FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Friday, August 15, 2008

REDO, REVAMP, RESTORE AND RECYCLE


FIRST, I would like to say
WELCOME
She is a brand new blogger and already has a
fabulous blog going.
Please go over and say HELLO and wish her lots of great luck on her adventure !
*******************************************




LINDA over at RESTYLED HOME
had a post not so long ago about
turning found items into treasures for your home....
WITHOUT
breaking the bank....
I wanted to share a few of my
LOOK ALIKES
with you.
I've posted some of these before but it was a long time back....

POTTERY BARN has this in their catalog and I have drooled over it forever...
A bit too pricey for my budget, I went looking at the
TRUSTY THRIFT STORES

My version of the DREAM...
Table, with 1 inch thick, lovely glass was $16.00
The little tapestry covered foot stools (a bit small, but, they work)
are from BIG LOTS at $15.00 a piece

Another POTTERY BARN beauty
and, again, just way over my budget...

but....
my old bookcase, not being used and painted BLACK,
filled with storage baskets from
MICHALE'S
turned out really great for me.

AHHHH....perfection

My thrifted version, an '80's white and gold dresser,
for $50.00,
painted black,
made a great addition to my living room.

Isn''t this a lovely piece !!
I THINK it is called a Welsh cabinet..?

My vintage Harvest table, with a wonderful shelf, built by Bill,
all painted in my favorite
COLONIAL RED
just makes my heart sing.
***************************

Oh...don't get me wrong...I am well aware that my little versions are nothing compared to the
REAL THING...
but, I am happy and that's what counts..
Besides, it's FUN to recycle....
********************************************
So many great ideas from magazines and catalogs....
the next time you see a piece of furniture you LOVE but just can't afford...
DON'T give up...
Go search the thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales....you just may find the very
piece you are searching for....
Then, with just a little work and imagination, you can make it
YOURS.

Love, bj
*****************************

OOOOO.....the cake??
Just a Strawberry BOX cake, (EXTRA VANILLA, ALWAYS)
Strawberry Icing from a can,
Fresh strawberries to go with it
and it was
DELICIOUS....

"LIFE doesn't have to be HARD to be GRAND"


Just a photo of one end of my living room with thrifted pieces..
*********************

NOT LONG NOW UNTIL THE DRAWING OF THE
HOT PINK AND WHITE POLKA DOT
THROW..
GO LEAVE A MESSAGE ON MY
"I'M IN THE PINK"
POSTING OF THIS WEEK IF YOU MIGHT LIKE WINNING IT.
ALL COMMENTS NEED TO BE IN BY LATE TONIGHT AS THE DRAWING
WILL BE AT 6:00 AM, SATURDAY MORNING...
GOOD LUCK

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

BJ, your versions are fantastic. You are one creative lady.

I would really like a slice of that cake for breakfast. Do you think there will be any left by the time I could get there?

Adrienne said...

I love what you've done! Great look from good ideas. Don't you love the inspiration we get from someone else's design? You did such a good job with each one of the things you shared.
~Adrienne~

Bo said...

Thank you for mentioning my homely little blog...in time I hope to learn how to make it as lovely as yours! LOVE your revamped ideas...especially the black dresser and the red harvest table & shelf.Your living room is so welcoming looking and is that burgandy/red leather furniture I see in there? I have 2 burgandy chairs in my den..;-) Brown-Eyes

Anita said...

I always love pictures of your house!
Matching a look for less is always more fun than buying the expensive version, don't you think? :)

Have a great weekend...

Picket said...

Morning BJ...I love your versions better...especialy that little black bookcase with the storage baskets! Hope you have a great day...I'll go by and welcome the new blogger!

Amelia said...

Loved the tour - yes, we had seen some of the items before - but like a true friend we are glad to visit once again.

Have a great enjoyable weekend.

Anne said...

Well, you're right that your versions can't compare to the real things. Your versions are much better! Especially that fabulous red Welsh cupboard! And you're so right that Pottery Barn furnishings are overpriced. I once owned one of those French provincial dressers. I wish I had kept it now and painted it black like you did. Oh, well.

Anonymous said...

BJ, you have a decorators heart and eyes. Your living room is lovely. I love the thrift stores and the great things you can bring home and makeover to be yours and beautiful. I have done it for years. Your cake is so pretty. I want some now. Smile

Love and hugs, Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Your make overs are amazing... I love your version of the Pottery Barn shelf..... you really have a gift for transforming ....
really wonderful
Hugs
Linda

Anita said...

There's an award for you at Prairie Dreams.. :)

Mama said...

There ya' go! These all look great, and you know what? The creativity and thriftiness make your versions even better than the pricey originals!

bj, your posts brighten my days, and your sweet living room is so inviting -- makes me want to come in and kick my shoes off and visit for awhile, just like a living room should!

Have a great weekend, friend.

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

Bj you have such a wonderful home and your versions of furniture are awesome!! That cake looks mighty yummy too!!! Have a wonderful Friday!~Wendy

Michele said...

BJ...I love your versions!!! They look wonderful. And that cake....yummmmmm, now I'd like a piece please????

Hugz,
Michele

Terri said...

I do that too! I have a bunch of photos clipped from magazines of things I like and then I do my best to copy them. With 5 children I rarely by the real deal brand new, so it's kind of fun to see how things turn out. Don't you think?
Your's turned out very nice!

Carole Burant said...

Oh BJ, your versions are just as lovely as the expensive ones!! Goes to show you don't have to spend a fortune to make your home look so welcoming:-) I'm the same way, I refuse to buy anything at full price and would rather go look in a thrift shop and paint it the colour I want:-) Omigosh, that cake looks delicious...I'm comin' right over for a piece!!! hehe xoxo

Anonymous said...

Love your look, its warm and welcoming!!
Have a good weekend
Diane

Sweetie said...

You have so many wonderful ideas. Your versions are beautiful. The next time that I am near a Michael's I am buying some storage baskets and trying "Your Version." I have an old bookcase that should work perfectly. Thank you for sharing.
Sweetie

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Hi BJ...love your versions as well, if not better than the inspiration pics! And that cake...yuuuummmm!
Susan
P.S. Just wanted to say I like your "Never Forget" pic...glad it's there.

nikkicrumpet said...

I'm a big fan of Pottery Barn...but they can't hold a candle to your versions...heck they just don't have the same character as the things you've created. There is something so warm and lovely about the stuff you put together. Hope ya have a great night!

said...

Your interpretations of the pricier versions are BRILLIANT!

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Beautiful takes on the real deals! I llike yours EVEN BETTER!!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

BJ, I just love your versions! My favorite is the black dresser/bar. Love it!
xo
Penny

Anonymous said...

I love thrifting too! You did a lovely job with all your findings and they look so good in your livingroom. It is fun isn't it..

Your plates in the red cabinet look so pretty.

Thank you for sharing.

Hope you had a good day...