Once upon a time, I used to sell Home Interiors, and by selling it I was able to fill my house with cute tchotchkes, paintings and decor. But it wasn’t until recently I began to feel a bit put off by it all. Sure, it’s pretty, and serves a purpose, but I’m too much of a perfectionist – everything is centered just-so. and so matchy-matchy it’s almost sickening. No experimentation, nothing handmade, refinished, just store-bought bubkiss to fit a need or fill a space. And while it’s “nice”, now that I’m really looking at it, it’s not my style, because I prefer used or previously loved items because I like for my things to have a history behind ’em and a story to tell and be passed on.
Recently, as I was trolling Craigslist I came across a lovely gal named Melissa, who lives about an hour away, who refinishes furniture. She’s inspired me to take the plunge and start doing it myself, also inspiring me to change things up here, especially after reading Steph’s posts about being “..on a mission to make every single room in (her) [small] house (her) favorite.” And so, it began for me.
I began really pouring over some fantastic design/home blogs like The Nester, Home and Harmony (I love this blog so much, I want to tuck Rie’s entire home in my pocket, or pretend to be one of her kids. You think she’ll let me?), Under the Table and Dreaming (scroll down her right sidebar and take a look at Stephanie’s amazing DIY projects!), Marley and Lockyer, Funky Junk Interiors, Dreamy Whites, Canadian Cottage (OhMyGod, I want her dining room!) and Moth Design (look at the sofa she made with two twin beds! Awesome!) and found such inspiration.
I am going to do it.
This summer, the kids and I (and hubby, when he can in between work) are going on a home-making adventure! We’re going to make sure we love every room in this house, top to bottom. First, we’ll pour over every square inch to ensure we love everything in each room. Next, we’ll venture to buy and refinish furniture to fill the room, or refinish what we already have. We’re going to make the entire thing one big family project, where we’ll all have a hand in getting it done. We have refinished furniture before, having purchased a small farm table and chairs cheap back in NC that needed some TLC. We loved redoing that table, and I can’t wait to get started on doing that again here!
(Oh, and for those of you wondering, in between, we’ll be selling and donating the ‘unloved’ stuff.)
Last night hubby and I went to the local flea market and found two old Bassett dressers that are old and in need of some TLC (and at a good price, too), but oh, they are going to be marvelous when we’re done with ’em! I can’t wait to bring them home and get to work! I also spied some wonderful old picture frames without the glass that I want to gobble up while I’m there, along with an end table and chest of drawers for another room. I think he’ll give me a good deal on all of it.
How about you, have you redone any furniture or anything in your home?
(Psst, by the way, go read my most recent post about Baby Dude entitled Boobisaurus Rex over at Momicillin!)
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