Thrift Store Thursdays~ Green Upholstered Chair

I don't care if they can't spell as long as they have good deals. ; )

Every "Wendeday," haha, I hit up the local thrift store for 1/2 priced furniture. Thursdays posts will be called "THRIFT STORE THURSDAYS," and will reveal the items that I think have potential to be something great. 

Eventually some items will be posted as new and unique pieces. Other pieces I will compare with great design photos to show what the item could look like w/ a different fabrics or a new coat of paint. 

Tip: The most important thing is to be open-minded and think outside of the box!

www.designersguild.com
I love small scale chairs, like these from Designers Guild, that could be put almost anywhere...
Look what I found!

2 Gorgeous Tub Chairs
The photo doesn't do these chairs justice. The color is stunning, fabric is rich and they are extremely comfy. Best part... $38. each! They had only been sitting in the store for one day and a young hip couple sat on them in contemplation so I knew I had to get them that day. I can't wait a month to get them at 1/2 price b/c they definitely would be GONE! Plus at that price... who cares! You couldn't get a yard of that fabric for $38.

I had to have them... but where would I put two. I couldn't bare to break them up considering they probably had so much history together . Sooooooo, I called Johnna Sheets (Friend & Designer)! Told her the situation and SOLD... She was going to buy the second one for her living room!
Don't know if mine will go in my bedroom or home office yet... we shall see.
SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS FIND!

www.designersguild.com
Note: Tricia Guild is my FAVORITE fabric and wallpaper designer. (You may recognize a lot of her fabrics on my sofa!) I have her book,"Pattern" and every time I flip through the pages I fall in love all over again. When I see outdated upholstered chairs at thrift stores I envision her vividly stunning fabs on them and they become super chic!

http://www.anthropologie.com
Anthro Wingback $1898
Tip: This funky wingback chair is from Antho and looks very similar to the thrift store find below. It doesn't have those great wings or the tufted back but with a bright orange fab or one similar to Tricia's collection this $109 wingback chair below could look kinda close to its competitor. 

Thrift Store Wingback $109

I just absolutely LOVE these bamboo chairs. 4 for $119.

Tip: They would look great painted white, turquoise, red...
Great potential but I'm going to wait. They came to the store on August 16th. That means I have to wait until Sept. 21st to get them for $59.50 for ALL 4!!!
Hopefully no one snatches them up before then.  

side note:

Thriftin with my sidekick, Doak!
*Pillow inside cart $2.99 1/2= $1.49
SCORE! 

Just for fun... Halloweens coming!!!

Note: You'd be surprised what great clothes you can find at thrift stores. I have found some vintage pieces, actual Anthro pieces and pieces that need a little TLC but turn out looking great!

  Madonna's Material Girl perhaps...
Need some diamonds, belt, gloves and a big pink bow!
 *I actually found a dress at a thrift store in college and did this idea for Halloween.
So fun! 


Have a good one! Melis 

Pillow/Otto Obsession

www.anthropologie.com
$88 

www.anthropologie.com
$228

Anthro always has vivid and unique pillows and ottomans BUT
 with fun fabrics and thrift stores you can create something like this...

Tip: There are a ton of great places that sell beautiful fabrics for cheap! Ours here in Richmond is Ufab: http://www.ufabstore.com


Also, have friends that can sew! Johnna Sheets, an amazing friend and designer, sewed these pillows for me. Do I have a sewing machine? Yes. Do I use it? Rarely. I'm going to start to sew more... I swear!

I used some of my favorite fabrics, some discontinued fab samples, to create an array of gorgeous toss pillows and slip seats for ottomans found from my local thrift store.
Wood leg Ottoman Cost: $12

Tip: On Wednesdays our Salvation Army offers 1/2 off on furniture that has sat in the store for 1 month. I go every week and keep my eyes peeled for pieces that I can recreate into something unique. Call your local thrift stores and see when they have weekly deals. Just when you thought it couldn't get any cheaper...
    

I bought this metal legged ottoman after I purchased the wood legged otto above and couldn't decide which one I liked better in the space. Once I slip seated it with a great fabric, that matched two of the sofa pillows and complimented the rest, I loved them both.
Metal leg ottoman: $17

Note: Slip seating ottomans is super easy. If you know how to wrap a gift then you will be fine. All you need is a staple gun instead of tape and you are good to go!
 Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the process but I will next time for a better explanation. 

Books and bleached coral finalize the look.

Obviously all those pillows do not sit on the sofa at once but I loved the look for the photo. Having so many options never leaves the family room looking dull.

Tip: When buying large pieces of upholstery go neutral. That way you can change your toss pillows or slip seat covers on your ottomans whenever you want. You will never get bored b/c the fabrics can always be changed. 

Love all of the bright colors against the white walls and natural green background from the woods behind our house.

This upholstered ottoman was a bit more expensive but so worth it! It was the inspiration piece for our master bedroom. The same fabric hangs above our bed acting as a headboard.
Upholstered Ottoman: $139.  
              
Note: I used extra fabric from a previous job and had the frame upholstered.
 Next plan, Johnna and I are going to learn how to reupholster... we have a TON of ideas and can save a TON of money by doing it ourselves.

Note: See fabric hanging in mirror reflection (same fab as the bench). I used a very thin, inexpensive drapery rod and folded the fab over it to let it hang. I did not need hardware to attach or a seam to slide the rod through. That way if I ever need the fabric for anything else I can simply take it down.      

Side note:

Baby Doak helps me with the photo shoot.
3 months old today! 

he may not be obsessed with toss pillows like I am but...

he had fun with it!


p.s. 
As I said above, every Wednesday I hit up the local thrift store for 1/2 priced furniture. Thursdays posts will be called "Thrift Store Thursdays," and will reveal items that I think have potential to be something great. Eventually those items will be posted (before and after photos) as new and unique pieces. So, check back in tomorrow and see what I find. 


Have a good one! Melis

Framed Fabrics

www.anthropologie.com

"Anthro's" framed fabrics run from $698 to $2000. Although they are gorgeous I don't have that kinda cash...

 Sooooo, I created my own framed fabrics.

Being an Interior Designer I have a great collection of fabrics that are left over from past design projects.

I also use sample fabrics that are discontinued by the manufacturer. This is an awesome way to reuse the samples. Some of these fabrics range from $50 to $100 a yard. So you can imagine why I LOVE FREE samples!

*tip: call design firms and furniture stores and ask if they have any extra fabric for sale. They may be willing to sell it to you for a fraction on the price. Also, ask them to recycle there discontinued fabric samples by giving them to YOU!

Now for the frames...

I found all the frames for the gallery wall from a thrift and antique store that I frequent weekly. Prices ranged from $5-$12 each.

I used a charcoal matte finish Rust-Oleum to create cohesiveness and make the fabrics really stand out.     

frame detail
(my fav)

Framed Fabs Gallery Wall in my home office.

note: slip seated chair with large discontinued fabric sample for FREE!

Super easy, fun and CHEAP!!!

Have a good one, 
Melis

Garden Chair Compare~ Gift for D & J!

  www.anthropologie.com 

I am completely aware that these unique iron chairs can not be duplicated but at $248 a piece I'm going to try...

                                                

I purchased this white table and chairs (SET of 3) for a total of $139. Three cans of Rest-Oleum spray paint, under $5 a can and added lanterns and tins bought from the dollar store to add to the outdoor ambiance. 


*tip: Rest-Oleum Spray Paint is a MUST HAVE when doing make over projects. I use it for EVERYTHING! Colors are amazing and coverage is fantastic (even has an awesome angle spray nozzle). It works on almost any material and is super durable for indoor and outdoor applications. 

Sitting pretty in a charming backyard in Richmond, VA.

note: to get closer to the "Anthro" look use different chairs. I planned on getting different chairs from antique stores, garage sales, etc. but the set was so inexpensive and I didn't want to break it up. 

                                                                                             side note: 

I made this gift for our great friends, Dan and Johnna. Dan and I set it up in the backyard for Johnna's birthday. He added wine and lite the candles for a romantic summer night surprise.
Dan let me know that he reads and sketches on his new backyard furniture all the time... so glad they like it!

Have a good one!
 Melis