Wednesday, March 24, 2010

what $10 and a mid life decorating crisis will do to ya

so a couple weeks ago things got a little ugly.
let me explain:
it was 2:45 pm on a thursday afternoon and for some reason i passed my living room and thought. "UGH! i love my new to me couch...but it's not meshing in like it should."

so i thought "maybe if i move a few things here and there it might mesh better."
well it started innocently enough. a frame here. a decoration there. then it got nasty.
the furniture was being moved, and the wall hangings came down.
all.of.them.
and the decor, heaped into a sad pile in the corner.
by the time 5 pm rolled around and the husband walked through the door, i was a crying mess in a room with nothing on the walls and all the furniture moved to the middle of it.
he walked right past me not wanting to touch that with a 10 foot pole. smart man.
i went to bed feeling defeated and lost.
the next day i had a friend come over and help me put all the furniture back where it originally was (minus a few things here and there). but i didn't put back any of the wall hangings up.
and i was okay with that.
time for change again.
i need new things. but i don't necessarily have money to re-decorate everything in that room. and oh yeah wasn't i suppose to be focusing on the boy's room?

so next time i had to go to the box store...i set off to home depot as well. (we just got one a few years ago.)
"i need curtains!" i said. and well you know me. i don't just go and buy curtains...so i bought a two pack of drop cloths for less than $10. and because the two drop cloths were pretty big i cut each of them in half.
thus being able to make two sets of curtains for under $10.
yup, my new living room curtains (and soon to also be new boys' bedroom curtains) cost me aprox $4.50 ish per set.

and i'm going to "try" to make some art for my bare walls.
a little more pottery barnish. slash V and Co ish.
are you ready for a new adventure?
i may just fall flat on my face. but at least you'll know Not to do it if i do.
we'll talk soon!

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22 comments:

Kelli said...

Hi Vanessa, Just wondering, Have you checked out the Knock off wood blog? Ana makes plans for furniture that would be right up your alley!http://www.knockoffwood.blogspot.com/
Keep smiling, your house looks fantastic, You should be proud!
Kelli
xxx

Sandra said...

Last autumn I bought some very cheap ready made curtains ( 5$ a pair) because we had 2 young cats.They are still here because they look great! Good things doesn`t always have to be expensive...

KaHolly said...

Well, that was a pretty clever idea!! ~karen

rachel griffith said...

poor jake.
:(

*kidding*

Simply Jessabells said...

Very cool. Never thought of using drop cloths as curtains!

Terri said...

Oh, I *heart* canvas drop cloths. Edge them with bias tape binding and add some embroidered details for an entirely new look! :) Can't wait to see your new project!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

I think your room looks great! I love drop cloths too. ;-)

michele said...

you are GENIUS V. srsly. i may need to get me some drop cloths next time i'm there....our master bedrooms been without window coverings for the past 4 years now.....

trish said...

I am so sorry about your day Vanessa, I had one too, very similar to yours. Mine was brought on by reading too many beautiful blogs and loving everyone's home, sort of made me less thankful for my own. So I went on a mad organizing frenzy and my heart is settled, counting my blessings and decorating for our family ... not trying to copy everyone else. Well, maybe just a little. :o)
Your curtains are awesome! You really did a nice job and they look great in your home. :o)
Hope you are having a nice day. I am heading out to plant my garden. Do you have any seed in yet? I wasn't sure if it is still too cold there. Your zucchinis were huge! :o)
Well wish me luck (I blogged a smidge about it if you want to drop by).
Sincerely ~ Trish

Kathy said...

I second what Kelli said - def check out Knockoffwood. Anna has some great instructions for all kinds of PB style furniture for way cheaper than you can buy it. My DH built a bench for our new front entry from her instructions, just modified to fit the space we had. Easy peasy!

Mrs. Frogster said...

nice! Reminds of growing up - my mom made all of our curtains out of bedsheets. :) I was so proud of my Care Bear curtains that my mom had made out of a Care Bear sheet she found on clearance.
I am excited to see what other creativity you are coming up with for that room!

Kristi @ Creative Kristi said...

I want to chime in and recommend (a 3rd time!) that you check out Knock Off Wood blog too!
Also thank you so much for posting a closer up picture of the drop cloth curtains. I had thought about doing that in my living room but everyone else's blog post about it only showed picture from across the room (or super close up of a hem) So I wasn't sure how good it would look! Thanks for that! I'm off to Lowe's to get drop cloths!! :)

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

The drop cloth curtains are fab! Can't wait to see what you do with the wall. I am working on the big wall in my living room. Hopefully I don't end up in tears. It's been known to happen.

Dogwood said...

Oh, what a inviting room. I really love it. That chair looks very comfortable. Spring cleaning and changing is good.

Have a nice day.

Taylor said...

Folled your link to see the couch, beautiful! And I love your floors. (I might move that big clock I saw in the couch post to that big blank space your making something for)

Delia said...

Thank you for the ingenius idea! I love the drop cloth idea.

I am SO glad I am not the only one who goes through these phases. I should have my husband read this post so he can be assured I am not the only one who goes through these phases either. :)

Rachel Berry said...

How funny!!
The last time we went to the "big city" I went and bought a package of drop cloths for this very reason.. Curtains that is..
And I will be doing the same thing as you --- cutting them in half to make a set because I'm cheap like that I mean thrifty like that.

I knew we were friends for a reason. Now if only I lived closer...... :)

The curtains look great, you should have a mid life decorating crisis more often! :)

Marci said...

you have a problem.;D

you crazy woman...i loved the old room!! can't wait to see what you come up with next.

i agree with the woman up there, poor jake!
good thing you have him so whooped, huh?:D

Morgan//Nuts and Bows said...

I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

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~Morgan

http://meetvirginiaandroo.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeetVirginiaShop

Becky said...

Oh I can so relate to the day you had. I just finished re-arranging my half of the work room/den. Boxes were every where. Couldn't fit stuff where iI wanted so I went to Plan B, then Plan C. Some where around Plan UUU I finished! Bill didn't say a word. So glad we have smart Hubbys.

I haven't seen a fabric drop cloth in ages! I always grab the cheap plastic ones when I paint. YOU are so smart! The curtains looks wonderful.

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

I just moved the couches yesterday and they ended up back where they were. *sigh*

What an awesome idea!! I may have to go and do that. I need a change. =D

followingtheroad said...

Nice. You would never guess they are drop cloths. I might have to steal this idea.

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