Want To Personalize Your Space With A Custom Look, Without the Custom Price?

 

Do you love personal touches in your home that give that custom look, but hate the custom price? Then here are some great ideas on a budget to give your home a finished and personal look for less!

I had a client that had parson chairs that had seen their better days.  She had them at the heads of her kitchen table.  She wanted new chairs.  I suggested we keep them, slip cover them in a linen colored cotton (easy clean) cover. Then, add a custom monogram in black to match her black table. The covers were purchased for under $20.00 each and custom monogram was under $10.00.  I have a great shop here that does custom t-shirts and anything else you can monogram or put your logos on.  They are very reasonable. Then I finished off, by adding a brooch to the tie, purchased for under $10.00 from Sam Moon a local accessory store.  *They are on-line.

*Note: Ask around! I find that people/friends are willing to share their sources more often than not. Some neighbor that is a seamstress may have a monogramming machine sewing machine.  This is a great way to find out the best price in your area.

This was a great way to save money and give a custom look, for a lot less than a new chair.

This is a nursery I designed. These gold letters can be found at Hobby Lobby for $9.99 each (they have an on-line store too).  They are a great on a shelf standing alone, hung on a wall alone like these in a grouping, or even hung inside an empty decorative frame that is a tad over sized, so the wall color acts like the matting. This is a great look that can be contemporary too.

(They also have metal, wood and framed monogrammed letters in many styles.)

I did this on a plain canvas from the hobby store, (for under $10.00 and the cost of a few craft paints), and used the color scheme of the room. I finished it off with some trim and ribbon, put on with a hot glue gun. This is a fun way to express the child’s personality and give a sense of ownership to their space.

The next idea is a monogrammed pillow.  This can be done in so many different fonts and styles. The beauty of this…it is a stick on, for $6.00 from Jo Ann Fabric and Craft Store!  I used this in a nursery here, but have also done it in a master bedroom and living rooms.  This is a fun way to claim your home and space.  I also feel it gives a sophisticated and regal feel.  Another idea is in a boys room, on the shams in an Academic Font, it is a very masculine touch with out a lot of fuss. Same for a master bedroom. Pick your Font according to the design. Scrolled for Old World/French and more Modern Fonts for a contemporary or masculine feel.

I hope this helps and gives you some fun ideas. The possibilities are endless! Kids rooms, home office, pet beds, etc., etc.

Happy Monogramming!

This is part of Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog.

Want Designer Seating for Non-Designer Prices?

            

I love an eclectic look in my designs. In other words, I steer clear of “Matchy Matchy”!

My husband bought a great antique table at a price he couldn’t pass up and brought it home to surprise me. 

             

{Luckily we have the same taste in furniture.}

I was very excited and quickly replaced our old kitchen table with this beautiful new find.  But, I quickly found out when telling my girlfriends, that to them, this was a nightmare. 

Why? 

They were terrified at the idea of a table purchased without chairs. 

As I stated earlier, I am NOT a fan of matching sets. This is true for sofa sets, bedroom sets and dining sets.  I prefer to make it look collected. This does not mean that you will end up with every chair a different shape and color.  The color/stain can match and every chair can be alike.  This is a personal choice.  But it can also mean you have different “heads of table” chairs or even a bench added to the mix.

                  

I found a great metal bench for $50.00 at a local shop.  They called it a Cleopatra bench. I decided it was perfect for my new dinette table.  I needed a cushion and some throw pillows to make it comfortable and cozy. The cushion I had a made cost me $30.00 in labor and the cost of foam, trim &fabric.  I found the trim and fabric at a wholesale shop and spent under $50.00. I gathered some throw pillows from around my home, to finish the look. So, for under $200.00, I had a custom bench. If I ever get tired of it in my kitchen, it will go anywhere in my home. 

{I am ALL about multi-functional pieces. This saves a lot of money over time}.

So don’t be afraid to think outside the box and visit other options for fun, functional and chic seating to sometimes “cookie cutter” options.

Happy Dining in your Chic Seating!

This is part of Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog.