The Nester at The Nesting Place is hosting a party today with the idea that by pricing our spaces we can encourage others to feather their nest no matter the budget.
From the beginning, I have been fairly frugal when it came to furnishing our home. I've always loved old things, and was never shy about loving the things in my grand parent's homes. I think that because I showed interest, my grand parents and parents were more than generous when it came time to furnish our first home. What we didn't glean from them, we have hunted auctions and antique/junk stores for the rest with a couple of exceptions. Here we go on a tour of our living room----
1. Dishes, dishes, everywhere. In addition to family dishes, I have purchased my share - usually at $10.00 or less.
2. This wardrobe was purchased at an antique/junk store for $50 thirty-five years ago. It has 8 shelves holding my mother's and my grand mother's many sets of dishes. It's so heavy, it has to be bolted to the wall.
3. My favorite window treatment - wooden shutters. These were purchased off of ebay for $25.
4. A rare splurge - a Stiffel lamp on sale for under $100.
5. This is where I spent my money - two custom-made love seats for more than I care to reveal; but I love them, they fit our shorter stature, and we will keep them forever.
6. In 1955, I bought a sewing machine for $45 and learned to sew. It was the best investment possible as I have sewn a million miles and saved tons of money. I rarely spend more than $5 for materials to make decorative pillows.
7. Free, free, free! My best resource has always been my family. Over the years I sweet-talked my grand mothers and my mother out of dishes - one dish at a time. I should be ashamed, but I'm not - they knew I would cherish them. My Dad bought me the china cabinet as a gift.
8. Most of the original art work in our home was inherited from the family. This picture was a wedding present to my great-grand parents.
9. The lamp was a wedding gift to my parents.
10. The drop leaf gate-leg table was sweet-talked from my grandmother - I was really good at that sweet-talking business!
11. I bought this chair at auction 35 years ago for $30. It has been recovered four times and used all over our home.
12. A 9' x 12' wool rug bought at closeout for under $200 after a lot of shopping around.
13. This walnut chest was purchased at auction for $30. My husband, Bob, revamped it to hold our living room TV.
14. I love all of the wooden totes and boxes around the house - all purchased at yard sales for pennies.
15. Hidden in the corner is a very nice authentic, old Indian basket given to me by an uncle just because I asked if I could have it some day when he was through with it. He gave it to me right then!
16. The black, hanging cupboard was made by Bob for the cost of the lumber.
17. The red leather books were from an end-of-the-day auction box costing $2.
18. I love my 19th century brown transferware - some of it was a bargain; some not so much!
19. A huge brown transferware pitcher sweet-talked from my mother.
20. If I talk long enough, my family picks up on my desires - this art deco table scarf was a gift from my daughter.
21. This cute, Frenchy end table was given to us by friends cleaning out their garage - free again.
And there you are - honor your elders and develop those sweet-talking skills!
I hope this encourages all of you struggling on a budget to feather your nest. One other word about the subject: don't hurry; it is always worth the wait to get what you want. I've been married almost 51 years; my house didn't come together over night. And, I'm still making changes!!
Sally
