby wasn’t too happy with that. Especially since I had my accident going to purchase a $10 lamp from craigslist!  That’s easily the most expensive $10 lamp I’ve ever bought.

Anyway, I set myself a little challenge for today’s post. As I sat pondering if the hubby would leave me for dinging the new truck, I thought, I wonder if I could furnish an empty apartment for less than $500 with stuff from craigslist? Luckily, I don’t have to put my plan into action since he finally forgave me last night, but I thought I’d share my “imaginary” purchases with you. This is my list for an empty one bedroom apartment, starting with this lovely white sofa (cause in my daydream, I wasn’t worried about sticky kid fingerprints!):

I love the modern lines (crisp, short, and square) and I can totally see making a few colorful throw pillows from Heather Bailey’s fabric to accent it. And the best part is, it’s only $60!!!

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/569631677.html

Next on my imaginary shopping spree was this really cute coffee table for only $30. (And I had every intention of asking if they’d take $20 for it too ’cause I needed to make my money stretch!)

Then I added more seating with this $20 red chair. Once again, I liked the lines and the pop of color. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/569748411.html

I really wanted this wonderful mid century lime green chair, but figured they were out of their mind for $250. Regardless, I’m pretty pleased with my $110 living room set. But now I need a place to eat…

While looking for a dining room table and chairs, I laid eyes on this sorta old fashioned chest of drawers. Since it was only $20, I could definitely afford some wood glue and white paint to clean it up. And down the line, I could save up for some on sale Anthropologie knobs to change out the handles. My bedroom will be all lovely and shabby chic!

Speaking of bedroom– maybe I need a bed? Let’s see… not fond of the idea of a used mattress, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

I sighed when I saw this lovely antique head and footboard. It was a budget blower at $145. And it didn’t come with a mattress set.

But it’s just so lovely that I had to have it.

So what if it doesn’t match my newly painted shabby chic dresser? And who cares if I’ll have to sleep on the sofa until I save up for a mattress? This is true beauty and who can go without that in their life? http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/564024195.html

So I’ve spent over half of my $500 budget ($275) and I now have furniture in the living room, most of what I need for my bedroom, but I still don’t have a place to sit and eat. That’s really important to me because I love to cook and have friends over for dinner.

And then I saw this and wanted to yell and scream with glee! (No. Really. I’m serious. For a minute I completely forgot that this was all fantasy and was so happy that I jumped up and down!)

Can you blame me? This is THE deal of the day. $95 for a 1957 Drexel dining table with six chairs (and 2 leaves). It’s a little big for my imaginary apartment, but I’m going to make it work. This is a piece that can follow from my imaginary apartment to my new imaginary house, when the time comes.

That brings my total to $370. Leaving me $130 for an Ikea run to stock up on kitchen supplies and a few decorative accessories.

Not too bad, huh?  THAT is why I love craigslist!

*Remember, I’m not associated with anyone selling any of the furniture I’ve featured today. Everything looks like a good deal based on pictures and the ad details, but make sure you check it all out for yourself before letting money exchange hands.

How do you eat an elephant?

See these headboards? They’re my attempt to eat an elephant one bite at a time. These headboard represent the first step in me taking back my bedroom. They’re also a good example of the kind of deal you can score on craigslist with a little patience and perseverance! Where else can you score two Pottery Barn inspired twin headboards for $75?

Now the real question is, how do I corral this explosion of toys that have taken over their room?

These are Catie and Ian’s closets! The horror is, Ian still has a bunch of other cars and a train set that are in my bedroom right now!

I’m sorta embarrassed to have shown that to you, but I need help. I need suggestions for how to manage their stuff. We gave away a couple of large trashbags of toys right before Christmas and threw away another couple of bags of toys that were too broken to keep. Catie has a hard time with keeping her things picked up, so I thought I’d make it easier for her by losing the separate containers and giving her one big toy box. Ian has so many cars (of various sizes) that they ended up sorted into three big bins. Plus another box of blocks… AND the stuff that’s hanging out in my room.

Yeah. It ends up being lots of toys. Toys that I want to get organized in a nice attractive, but not extraordinarily expensive way. I just finished reading this article hoping for some inspiration, and while it was full of great advice, it wasn’t enough. Sooooooo… I need suggestions. Seriously, I am BEGGING for suggestions. (And pictures, if you have them. I’m a visual person, pictures are always appreciated!)

Fill up the comments or e-mail me. I’ll owe you oodles of chocolate… I’ll be your BFF… how about, I’ll be ENDLESSLY thankful? Because if you help me vanquish this clutter demon, I will definitely be endlessly thankful. (Is that enough groveling?)

Craigslist Monday

Happy Monday Budget Decorating Darlings! Have you been waiting with bated breath for today’s Craigslist Monday deal? The wait is over– in fact, you’re getting a two-fer today because I couldn’t decide which of these under $100 deals was my favorite!
Isn’t this a great Queen size headboard for $60? The advertisement says it’s a Thomasville wood and wicker rattan headboard with frame. I love the warm colored wood and can see this as a good start to a master or guest bedroom with a caribbean resort feel. Picture crisp white linens and slightly distressed painted side tables.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/561450845.html

With this second deal, I’m going to ask that you really use your imagination to see past the shoddy pictures:

You can’t beat the price for this set; $65 for a table and four chairs. I fell in love with the lines though. The chairs would need their cushions recovered and it looks like it all needs a good polishing, but with lines like that, I guarantee the elbow grease will be worth it. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/561512793.html

** Just so you know, I’m not related in any way or shape to any of the sellers of the items that I feature and I don’t make any claims or guarantees about the condition of the items featured. I’m judging from the pictures and information posted, just like you. Please use common sense when purchasing fromcraigslist . Don’t go to a stranger’s home alone. Bring only the stated cash for the item you’re purchasing and make sure you inspect everything thoroughly before you give them any money. Craigslist purchases don’t come with guarantees or return policies, so what you see is what you get. (And that’s the end of my public service announcement!)

I’m very excited about the posts that are planned for the rest of the week! Some of the things you can look forward to are Manuela’s interview and a tour of her gorgeous home, our first $20 decorating project, and, maybe, just maybe, a CONTEST! Make sure you come back tomorrow… oh, and don’t forget, Melissa’s started Inspiration Week at The Inspired Room today with her surprise guest interview, so go get inspired!

Craigslist Monday

I absolutely love craigslist! It’s the first place I go when I’m in the market to buy any type of electronics or furniture. And I’ve gotten really awesome deals from there, including my beloved iBook that I bought a little over a month ago. Or the free iMac that my youngest children are now sharing. Or the lovely pair of armchairs I scored for $300 brand new which sell for $595 a piece at Pier One right now.

I also sell or giveaway pretty much anything my family isn’t using there too. I’ve held Ebay auctions, and they’re okay. Craigslist is just much simpler. No fees, no waiting with bated breath to see where the bid ends, and, most importantly for me, no post office trip for shipping.

I’m so addicted to craigslist that I often find myself browsing even when I’m not really in the market for anything. And that’s why I’ve decided to haveCraigslist Monday’s. Every Monday I’ll post the best craigslist deal I’ve run across over the weekend or that morning. Starting off, I’ll be posting from the Atlanta Craigslist because that’s where I live. However, if you’re looking for something particular, send me an e-mail or leave a comment with your city and state and I’ll troll that craigslist too!

On to the deal of the day:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/553906170.html

Wouldn’t this make a lovely kitchen table for a person with a Country, Shabby Chic, or French Provencal style? For $245.00 you get the beautiful 40″ x 66″ table and six (6) chairs. The table looks like it’s in excellent condition, and if the chairs hold up upon inspection, this is a deal you really can’t beat! Add a lovely table runner, a few candles around some pretty flowers in a vase, and you have instantly transformed your breakfast area or informal family dining room into a welcoming space. Or you can add a little paint and transform this piece into something Pottery Barn inspired:

But you’ll have saved over $1600!!! Better jump on it, if this is your style, cause this deal can’t possibly last long. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/fur/553906170.html