Last week I was passing by a Goodwill and at the last minute decided to turn in. And I do mean the you’re-in-the-right-lane-and-in-two-seconds-need-to-be-in-the-left-lane kind of last minute.

Luckily it was worth the pit stop! I found this beauty for $10. Not too shabby, huh?

It’s slowly making it’s way around the house as I search for the perfect place to put it. Now all I need is a fun cushion and I’ve got a great chair for super cheap. Nothing makes me happier than cheap.

I take that back. Free. Free always makes me happier than cheap.

What about you guys, any fun thrift store finds lately?

Since Spring is right around the corner, it seems every store had moved outdoor furniture and gardening supplies front and center. In the past patio furniture was pretty basic, a few metal chairs and a glass table. Maybe a couple plain throw pillows thrown in for good measure.

Not anymore!

I’m loving all the warm woods and bright patterns I’m seeing this year for outdoor furniture. A couple days ago I was in Lowe’s (a slight obsession as of late), and snapped a few pics of my favorite finds.

First up, this table below. I bet if I didn’t tell you, you would have assumed it was a normal dining room table. Isn’t it pretty? This would be an easy way to add class to any outdoor space.

And forget boring pillows. Lowe’s, Target, Home Depot…they all have great colors and patterns to pick from. Here’s a few I found at Lowe’s.

And lastly, I loved these barrels. As in, we’ll probably buy a few in the coming weeks. They’re the perfect pot to plant an herb garden. These barrels will pay for themselves after a few weeks of using fresh herbs instead of having to buy them. That’s one of my number one tip for saving money in the kitchen- grow your own herbs. You’ll have flavorful food without the $2+ price tag each week at the store.

All these finds have me excited about starting to furnish our own deck and patio. Luckily for you guys, you can still enter to win a $25 gift-card to jump start your Spring redesign!

For all the details go { here } or to my Facebook page { here }. If you’ve already entered, remember that when someone “Likes” your comment, they also need to “Like” the page.

The giveaway is open until the end of next week so there’s still lots of time to enter. Happy “Liking”!

A couple weeks ago I spent the day hanging out with a friend in Atlanta. After lunch, we ended up at the Habitat Re-Store. If you’ve never heard of it before, it a huge warehouse were people donate old/new building supplies.

I’ve been there a couple times and it’s pretty hit or miss. They have furniture, but I can usually find better prices at a thrift store. If you’re looking for actual building materials, like tiles or door locks, they seemed to have a decent selection. As we walked around, I did find a couple good finds…

I LOVED these rustic lanterns. At $59 each, they would make a great statement flanking a mirror in a bathroom.

Here’s another great fixture. I was surprised to see the original $510 price tag, but I’ve seen lots of versions of this piece for several different price ranges. Again, a nice light to place in a guest bathroom.

I love the details of this glass table. It’s light and bright because of the glass, but the richness of the metal creates a great contrast. Perfect piece for a guest room nightstand.

We also found a great selection of windows (and a VERY awkward drawing of a pumpkin head bikini girl??). There are so many great uses for old windows, a few of which can be found { here }.

The best find of the day was………linoleum tile. Yep, it’s true. My mother-in-law gave me a great tip a couple weeks ago about lining cabinet shelves. I’m planning to line the kitchen cabinets in the new house with contact paper, but under the kitchen sink, my mother-in-law suggested using linoleum tile. It’s thicker, waterproof and much easier to wipe down than contact paper. Such a good idea! The best part, I got 8 tiles for under $1.82 total. I found the exact same time { here } for $2.21 per tile. Sweeeet!

After I bought the tile, I realized it was the FIRST purchase for our new house! How appropriate that our first purchase for the house was under $2.00. Let’s hope I can keep the rest of the purchases around the same price (yeah right). Here I am (below) with the tile, and my second purchase, fabric to make a pillow for our future guest room. It is SO fun to finally be able to have a house to buy for!

What about you? Do you have any special stores you go to for great deals? Have you gotten a great deal lately? If so, I’d love to feature you on here!

While we were up in North Georgia, we hit up a few thrift stores and flea markets. We found some really fun stuff!

I loved these old $35 drink pallets. How fun would it be to use them at a party?! The yellow one was specifically calling my name…

Keeping in line with the soda theme, Justin tried convincing me to get this grill for tailgating parties. It was so cute, but the $90 price tag just wasn’t in the budget.

Speaking of not in the budget, this $110 fan definitely didn’t make the cut. I LOVED it though. It would make a great accent piece in an office. Sadly, it was left behind.

When I saw these large $125 wheels, my immediate thought was to use them to create a light fixture. (Albeit a very heavy one.) I loved the rustic look that could be paired in a really modern space.

Anyone know what this basket was made to hold? If you guessed eggs, you would be correct! I loved the pop of yellow and thought it would look great hanging in a kitchen to hold fruits and vegetables. At $40, it was still more than we wanted to spend. (I told y’all I’m cheap!)

Old vending machine anyone? I would love to have one of these in my house to dispense snacks. I’d definitely be the coolest parent on the block with this baby.

One of my favorite finds of the day was this old pump. I’d retrofit it to work as a bathroom or kitchen faucet. If I was allowed to have red anywhere in the house (it’s a tough life being married to a Yellow Jacket), I would have snapped it up in a heartbeat. At  $85, it would make one heck of a conversation piece.

I snapped a picture of this sign because I think it would be really easy to DIY one at home. Nail a couple boards together, add some paint or vinyl cutouts, and viola, new art! I think it would look particularly good in a little boys room.

Change the colors up a bit and cut a space in the top for a sink, and this would make a terrific bathroom vanity! I can’t seem to remember the price…

When I saw this chest, Justin and I both said we wanted it. What we didn’t want was the $550 price tag. It was an absolutely gorgeous piece that I’m sure someone snapped up shorty after we left.

I loved the colors of these place mats. Put them in a simple frame and you have a great piece of art for a kitchen!

And lastly, we found a great selection of large sticks. The rustic ones would make a great unexpected curtain rod. Just don’t run out to your yard to find a stick…chances are you’ll be bringing in a few buggy friends along with it. Instead, look to buy one that has been treated or dried to get rid of unwanted pests.

There you have it, our North Georgia finds. Did you find anything you like? Or maybe have a different idea for how to use something we found? Share, share!

When looking through thrift stores and flea markets, you really have to search through a lot of junk to find something that’s awesome. Sometimes that junk is really funny, or just plain weird. Today, I’m sharing the weird stuff…

Most Confused Panther on the Prowl.

Most Likely to Have Been From the 80's. (And Ugly.)

Most Likely to be a Picture of Someone Else's Grandma.

Most Un-Heavenly Delirama of Food on a Poster.

Voted Safest Decorative Accessory for a Toddler's Room. (Not.)

Most Likely to be Michael Jordan's Home Phone.

Creepiest Man Head Statue That WILL Give You Nightmares.

World's Toughest (Bobblehead) Rodeo Cowboy. (It Even Labeled Itself.)

Most Likely To Have Been Originally Bought From The Renaissance Festival.

There you have it, my weird finds. What have you found that’s been weird? Did you ever want to buy it for someone you know as a joke? This girl { right here } did just that and I have to say it’s one of THE funniest stories I’ve ever read! Has that ever happened to you?

A couple months ago my mother-in-law sent me an email about a discount fabric store she had heard about in Covington and thought I might want to check out. My friend Meghan (yes, same one from yesterday) is from Covington so I emailed her to see if she’d heard of Ocho Fabrics before. She had, and last week her and her sweet mom took me to browse fabrics to my heart’s content!

Y’all, I could look at fabrics for hours. (And I did.) Here’s the back of the warehouse that had row after row of seriously discounted fabrics. In fact, some I had just seen at another fabric store for much, much more a couple weeks before.

Look at all the possibilities!

I loved this fabric SO much. If I needed curtains, it would have come home with me that day!

These fun patterns would make great pillows!

During our searching, we found some gold and navy fabric that reminded us of a certain Atlanta school. Meghan didn’t like it. At all.

(Go Dawgs.)

And oh the nursery fabrics! When you go to a fabric store with a pregnant lady, you’re bound to look at nursery fabrics. They had such a cute selection!

I almost bought these two fabrics below to frame them (separately). The first fabric would look fabulous with a large silver frame and black mat. The bird fabric would make a cute smaller picture in a natural wood frame with a burlap mat.

 There you have it…a fabric for every occasion. I’m telling you, this place was worth the drive! Do y’all have any great fabric stores you want to share?

P.S. Fabric hunting is always better when you have fun people to go with. Thanks again Meghan and Mrs. Patton!

You know the drill…

This cute little lamp caught my eye as I was walking through TJ Maxx. (Yes, I semi-live in that store.) At only $29.99 a pop, it’s an inexpensive way to add some texture and sparkle to your room.

I actually bought the desk above for a project I’m currently working on. I know some people who are Ikea snobs, but honestly, I love the store. I don’t recommend buying everything from Ikea, but when it’s mixed and matched with more expensive pieces, it looks flawless. At only $69, I would have a hard time finding a cheaper desk option at a thrift store! (P.S. It looks fantastic in the room I’m currently designing. I’ll share pictures when it’s all done.)

I also loved this table and chair set from Ikea. I really wanted to use those chairs in another design I’m working on, but at $99 a chair, they were over budget. Cue sad music.

Moving on to another favorite store of mine, Cost Plus World Market, this rustic meets modern table had me at hello. This picture doesn’t even do it justice. It’s gorgeous. I’m a sucker for rustic woods in modern settings if you haven’t been able to tell. And the price? Oh, so nice. Love that store!

And lastly, good ol’ Hobby Lobby. These stools were a steal at $14 each. If I had needed bar stools, they would have come home with me for sure. Sometimes it’s so dang hard to leave a good deal behind!

I’m guessing you already know based on these posts, but I go shopping a lot. A lot, a lot. I try to stay on top of what’s in the market so I can make my designs as affordable as possible. If you’re looking for a specific item to go in your home, I’m happy to keep an eye out wherever I go. Email me for more information!

A couple weeks ago, Justin and I were driving around Atlanta with no real plans. We’d eaten lunch, window shopped, bought way too many sweets from a bakesale and were in route to a movie when the car suddenly turned into…

the Dump.

Now before you go thinking that’s gross, The Dump is actually a furniture store. I’d been talking about going to check it out for forever, and being a sweet husband, he decided to surprise me with a quick trip. I actually squealed. (What can I say? I love design.)

As excited as I was to stroll around the store, I was a little disappointed with what they had to offer. The prices were hit or miss, and out of a Walmart-sized store, I only found a handful of pieces I thought were interesting. Here’s what I found…

I’ve actually seen the room divider above used in a design by Candice Olson {see her here}, my all-time favorite designer. I scoured the internet, but couldn’t find a picture of how she used it in her design. Trust me when I say, it looked incredible. At $250, I don’t really think it’s a “must-have” piece, but if you’re looking for a more rustic look and have a little money to spare, it could be just what you’re looking for!

Speaking of rustic designs, I loved this cabinet. It would look perfect in a modern space to add in something a bit unexpected. And the storage. Oh, the storage. Think of all the gorgeous dishes you could store in this baby! Sadly I forgot to take a picture of the price tag. It was at least $1,000, which I definitely wouldn’t pay. I found several pieces while out thrifting yesterday that were a lot cheaper and would look just as good. It pays to bargain hunt!

When I saw this headboard my immediate thought was, “I could make that”. Then I saw the price tag and I thought, I could definitely make that. Granted, the price included the bed frame, but it’s still a no-go in my book. Cheap bed frames are easy to find and this headboard would be a piece of cake to make. I’m actually in the process of sourcing the materials to make something like that (yep, that’s how we came up with the name of the company). If anyone has any great places to find reclaimed wood, please share!

I’d also love to make this table (above) with reclaimed wood when we move into a house. At almost $900, it’s not a horrible price, but I think I could do better. I guess I was feeling a rustic vibe that day because, well, all my finds were rustic. Oh, and ignore the chairs above. They’re hideous.

This huge $1,000 table (the one on the bottom) would make a fantastic island in a kitchen. Seriously, it’s huge. I’d put a couple coats of sealer on it to make it more kitchen-friendly, but other than that it’s ready to go. I love the idea of putting this piece in a modern kitchen with these tiles {see here} and white lighting {see here}. Can you tell I dream about designing my own kitchen one day?

And lastly, I liked the wood detailing on the back of this $120 chair. I’d change the fabric to something a little more fun like this {seen here} (it’s the one in the upper left corner). As great as the newly recovered chair would be, it’s still too expensive in my book, especially after adding the price of the new fabric. Like I said, the prices and selection at The Dump were hit or miss. I’ve had better luck elsewhere. If you know of a great place to shop in Atlanta I’d love to hear about it!

Today marks the start of a new series of posts I’ll be doing each week. “Finders Keepers” is a collection of the fun things I find around Atlanta. I’m a bargain hunter so these finds might come from chain stores like TJ-Maxx Homegoods (love!), thrift stores like Goodwill, or I’ve even been know to find great deals at Sam’s Club!

I’ll show you what I find, how much it costs, and what I’d do with it. Let’s get started!

This fantastic bench from Marshall’s is a steal at $79.99. Not only does it have a great modern print, but  it also has storage! It would look incredible at the base of a bed to add some character (and functionality) to a space.

If you’re looking to update your bathroom without spending a lot of money, I have a tip for you! Mirrors are a great way to make your bathroom feel really luxurious. If you have a large, frame-less piece of mirror in your bathroom (which most of us do since it’s what many home builders use), replace it with a couple gorgeous mirrors like the one above from T.J. Maxx. With a little elbow grease and a couple mirrors for under $100, you’ll really transform your bathroom!

Shortly after I saw the above mirror, I spotted the word clearance and literally bolted down the aisle. Whenever I see the word clearance, my heart skips a beat. I was seriously born to get a deal and these cute little chairs are just that at $40 a pop. It might remind you a little of outdoor patio furniture, but the woven grass fabric on these chairs gives them an unusual twist. I could see these being perfect as end chairs in an informal dining room, or a casual chair in the corner of a guest room.

Those chairs might have reminded you of patio furniture, but this table is the real deal. Oh, how I love outdoor furniture. Seriously, it’s a minor obsession. If it’s in a store, I have to stop and check it out. We live in an apartment so my husband and I dream about the day we can finally buy an outdoor table and have the space to put it! This table from T.J. Maxx is a great deal at $129. I’d buy the table and then source a couple brightly colored chairs. There’s no reason you have to buy the table and the chairs. Design is all about mixing and matching.

Lastly, I just loved this chair. There was something about the deep blue with the bright white. At almost $200 a chair, it’s definitely an investment piece. I’d pair these chairs with a rustic wood dining room table and a couple of benches. By placing one of these chairs at each end of the table, you’ll get maximum effect with minimal cost. There’s no need to buy six of these chairs when you can use just two and have just as incredible of a space!

Hope you enjoyed “shopping” with me today. Check back tomorrow for a post on adding a little whimsy to your home!