And let’s just say I’m an eternal, unapologetic, and annoyingly chipper optimist. Anyway, we’re back to share the homely group of odd items that we picked up with our $100 shopping budget on our little end-of-winter beach vacay in Rehoboth. Since we were staying at John’s parents’ beach house for free (I have the best inlaws ever), we figured that a hundred dollars to put towards light fixtures and wall decor and other new house items sounded about right to two cheapskates like us who were happy to have saved at least three times that amount by avoiding hotel fees and driving to the beach in the winter instead. Hah. They’re not exactly a group of lookers yet, but we have plans to paint, frame, hang, retrofit, and generally revive a bunch of them. Here’s the spread:
1. You already saw me gleefully clutching our $5 thrift store mirror here. Love it. Plans for that guy involve a major splash of color. Not sure which one, or where he’ll live. Yet…
2 & 3. You also already met our crazy orange horse head book end friends (scored for $2.50 each). I’m thinking of spraying them white or maybe even a bold color like navy or yellow. They might live up on the built ins with the bulk of my other ceramic animal buddies.
4. This light fixture was hanging in an antique shop’s booth all plugged in and glowing. And I was instantly drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It was just $19 and John was outside in the car with the sleeping bean so I was taking a chance by getting it without dragging him and sleeping Clara inside so he could see it for himself. Thankfully he loved it. Of course we’re planning to paint the brass cap and chain. And we’re thinking about hanging it in the little sink alcove in our bedroom. Not sure though.
5. You can read more about the bee significance in our relationship here, but I fell in love with this $5 iron bee hook from the moment I saw it. I have visions of painting it glossy yellow and hanging it in the mudroom/laundry room for Burger’s leash.
6. I’m 99% sure that I’ll paint this $7 wall mountable iron horse white and hang him in our bright blue hall bathroom with a white hand towel in his mouth ring (more deets on that room’s plan here).
7 & 8. These two wood plaques were $3 a pop and John and I both thought they might look good hanging above our bed with our ram friend in the center. Not sure if we’ll paint them or leave ’em au naturale.
9. This tiny (he’s around 5″ wide) wall-mountable gold duck (goose?) was just three bucks. So we both agreed that he had to come home and meet his older brother. Not sure if we’ll hang them together. Probably not. Maybe we’ll hang this little one among all the frames in the hallway.
10. We already shared this $10 green luggage rack for the guest room this morning, and mentioned that we may or may not paint it (but definitely plan to switch out the straps – one is missing anyway). Should be interesting…
11. You’ve also seen this $18 paper lantern this morning, so you know we’re planning to hang it in the playroom with a $5 light kit from Ikea. Love those hearts.
12 (or 12-23 if you count each print as a thing). Perhaps our favorite find, we have plans to disassemble this $20 vintage map calendar and frame and hang them all en masse somewhere. Maybe in the guest room. Maybe in the playroom. Or maybe even in the much-mentioned frame-filled hallway that we’re planning.
So that’s what we got for $98. Thanks to shopping in Delaware (where there’s no sales tax) that was actually the total amount spent. And because I’m a dork, I like to calculate the average cost per item, which comes in right around $8 (when you count the calendar as one thing) and $4.26 (when each print is counted separately). Not bad average prices for things like two light fixtures, a luggage rack, a mirror, two bookends, and 6 pieces of wall decor (or 17 if you count all the vintage maps in the calendar). Woot! More details and pics when we frame/hang/paint/install each thing. But now it’s back to the guest room. There are things to clean and paint swatches to consider…
Psst- We announced this weeks giveaway winners. Click here to see if one of them is you.
mel says
We just bought two new lamps from C&B to replace the woven ones in our LR (purchased from Target in 2007). In perfect condition and nearly identical to the ones you posted above. They are yours if you want them….free (and Ill ship from work so it wont cost me a dime). Otherwise, they are just getting tossed out.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Mel, that’s really sweet of you! We have a no swag or special treatment policy (we just try to keep it real and pay for the things that we love) but thanks so much for the generosity! Maybe you could donate them (it’s a write off and then they’ll get a second life in someone else’s home)?
xo,
s
mel says
ahhh, gotcha, I thought that was a sponsor policy. Bummer! Well, enjoy your new finds!!
Shakila Moni says
Ha, I bought the same calendar with the intention of hanging them individually, since I love travel and maps. Looking through it, I think I’ll only use about 8 of them. Can’t wait to see how your version turns out!
Abby says
Not everything needs to get painted sometimes the actual original surface is worth keeping, IE: IRON
Kmac says
I was searching for a unique lantern for a baby room on a site recommended on Martha Stewart’s site and came across this lantern…thought it looked familiar!
http://www.lunabazaar.com/paper-lanterns-hearts-print.aspx
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s too funny!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
We know you guys are diy rock stars but who knew you are like Sheryl Crow…
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_CJMiaOWICo/TWKcdFkyc2I/AAAAAAAAKvo/y6sB_Yrq-VI/s1600/architectural%2Bdigest%2Bsheryl%2Bcrow%2Bhouse%2Bmaster%2Bbedroom%2B4%2Bposter%2Bbed%2Bturned%2Bwhite%2Blinens.jpg
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.cococozy.com/2011/02/see-this-house-sheryl-crows-rocking.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cococozy%2FzOlp+%28COCOCOZY%29
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so glad she’s in the faux animal head club!
xo,
s
Tarap says
I bought the same calendar at the art store before the first of the year. My plan was to use it as a calendar through the year but to use the maps in the same way….framing them together on a wall! Great minds think alike!
Lisa says
You two do such amazing transformations of cheaper finds like these, it’d be fun to see an after picture of all these items laid out in the same arangment as your first photo (with the exception of the calendar in multiple frames). I think it’d really show the potential of items that some people gloss right over!
Albina says
I love those horse bookends, especially the color, you should definitely not paint them!
Brandi says
I love the heart lantern…does it say what brand it is?
YoungHouseLove says
It says Cultural Intrigue on the label. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
H to the izzo says
I just found your blog and then noticed the Rehoboth reference. That’s my hometown! I’ve been in RVA for 12 years now but get back frequently. I am IN LOVE with your teal guest bedroom redo. That green luggage rack was a great find, I thought you had painted it but how cool it came that color. The tray on top as side table is genius.
Stephanie says
I’ve been going to Bethany for 27 years and have never been in that shop, now I can’t wait to go back! We were just there this past weekend for my 4 mo. old daughter’s first trip wish I had read the blog first. I’m a new reader and I love your site! Can’t wait to start re-decorating our home too!
Cassie says
If you want to make the most adorable homemade lantern you have to check out the magazine Family Fun. Yep, I have a 2 year old, so it’s one of my favs. In the March issue, there is a lantern made out of paper cupcake liners. And it’s so stinkin’ cute!! I think Clara needs it in her room:)
YoungHouseLove says
We’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Ann Marie says
I love your blog so much! I am desperate to get out of my one bedroom apartment and into a house so I can begin decorating!!!! I love your re-use of old things. I have a question about how you pick the old furniture to refinish. What qualities do you look for in a good piece that you can restore? I am currently helping my mom clean out my grandparents house and they have the coolest old stuff/junk/trinkets, but some of the furniture has a 70’s vibe. I would love to keep it for sentimental value, but be able to restore it to look awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
We just try to look at the shape of the piece (since things like color and knobs can be redone) and also check out if it’s reasonably sturdy and made form good materials (solid wood over laminate, etc). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lauren says
Hey guys! You are my blog that I check religiously every day, and if theres nothing posted, I get quite sad. Keep up the good work! I wanted to pass along an artist I found on etsy. She does prints of really simple, yet bold and colorful things like the map of world, birds and trees. Sounds basic, but shes put a new spin on things. Just thought I’d pass it along! http://www.etsy.com/shop/CallaghanArtGallery?ref=top_trail
YoungHouseLove says
Love it so much! Thanks so much for sharing the link!
xo,
s
Lauren says
I forgot to mention I think some of her prints would look excellent over Karl or in the guest bedroom!
YoungHouseLove says
For sure!
xo,
s
Kate says
The bee hook in this post looks a lot like the one you designed for target! Obvious what inspires you ;)