Thursday

We moved some furniture around.  This doesn't happen that much, honestly.   Usually, I move it around and then realize that it was in the first place for a reason - it looks better there.  This furniture, however, didn't really get moved around - more like finally put in the place we planned for it.
We moved the loveseat that I slipcovered down in between the bookshelves.  We've had that couch in our master bedroom for so long that the corner really looked empty.

I moved the humongous, but oh-so awesome, chair up to this corner and really like it.  I finally brought this side table that I purchased about a year ago from Craigslist ($20).  Isn't this table great? 

Give me a lamp and this makes a great reading space.


PS - for all you I Spy-ers:  yes, there is a mirror hidden behind the chair that is waiting to be hung.  First, I'd like to put up a chair rail around the top of the room (about 6-8 inches from the ceiling).  Then, I'll hang up things like pictures and mirrors.  And yes, M. was watching Dora the while I was taking pictures - about 1 foot away from where I was taking pictures.

Office Desk

When Tom and I get to talking about our home and what we would like we have different opinions.  We discuss and try to work it out.  We're not going to do anything unless both of us are on board.  Usually, though, Tom eventually sees my side of it and all is happy and right in the world :)  Occasionally, though, I just let Tom choose.  Such was the case with an office desk.  He wanted a big, substantial, manly man - don't you dare think of painting it - desk.

 I searched for months and eventually found one on Craigslist, of course.  I did look for new (there are great options here), but I found this solid, very heavy desk for $100 - you can't touch that price if I wanted it new. 

 There was some damange, though.  Sometimes I wonder why I just don't buy new!  When I first saw the pictures, I thought we'd be able to sand it down.  Then when I actually went to look at it, I realized they were leather inserts and the wood had water damage - you can't really fix that.  Still, we both liked it and thought it was still valuable. 

I cut some mat board to fit and topped it with a piece of glass - problem fixed!

I love the lines of this desk and I think the wood color is so pretty.  It is not what I wanted, but it's what Tom wanted, and I think it's pretty.

This is to give you an idea of the scale of this room.  It is pretty narrow and very tall.  Now, I've get to get busy with fabrics, light fixtures, chairs, mirrors and art work - I really love this.  We do work slow, though, so it might be another year before you get another glance of this room!

Craigslist Shopping - Final Edition

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
I think I've exhausted all I can out of this topic!  Today, I've got a couple of final thoughts.

Sideboard - sanded, stained, and added new hardware!

Tip #6 - overlook the seller's styling.  You have to kind of squint your eyes a bit and really look at only the piece you want.  It kind of makes me laugh at some of the pictures!  When I was a little girl, and my mother and I would go pick out patterns, she taught me how to look past the girl wearing the dress and the fabric they used and just look at the lines.  This is a skill I use all the time when looking at Craigslist.  Look at the bones, ignore the rest.

$35 glass cabinet - picture a white bead board back, white shelves and a lovely gray color, with some funky knobs!

Tip #7 - Know your DIY resources. - Can you picture it painted?  What if you changed out the hardware?  Sanding and Staining can make a huge difference.  What about a slipcover?  I used an entire bottle of Goo Gone on patio chairs, I've used Old English on a desk.  You can change a lot of things and make it work for you and your home.  If you know your options while clicking on pictures, the pool of what you have to choose from gets larger - and your competition gets smaller.

I know this looks like a really ugly chair, but take off the ruffle.  Make a slipcover of navy blue canvas and white piping - I can already see it in my little man's room!  Free off Craigslist.

That's it.  I'm finished.  Go forth and snatch up those deals.  I'd love to hear what you get!

Craigslist Shopping - Part 3

For past tips - Part 1, and Part 2.  Here we go again.

Bought this bench for $25 and spray painted it black.  I get so many comments on it - plus any pillow looks so good on it!

Tip #4 - Really really look at what you are buying.  This means opening every single drawer, running your hand over the entire piece, picking it up, turning it over.  It can be intimidating because the seller is right there watching you - but this step doesn't take much time and can save you.

I received a comment on Part 1 from Kendra at Domestic Princess in Training that shows my point exactly.  This is her story:
We were in need of a “fake” Christmas tree last year. I was thinking it would be something I could be frugal about as I am with most things. I turned to Craig’s list hoping to find something that fit my budget. Fond a tree that was in our price point and looked good as new. The seller would not go down on his asking price. It was still more affordable than buying new but he told me it was basically new since they had only used it one year. I loved the fullness and height of the tree and was tired of looking around so we went for it. Well I made a HUGE mistake.

1. I went by the picture that he posted on line and didn’t look in the box. I felt bad making him pull the tree out and wanted to trust that we were getting what he listed on the site. BIG, MISTAKE.....HUGE!
 2. I went by the pictures that he posted on line! It was really that stupid so I feel the need to list it twice. Really what was I thinking?

Well we got the tree home I open the box and my jaw dropped to the floor! It was covered in glitter and looked NOTHING like the picture he posted. I wasn’t even a traditional Christmas tree and looked more like a pine tree. I love glitter and even though I wasn’t planning on a glitter flocked tree I tried to make the best of it and decided to put it together. That’s when it continued to go downhill. It was missing sections and was not a prelit tree as he described it to be. Ahhh I was furious! We had glitter all over our couches and floors and on top of that I was staring at a glorified Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. I took pictures of all the problems and e-mailed them to the guy that sold it to us demanding that we got our money back (nicely of course, didn’t want to upset him). We went back and forth for a bit but eventually he agreed and said he already had another buyer lined up that was willing to pay more than the asking price....really! I felt the need to warn the new buyer but of course had no way to do so.

Point of this LONG drawn out comment....look in the box before you take something home even if you are buying from the sweetest person you’ve ever met. Even nice people can lie.

Moral of the story - check out what you are buying before it goes in your car.  While bargaining back and forth with sellers, I've written in my emails "upon approval."  I've never walked away from something, but I have asked for money off because of  _____ damage.  I've had the seller say "oh, I've never noticed that before," and I make no apologies for knowing exactly what my money is getting me.

Desk that I use as a night stand.  I can't remember how much I paid for it, but I painted it white and switched the hardware.

Tip #5 - Use Common Sense.
I don't go to neighborhoods I don't know.  I don't go into the home. I don't go at nighttime. I usually have someone else with me, or my husband knows exactly where I am.  I've usually emailed back and forth several times and if there are grammatical errors, misspelled words, capitalization problems - you know, I just might walk away.  This is a business transaction - take the 2 seconds to spell check.  I just don't want to be stupid going in blindly to a home I don't know, with a person I don't know, in a neighborhood I don't know just to save some money.  Better safe than sorry - right?

Believe it or not - I still have one more day of this!  See you tomorrow!

Craigslist Shopping - Part 2

Welcome back.  Yesterday, I started talking about my Craigslist tips and I'm going to keep those tips coming today.

Bought 2 over sized tufted wing chairs for $50 - what a steal!  I'm still trying to find places to put them, but I couldn't pass that up.  One is in this room and the other is in my living room, but I'm still playing around with them.  I'll make them work somehow.

Be Patient

That's my tip for today.  I know it goes against what others say, but it has worked for me.  I know I've heard the good things go fast and you've got to jump, but I am not an impulsive shopper and I do it differently, which has worked for me.  The way I figure it, I'm pretty fine right now without whatever the item that I'm looking for is.  If I wait even a couple of days, the seller might start getting anxious, the post where it is listed gets further down on the list and will probably not be getting as many hits, and I might/usually get an even better deal.

Yes, I have probably lost some great deals not jumping on them, but I haven't bought something I regretted.  I'm never one to think too much about the one that got away, though.  I'm fine.

Also, something seems to always come up, if you are willing to wait for exactly what you want.  You could settle, and make things work - or you could be patient and get what you want.  It took me 2 years to find the patio set I wanted!

So . . .Be Patient!

Believe it or not - I've got more tips.  Keep coming back!

Craigslist Shopping - Part 1

If you talk to me for any amount of time, you'll hear of my slight obsession with Craigslist.  It's usually followed by proudly showing my latest purchase along with the price.  Then, I hear, however, how I am the only one who has any luck.  I'm not sure it's luck - I do think there is a little "know how" to shopping Craigslist and this week I'm going to share a couple of tips.

Patio Set - searched "patio set" for 2 summers.  Paid $200 for the set, but had to clean sap off the chairs.  So worth it; I love, love, love this set!

Know your product - Usually, when I'm searching Craigslist, I have a product in mind that I'm searching.  Whether it is a desk, a table, a chair, or whatever.  I look around for inspiration until I find a piece of furniture that I want, then I go to Craigslist.  This does not mean that I use very specific words to search, though.  It just means to know what you are looking for.  Craigslist can be overwhelming if you go to it blindly. I, also, always do a little research.  I look to see what it (the piece I'm looking for) would be brand new, used, at different stores.  I see what other's asking prices are.  I look at measurements, conditions, reasons for selling.  When I finally email the person to discuss purchasing it, I want to have as much information as possible.  I might be a little overkill, but I have never been in a situation where I wished I didn't know so much

Coffee Table - searched "glass coffee table" after knowing that was the exact style I wanted.  After about 10 emails, I talked the seller down from $75 to $40.

Don't pay full asking price  - you should have done your research, so you should have a price range in mind.  I think most sellers list a price, knowing that people will bargain.  I can never do this on the phone, but certainly through email.  I always ask for about 50% off their asking price.  IF, though, I feel it's a fair price, I'll just ask for a little off.  I have never paid full asking price.  I usually state something in my emails along the lines of having a very strict budget (as everyone who is shopping on Craigslist does) and this is what I'm willing to pay.  I can pay cash and can be very prompt about picking it up.  I've had sellers say no, I've had sellers make a counter offer, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Do I still have you?  I've got a little more - come back tomorrow!