Well, my "worrying about money" mentality, was followed by a "poor me, I dislike my home décor." I had the envy bug after seeing one friend's brand new paint/carpet/living room suite and another friend's kitchen redo with new granite counters and backsplashes and article of furniture from Target that I liked. After the "How will I feed my family?" quandary (self-imposed, of course), I was a bit begrudging on having to love what I have for the next long while. DH and I already discussed less expensive alternatives to new matresses, like a $200 mattress topper from Kohl's with the new chilling technology (down from $399 or $499).
About my current living room: I've been in my house ten years now. We went from 900 square feet to 2,450 square feet with little to no furniture. I ended up with a collection of expensive, impractical oddities that didn't work in my biological father's English-inspired estate. Below is what has been in my living room and I have never liked it. It has inspired some interesting conversations. No, we are not Buddhist, we are devout Roman Catholics. No, we are not recreational hookah smokers. Etc.
Here is the item:
Wednesday I decided to drop off some donations at Goodwill. I fell in love with the sofa below. It was someone's custom selection from Walter E. Smythe, an upper end furniture place here in suburban Chicago. Loved everything about it. My donation got me a 30% off coupon, so I bought the sofa. And here it is.
How much do you think I paid for it?
Out with the old, In with the new; or How much did I pay?
February 7th, 2014 at 01:24 pm
February 7th, 2014 at 01:34 pm 1391780061
Considering our local Goodwill prices, I'd guess something like $700. I am guessing you got a better deal than that.
February 7th, 2014 at 02:12 pm 1391782376
I know how you feel. It's easy to be envious of the 'new' in other people's homes. I am a serial and chronic home decorator, and let me tell you, you don't need to spend a lot of money or get all brand new to make your house look good.
Paint is $30 a can for the good stuff, and can work miracles. I think I've repainted my living room twice in two years! I also create all of my own artwork either with digital prints or paint on canvas. I shop thrift or (affordable) antique, flea and estate sales, and have found great stuff for not a lot.
If you really decide you want to redecorate, start moving what you have into a new arrangement, then fill in the gaps. And paint....
I'd say $350 for the sofa...
February 7th, 2014 at 02:13 pm 1391782418
February 7th, 2014 at 02:22 pm 1391782963
February 7th, 2014 at 03:44 pm 1391787876
Are you going to sell the unwanted one? Looks like it might fetch a nice price, though finding the buyer might require patience.
February 7th, 2014 at 06:03 pm 1391796198
February 7th, 2014 at 09:49 pm 1391809766
Enjoy your new sofa whatever the cost. It looks much more British, with curved, tapered legs and rich coloured cushions. Since the new sofa is less formal, you might want to make new artwork. My favourite, nearly free ' artwork' is fitting together a largish stretcher frame [dirt cheap from on-line sellers], then stapling a piece of fabric tautly to the back of the stretcher frame. Fabric can be a the back of a GW shirt, blouse, or part of drape if the colour is beautiful.
Alternatively, I buy a largish picture from GW or one of the Charity shops, removed the existing picture and install one of my pictures. It's quite inexpensive to buy an off the rack photo 'mat' for any photo you love. Have the photo copied to size needed at any office supply outlet.
February 8th, 2014 at 05:31 pm 1391880687