When I got my new desk, I originally stole a lamp out of my bedroom to sit in the corner.  The desk was a very welcome Freecycle score, since my old one was literally falling to pieces; then I put a different, homeless lamp into the bedroom.  Although I like that other lamp and it is visually imposing, if I’m reading in bed I can’t reach the switch to turn it off.  So I’ve been on the prowl for a replacement lamp that would liberate my “stolen” one back to my bedside table.

Today at the thrift store they were having 50% off a lot of items.  This lamp did not have a shade, and this shade had a really ugly lamp.  Since they were on sale, I bought them both, donated back the ugly lamp, and here I am typing by the light of one really cute lamp.  And my bedroom can have its matching lamps back.  That’s $15.56 well spent, in my opinion.  Since Mommy cannot come home from the thrift store with nothing for Mister, Ian is loving the dump truck, too.

And if you are wondering about those darling little hats, they are not my work.  They are an early baby gift for which my dear friend Joan can expect a lovely thank you note.  And some day probably a really cute picture of a chubby face wearing them.

better! Why?

1. No heavy lifting. Fit in a bag, in my Civic.
2. No rearranging the room to get it in!
3. No calling special pickup for the old one!
4. It’s machine washable!
5. It’s just as comfy as the old one!
6. Price Tag: $18.75 plus tax and one trip through the washer.

I am so thrilled to have found a couch cover for the study at Unique Thrift today… it fits better than I thought possible, and now the marker scribbles, the torn arm (which is featured here, in case you missed it), and the sundry stains are all tidily and cleanly covered up. (Why, you ask, do I have a white couch in my study when I have a small child? Because it was FREE. That’s why.)

I’ve known I should put a cover on that couch for a while, but the holdup was the skinny couch arms. Most covers that are made to fit the narrow arm on this couch are nearly as expensive as getting a new couch… and I confess, my thrifty soul has balked at the idea. But here you have it- the price is right, I didn’t need help with the “heavy lifting,” and it took very little time or effort. My favorite kind of makeover.

I found and installed curtains I like.  We moved into the house in March 2007, so I guess it’s about time.

I got lucky at the thrift store- I found curtains that worked for three rooms (and possibly a fourth- still working on that!), and, after not only paying way more than seemed reasonable for drapery hardware, but throwing away FAR more trash than you’d think possible from the packaging for a couple of curtain rods, we are in business.  It’s a pity I couldn’t find the hardware at the thrift store, too, but you need all the pieces, they have to be the right size for your window, and must be the right type go with your curtains, so my odds were slim!

The burgundy is flecked with gold and picks up the colors in the chair seats.  It also covers the entire wall from side to side and floor to ceiling.

In case you are thinking that the dining room drapes look a little uneven, it’s because they are.  The window is not centered on the wall, so there are two panels on one side and one panel on the other.  The family that lived here before us built the house for themselves, and one of their (four!!!) daughters informed us that “Mom always said the dining room would have been bigger, except that dad forgot to leave room for the kitchen stove.”  In other words, they adjusted the position of the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, but didn’t move the window accordingly.  These little quirks are why I love this house.

The embroidery is the exact same color as the wall paint!

We had to add some solid panels to make these wider- they were just a SMIDGE small on their own.  The colors look better IRL.