Decorate like an Anthropologist...

(taking inspiration from a Phoenix restaurant bathroom)

You all know me by now.

I like to decorate on a budget.

I HAVE to decorate on a budget.

But I like things to look pretty.

Any my husband can be pretty canny with money (definition: chiefly Scottish a : careful, steady)

I can't get everything I want simply by making meatloaf.

What he can't make, I buy...at yard sales, flea markets, thrift shops, Walmart, or Homesense.

Or I make it myself. Unless it involves sewing. Because I've moved on from wrestling with my jammed up sewing machine and glue gun.

But I have always wanted to go to Anthropologie.

So, I went there on my recent trip to Phoenix.

Before crossing the threshold, I was an Anthropologie virgin.

But I crossed over to the dark side and browsed the racks like any respectable newbie would.

Brought an armload of clothes into the dressing room and cursed myself for forgetting my camera.

Laura takes hers in there and has a jolly good time.

(But everything she does is funny).

In the end, I bought this beautiful top:

Except I have since checked out the online reviews and the non-starters said the ruffles make the mid-section look thicker.

Great....

I need that like I need another blog (because I have two).

And then I bought this tea towel:

I spent too much. My mother would agree.

$28 USD

But you forget that I like to decorate on a budget.

And that my husband is canny.

And I like things to look pretty.

And I am a bit obsessed with clotheslines.

So, guess what I am going to do with my $28 tea towel?

WALL ART!!!!!

Yep!

Because even my mum wouldn't scold me for spending that on some art.

Because I am pretty sure she doesn't do the free art thing.

Can't remember my drawings plastering our harvest brown fridge back in the day.

Is it any wonder I have my quirks?

Trip the light Fan-tastic!

What is that saying about turning lemons into lemonade?

Well, I think I did just that on Sunday afternoon. We outfitted Sophie's room with a fan when we built our house nearly four years ago. We decided on a fan as the summers here get quite muggy, and I am not comfortable with leaving her window open at night (a healthy dose of paranoia is a mother's prerogative...). Thus, I chose as unassuming a fan as I could find; but let's face it, fans are not known for their unique beauty!

So, after having fairly cool summers for two years in a row, I decided to continue to live on the wild side after dabbling in red during Sophie's room make-over. Perhaps I could do away with the fan and select something more fashionable? After a quick search, I did find a beauty of a fixture, replete with an etched glass drum shade (sooo pretty). But sadly, it was $250 - a figure I could not feel comfortable with spending for a variety of reasons, the main one being that it is a complete budget breaker!!!

Never one to be deterred by a lack of money, and in keeping with my theory that you can redecorate by shopping from your own home, I took a hand-me-down drum shade (given to me by my sister), combined it with a light bulb moment (which occurred one insomniac night) and fashioned a new light fixture for zero dollars!!!

One aching back (from reaching up to unscrew the fan blades), a blistered finger, and a few mild curse words later and I was the proud owner of this new light:

Realizing, as I gazed up at it, that I did not like the finial that came with the shade,

I remembered the pretty glass finials that came with the $3.99 curtain rod I purchased at the Christmas Tree Shop last spring. A quick change of a screw and it fit perfectly. So much better!!

This is the view of the light from directly beneath:

Not perfect, but good enough for me...and free!! Now don't worry - I will change out the ribbon for fishing line, but of course, I was too impatient to wait!! I like immediate results!!
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And I guess I'll have to shop for a floor model fan for those muggy nights this summer!!

Also, check out the windowless window seat we made for her room!

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**If you want to see other ten minute make-over ideas, head on over to Nesting Place:

And if you want great frugal tips and inspiration, check out this great round-up here:

Face lifts are good...

All that rainy weather had an effect on me. Everything seemed a whole lot more dull and ordinary under the cloak of grey. I certainly couldn't spend much time outside, so I was left to stew inside, which only left me looking around and see what could use a little sprucing up.

I love the look of tin backsplashes and ceilings, so after being inspired by Chris at Just Beachy to apply it to my dishwasher for a more vintage look, I headed off to the building supply store and picked up one of my favourite products, faux tin panels. I also picked up the double-sided adhesive tape that is sold with the product (approx. $10/roll) and adhered it to the dishwasher with that. I used about a panel and a half of the "tin". Easy peasy!! Although I had been wanting to start the project for a while, being a bit of a procrastinator, I had simply filed it in my brain... for future reference.

Well, there is no better time than three straight weeks of rain to put a girl in the decorating mode! Forty dollars and virtually zero sweat equity later, and I find myself gazing at my dishwasher in admiration. It takes so little to thrill me these days!

before...

...after!!

After that easy fix, I was on a roll. I had had a roll of pretty wallpaper in my hall closet for what seemed like ages, and was simply waiting for the inspiration as to where to actually put it. I knew I didn't want to re-commit to wallpaper fully, but I was open to adding a bit of it to my home. I have, basically, an open-concept kitchen/living room area, and I have a long wall separating the two. It has always seemed to be calling out for something great, and since I hadn't found this something great, it struck me that a feature wall, using my beloved wallpaper, just might do the trick to warm up the space. This ended up being a great face lift that only cost me $50...not bad for a whole, new look!

before...

...after!

I am still looking for the perfect accessories to add to the wall...but that part is really fun!

Sooo, have a good look around you, and see what needs a little, ahem, tweaking. Now, if only giving myself a makeover was so easy...