Thanks for visiting!

xoxo – Shauntelle

But I don’t wanna!

Remember when you were a kid and how grumpy the thought of doing your homework made you when you got home from school?  For me, at least, it was like… Dang, I’ve just spent six hours doing this stuff!  You mean I gotta do MORE before I can play?

I think that’s what leads to procrastination.

Anyway, since I’m procrastinating, I figured I’d share some things I’ve run across lately that you might find interesting.

turningArt.com

I think I found this website via ThrillistAtl.com.  It’s like the Netflix of art– seriously, it is!  First you find some art that you like on their website– and they have hundreds, if not thousands of artists– and then you pick a frame you’d like.  You choose a subscription level and then, they start sending you art!

The first month, you get a 12″x16″ poster framed with a mat and 19″x23″ frame.  Then, depending on the subscription you chose, every month or so, you get to swap out the poster you have in the frame for another poster of different art work.

So it’s like you get to have a rotating gallery of art work for between $10 to $20 a month.

If you find a piece you like, your rental fee is credited toward the price of an original piece of art work.

So, for example, I can rent these pieces over a few months:

Advantages by Adam O'Day

The Great UnConformity by Pauline Lim

See by Bina Altera

If I decide that I really LOVE Adam O’Day’s “Advantages,” I can ship back my last poster and then purchase the original oil painting.  TurningArt.com will credit the $30.00 to $60.00 I’ve paid so far in subscription fees toward the $850 purchasing fee for the 36″x24″ painting.

To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this.  Even though I do have decorating ADD, I don’t generally want to trade out my art work that often.  The other thing is, since I’m on a budget, I’d like to have the option to purchase the framed poster if I wanted to and have my rental fee go toward that.  Anyway, it’s an interesting business model.  TurningArt.com

20×200

In a similar vein, I found this site called 20×200… It’s tagline, however, is “Art for Everyone” and it really is.  Launched by Jen Bekman, a gallery owner in New York, 20×200 releases limited edition prints of original photography and paintings for as low as $20.

Yup, that’s right– $20.00 (see, for those of you who were worried, I haven’t forgotten this is a budget-minded blog!).

So my owl loving friend could get a 8″x10″ limited edition (of 200) print like this:

Owl No. 1 by Lisa Congdon

Or if you had a little bigger budget, you could get a 17″ x 22″ limited edition (of 20) print of this:

Saint-Pierre by Ian Carpenter

Jen releases two new prints per week–one photograph and one painting and she specializes in finding new talent.  That means not only do you get pretty pictures for your walls– you might actually end up with something that grows in value! (Imagine, you could end up on Antique Road Show in 20 years, talking about how you bought this print for $20 off the internet and have an appraiser tell you it’s now worth $200,000!)  20×200

Okay, just one last thing to share– and this is a contest!

GMC Trade Secrets Sweepstakes

First of all– I’m not affiliated with this in anyway, ok?  I don’t make any money off of any links I share with you– if that happens to change in the future (because, hey–if I can share something I already LIKE and can make a little extra money for the furniture project, I’m not necessarily against it!) I will definitely ALWAYS tell you so you can choose if you wanna visit the link or not.

With that little disclaimer out of the way– let me tell you about this sweepstakes.  One of GMC’s PR people contacted me about it a couple of days ago (Hi Aimee!) and because it features the chance to win a room makeover by one of my favorite budget designers, Design on A Dime’s Kristan Cunningham,  I was ALL over sharing it with you.

GMC Trade Secrets Sweepstakes

I was too lazy to write out all the details– a picture is worth a thousand words, right?    You can enter daily and they’re giving away a $50 Bed Bath and Beyond gift certificate every day too– so get yourself on over there, k?             GMC Trade Secrets Sweepstakes

’til next time, happy budget decorating!

xoxo – Shauntelle

Despite that, lately I have had a huge urge to make or remake SOMETHING.  I think it’s because of all the awesome projects I’ve been finding out in blog land lately.  So today’s Inspiration Friday post is all about DIYing… projects that make me salivate and fight the desire to rummage through some discard piles for inspiration!

Turquoise Interior Design Custom Vintage Chinese Chippendale Chairs

I pulled these lovely chairs from my inspiration file. They are vintage Chinese Chippendale Chairs that were reupholstered and revamped by the talented Vanessa De Vargas, owner of the design firm Turquoise in Los Angeles.  Vanessa has an eye for discovering vintage (read–flea marketed/thrifted/used) pieces with great bones and updating them to fit with modern interiors perfectly.  If you visit her interior design portfolio, you will also see that she has a real talent for mixing the new and old to create delightfully fun and luxurious rooms.  Her work makes me wanna learn how to paint, sew, and reupholster everything!

Milk Carton Vases by P.S. I made this...

I’m sure that I am probably the LAST person in the world to have discovered the great blog P.S. I made this… but here ya go, in case you’ve been hiding under a rock with me, I had to give Erica Domesek a HUGE shout out for inspiring me to at least TRY my hand at making home accessories. Erika makes EVERYTHING, not just home accessories… and she’s AMAZINGLY creative!  As in I would love to follow her around and discover how she turns her inspiration into such great ideas… and then turns around and makes easy to follow instructions for doing it yourself TOO!  The picture above is from her Milk Carton Vases tutorial… and as you can see… she breaks things down into the easiest steps ever. Besides that tutorial, others I have bookmarked to jumpstart my DIY’ing efforts include:

• P.S. I made this… studded box
• P.S. I made this…chandelier

American Empire Revival Chest via Fine Diving Chicago (BEFORE)

I have a new DIY blog crush that I discovered just a few weeks ago… it’s the wonderful Diana Durkes whose blog, Fine Diving, features the wonderful before and after details of objects she finds discarded on the side of the road or by a dumpster or under-appreciated at a local garage sale or thrift store.

Diana is talented and, unlike me, not afraid to get her hands dirty really redoing some work.  Like that poor unhappy American Empire Revival Chest you see up there.  That was what it looked like when she dragged it home.  This is what it looks like now:

American Revival Empire Chest by Fine Diving (AFTER)

Do you see why I’m ready to ask Diana to go steady? With my eye for craigslist deals and her skillz… we would be like the dynamic duo of budget decorating!  (Okay, yes I know that I’d be getting the better end of the deal since she obviously has a more than fantastic eye herself! But still… I’d be her BFF for real, if we lived anywhere close to one another!)

Are you feeling the urge to get busy with some DIYing yourself yet?  Then let me share one more wonderful jewel that one of my favorite people shared with me recently via Facebook:

Ana-White.com

Okay, I have to introduce you to my other major design blog crush Ana White of Ana-White.com.  She’s beautiful, as you can see… but even more impressive… the woman can make!  I mean, she doesn’t just REMAKE stuff… she designs, draws plans, cuts wood, hammers, power drills… and actually MAKES amazing furniture.  And then, on top of all that, she shares her designs and all the steps online.

Crazy. Amazing.  I am seriously in love (but don’t tell my hubby!).

I know, you think I’m waxing lyrical for no reason– that I’m being overdramatic, right?

Fine… Look at this:

Ana's Bed... made by Ana herself

Yes, she MADE this. For around $150, in fact. And doesn’t it look amazing?  If that doesn’t inspire you to get DIYing… nothing will!

’til next time, happy budget decorating!

xoxo – Shauntelle

Plasticland's Mod 60's Fish Hotel

As the proud grandmomma to two fish who can’t live in the same bowl (it’s a long story!), I completely LOVE this design upgrade to what is normally a dull every day item.

Another everyday upgrade that just made me smile:

Chinese Takeout Trash Can

It’s a trash can that looks like takeout!  Okay, so I know it won’t fit in with serious design, but it’s fun and only $12.00.  I think it could easily be a cute piece to inspire a themed teenager’s room… actually, it might be a cute themed toddler’s room as well.  Or if you’re one of the cool, hip creative adults I admire who decorate with a sense of fun… this little trashcan is perfect to brighten the mood of your home office or maybe a corner of your bedroom.

Wandering around Etsy I stumbled upon:

Etched Steel Teapot Switch Cover by Shelly Hurd

Am I the only one who thinks light switch covers are the ugliest convenience item on the planet? This etsy shop owner, Shelly Hurd, is here to change that though.  She offers a wide variety of artisan light switch and electrical outlet covers that vary in price from $12 to $18 each.

Swallow Electrical Outlet Cover by Shelly Hurd

She also offers what she calls “switchplate jewelry.”  Personally, I think these are so cute and clever… they’re decorative screws basically, that you can use to replace your plain old switchplate screws:

Bumblebee Switchplate Jewelry by Shelly Hurd

These are little gems in my opinion.  They run $2 to $3 a piece and, just as she has shown in this picture, you could probably get away with using just one on many of your switchplates. While it might be a little pricey to use her $18 custom switchplates to replace the ones in your home, you can easily get crafty with some paint and one of these beautiful little charms to create your own unique creations for every room in your house.

Do you own a cell phone, ipod, or other small, essential tech gadget that constantly needs recharging? Then you should have one of these:

KangaRoom Charger Frame

This nifty little frame displays a pretty picture of your choice AND charges up to two tech gadgets, hiding all the ugly cords away on the inside.  It’s available in the black above, as well as pink, blue, and green… and it’s only $19.99 at the home organizer’s dream store, KangaRoom Storage.

Finally, have you seen the John Derian collection at Target?  Some really, really cute pieces and not too expensive at all:

John Derian for Target Storage Boxes

John Derian for Target Accordion File

John Derian for Target Melamine Appetizer Set

John Derian for Target Honeycomb Mug Set

None of these items retail for more than $20.00.  I’d order online though rather shop local because a couple reviewers said they couldn’t buy the mugs or dinnerware as a set at the stores.

Okay– I fibbed… I have one very last thing to share… this clock I fell in love with at Chiasso.com:

Chiasso.com Alfresco Pendulum Wall Clock

I wish it were a little bit more substantial, but it’s not bad for $28.00.

’til next time, happy budget decorating!

xoxo- Shauntelle

Today, however, I learned that my thoughts on sectionals were dated.  Sure, there are still some of the 70′s throw-backs hanging around… like this:

Rooms to Go Blakely Godiva Sectional

But there are also gorgeous updated versions that fit every taste from traditional to modern.  In fact, after seeing all the options available, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get a sectional for our living room.

West Elm's Lorimer

I was really surprised by West Elm’s selection.  If you’ve followed this blog for any period of time, you know I have a real thing for grey and I’m a serious modern girl… so this version of the Lorimer sectional one makes me swoon.  It’s fairly reasonable as new furniture goes too–around $1500.

West Elm's Blake sectional

The Blake is another West Elm sectional that I LOVED as soon as I saw it.  Although it has modern lines, it has a neutral feel that I think could transition with almost any design style… But if you’re a die-hard traditionalist, no worries!  Haverty’s has you covered with their Portland Chaise Sofa:

Havertys Portland Chaise Sofa

This is the neutral version but you can order it in a wide range of fabrics and colors too.  Personally, if I didn’t have to worry about kids or pets, I’d stick with the neutral and add some colorful patterned pillows for the beginnings of a really pretty and comfortable cottage living room.  I was impressed by the price too– only $1400, which for Havertys–a mainstay of the Atlanta furniture scene for over 100 years now– is quite a bargain.

Before I go, I thought I’d get your opinion on the two options I’m considering for my home… (Which really just gives me a reason to share my Polyvore sets with you guys again– I TOLD you I’m obsessed!  LOL!) The first features a sectional that I completely ADORE called Tribeca from the website Sofa So Good:

Possible Living Room by mamakitt03 on Polyvore.com

And this second one features a sectional from Ikea. To be honest, I don’t ADORE it, but I think it would be more kid friendly:

Living Room – Kid Friendly Version by mamakitt03 on Polyvore.com

I’d love to know what you think… and if you’re also on polyvore, drop me a note so I can add you as a contact.

’til next time,

xoxo — Shauntelle

Boy was I missing out!  I LOVE Polyvore… it’s so much fun playing around with fashion and working out different looks. It’s like playing virtual paper dolls in a way.  Even better, it’s something my youngest children enjoy as well, so it let’s me feed my addiction AND spend quality time with them.  Totally win-win, right?

Too much is never enough by mamakitt03 featuring a vintage bag

A Day in the Life by mamakitt03 featuring a patent handbag

I haven’t quite mastered the art of creating a interior set yet, but these are the two I’ve completed so far:

Living Room by mamakitt03 on Polyvore.com

Sweet Dreams by mamakitt03 featuring a one shoulder dress

And my little Catie– who started FIFTH GRADE a few weeks ago– designed this one of her dream office:

my office by mamakitt03 on Polyvore.com

If you’re looking for a way to get your creative juices flowing or simply seeking inspiration for your wardrobe or your home, I highly recommend Polyvore.  There are set designers there who are amazingly talented so even browsing through the collections is fun.

’til next time,

xoxo – Shauntelle

There's no place like home...

I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a home feel like “home.”

Last month was one year since we moved into the condo.

I had to stop myself from typing “new” condo because after a year, it’s not really our “new” place anymore.

Yet, despite the fact my kids have made good friends there and I’ve conquered my running challenges and my husband has fully launched his photography business there… it still doesn’t feel like home or anything close to it.

So that got me to thinking… what makes a place “home?”  I know right now we still don’t have much furniture but I’ve felt at home before in places where the best I could do is invite a friend to grab a piece of “rug” to sit on.

When I look around our “new” condo that still feels as though we just moved in, I see a place that feels empty to me.  Not because it IS empty–it’s not.  We’ve lived there a year, the kids have accumulated many new toys and collections of random sticks and spark plugs and what-nots that they find on their adventures outdoors… there’s “stuff” there… but it still feels devoid.

There are pictures on the wall… but there’s no “me” there.  Definitely no “us” there…

I can’t explain this for myself yet–it’s a thought I’m still exploring.  I’d love to hear what you guys think too.  Does your home feel like HOME to you? What makes it feel like home?

’til next time,

xoxo – Shauntelle

P.S.  I never officially announced it, but I guess it’s obvious that I’m back. I missed blogging here too much to stay away!  My goal is to post three or four times a week but I can’t give you specific days yet.  Thanks to everyone who has continued to visit even when the posting has been sporadic! 

For example, can you believe this display cabinet is only $30?!?!?

$30 craigslist display cabinet with lighting and glass panels

This is one of those times I just wish I knew SOMEONE who needed this because I’d have to gift it to them.  Even if this color wood doesn’t suit you, there’s so much potential here.  You could paint it black or white, antique it… if it’s real wood, you could refinish it in a darker stain.  If you’re in Atlanta, I suggest you hop on it right away!  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/fuo/1820992989.html

Now this next set, I really need you to use your imagination, okay?  The picture is horrible, but trust me this is still a good deal:

Round wood table and two chairs - $40 or best offer

Imagination, remember? First of all, I want you to think about how often you’ll run across a real wood circular table and two chairs for $40– OR best offer!  If this was pressed wood from your local box store, it would cost more than that. But it’s not… it’s real wood, that you can refinish or paint to your match your heart’s desire!  Now imagine that this is for your new little single pied-de-terre (apartment for non-francophiles!) and you were craving to recreate the beautiful look of the french country.  You could save your nickels and dimes to buy this beautiful set from Pottery Barn:

Pottery Barn Harvest Pedestal Table with Wynn Ladderback Chair

Ah simply divine, right? Only $999 for the table and $229 for each side chair!

Ok, so you see now why I think this is such a great deal? Little elbow grease and some paint and I’ll be you could save…oh, over $1000 at least to get a similar look.  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/fuo/1820831848.html

One last deal before I go… and this one doesn’t require using your imagination either:

Pair of contemporary accent chairs for $90

Okay, maybe just a little imagination… imagine that this was a better photograph taken in brighter light, okay?  I’m not sure how much I really need to say about these… They’re really cute chairs, perfect for accent chairs in a modern living room. And you will NEVER find a pair for $90 again, I’m certain.  In fact… here’s the lowest I found for a similar look:

Vision Decor's accent chair in tan

The fabric is different, but same legs, same style… only Vision Decor’s chair is $166.90!!!  That’s for one… and according to Google, that’s the lowest price you’ll find that piece online.

Whew!  I’m tired from all the deal excitement!

’til next time…

Happy budget decorating!

xoxo -  Shauntelle

At least, it’s a happy Monday NOW. 

I started the morning feeling the Monday blues.  We had a pretty good weekend and a relaxing Father’s Day.  I REALLY didn’t want to roll out of bed this morning.  Normally I’m pretty good about shaking the mood off once I get going, but today, I was just pokey and down. Even my morning coffee wasn’t helping!

So I decided to get my creative juices flowing. Nothing cheers me up more than browsing craigslist for good deals, even if I’m simply window shopping. I decided to set myself a little challenge… see if I could manage to pull together a cute and comfy living room with $500 virtual dollars.

And I must say, I out-did myself! 

First I started with this sofa for $75 dollars:

$75 craigslist sofa

The ad says it’s a seven foot long, cream sofa, slipcovered in a brown corduroy with free accessory pillows. Based on the picture, it looks like it’s in great shape and with the neutral color, it would make a great foundation piece for a living room. You can’t beat the $75 price (at least, if it’s really in good condition).  I was also okay with the accessory pillows because they gave me a place to start in building a color scheme.

Next I figured I’d look for a cheap coffee table.  Even though I’m on a budget, I’m REALLY picky about coffee tables.  To me, a chintzy looking coffee table can really ruin a room and make the difference between it looking stylishly eclectic or like someone’s attic threw up old family discards all over your space.  So looking for a coffee table took a little while; infact, I almost gave up.  Then I ran across this set for $60:

Bamboo Coffee and Side Table Set for $60

Cute, cute, cute (Did I say CUTE?) bamboo coffee and side table set for a mere $60.  The ad says the owner would have sold the pair for $45 if it was picked up by 6/20.  I would still ask for the discounted price, even though I’m a day shy of their deadline date because… well, it can’t hurt to ask, right?  If they stayed strong at the $60 price, that’s okay because my plan would be to keep the coffee table and relist the side table on craigslist for $20 anyway, so either I’d make my money back or make a profit from the deal.  One way or another, I’d still be happy.

Ah, so now I have a place to sit, put my feet up, and sip some tea while I read a book.  But my living room would still be a little empty, right?  A girl’s got to have a least one piece of art on the wall, right?  After all, accessories are what make the space.  And that’s why the next $15 I’d spend would be on this:

French Ad Reproduction Art for $15

Now this is a kinda crappy picture (craigslist selling rule number one… include the best picture you can for the fastest selling!), but this is a pretty large, framed reproduction.  The listing says it’s 39.5″ tall x 31″ wide and that is an INCREDIBLE deal for $15.

Now we’ve got a sofa, a coffee table, and a piece of art to hang over the sofa and we’ve only spent $135 (based on the fact that I can almost guarantee I would have gotten the coffee table set for $45).

I’m happy with that, but I’m not calling it a day yet.  After all, what happens if I want to have a friend over to sip tea WITH me?  Sure, she could sit right next to me on the sofa, but you know how we girls are… we like to sit across from one another to chat, so we can see all the facial movements and body language too.

That means I needed to find some kind of armchair or loveseat.  I went back and forth about that for a minute, but then decided I’d rather find an armchair.  I like my space to have some openness to it and two large sofa pieces don’t give that to me. But that’s just my taste, ya know?

I was browsing for chairs when I ran across a piece I just COULDN’T pass up:

Pair of ladder bookshelves for $30

A pair of seven foot tall ladder bookshelves for $30!!!  I saw them and knew that they had to be purchased immediately.  They’re white, they don’t really work in the color scheme I’ve been building… but do you SEE them?!?!  Do you have ANY idea how much they’d cost retail?  Much more than $30 for the pair, I’m certain of it.  (As in, follow this link to see a similar style of PLANT STAND at Ballard Designs starting at $199!  And then return and tell me how you can suddenly understand why if I was REALLY shopping, these two would have been in the back of my SUV faster than you could say “deal!”)

I wasn’t sure how they’d fit in with the room I’ve been building, but since this is virtual shopping and I don’t have to provide reasons to my hubby on why they MUST.BE. OURS. IMMEDIATELY. — well, I “bought” them! 

But I still needed a chair.  Luckily, I ran across the perfect piece:

Rattan Chair and Ottoman set for $50

Okay, I know the cushions don’t match anything one bit!  But that’s okay because I know how to use fabric and safety pins to change that pretty quick.  The important part is that the rattan would be a good complement to the sofa and getting a nice rattan chair with cushions and ottoman for $50 is a serious bargain!

I’ve already decided I’m going to paint the bookshelves a glossy red. I may introduce a little bit of black into the room by covering the cushions on the chair and ottoman with black fabric…

Since I’m selling the bamboo side table, I need some kind of side table to set next to the chair and ottoman.  I think this little nightstand from Ikea will do the trick:

Ikea side table for $15 (on craigslist)

I save around $10 by purchasing it from craigslist instead of new from Ikea.  The size is perfect for next to the rattan and the metal legs mixes things up a bit, helping to bring some balance and interest to the room.

The last thing I decide to add is a lamp or two.  Buying lamps from craigslist can be tricky, cause often the inexpensive ones look… well, inexpensive… and more suited for a college dorm room than a home.  The expensive ones, however, often are portrayed as antiques–but I’m not enough of an expert to know for sure, so I worry about getting ripped off.  I normally do my lamp shopping at T.J. Maxx or Marshalls, to be honest… but today, things worked out:

A pair of lamps for $10

Yes, I know, they’re GREEN.  They wouldn’t stay that way for long though.  A handy can of spray paint and these little lovelies would probably become yellow or black.  Later on, I probably would trade out the lampshades too, but for the time being, a change of color would make them fit great with my little living room. (In case you’re interested, find the two green lamps for $10 here.)

And here you have it:

Craigslist Monday 6/21 Challenge: Living Room for $240

’til next time…

xoxo – Shauntelle

Anyway, technically we will have been in the condo for a year in August… and it still looks rather blah. Bland. Shall I say college-like?  Hubby and I agree that we’re sick of living this way… the financing are stabilizing and we’re both getting older by the minute… it would be nice to live like grown-ups again!  (And actually have a space we’re proud to invite friends over to versus feeling slightly appalled!)

I may have mentioned that we picked up a $25 Storehouse sofa on craiglist a few months ago; it has great lines, but it definitely needs to be reupholstered. I think that’s going to be our first decorating goal– the problem is– we can’t decide on a color.

Hubby adores this light blue color similar to this:

Cindy Crawford's Avenue Hydra Sofa for Rooms to Go

He would also probably be okay with this mintish color as well:

Cindy Crawford's Avenue Mint Sofa for Rooms to Go

I, on the other hand, lean toward a more neutral color. Not that I don’t like the mint or the blue– I do like them a lot! The thing is, I know that I have decorating ADD. Maybe I’d be okay with a light blue sofa in the heat of summer… but I can almost guarantee that when fall rolls around, I’d be complaining that I can’t make things more cozy cause the color of the sofa doesn’t work. (Anyone remember my desire for a grey sofa only a few weeks after getting the chocolate brown one?)

So being aware of my own bad traits, I’d rather get it slipcovered in a more neutral fabric so that I can rearrange and redecorate with accessories to my heart’s content. Also, we do have three kids and the two youngest are very active. If we did get a light blue color, I think it would be spotted within a week and that would just make Daddy mad!

Hubby does understand these things. The problem is, we can’t agree on a neutral color either. I don’t want chocolate brown, black, or taupe. We both agree that white is out for the same reason we can’t have a light blue.  That pretty much removes everything but grey and cocoa.  Hubby doesn’t like grey and I’m not really feeling cocoa.

It’s definitely a slight impasse.

I just sent off for a quote from the re-upholsterer.  Once we have an idea of how much it costs, I guess it will force us to find some kind of compromise, right?  At least, that’s my logic right now.

In the meanwhile, I’ve been surfing the interwebs to get inspiration for the living room:

Living Room from bhg.com

Maybe I could go with a chocolate brown sofa again if we got brighter chairs this time?

Another Living Room from bhg.com

This room looks so nice and soothing. The arrangement is perfect for our living room because our faux fireplace is situated just like that. The white and the stripes though would never fly at my house.

Colorful Living Room from House Beautiful

I love the look of this bright living room from House Beautiful‘s website. I dunno though… that green might put me off if it was the first thing I saw coming home on a dark winter’s evening.

Modern living room kitchen combo

I think this photo is from the Better Home and Garden’s website as well, but I’m not positive. I saved it in my inspiration folder because I love how open and airy it looks. And I adore the large bright artwork.

Well lovelies, that’s it for me today.

Happy budget decorating!

xoxo– Shauntelle