There are some GOOD DEALS out there!

Hi Christine,

I have a question!

But first, thanks so much for your blog.  I have learned so much about decorating, and love your choices.  Thanks for your advice and also the links to products.

 

Here's my dilemma:  I'm stuck with an '80's forest green leather sofa in perfect condition, and a rather expensive red plaid recliner in my lower level room.  The only thing wrong with each piece is the color!  I really need to update the room.  You understand!

Do you have a retailer you would recommend for slipcovers?  Pottery Barn Basics are nice if I got the more expensive ones, but for that price I might as well buy new furniture.  Or, do you have any other ideas on the cheap?

Thanks much!

- Carol

Hi Carol,

I understand your dilemma, but you are going in the wrong dirrection.

1.  Do not slip cover leather.

2.  Do not slip cover recliners.

Why?  It will look bad.  Anyone that says it will look good is either trying to sell you a slipcover, or is simply wrong. The slipcovered leather will not only look bad, but will also feel strange. 

For the price of a decent slipcover, go to Craigslist or the Penny Saver, or (my personal favorite) neighborhood yard sales in high- end neighborhoods.  The value of used furniture is so incredibly low.  It could take some time and effort, but you can find more neutral furniture at terrific prices if you are willing to put some time into your search. 

Start laundering some funds from your budget to save for some nicer pillows to put on your new (used) furniture. 

Add new pillows, and a new rug....

The rug above is very affordable, from Dash and Albert.   When I was single, I purchased an off-white sofa from the Penny Saver for $35.  Sure, it didn't look new, but it also didn't look bad. By adding the great throw pillows, you pull the eye away from the sofa's age, and all people see are the pillows. 

I recently purchased a Century bedroom set for my grandfather for $200.  Do you realize how expensive a Century set is?  I once ordered a Century dining set for a client  that was over $40,000.  There are some good deals to be had out there.  Give yourself more than one day.  Patience really is a virtue.  (I know, I already told you not to get a bedroom set...  but grandpa likes it...  and it is an excellent quality.... Ignore that part of the story- focus on the good deal on Craigslist)

Stop thinking about what you paid for the furniture.  Someone else paid a lot for their furniture too, and now they are are selling it to you.

While you are shopping, keep in mind the rest of the room.  Look at this great sideboard:

See the before and after project on Design Sponge.

Finish off the look with some great curtains:

Think neighborhood yard sales in high-end neighborhoods.  I also once got four Pottery Barn barstools for $25 each.  A current style and color in perfect condition.  I also once purchased a Bosch stainless dishwasher for $200.  Practically new.  Sure, many days I don't purchase a thing, (and now that I have a daughter in swim team, I don't go at all), but if you are patient, you can find good deals.  Hey readers, tell us about your good deals.  What have you found out there?  Inspire Carol!

Indoor/ Outdoor Rugs

Hi Christine,

What's your take on an indoor/outdoor rug in the family room (under couch and coffee table.) Good rugs are so expensive, as a first time home owner I have other expenses to worry about. Would using something like this give a totally cheap feel to the room?

- Pam

Hi Pam,

I think the rug you selected was great.  The only time I am not a fan of outdoor rugs inside is when they are shiny looking.  The Ballad Designs rug you selected doesn't look shiny to me at all. 

What makes it an indoor - outdoor rug?  Most are made of polypropylene or polyester.  It is a solution dyed synthetic material that is known for good colorfastness.  Technology has really come a long way, and they are able to make it look more and more like wool.  Traditionally (even just 10 years ago) it was a shiny/ plastic looking fiber.  The rug you are looking at appears to be a more advanced generation fiber.  More inexpensive polyester rugs are still that shiny/ cheap look.

I really like Dash and Albert for inexpensive rugs too.  I feel like when you are going inexpensive, it is also a time to be more daring and colorful if your decor can lean that way.

Does anyone else out there have good sources for inexpensive rugs? 

Help Selecting a Rug...

I have a client that found this great photograph above.  We are going to have it made into a painting.  I know a great graphic designer that is also an artist.  She will take the photograph, make it look like a painting on the computer, have it printed on canvass and then add oil paints.  It is much less expensive than a piece of original artwork, but will certainly look like the real deal.  Anyway- I am asking for your help in finding a rug for her.  I have some below- I want to know what your favorites are.  The sofa is a forest green- solid color. 

#1.  Chandra Rug. I loved the colors that some of the new Amy Butler rugs had.  They bring in the forest green, and are so fresh and fun.  What a great statement. 

#2 Poppy Fields by Amy Butler

 #3 Temple Garland by Amy Butler

#4  Stripe Rug.  I wanted to give her a variety of looks as well as prices.  This is made of Derclon.  I am a wool snob myself, but synthetics are looking more and more like wool all the time.  This is also going to be about 1/4 the price. 

# 5 Lyrical Rug.  Here is another less expensive option, this one made of polypropelene. 

#6  This is a vine blue/green tufted wool rug from Dash and Albert.  It falls right in the middle with pricing.

Just a little reminder what that picture looked like...

#7  This is the Coventry Rug by Amy Butler.  I love how it brings in a punch of the gold from the bottom of the photo.  Certanily one of my favorites.

#8-  Just in case I am totally scaring Carey, here is a conservative stripe that would also work just fine.  Also from Dash and Albert.

#9  The Lyrical rug from above came in two colors and both actually work with the color pallet from the photo. 

So- there we go- After hours of searching, these were my favorites.  Anyone out there have a favorite of my favorites?  Have any other rugs to show her that I didn't list here?  We'll select drapery fabric after this that can help to unify everything.

A Favorite Source... or two

Rebecca left this comment yesterday from this post "The Simple Striped Rug":

Hi, I love this rug! Where is it from? Thanks!

I am not sure where the rug from the movie set came from- and the other photos are from Maine Cottage.  In addition to striped rugs, they are a great source for a style that I would describe as fresh and contemporary cottage.  They carry crisply painted bright cottage style furniture.  The large selection of paint colors make them an especially convenient source.  -I will also give up another favorite source for fantastic striped rugs.

I love Dash and Albert.  They are a rug company with a large selection of fantastic striped rugs- a terrific variety of unexpected color combinations that can act as an inspiring color pallet for a whole room.  The rugs in this post are from Dash and Albert.

Now- this is where- if I were savvy- Maine Cottage and Dash and Albert would be paying me...  ;-)

Erin from Kentucky's Dining Room

Christine,

So excited to be reading through your blog! I am also a mother of four great kids (oldest a girl and three little boys, all ages 2-10), a fan of baking sugary treats (like cupcakes), a fan of American Idol (though this year I'm not so into it), and married to a wonderful DIY guy who says, "Decide what you'd like and I'll do my best to make it happen." What more could I ask for?

Maybe ... some decorating talent would be nice! I just don't have it! Check out Erin's room here.

A year ago I jumped into redoing my dining room full force. We've been redoing this old house from end to end in just the past 2 1/2 years, including a complete kitchen redo (I love my maple glazed cabinets and black trim), knocking down walls, and a fireplace makeover. So I found an inspiration room on HGTV's Rate My Space and couldn't wait to get started on the dining room, but then as I miserably failed practicing the glazing technique on a piece of scrap drywall, I halted the whole project. The room's been a storage space and sometimes dining area for almost a year now.

Now I've got the momentum back. I'm attempting to put together my dining room and trying to look at it again, abandoning the glazing plan altogether. I found your blog because I'm questioning the existing crown molding I don't see the crown molding??? and how to handle the walls now that I've scrapped the glaze and diamond pattern (on top) that was part of my original vision. From what I've read on your blog, it seems the chair rail is a little too high in my room. Should I remove it? Move it? Add crown? Do a finishing of some kind on the bottom like faux wainscoting or beadboard? The height is OK- yes- I would add wainscoting or beadboard.
I just want the room to come together and me be happy with it, so I'm trying to plan everything! I'm not very confident about putting things together. How big a light fixture to I need for the large scale dining table? Is 24" round big enough? Would the rectangular 36" chandelier be better? With a rectangular table- an oblong or rectangular chandelier is ideal. Yes- 36 inch is a good size. Do I worry about putting all rectangles in the room (chandelier, table, buffet, art?) or do I need to vary it with some circles and squares? No- don't worry about that. In certain categories repetition can be boring- but with a rectangular shape- it is not a concern.

Another thing ... I tend to like things that match, but I realize it often looks better when they coordinate instead. So, if I have pillar candles on the chandelier, I'd like pillar candles as sconces. Does it matter if their finish amongst the sconces and chandelier is different (one more bronze, one black)? I would not do pillar candle sconces and a pillar candle chandelier- now that is where the repetition thing is bad. If you love that look- use it on the chandelier- as it is larger and makes more of an impact- but then choose something entirely different for the sconce- but something that still coordinates- like the sconce below from Bellacor - only $97.

I'd like to bring out red in the artwork and then with some accessories, are there rules other than to repeat the same color three times in the room? What you really need to make your room look more like the inspiration room (which I put at the top of the post) is some pattern. Don't use solid drapes-- use a pattern- same with the rug. The patterned fabric above is from Beacon Hill. The rug is from Dash and Albert. Add more color in the art work and centerpiece. The poppy print is from House in the Country- and is available in different sizes- framed or just canvas wrapped.

Then, is the table too big for this room? I've measured and staged the area with the furniture I already have and I'm thinking I'll like it fine, but I have a lingering doubt. Your table is not too large. My overall vision for this room is to be a casual dining area that we use almost daily for our family. Kid-friendly and durable is a must and we want to have guests and not have to say "let's put the leaf in." The only furniture will be the table and chairs and a buffet on the wall parallel (black or bronze mirror above). The sconces will be installed on the far end of the table (opposite the doorway to the kitchen), with the focal artwork in between. Simple window treatments on either side of the French doors, likely on swing away arm rods. We NEVER use these French doors, but I want the option kept there with the swing rods. No rug planned because it will just get ruined by my wonderful but messy boys.

Here are several photos, especially of things I've picked out online. I can't spend a ton on light fixtures, so that's unfortunately limiting. I love the pillar chandeliers at Restoration Hardware but $1,000? Not in our house!

In case it matters, I love traditional and tend toward cottage and Tuscan looks. My whole house is in the green family you see above including the kitchen adjoining the dining area, or a caramel/gold family. Housewide white trim. Black accents just seem classic to me right now.

I've asked a ton, I know. Please know that I am soooooooooooo grateful for any input at all. I'm so glad I found your blog. I'm decorating-challenged and usually just end up with nothing on the wall for years because I'm so scared of deciding, hating it, regretting it and thinking of the expense! It's a debilitating fear.

Thanks a million again. Wish you and yours all the best!!!

Erin

Southeastern KY

You are very organized- which is a great way to make good decisions- I hope my answers to your questions were helpful- thanks for writing in! Closely imitating an inspiration room is really a very good way to decorate when you have limited experience and are low on decorating confidence.

You are off to a great start!

Christine