Earlier this morning we mentioned that we slipped through Mary Jo’s fabric store outside of Charlotte, NC again (read about our first trip here) where they have bolts of discount fabric stacked higher than my 5’2″ self.
We thought it would be fun to share what caught our eye along with what we actually bought since some of you guys might be on a fabric pilgrimage of your own. And the good news is that a lot of this fabric should be sold by multiple places (although MJ’s prices are hard to beat) so if you see something you love, I’ve tried to include as many details as possible so you can sleuth it out online or in a local place near you. Enough jibber-jabber. Here we go.
The first fabric that caught my eye was this pretty yellow & gray ikat loveliness, and at $13.98 a yard (down from $35+) you could reupholster 2 dining chairs for under $15 (manufacturer: Richloom, style: Modesto, color: Charmom).
This red and blue floral-but-not-stuffy fabric also struck me as fun yet sophisticated thanks to the color and intricate pattern. It was also $13.98, so you could make a great little headboard out of it for under $28, assuming you need two yards (manufacturer: Richloom, style: Cornwall, color: Garden).
And then we have my favorite find: this gorgeous oversized medallion fabric with tons of texture, color, and associated cheerfulness (I stood there and grinned at it like a crazy person). Oh as for the details, the manufacturer was Richloom, the style was Brompton, and the color was Citrin.
This designer suzani fabric was on clearance for $16.98 a yard (down from $50.95 per yard!) and I couldn’t walk out without one yard of the one I loved best. After vacillating between each bolt (I love aqua and greeny-yellow but in the end thought the gray one with the greeny-yellow detail might be the most versatile) we left with one yard of the one on the right. I actually have plans to use it for some giant wall art – kind of like a tapestry. So more on that when I get there.
We didn’t find any curtain fabric (boo) but we talked about a few ideas on the ride home so we just have to sleep on them a bit more to decide which direction we want to go. Then you know we’ll blog about every last detail (I’m guessing in at least 1,500 words, because we’re anything but concise).
But now let’s switch gears to our Pottery Barn Outlet trip in Gaffney, SC (also mentioned in this morning’s post). Here’s the rundown of what we saw (and the one item that we couldn’t leave the store without). And so sorry about the terrible pics, my camera battery died so I took most of them with my phone.
First we have this charming little jewelry box with pretty gray-purple velvet lining and a crackled metallic leather-ish exterior. At $34.99 (down from $50) it still wasn’t cheap enough for me, but it did look like something you’d pay $75 for at Anthropologie.
This cool upholstered bar stool was $149 (down from $229) but I snapped a photo more for the DIY idea than the notion of actually buying this specific stool. Places like HomeGoods and Target and Garden Ridge sell extremely similar stools with basic brown upholstery on top for under $50- so you could get this look with a quarter of a yard of fabric and a staple gun (just unscrew the top of the stool from the underside and staple the new fabric nice and tightly before putting the seat back on).
These pretty tiered plates would look sweet on a kitchen counter (or party table) full of goodies or fruit. I forgot to note the price but I think they were $14 or $19.
This big round mirror looked Restoration Hardware-ish and would be one of those pieces that makes a room. It was also marked down by almost $100 (from $279 to $194). Still steep but pretty darn gorgeous.
This window-looking mirror was $208 (down from $299) but for a dark room that’s missing a window (like a basement) or even a large span of wall that could use some architecture, two hundred bucks is a lot cheaper than actually adding a window. Or you could use it as inspiration and DIY something with an old mirror from a salvage yard and some add-on mirrors.
John died for this oversized clock but after drawing a blank when it came to where the heck we’d hang it we decided to leave it for the next person. It was marked down from $249 to $124. Still semi spendy, but this is another one of those room-making things.
This is also a photo that I took more for the idea than the concept of buying this specific item. This charming chalk board easel might be something we could DIY someday (it was $169 down from $199, but I bet the materials would be substantially less expensive if someone were to make it themselves).
These urchin bowls were textured and fun (priced at $9.99 each, down from $15).
I wish I could have taken a picture of this out of the box (none were on display and I cracked a box open but it was disassembled). Apparently PB sells a pink kids version of a Dyson vacuum complete with realistic sounds and little beads that jump around when you push it back and forth. It was $24 (down from $50) and I actually debated it for the bean (it’s a lot cheaper than a real Dyson and it never hurts to get the young ones into cleaning from the get-go) but the car was pretty packed already (baby stuff + dog stuff = tons of stuff). So we left it behind.
I could totally envision a few of these chairs painted white (or soft gray) with chic cushions at our future kitchen island (I love the idea of comfortable stool seating with a back). They were priced at $99 a pop (down from $200 each) but since we don’t even had an island yet (and there was no room in the car) I tearfully walked away.
These little silver ornament frames were just $5.99 (down from $10 a pop). Cute for adding family photos to the tree (and pics of your dog in a Santa hat if you’re weird like us).
I loved the idea of someone getting this faux sea fan “placemat” (it was made of flexible cut-out rubber) and then spray painting it a bold color (navy?) and framing it on a homemade burlap or linen backdrop. It was $9.99 (down from $16).
These cute braided red lamp shades could definitely add texture to a room in need of a shot of color or interest (they were on sale for $19 each):
This pretty pillow sham was so textured and tonal (priced at $32, it was still a little not-outlet-y enough for me thought).
And then there was the lighting. Oh the lighting. There were so many great sales in that department I could hardly contain myself. Especially since our house has a whole lotta lighting to be updated. This charming bronze sconce with the oversized seeded glass bulb cover had me at hello (and it was just $39). But the color isn’t exactly what we’re going for (I’m an oil-rubbed bronze or silver/stainless/nickel girl lately) so I left it for the next light-hunter to pounce on.
But I couldn’t leave this baby behind. At just $29 (cheaper than most lamp shades and down from $80) this 8″ wide hardwired pendant will be perfect for over the sink when we start upgrading the kitchen.
Everything from the mercury glass tone to the subtle honeycomb shape on the shade (you guys know we have a thing for bees right?) screamed buy me. So we listened.
Which explains why these pendant photos were snapped at home (and not with my iPhone in the store). Now it’s just sitting in the playroom until the big kitchen makeover gears up (soon I hope, J and I were brainstorming stuff on the drive home along with writing our book – yes we had laptops charged and Microsoft Word open for most of the trip). So that’s what we saw while window shopping slash actual shopping. Any favorites? Have you guys seen anything lately that you couldn’t not buy? Let’s talk shop shopping.
Heather says
I just about died when I saw the white and black floral fabric in the lower left corner of the first photo. Had I been there, I would have purchased five yards, forgotten the “just about” part, and been in textile heaven!
Jess says
Oh my goodness I knew even before I read the post that you were at Mary Jo’s (it was the sign behind John’s head that did it)! I live quite near Gaffney and I’m at MJ’s–uh, and the Yellow Mall–at least once a month. Glad you found something good there, though with everything they have…it’s kind of hard not to come out with something every time.
sommerkind says
That round window mirror is the perfect decoration for a hobbit hole! I instantly thought of the Lord of the Rings. But maybe that’s just because I’m reading it at the moment…
Amanda says
Anna White has kid’s easel plans on her website! Much cheaper to build your own!
Beth says
I’m wondering about the bird painting in your friends’ kitchen nook – I LOVE IT! I tried reading through all of the comments to see if you had talked about it already before asking but there were so many… :) Do you know the name of the artist?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a one of a kind piece from a restaurant here in Richmond a few years back (Kristin lived here then, so that’s how we met). So sorry I can’t share a link to en Etsy vendor or a store for ya!
xo,
s
Jesse says
Thought you would enjoy this!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71351520/cornwall-garden-red-yellow-teal-natural
YoungHouseLove says
BEAUTIFUL! Love it.
xo,
s
Erin says
Hey there Petersiks! Was on Pinterest and saw a DIY ottoman very similar to the stool that you pictured! I clicked the pinterest picture and it ended up at Better Homes & Gardens where they have a tutorial on how to make your own! It made me think of the 2 of you!
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! We’ll have to pop over and check it out.
xo,
s
Lindsay says
I’m so jealous, I am in desperate need of a good fabric store. Any tips on how to track one down?
YoungHouseLove says
We google “discount fabric store” along with the city name, ask around, and even check our Yellow Pages (we’re so old school, haha). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Michelle Leverton says
Right after I read this post, I took a trip to see my sweet sweet Ikea, and there is an easel there for $14.99!!!!!!! It’s not as wide as the one you found and it has a whiteboard on one side, chalkboard on the other, but with some paint you can get the same effect for 90% less! It may also be a good idea because it would take up a lot less room. Here is the link for anyone who is in love with that chalkboard:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50021076
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!!
xo,
s
Mary Ellen says
I have a question about the location of the kitchen and the den. Are these essentially one large room? I couldn’t tell from the picture, but it looks like the kitchen island and the two chairs in the den might back up to each other.
I’m thinking about knocking out a wall between a kitchen and den, and if this is one big room it gives me a lot more confidence.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re adjoined rooms for sure. See the bar stools in that pic of the living room in this post? And the kitchen beyond the stools? They knocked out that previously paneled wall to create that opening. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mary Ellen says
I’ve missed a few days and haven’t worked my way up to that post yet! Another great inspiration. I was actually talking about the house in Charlotte (with sweet baby Eleanor). I really love the style of that home.
tiffany says
Oh my goodness, i have been a bit behind on your blog this past week and i lived in charlotte until this past january when we set off in the airstream.. so fun to see you at some of my favorite shops, mary jo’s is the best!! and the pb outlet in gaffney was always good.. not to mention the jcrew outlet that’s there as well.. so fun!
Rachel says
We visited family in north GA last week & I got the opportunity to shop the Premium Outlets all by myself (hooray for Grandma as babysitter!). I stepped into Pottery Barn & saw that lovely round mirror you showed. Now I’m hoping to stumble upon a ridiculously cheap knockoff of it at Goodwill or Habitat. I also saw a beautiful massive woven basket (the size of a small desk) hidden under a table. I’m sure no one had noticed it for a LONG time (only about $65!) & if my house had a little more space, I would have brought it home with me. No idea what I’d put in it (the kids, maybe?) but it would be an interesting conversation piece.
I can’t help but wonder, did you go into Fuzzywig’s Candy Factory? The minute I saw it on the brochure, I knew I wasn’t leaving till I purchased something sugary & you & Katie act like ‘kids in a candy store’ all the time, so…
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man I wish we had time to stop in there. Next visit for sure!
xo,
s
DKA says
Killing time at my boyfriend’s parents house in Charlotte and catching up on your and Katie’s blogs. Stuck here without a car so really enjoyed the Goodwill shopping video and tours of the Charlotte homes. (He has a rental ranch here that I now have GRAND plans for!) Super stoked to learn about Mary Jo’s fabric shop (next trip) and BEYOND excited to know there is a Pottery Barn outlet in Gaffney! We will pass that on our way home to ATLANTA! Your recent blog entries all so relatable! Thinking too about how surreal it would have been to see you BOTH at the nail place, LOL!
Ang D says
I’m just now reading this post and when I saw the medallion fabric, spoke out loud to my computer “I LOVE that fabric!” Was so happy to see you bought some and now can’t wait to see what you do with it. It’s fabulous!!
Jamie says
I am so in love with the fabric you bought! I’m trying to find suzani fabric to recover a small stool I bought at a thrift store. It would be perfect. I can’t find the yellow/gray anywhere online (only the citrine)….I’ve emailed Mary Joe’s, so hopefully they still have some. Love it! Can’t wait to see what you do with it.
Wendy says
Love that Cornwall fabric. In fact, I’d saved it to one of my style boards on pinterest several months ago (and couldn’t at first figure out why it looked so familiar when I read through this post). It’s great to see an actual photo of it, cause I thought the print was much smaller. I may need drapes out of it.
Chrissy says
I’m behind and catching up, which is why this comment is months late, but those were great finds! You also reminded me that when my brother was a toddler, he had one of those “popping” vacuums (though not a pink Dyson – I want one of those now!). He LOVED it. In fact, rather than a stuffed animal…he slept with his vacuum. Still cracks me up everytime I think of that. :-)
Jackie says
I just learned of your blog and wanted to post “HOW in the world did your husband put up with a FABRIC store, and then continue along to an outlet where most of the stuff you can’t buy until you renovate!?” But then I saw that you are writing a book, so I got it. Ha! Fabric stores + my husband =waking up screaming nightmares that he was back in the fabric store. I even worked in one for a short stint and I barely saw him over that period;)
Can’t wait to read on. And jealous of that pendant, booo!
Donna Ferraiolo says
So I bought two great looking arched shaped mirror window panes from target. They are going on a large wall on each side of my vintage style lines sofa with the brompton pewter fabric pillows that o love!!!!! What would you put in between mirrors? Was thinking a antique distressed 48″ shelf? Any other suggestions
Thank and <3 your page
Donna
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny because before you said shelf I was thinking “ooh a big shelf!” so that’s totally my instinct too! Otherwise you could do a large piece of art (painted canvas, giant framed print or photograph, etc). The mirrors sound gorgeous! Good luck!
xo
s
Alexandra says
What is the name and location of the FABRIC STORE??
Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s in the first sentence of the post for ya :)
xo
s