The Inspired Room http://theinspiredroom.net Creating a beautiful life and home on a budget Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:39:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 Consignment & Second Hand Shopping http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wordpress/woWq/~3/sp8xYT9fRBo/ http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/14/consignment-second-hand-shopping/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:33:48 +0000 Melissa @ The Inspired Room http://theinspiredroom.net/?p=5268

T his is going to be fun! We have our very own consignment shop expert here to help us make the most of our hard earned decorating money! We’ll be learning some tips on buying second hand. Sarah is from Gallery St. Elmo in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Following Sarah’s guest post, we will hold a mini-discussion and Q&A on the topic of buying secondhand right in the comments. Sarah will be able to answer your questions on Wednesday July 14 directly below your comment and if any of you have experiences or tips to share, feel free to chime in too! Be sure to check back to see the discussion and answers as the day goes on.

Why Buying Secondhand is My First Love
Guest Post by Sarah of Gallery St. Elmo, A consignment shop in Bethesda, MD

With tightening budgets and mindfulness of saving resources secondhand shopping is more and more popular. My mom was a bit ahead of the times taking us on frequent trips to yard sales, stopping for curb finds and one memorable visit to the Woodie’s dumpster after Christmas where Santa’s abandoned chair came home to live with us.

She knew then what so many people are finding out now - that decorating secondhand is a wonderful way to add character to a home whether you’re ready to splurge on a unique treasure or decorating on a strict budget.

Because thrift stores and consignment shops stock many different styles at once they provide the perfect environment for achieving an eclectic look and avoiding a cookie cutter home.

Tips for shopping and decorating secondhand:

  • Be adaptable. Make a list but don’t be blinded by it. When you see something you love you will find a place for it. Even if it’s not on your list, think of an unusual use for an object you fall in love with.
  • Start a collection. A collection not only feeds your love of the object and reflects your personal taste but can be used to create a pleasing vignette. I like Heather Bullard’s grouping of white objects (pictured)- the overall effect is restful because of the color unity but she avoids monotony by incorporating varying heights and shapes.
  • Be prepared. Bring measurements and swatches with you so you can make an on the spot decision. It only takes our customers losing a great find once to learn not to hesitate when buying secondhand.
  • Have a vision. Start an inspiration notebook or bookmark online links to gather ideas before you go. Look for items that are easy to redo yourself and imagine how putting a fresh coat of paint or covering a seat in a new fabric might transform a piece that looks tired into your dream piece.
  • Smile as you head home with a great piece at a fraction of the cost your neighbor paid.

    Now it is time for our Q&A and discussion! If you have questions for Sarah about second hand shopping or would like to share your own experiences and suggestions, let’s chat in the comments!

all photos Heather Bullard, used by permission.



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]]> http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/14/consignment-second-hand-shopping/feed/ http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/14/consignment-second-hand-shopping/ Come snoop around this cottage on the lake! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wordpress/woWq/~3/sCaHM2HPlLo/ http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/13/come-snoop-around-this-cottage-on-the-lake/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:16:56 +0000 Melissa @ The Inspired Room http://theinspiredroom.net/?p=5253

I know it is only Tuesday, but I could use a little weekend escape right now. Let’s go on another road trip to an idyllic vacation spot!

Just look at this dreamy setting! The water, the trees …

Add in a charming home and you have the perfect summer escape!

Love those blue Adirondack chairs!

It is charming on the outside, but wouldn’t you love to look inside and maybe stay awhile? I would. I love getting to peek inside people’s houses. I am such a snoop.

{A quick side note: Once I was at a house I was head over heels in love with and the owners left the room to go take something outside. I was so excited to be left alone in their kitchen so I could drool and study its fine craftsmanship. I was just running my hands over their kitchen drawer hardware admiring its beauty when the owner walked back in. I was mortified. Busted.}

Lucky for us, today we have permission to snoop around this lovely home! Sweet Emily from Remodeling This Life shared these great photos of her family’s getaway with me (I think it is on a lake somewhere in Florida oops, northern NY) and I knew you’d all want to snoop around too. Because I know you and you are just as snoopy as I am. Don’t deny it. I’ve seen that look in your eyes.

I’ll be quiet now so you can snoop in peace…go ahead. I know you want to.

Imagine waking up every day of your vacation seeing that lake view! Such a serene and happy family home, inside and out!

Thanks for inviting us in Emily! You are so gracious to share it with us. Your family’s home is lovely and I can see it is an ideal place to make great memories. What a blessing to have it in your family!

For more of Emily’s great family vacation homes (yes, don’t be too envious but there is another guest house nearby this one!), check out her blog to see the tours!

Meanwhile, where would your idea vacation home be? Go ahead and dream.



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]]> http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/13/come-snoop-around-this-cottage-on-the-lake/feed/ http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/13/come-snoop-around-this-cottage-on-the-lake/ The Pottery Barn Basic Sofa Saga & Confessions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wordpress/woWq/~3/cgB4izG_yfk/ http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/12/my-pottery-barn-basic-sofa-saga-confessions/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:22:48 +0000 Melissa @ The Inspired Room http://theinspiredroom.net/?p=5235
A few years back I decided I wanted a good basic sofa with a slip cover. Truth be told, I have never spent much money on furniture for my home. A lot of what I have was given to me or found at garage sales, consignment shops and second hand stores.  I am the epitome of a “use what you have” decorator.

The furniture in my home is all good quality from stores like Ethan Allen, some are even antiques, but I learned from my mom that you can have high end for much much less than you think if you are willing to get creative and let your home evolve over time. Quality furniture will last a long time, so it is worth having.
Only once did I splurge and buy a full price custom loveseat. It was the first sofa I ever bought (18 years ago), and it was the ONLY thing I ever I spent a lot amount of money on (it was over $2,500) and to this day I cannot believe I did that, knowing all I know now about bargain hunting. It was so unnecessary for me to spend that kind of money, we certainly couldn’t afford it, but live and learn.

I will say that I still have that loveseat and the original upholstery — it WILL NOT wear out. So in the long run of 18 years, maybe it was a good investment. For that reason, I recommend buying a classic neutral sofa if you are spending a lot of money on it!

Other than that one crazy splurge, I have never set aside a big sum of money to go shopping for an entire room. Never have, pretty sure I never will. It would be fun (I guess that is why I became a professional decorator), yes, but it is just not something I have felt the need to do. We have other financial concerns than spending our money on furniture. I have gathered a piece at a time as a bargain treasure is found or given. After 22 years, I have a house full of quality pieces that work together that “evolved over time” way.

It takes patience to gather your things over time without a furniture budget. But it can be rewarding to look through your home and not be able to find more than a thing or two you actually spent a hundred dollars (or more) on. Even if you can afford it, imagine all the things you could do with the money you saved!

But back to my desire for a slip-covered sofa. Since I was determined to buy one for very little money, I knew I was going to have to be on the lookout for a great deal. I searched my usual haunts but couldn’t find what I was looking for.

I started searching on Craigslist for the PB Basic sofa and lucky for me, I found a local woman selling a down blend PB Basic for $400.  I kept the slipcover she had on it for a couple of years until it wore all the way through and started to embarrass my children. True story, it had holes all over it for at least a year. I am so ashamed.

Finally last fall I was ready to update it with a new slipcover. I searched Craigslist but never found an affordable replacement. I decided it would be most affordable to have a slipcover made for it rather than to buy one from PB, but when we decided to put our house up for sale, I realized I was out of time and that ripped up slipcover was going to devalue our house.

So I called Pottery Barn in desperation and begged them to search for a floor model slipcover. Sure enough, they had a white (or off white) floor model slipcover up high on a shelf. The only wear on it was a small stain on the skirt, which is usually folded under the sofa a little bit anyways. I knew we’d make our own marks so that was no big deal. She sold it to me for $300.

So now I have a PB Basic down sofa that I spent $700 for. That made it the second most expensive sofa I ever bought. I loved the challenge of finding what I wanted for a fraction of what it would have cost new. I have seen dozens of really high end beautiful quality sofas for $700 in recent years, so I know there is really no need to spend more if you are willing to be creative and flexible!

And for those of you who asked about keeping it clean, you can wash the slipcovers or take them to the cleaners. So far, I’ve done neither and it has held up just fine.

I have a post scheduled for later this week that will give you some tips on second hand shopping, which is my favorite way to find quality furniture at discount prices! I found a $4,000+ high end sofa for a client at a consignment shop for $800, it is a great way to shop! Stay tuned!

this post shared with my buddy Nester



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