It’s no secret that I like vintage. I’m drawn to previously loved items. They have a story to tell.
I’m also fairly frugal when it comes to furnishing my home. This frugality comes partly out of necessity but also out of a strong sense that I can get what I want for much, much less than I would at a big box store and that it will have much more style and personality to boot.
I thought, as Brenda and I explore living in a small space, I would occasionally highlight a room in my house and its mostly frugally obtained contents. Today, the living room.
Okay. Starting in the lower left and corner:
Red chair: Snagged in an antique mall in San Diego around 13 years ago. I was drawn to it because it reminded me of a chair my grandparents had in their den. Cost? $50.
Green table: You can see it peeking out between the chair and the loveseat. Chippy green paint and pretty lines – found it in an antique shop in a neighboring town about 8 years ago. Cost? $30. I probably overpaid for it.
Loveseat: My first piece of furniture for my Cambridge apartment oh-so-many-years-ago. I think I paid $400 for it. I’ve had it for at least 21 years. It’s lived all over the country. Underneath the slip cover are dark gray cushions that have seen a lot of wear. Slipcovers are a wonderful thing – this particular one changes the look of the loveseat from slightly boring to vintage. When you calculate how many years I’ve had it and the cost, it has paid for itself many times over.
Coffee table: Our friend cut this down and refinished it for a client who ended up deciding against it. We bought it from him for $75.
Rugs: Both rugs are from Lowe’s. Can’t remember the exact price, but they were around $80 each on sale.
Wicker rocker: Purchased at an antique mall – cost? $60.
Sideboard: Don and I bought this when we first moved in together. That means we’ve had it for 16 years. It’s heavy, made of tiger oak and gorgeous. I’m not sure on this one but I think it was around $150.
Large white cabinet: Huge, lots of storage inside, beautiful and snagged for $100 at auction.
Blue bench (next to cabinet): Found in a little antique store – lots of beautiful patina and chippy paint. Cost? $40.
Yellow chair: This is the only piece that we paid full price for. We bought it a few years back for $800. Yikes. We needed another chair and couldn’t find one that was comfy enough. It’s really well-made and will last a long, long time. A rare purchase for us.
White table: Free. It used to be a prop in the Boston University prop space. I grabbed it for my office at BU. Somehow it made its way to my apartment. I’ve had it for about 21 years. I painted it about 2 years ago.
Piano: Free. I inherited it from my grandmother.
Forgot the lab stool (by the chimney in this photo): Found it at a local antique store for $25. It functions as a table and as a way to reach the pot lights in the kitchen as well as the top of the cupboards.
Also forgot the lamps: The floor lamp by the loveseat was on sale at Pottery Barn. Can’t remember the price – bought it many years ago in San Diego. The parakeet lamp on the sideboard was a birthday present. The vintage floor lamp by the piano was about $50 – again, bought many years ago in San Diego.
I also hang on to my furniture for a long time. I don’t decorate according to ‘trends’ or ‘what’s hot’ at the moment. I choose things I love and that suit my style and that will stand the test of time. And even if I could afford one, I would never have a decorator. Too much money for someone else’s input and/or style. Not for me.
Isn’t finding a previously loved piece a wonderful thing? And getting a bargain to boot?
All the furniture you have is all gorgeous. I love your living room.Everything looks so pretty
and cozy.I love furniture that has a past.
Kathy
Cold and rainy here. Claudia, I could crawl into that living room (into a tiny corner that would accommodate my self and you two wouldn’t notice me; not sure if the dogs would sniff me out) and never ever leave! I love it that much!
Brenda
I LOVE…(AS YOU SAY)…..YOUR LITTLE COTTAGE….CHARMING…WARM…AND ALL THE LOVE YOU PUT INTO IT…..HOPE YOU HAD A NICE THANKSGIVING…I HAD A NICE TIME, AND THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY)
WE TOOK A DRIVE TO AMISH COUNTRY. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, AND WE HAD LUNCH AT THE BIRD AND HAND…..RIZZI
I love your lok….so cottaqy. So fun when each piece has a history. That’s the way I like to add things in my home. I’ve changed alot from the beginning. So glad youa re so sharing.
Awwww . . . you choose what you love rather than trends! A girl after my own heart. I actually wrote about owning the things we love or need today. I adore your gorgeous frugal living room. I want to crawl into that little corner with Brenda!!
Claudia, I loved this post, and I love all your goodies!
Brenda, I`ll join you. I bet the dogs would love us, lol!
Sue
xo
Oh! If only we were all close enough to sit in your living room. I know we would have some great conversations. Your cottage just looks so warm and welcoming to me.
It’s so much fun finding bargains for the home. I’m loving your series on defending the small house. Old homes are just so much more charming than new ones.
Happy belated birthday to you Claudia. I hope this coming year will bring you many happpy days.
Your home is lovely, and I’m enjoying your small house posts.
Much of my home is furnished with my “finds” while out treasure hunting the thrift stores and antique mall. I love the character one can achieve with such things.
Right now, I’m gathering together things to redo our guest room. I want to make it a little more girl like, for when my little great nieces visit. I found an old basket quilt at the antique store the other day, in very good condition. It is small, and I love the colors. I think it is going to be my inspiration piece for this room. Each basket is filled with appliqued flowers, and all of them are different. I couldn’t believe the price. Only 15 dollars!
xo
Charming and cozy … what more could you ask.
I agree, Claudia. I, too buy used items mostly and have found some beauties at antique shops and even in the paper. Many of our pieces have also been passed down generations. All my favorite things. I’ll have to show you sometime. Your home is one of those that draws you in. It is full of beauty, comfort and you can see and feel from the photos the love in your home. I go into homes everyday and only a few stay in my mind as one of those homes that displays the personality and love of the family. Their interests, love of certain colour and how the accessories tell you something about them. I always want to sit and chat and have a tea. I can count them on one hand and I have been in 100 homes in the area. A home like yours is rare. Hugs, Deb=^..^=x4
Your room is perfect Claudia! It is comfortable and cozy and very cottagey! Your home should make you feel good and you are doing it right! 60’s and sunny here today too! Nice!~Hugs, Patti
I love how you’ve blended every piece together to create such a warm and lovely atmosphere.
Very pretty.
hugs
Sissie
Your lovely home just puts a smile on my face when I visit it! My home, too, has no matching pieces, and filled with warm woods that I’m sure if they could talk I’d so enjoy the stories and family histories they could share!
Hi Claudia,
Dropping in to say hello. I’m glad your weather has warmed up. We are having nice weather now but a cold front is coming on Monday.
When I put together my first home back when I was only 19 years old I shopped the junk shops for everything out of necessity. Little did I know that one day that type of shopping would be so popular.
I still prefer to buy from the junk shops and give the piece a new life.
Love and Hugs,
Steph ♥
I would feel right at home in this room, dibs on the yellow chair!
I think this idea would be a fun party link thing.
All of us thrifty gals, show one room and the costs and “deals”. Sign me up, I want to do it..Or maybe just a bunch of us pick a day and do it?
I am so bleeping organized I even still have receipts!!! lol
xx
z
and thanks again for your note. <3
As I’ve said before, your living room is very cozy. I can see myself curled up on either the loveseat or one of the chairs and reading a good book. And, I love your rugs. I find their range of colours very uplifting.
I’m not certain that I’m Frugal
or I might just be Indifferent.
I wonder how I could tell the difference between the two.
Pondering,
Gerry
Wonderful old finds are the best. I love making a great score. Your living room is very warm and cozy.
Laura
I love your living room. The more I study it (and I have spent hours studying and analyzing it), the more I fall in love with the simplicity and the cozy feel. I hope my living room will be as welcoming as yours. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Sigh. I just love your living room. It’s so very cozy and wonderful. Someday I hope to have a small house of my own. I have a house now, but it’s sprawling and not cozy, though I keep trying to make it more so. I don’t want to complain — it’s so very arrogant to complain about having too much! But I do secretly wish for a cozy little cottage and a big garden. The quote I have on my board right now by my computer is from Abraham Cowley and it says it all: “May I small house and a large garden have. And a few friends, and many books, both true, both wise, and both delightful too.”
~Angela~
First off, I’m NOT stalking your blog; today I have nothing on my “to do” list, so I’m reading my way backward through your blog. Wanted to explain in case you check stats; it will look like a crazy person from Arlington or Duncanville (I’m not in either town, but that’s where it always shows I’m coming from) is lurking, poking around your blog.
Your living room (that’s the post I’m on now) is adorable, I love all your unique finds. We have a coffee table very similar to yours. I bought it years ago, one of my first antiques. I inherited 2 more tables and couldn’t bear to part with the original, so I had a man cut it down to coffee table height and I LOVE it. Mostly I love that it is round, since I always seem to hit my shin on the corner of coffee tables. No corners mean no bruises.
Also, your lamps (prev post) are adorable. I am a lampaholic; I have almost as many in the attic as in the house being used! There is something about a lamp light that is so soothing. Whatever it is, it is simply missing in ceiling fixtures. I swear I’ll have a lamp in my coffin when I die, I love ’em that much.
Okay, the novel sized comment is finished… Bye!
Beauitful room. I love that each item has a story and is meaningful. Its a lovely room that evokes conversation and comfort. I love that it is not dominate by any electronics. Lovely room
I shop thrift for all my furniture and online you can find wonderful deals. I recently bought oil paintings that are coastal inspired and lovely. I found a series of oil paintings that are lighthouses. I buy furniture off Craigslist and recently got a brand new blue and white couch. I have marble top antique tables I found at a used furniture shop. I bought stained glass I found on discount online and have 4 beauitful lamps to compliment my antiques. Each piece means something and represents smart shopping and thrift. Thrift has always been a way of life for me, my Mom was a widow with 3 kids to raise so we never bought new. I think its smart shopping and a smart way to live. Your living room and my home is a example of good taste and love of home being of higher importance then expensive overpriced newer items without meaning.
I love your decor. Very stylish My little studio cottage is decorated all in thrift finds and some inherited from my Mom. I have several beauitful oil paintings all with a coastal theme and 5 unique antique stained glass lamps. I have a coastal theme with a blend of antiques. Thrift shopping is the best, you get a unique item with great meaning to you. Of late I got a 6 ft coastal inspired blue and white couch for 60.00 with the tags, brand new, poor women had to downsize. It fit perfect and matches my decor. Its amazing what you find if you take he time. Your style is very inspiring.