Antiques & A Can of Worms

Have you ever bought one antique [or thing] and it opened a can of worms? Not in a bad way, it just triggered you to buy more great things? That’s what just happened to me…

A week ago I was searching the net for a headboard for my bed and I ended up finding a stunning antique bed frame. The frame was solid wood and the ornate lines made me instantly fall in love with it.

It turned out once I arrived for the viewing there was a dresser and a wash stand for sale as well. I bought the whole package and redesigned my whole room in somewhat of a Moroccan style over the past few days.

Some things to consider when you love vintage & antique and want to redesign on a budget:

Visit the Habitat for Humanity restore or a place like it in your own community. You get used home reno supplies for nearly half the price or less. I found out about this place one day as I was digging though a curb pile of free stuff, the homeowner came out and mentioned the restore to me. I appreciated the great tip as I had never been and now I am a huge fan.

I got a shabby-chic wood bedroom door and managed to find an antique set of knobs that fit it like a glove [it even has the old school lock area], in total they cost me $80 at the Restore.

I also found wicked vintage knobs and pulls for the dresser since the ones it had were broken or missing. I only spent $10 for the ones on the dresser. I also got a vintage vent for the wall as the one there was not so sexy.

Only buy paint in the mis-tints section! I found this beige (with a purple undertone paint) for $10 for a huge can. I spent more on the can of paint for the other bold wall but at least overall saved some dough. I needed to paint the entire room and rid it of the sunshine yellow walls. I will always recommend mis-tints.

The bedspread is not designer it is from Walmart but was under $100 and a great deal. Plus who doesn’t love bed in a bag, everything you could need all there in one nice package. I don’t buy used bedding, underwear or swimsuits but definitely by used fabric table mats and decorative pillows. All the pillows and tables toppers/mats in the room are from Value Village and garage sales. Save the money and get used pillows – you will save a bundle. They almost all retail for $15-30 bucks a pop these days.

Get Creative! I did not need a wash stand but thought to myself that it could make a superb necklace holder and storage unit in the bedroom. It had potential and I was able to give it a new life!

Know where to go? Pictures and decorative knick knacks are usually pricey in store, always buy these used. I spent about $5 on some candleholders, candles, wall art, and jewellery boxes at a garage sale. It makes the space more “you” but really doesn’t need to cost much.

Don’t feel like your the only one who starts these little home projects that end up costing a little more money and taking a bit more time than anticipated. I never think of it like that anymore –

It always feels good to find that one piece that motivates you to do something new and different.

I quite like antiques. I like things that are old and the history they bring with them. I would rather fly to Morocco on an $800 ticket and buy a chair for $300 than spend $1,100 on one at Pottery Barn.

~Walton Goggins