life

accessorizing an apartment for under $300

??????????????????????Back in the fall, I was approached by La Sierra Apartments here in NB to spruce up a corporate apartment.  One unit, in a weeks time? Well okay, no problem. The challenge: use furniture in inventory and spend next to nothing.   SAY WHAT??  Every design idea I had instantly imploded.

How was I supposed to do art, drapery, lighting, and fun accessories on a couple hundred bucks?  (I know it’s possible, but I’m used to accessories budgets in the thousands.)  Sure, it’s easy to come up with endless ideas when you have a nice budget to work with, but this was going to be a little harder.  A rug alone could break the bank.

I had to get creative.  But really, I needed to relax and go with my instincts.  I was made for this.  I don’t like paying full price for, well, anything.  I’m always looking for a deal, and now it was time to put my bargain hunting to the test.  And I had like 4 days to do it.

I started with a vacant apartment.   There were a lot of warm, brown tones in the apartment (wall color, fixtures, flooring, etc) and in the existing furniture I was going to use.  The armless chair I picked was in this fabric:

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So I decided to pull out the grays tones and run with that.  The goal was to combine warm and cool to create an inviting & simple, yet contemporary space.

I bought a 36×36 gallery wrapped canvas at Michael’s with a 40% off coupon.  I then took a couple of hours one morning, busted out my (literally) 8-year-old paints and created a neutral abstract painting.  This was going to be the piece that tied the browns and grays together.

painting

Here’s what the final result ended up like:

accessorizing on a budget

apartment decor for under 250 dollars

The lamp shades, pillows, and drapes were from Target.  The drapery was on clearance – jackpot!  The drapery hardware (not pictured) is from IKEA, as well as the rug ($19.99), and floor lamp ($14.99).

IKEA frames + your favorite pictures - Accessorizing on a Budget

These IKEA frames were under 10 bucks a pop.  I took some pics of local landmarks (Gruene Hall, the Comal River, and the Faust Bridge) and printed off 8x10s of them at Target.

I apologize for the very few crappy iPhone pics, but it turned out pretty good!   The only thing I would have liked to do differently is include some vintage bargain finds if I had more time to search for them.  Where are your go to places for great accessories on a budget??

2013 report card

Happy New Year!  I hope your holidays were filled with joy, delicious treats, and treasured family & friends!  🙂

Every January to me is new beginning – a time to reflect and plan.   I first like to look back on the previous year’s accomplishments and shortcomings before making my goals for the next year.   So remember that little goal list I posted last year around this time?  Well time to pull it out of the wood works and see how I actually did…

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Listen To Myself For Once    PASS

I left a job I was not happy at, and that alone would tell me I succeeded in this aspiration.  I also took a job that is more entrepreneurial and out of the box, which by the way, I’m LOVING.   I’ve realized over the last year that deep down only I know whats best for me, no one else.  And that voice is one I have to listen to.  It’s kinda funny how you can know something your whole life and still have to relearn to apply it.

what's good for your soul

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Be More Spiritual   FAIL

I could be doing a lot better at this one.  I think I’ve improved  my stress level but there’s still a lot of progress to be made in terms of how I spend my time.

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Own my Own Piece of Earth     PASS

We did buy a home earlier this year, and it is everything I thought it could be and a whole lot more… of unexpected pop up work.  But that’s fine.  We locked in a great interest rate and we absolutely love our new neighborhood.  We are on the way to making our home uniquely ours.  It feels good only throwing 75% of our payment away instead of the full 100%.  🙂

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Go to Europe    FAIL

Geesh,  let’s put this one on 2014’s list yet again.   We need to just up and do it!!  I’m not getting any younger here.

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Run a 5K    FAIL

This really is not that hard of a goal…and yet I still haven’t accomplished it.  Crazy.  Well this will have to change!  Who else is with me on the Couch to 5k program?!

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Live a Healthier Lifestyle    BEYOND FAIL

I would love to say I totally nailed this one….but not so much.  I still eat way too many cheeseburgers, slices of pizza, and sit around much more than I should.  And I’ve gained like 5lbs…. so yes, massive fail.  But I kind of am forced to change my ways this year (I’ll get into that more in my next post: 2014 goals and resolutions).

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Develop & Maximize my Unique Talents    BARELY PASS

The fact that I have picked up a paint brush again, started journal-ing and writing, and also reading whole books (other than House Beautiful mag) has told me that I am going in the right direction.  Now it’s taking the knowledge I’ve acquired, the countless hours thinking and planning, and turning it into a reality!

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So I’m 3 for 7.  Not bad.  How did you guys do last year?  What are you putting at the top of your list for 2014?

this is my life. i get 1. i’m not settling for less.

Why hello there, my dearest readers!

I realized I’ve fallen off the map in recent months.  Life came at me in full force.  I’m talking decisions, changes, and new beginnings.

I’m so excited to say that I started a new position as a designer for the very talented Michelle Tumlin in Austin!  Since I have the hardest time with change, it’s been an adjustment, but also such a giant step in the right direction for my career.

I try to keep the blog a venue for positivity and inspiration, so really only close friends and family know the struggles that were going on with my previous job.  What started out as small frustrations festered into resentment I was carrying around into my life outside of work.  Each day I was coming home from my job extremely frustrated and exhausted, feeling directionless and somewhat used.   I find this so ironic.  Because in a creative field of work, getting burned out totally robs you of your gift to provide unique and interesting solutions…. and well, without those, what can you offer?

If you know me at all, you know I’ve always been a firm believer in setting your standards high and going for your dreams.  I felt it came to a point that I was still preaching this to others, but then wasn’t living it myself.  I had been continuing to get up and go to my job, but I  wasn’t even sure why.  The problem is when you put up with crap everyday, you get comfortable with it.    It lowers your self-esteem and your expectations.  You start to believe that you will not find better and/or don’t deserve better.  And let me tell you friends, this is TOXIC.  Not only to your career, but it starts to effect the rest of  your life too.  Deep down, you know what’s right for you.  If it’s not right – it’s not right.  Never just settle.  In a relationship. In a job.  In life.   If someone does not support you, like you for who you are, or appreciate your talents, then LEAVE.  It took me a long time to realize this in this situation.  I realized I wasn’t being true to myself.  I was shutting out my inner voice.  Don’t shut out yours.

steve jobs quote

Today begins my 4th week at the new job, and I’m so pleased to say I feel like I have my life back.  I have more energy, can think and formulate thoughts better (on most occasions!!), and wake up each day with things to look forward to.   I can’t wait to make this blog as great as I always knew it could be!  I’m going to be bringing back segments on the regular (Color Story, Design Obsession, Thursday Thoughts, etc) and also throwing a couple new ones in there as well!  This isn’t just my creative outlet, it’s yours too.

I’m glad to be back.  If you’re reading this right now then you haven’t given up on me yet!!! Hahaha.  Thanks for being a loyal supporter of the blog!  Now we have a lot to catch up on….. 😉