Thrifty Find: More Cabinets

Sometimes I wish I had a larger home or at least more storage space in my house. On my weekly trip to the thrift store I ran across these beauties. I'm not sure what's gotten in to the Habitat Restore but lately they have been jam packed with some beautiful, high quality solidly built furniture. A lot of them show very little wear and tear. 

I first spotted this dresser. I am not crazy about some of the embellishments but it is still quite lovely. I could paint it a color like red or navy or even your basic white or black. I'd either remove the stars or leave them gold. The lines are great but the best thing was that it was solidly built. Oh and the price was only $10. 

I also spotted two small chests. They were about 30" wide and 36" tall. I'm sure they were once a part of a bedroom wall unit that was dismantled and for sure they are not in good shape. A little sanding, a good coat of paint and new hardware and these would make outstanding nightstands. By the way, they were only $1.00. Seriously. I may have to rethink not taking them and see if they are still available. Buy them, paint them and sell them. It would surely be worth the effort and money.

My favorite find of all is this mid century modern cabinet. OMG. I fell in love with this piece the moment I saw it. It is solid wood, has clean lines and is in near perfect condition. It's about 5 ft wide and would make a perfect TV cabinet. I still have the same problem in that I have no where to put it. I may have to find a spot for it though because one should not pass up a deal like this. Oh did I mention that it's only $10 too. I'm thinking of going back to see if it is still there. With my luck it and the nightstands are probably gone. 

Man I wish I had a big house.

Cheers,

Barbara

Thrifty Find - Garden Stones

I ran into my sister's in law sister at Home Depot some time ago. We got to chatting about yard work and such and she mentioned that she had these "things" in her yard that were really heavy, flat and kind of round but she thought they were ugly and wanted to get rid of them. I assumed they were garden stones. Whatever they were, they were free so I told her I would be happy to take them off of her hands. That weekend I sent my son over to her house to pick them up and this is what he brought back.

She was right about the ugly part. I have to admit I have never seen anything like them and I'm not sure what to do with them. I'm thinking either a mosaic, or paint them bright colors. I even thought about painting them with glow in the dark paint. I'm planning on doing some landscaping this year and will use them somehow but am not am not sure exactly where. 

I love mosaics so I am thinking about going this route. Using a single tile color for each one that follows the shape of the stepping stone is a thought. It would be easy to do and be a little more fun than just paint. I would love to get some ideas because I am stumped. 

If anyone has an idea of what I can do with them I would love to hear it. Please help.

Cheers!!

Barbara

Thriftstore Finds: Laundry Room Cabinets

Man did I catch a deal. I had been looking for something to replace my laundry room cabinets. I had moved my base cabinet around several times and eventually it fell apart. I first visited the Habitat Restore where you can almost always find good quality used cabinets but often you would have to buy the whole set. I really only needed one replacement base cabinet but would be open to replacing all of them if I found a good enough deal. After several attempts I could not find anything I liked and thought I may just have to pay a little more. 

After not finding what I needed I decided to go to the local Menard's store to get some nice inexpensive cabinets. I  had purchased some previously for my moms house and they turned out pretty nice so I thought this would be a good place to start. I priced them out and to replace all the cabinets would cost about $700. I did not want to pay this much because it is just a laundry room but frankly I was tired of looking. 

After several unsuccessful trips to Habitat and really just being tired of seeing everything I had stored in the broken cabinet sitting on the floor I decided to go ahead and buy the Menard's cabinets. I set out on Saturday afternoon to purchase the cabinets but thought I would take one more stab at Habitat and boy I'm glad I did. 

Habitat was having  a huge sale. All kitchen cabinets were $5 each! Cough cough, choke choke, say what?? I rushed to the back hoping against hope that I would find something, anything close to what I needed and low and behold I found these.

They were at least as good if not better than what I had. I didn't know if they would fit but I had a pretty good idea they would. Frankly even if they didn't I would make them fit. Besides if it was a lost cause I would only be out $5. As soon as I saw them I ripped off the tags and ran up front to pay. OK, I didn't exactly run but I did hurry. I told the cashier I wanted the three cabinets. She rang them up, tagged them SOLD so finally I could relax. Needless to say there were a bunch of people looking at cabinets so I wanted to get mine immediately.  

I still cannot believe I got 3 cabinets for $15.00. That's what you call a steal. My next challenge is to find a counter top. The base cabinet is smaller than what was here before so I will need to find a new one. Hopefully I can get another great deal. Back to Habitat next week.

Cheers!

Barbara

Freshen Up the Kitchen on a Tiny Budget

It's time to freshen up my kitchen. It's not a bad kitchen just kind of ordinary. It's a little scuzzy like most kitchens I imagine so it could use a really good cleaning. I was going to move a couple of years ago and wanted the kitchen to be pretty neutral so I painted the walls this warm gray which honestly I am quite happy with. I don't want to start replacing counter tops and moving walls. It just needs a little pick me up to make it more cheery. 

I have a tendency to get bored with colors after a while and don't want to have to paint my kitchen repeatedly so I am going to leave the walls neutral. I want new curtains, dish towels, accessories, a piece of art or a clock for the only large wall in the room. 

The storage closet still has the original door and it is in good shape but that dark wood has got to go. Since it is a special size it will be cheaper to paint than to buy new so I'll paint it and replace the knob. I think I may replace the paneling on this large wall and possibly replace the ceiling fan.

Also I have to show you this issue. Oh my goodness I am so embarrassed. I've tiled my kitchen twice in my 17 years here and each time this happens because of a sag in the floor. 

We've tried shoring up the floor underneath the house and putting thick plywood down before tiling and it's not working. I finally remembered that when I bought the house the kitchen had sheet vinyl and that was why the floor tile breaking up was not a problem. I don't want to take the chance of this happening again so what I want to do is put vinyl tile down. Vinyl has come such a long way that I think it can be quite beautiful with a lot less trouble. It's an expense I am not ready to have right now so for the time being good old area rugs will do.

I have long term plans for the kitchen as well that I may tackle next year. I'd love new counter tops as this Corian counter gets so dingy and is hard to clean. Also I hate this half sink and would love to have more counter space. My kitchen is too small for an island but I am hoping I can get a peninsula.

They last thing to look at and something I need help with is this kitchen table. It is a solid wood oak table that is one of my favorite thrift store finds but as you can see the color is way wrong. It needs to be updated to match the room which means either paint or stain. 

My other option is to use my moms old table which i absolutely love.

Mom and I use to sit around it looking at all the different shaped stones to see what we could find that resembled something else like a fish or a dog. The top is resin so it's super durable and has lasted for at least 40 years. The only thing it needs is a touch up on the legs which will be simple to do. Other than that it is in perfect shape. I cannot decide whether to keep the stone table or stain the wood one. Either way I am keeping the stone table until I can find another use for it. The wooden table is not so easy to store away so it's use it or lose it. 

So that's the plan. I don't want to spend more than a few hundred dollars so I have to be frugal and shop at home first and then look for some deals. Time to get a move on.

Cheers!.

B.

On general principal I go to the Habitat Restore and the Salvation Army store about once a week. I am always on the look out for great used furniture and often find they are of much better quality than what you find in the stores today. The trouble I have is stopping myself from buying too many pieces because I just don't have the space. 

Having said that I recently found two ivory wing back chairs at the Habitat Restore. I was concerned I might not have the space in my living room but I knew I had to have them. Seldom are you able to find two of anything at a thrift store. Try finding two of the same lamps, nightstands or end tables the next time you go. Whenever I have found two of something I grab them right away because it's rare. There was little sign of wear on these chairs. There was no dirt, no rips and only a few minor scratches on the legs. In fact, for white chairs they looked nearly brand new. I checked the label and they were from Wicks Furniture Showroom which was a good quality furniture store that has since closed.  

These chairs are very comfortable and the tone on tone ivory fabric with a leaf design and dark stained legs make them a perfect choice for any room. The way the fabric was woven gives them a lot of texture and even little shimmer. I've considered using them as end chairs for my dining table but my dining room is really to small. 

I paid $40 a piece and would guess that wing back chairs of this quality brand new would be $200-300 a piece. I am so pleased with my purchase. They are beautiful chairs and I just love them. 

Boy have I been away a long time. A lot has changed in my life and all of it was unexpected. I have to say 2017 was an interesting year. I'm living with an adult son who is struggling to find a job and with my mother that is pushing 80. Truth be told I am happy they are around me but this is not where I imagined myself 10 years ago. In some ways it is proving to be a challenge for all of us but we are making it work. 

I've decided to restart my blog mainly because I want to connect with the outside world again and do something for myself. I have a lot of plans for my life this year, aka a bucket list. A bucket is kind of a long term version of a new years resolution. I think it's good to have so you remember what you want for yourself. If at the end of the year you are able to scratch anything off then you'll feel good about you. If you are unable to accomplish many or any of them then you have something to shoot for next year. I may not be able to accomplish them all but if I accomplish any of them I will be a happy camper. 

One thing I want to do differently with my blog this time is keep it simple but open it up. It's not only about my house but also about my life. It's about my desire to improve it, about the joys and struggles of living with three generation. It's about making my home comfortable for me and my family and about trying to enjoy my life and live it to its fullest. 

So I am back at it and I'm ready to do this thing.

Happy New Year to you all. Here's to a great 2018.

Cheers.

Barbara

What to do About the Houses

Now that mom is living with me we have to figure out what to do about the living situation. Mom's house is too much to try to take care of and my brother's and I don't want to live in the city again. That means it's time to sell. My home will need to be sold too. It has stairs which is too dangerous for her to navigate on a daily basis. Frankly, with all the cleaning, laundry, and garbage runs I am constantly going up and down the stairs myself and have had enough. I live in a Tri-level which means the kitchen and living room are on one floor and the bathroom and bedrooms are on the upper floor. I loved it at first, but 15 years later it has become a drag.

First up is mom's house. My parents lived in this small ranch house for 50 years which means they collected 50 years worth of stuff. Since my home is much too small for all of her stuff and mine most of it had to go. Every corner of the basement seemed to be filled with useless items that were just collecting dust.

The living room was not bad but the carpet is worn and stained.  

 The kitchen cabinets, counter tops and floors are all original to the house. They were sagging, full of grease and sometimes the doors wouldn't stay closed.

Who knows what's behind this paneling but it must come down.  

Everything we found wasn't junk though. There were a few pieces of furniture, cabinets, a printer, some tools, and dishware that were useful. The best thing I found were these 8mm Olympus and Minolta cameras. Maybe I can find an old school photographer who will want to buy them on ebay. 

I can’t tell you about all the thoughts I have had about selling my mothers house. It was home for 24 years of my life and although I have been gone a very long time it will be hard to say goodbye.

Now to make the house presentable so we can sell and move on to house number two. 

Inspired Style: Industrial

Remember when folks were walking around wearing ripped up, faded and worn out jeans that most people would have tossed out with the trash. They were going for big bucks at the high end department stores. To get that look all you really needed to do was take some thrift store jeans, scuff them up with some scissors and sandpaper and you’ve got yourself a pair super cheap jeans that only look expensive.

That’s what Industrial decor is all about. This is a design style that is all about mixing rustic wood with metal, chipped paint and metal wheels and gears. This design style has been a round for a bit now and instead of fading away it has only grown stronger with the success of HGTV programs like Fixer Upper. I really like this style because it appreciates things that are worn out and used but still deserves a second life. It would be so cool to incorporate this style somewhere in my home. Are are a few pieces to help yo get the look.  

1. Amazon.com cabinet

2. Target metal basket

3. Overstock.com industrial light

4. Overstock.com distressed counter height stool

5. Target table lamp

6. Maisons du Monde vintage watch clock

7. Amazon.com vintage style fan

8. Amazon.con ottoman

9. Overstock.com reclaimed wood and iron table

10. Overtock.com industrial side table

my Home in color: Olive Green

What do you do when you are a colorphobe but want to add a little spice to your decor? Accessorize with an unexpected color like olive green. This rich color looks terrific paired with light oaks and golden accent pieces. Picture  a painted olive hutch or coffee table in the living room or a pair of nightstands with shiny gold hardware in the bedroom. 

My favorite pairing by far is with anything white like a marble counter top for the kitchen or as an accent color in a bathroom with white fixtures. If using it for anything permanent like accent wall tile scares your consider using it for bedroom linens or pillows. Here are a few pieces to inspire you.  

Olive Green by myhomeintheheights featuring a tufted chair

Universal Lighting and Decor green lamp 
Green table lamp 
Cole Son tree wallpaper 
Green accent pillow 
Flower stem 
Green vase 
Corona Decor rectangle throw pillow 
Olive green throw pillow 
Glass mirror 
Pier 1 Imports green couch 
Dot Bo tufted chair

Blush

Pink can be a color that is difficult to love. You may not be a pink person but what about Blush. Blush is on one of the loveliest color trends in recent years. This is not the bubblegum pink a little girl might like on her bedroom walls. Blush is more of a subtle pale pink color with a beautiful soft warm glow. It pares up well with warm metals like gold and copper and is a great compliment to both dark and light wood tones. If you are too shy to use it on the walls, like I am, try just a few accessories like a table tray, a decorative bowl or a vase. Or go a little bolder and find a couple of nice lamps and paint them blush. You're always safe with putting a couple of decorative pillows on your bed or sofa. If you want to be more daring, hang a pair of blush velvet curtains in your bedroom or even the living room. In small doses this elegant color can bring style to any room. Check out these options for your home.  

1. Dove Mill owl lamp

2. The Little Market blush tray

3. abc carpet & home Tolix chair

4. Horchow tufted sofa

5. Amazon.com

 6. Overstock.com

7. Fabric.com

8. abc carpet & home swivel chair

9. Lamps Plus glass ceiling light 

10. Fabric.com

Recently at the thrift store I made a few wonderful scores. I absolutely love this bamboo accordion style wine rack. It thought it was faux bamboo but it looks like the real thing. The color is warm and golden so I don’t want to paint it.  It is probably something I don’t really need but I could possibly use it for display or maybe I’ll get into wine. It would be a stunner if I had a long enough counter or a bar area in my house.

It was marked $6.95 and with the 50% off sale it was only $3.50. Love it. It makes me wish I had a bar stand or a bar cart. I always thought there was something classy about a bar cart with a gleaming silver ice bucket and crystal bottles of liquor. Reminds me of an old David Niven or Cary Grant movie from the 1950s. My other thought was to use it in a gift basket with a bottle or two of wine or a set of wine glasses. I would hate to see it dumped at the thrift store again because someone couldn’t appreciate how special it is.

I also found this gorgeous white porcelain vase with white iridescent ginkgo leaves.  This too was on clearance for $3.50. I am not sure how it was made but the detail is fabulous. When I find something special I typically see if I can find it on line just to get an idea of it's value but I couldn't find it. I’ve been collecting white vases and pitchers and this will be a great addition.

Last I found this little gizmo. It's a wooden holder that I suppose can be used for candles, a small vase with flowers or even colored bulbs. It would also make a great gift holder with a bottle of wine. I love giving gifts in packages that can be reused for something else.  

That's all I have for this week. I'll be headed there again this weekend. I never know what treasures are waiting for me.

Time for a Power Saw

Don’t get me wrong, I know my way around a sander, drill and a power screwdriver but it’s time I graduated to some big time gadgets like a power saw. I have several projects I want to complete but can’t because I don't have the right size wood. I either have to hunt down some poor soul at the Home Depot to cut a piece or wait for my contractor to do me a solid.  It holds up progress so it’s time to put on my big girl pants, get a power saw and get the job done. I did some Googling and realize there are several different types of saws to choose from.

Stanley hacksaw

 A hacksaw is a hand held saw used for cutting metal and things like plastic pipes. No need to buy one of these, I have a bunch already that I never use.

Black & Decker jigsaw

A jigsaw and saber saw are hand held tools used to cut wood, metal and plastic. They are great for cutting curves and shapes as well as straight lines.

Craftsman circular saw

A circular saw is a hand held power saw that can be used to cut down wood, metal plastic brick or stone. It is, from what I have read, the workhorse of a DIYer. I have one of these and never use it. I put it together and attempted to saw a door and when I turned it on things went flying that I don’t think were supposed to. I know there is something I did wrong but it was enough to scare me into hiding it far far away. It’s now collecting dust in the back of my cabinet.

Ryobi compound miter saw

A compound miter saw (say what??!!) is a circular saw that sits on a table and is used for cutting long pieces of wood down to size and it has an adjustable arm that can be used to make angled cuts such as for crown molding or baseboards.

Skilsaw wet saw

A wet saw is used for making straight cuts on porcelain and ceramic tile. This might come in handy.

Which one did I choose? I would like to hold on to my fingers and don’t feel confident in using a circular saw. A hacksaw requires muscle, something I have little of and at this time I'm not tiling so I don't need a wet saw. I really want a compound miter saw because I think I can do the most with it but am not ready to invest the money. I decided to go with a jigsaw. For my purpose of cutting shelves and maybe some trim pieces I think it will be fine and is a good tool to have in my arsenal. To get me started on the right track for now the jig is up.

Now that I narrowed down my choice which one did I choose. Of course I Googled it and read all the reviews as well as went to the store to try them out in person. I went for the Black & Decker Linefinder Jigsaw. 

I’ve purchased Black & Decker tools in the past and they’ve always held up well. I liked that it had a light that is supposed to illuminate the line you are cutting, it has a compartment on the tool itself for extra blades and a tool free blade change. The weight was a little heavier than I wanted but some were much heavier not to mention more expensive. I won’t say I recommend it because I have not purchased enough cutting tools to make a judgement but I will definitely let you know if I like it. 

If you are like me and looking to purchase a saw, please talk to a professional to get some guidance. I am just putting a toe in the water and and not making any recommendations for brand or even the best type of saw for you to use. This is just where I am starting my journey. 

Good luck in your journey. I’m off to cut some wood and start saving for a compound miter saw.  I’m a big girl now.

Goodbye Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015 is over and it's time to say goodbye to all the lovely, cheerful Christmas decorations. We wait all year long for the season to begin and it ends in the blink of an eye. Last Christmas was all about turquoise and silver. I've never used those colors before and wanted to try something new. It was bright and sparkly and like a breath of fresh air.                    

 

This year we went with a more traditional silver, gold and red. Next year who knows. Is it too early to think about it. nah!!! 

Hope you had a great Christmas and will have a fantastic new year.