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What’s On My Rattan Bar Cart

August 25, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Months ago one of my friends alerted me to the fact that the cute rattan line at Target had been put on clearance. I had been obsessing over it. And I had even been looking on Craigslist for similar bar carts with little luck. So I ran right over to my Target and snatched up one of the bar carts.

Rattan bar cart decorated with vintage bohemian finds

Not exactly a “thrift” score. But I did get it for less than what the ones on Craigslist were listed at.

As for what’s on it? I believe I’ve shared most of these finds with you before. But there is 1 new score that I am totally stoked about.

Vintage atomic style planter with carved wood stand

Family photo, carved wood stand, brass bells, great grandmother's clock — Family photo, carved wood stand, brass bells, great grandmother’s clock

This brass trunk is the largest version of these I’ve ever seen in person. Not a clue what I’ll store in it, but naturally my hoarding tendencies had to have it.

My Favorites From The #ThriftScoreThursday Feed

(You can also find these shared on my Instagram account, @adesignerathome)

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A post shared by Fun Funky Happy Home Goods???? (@mkshome)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJeAv21g6Jl/

Wanna Play? Here’s The Rules!

We want you to participate! Hit up your local thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, side of the road, anything! Thrifty doesn’t necessarily mean from a thrift store. We want to see your good deals, wacky finds and treasures.
Don’t feel like you need to save those finds for Thursdays! Yes, features are shared on our blogs and Instagram on Thursdays, but we’re all checking in on (and using!) the hashtag all week long. So, when you see/find it, feel free to share it!
Want to get featured? Add the #thriftscorethursdsay hashtag, Follow the hosts (@the_gathered_home, @primitiveandproper, @adesignerathome and @maggieoverbystudios) and tag a friend to play along, too!
Each week, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, Maggie fromMaggie Overby Studios and Myself (A Designer At Home) will pick a favorite thrift score or two to feature! So please note that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.

The best part? There are 4 regular posts to check out every Thursday! Yup, you’ve got more thrift scores to look at. I know you’re not disappointed. Ha. Click on my beautiful cohost’s faces below to check out what they’ve scored and featured.

Sofas For Under $500

August 22, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

For the next few $1000 budget designs I’ll be sharing, They’ll be living rooms and I’ve budgeted half the total budget to the sofa. I’ve rounded up a few other options just in cases stock becomes unavailable or you just want to switch up the color/style a bit. Over the next 6 weeks, I’ll be sharing a design centered around each sofa shared below. So make sure you’ve subscribed to my email newsletter so you’ll get a reminder when those go up.

Favorite Sofas Under $500 (Prices fluctuate based on sales)

Yates Sofa $298 | AdecoTrading Sleeper $469

Madison Home USA Sleeper $488 | Remark Sofa $480

Kelsie Sleeper $339 | Solstice Sofa $424

Got any other favorites? I’d love to know! Maybe I can work a design around it soon!

Different Types Of Water Heaters

August 20, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

different types of water heaters

One thing that living through the replacement of a major system component teaches you is that there are more options than you’ll ever want to thumb through. That’s what happened to us when we made the tough decision to prioritize upgrading (and relocating) our hot water heater. At the end of the day, we’ve been wildly satisfied with the decision, but initially it wasn’t so fun. Decision making has never been all that fun for me. But maybe my discomfort can bring you comfort.

This post is part of a 12 month collaborative partnership between Rheem and A Designer At Home. All thoughts, opinions and experiences are my own.

The first category of Hot Water heaters are the ones most of us are familiar with. And that’s the “Tank-Type.” The concept is simple, you have a tank, filled with water, that’s constantly heated and ready for use. Within this category you’ll find Hybrid Electric, Gas Tank-type, and Electric Tank-type. Gas is run on natural gas. Electric is run on electricity. The Hybrid Electric uses a fan, filter, eco-friendly refrigerant and condenser system in conjunction with electricity. This video from Rheem explains it much better than I could without blatantly transcribing everything the narrator says. Basically, it’s really cool technology that equals a lower energy bill.

And then as the movement towards eco-friendly living gained popularity, a lot of us became familiar with tankless water heaters. They don’t heat water continuously, but rather only when water is demanded. Within this catergory, there’s the Condensing Tankless, Mid-Efficiency, and Electric Tankless. Electric is easy as it’s run on electricity. The Mid-Efficiency line are the gas powered tankless water heaters. The one I’d never heard of before is the “Condensing Tankless.” The technology behind why it’s more efficient is something I don’t fully understand, but I did find this youtube video that explained it a bit and I’d recommend you check that out. The very basic thing to understand is that it uses the natural gas more efficiently than the mid-efficiency models.

And then there’s kind of the miscellaneous two offerings: Point-of-use Water Heaters and Solar Water Heaters. Point of use provide hot water at the source. So you could put it under a single sink and it would heat water for that one location. They’re especially useful for additions or separate structures on a property where you’d want to avoid running extra line to attach it to your main water heater. Solar water heaters are really cool. They’re exactly what they sound like, water heaters connected to solar panels that charge with sunlight. They’re cool, but very expensive- cost is definitely something to consider especially when thinking about how long you’ll be benefitting from the expense.

The decision between electric and gas is fairly easy. If you’re replacing a current unit, it’s easiest to continue with what you’ve been using. If you’re moving a unit, the upfront cost to run electric versus running pipes for natural gas could play a factor. Choosing between a tank-type versus tankless is something you may want to discuss with your contractor. There were reasons why it was better for us to go with a tank-type, but there’s a multitude of factors you need to contend with if you’re going to be choosing between the two. Definitely consult with a professional before making a purchase. The absolute worst thing you could do is drop a couple thousand dollars on a unit that will cost even more to get installed. Know what power you have available, know what the location of the unit can hold, know your options so you can ask questions.

What’s On My Fireplace Mantle?

August 18, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Blue Fireplace Mantle with plants and warm golden tones

Welcome back to another week of Thrift Score Thursday! This week I’m sharing “What’s On My” fireplace edition.

My fireplace is an old wooden piece I bought through Craigslist and painted “Teal Motif.” I love the funky punch of color it adds to this space.

On it, I have a collection of decor that I’ve thrifted over time. It’s almost a transitional decorated mantle. Not quite fall, but headed in that direction.

Small ornate gold mirror from the thrift store

Thrifted ornate golden mirror.

Collection of thrifted items for a transitioning to fall mantle

Pathos in a pot from my mom. Moroccan style gold sphere. Tall wooden vase.

Colorful, bohemian fireplace mantle decorating

Plant filled, second hand scores boho eclectic mantle decorating

Bohemian fireplace mantle. Blue painted mantle. Plants, vintage finds and funky art.

Vase with gold pinstripes. Mustard yellow glass votive. Basket planter.

What have you scored? Did you tag it on Instagram with #thriftscorethursday? Listen to Nike and just do it!

My Favorites:

Wanna Play? Here’s The Rules!

We want you to participate! Hit up your local thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, side of the road, anything! Thrifty doesn’t necessarily mean from a thrift store. We want to see your good deals, wacky finds and treasures.
Don’t feel like you need to save those finds for Thursdays! Yes, features are shared on our blogs and Instagram on Thursdays, but we’re all checking in on (and using!) the hashtag all week long. So, when you see/find it, feel free to share it!
Want to get featured? Add the #thriftscorethursdsay hashtag, Follow the hosts (@the_gathered_home, @primitiveandproper, @adesignerathome and @maggieoverbystudios) and tag a friend to play along, too!
Each week, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, Maggie fromMaggie Overby Studios and Myself (A Designer At Home) will pick a favorite thrift score or two to feature! So please note that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.

Bathroom Color Scheme

August 15, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

As I’m wrapping up the last few details of the bathroom remodel, I wanted to pop in and share with you an abstract view of the color scheme for the bathroom. Do you ever scroll pinterest and see those images where they’ve extracted colors from the image to make a color scheme? I wanted to do something similar to that. Just in case you like the overall look and feel of the space but aren’t actually looking to translate the ideas to a bathroom, I think this will help.

Vanity Paint Color: Teal Motif MQ6-35

Floor Tile: GBI Tile Madeira Oak

Rug: Persian Runner

Tile: Archivo Fleur De Lis from Merola

So, how would I translate this to any other room?

First, go to your local nursery and pick up a couple of pothos. They truly are my favorite plant and I highly recommend them for anyone wanting to get into plants.

Then you’ve got options. You could tile the space if it makes sense in the same or a similar tile. If you have wood, you can strip it and stain it a similar stain. On a budget or renting? Skip worrying about the floor and go with a huge jute rug.

A big key element of the space is the rug. With the deep blue and dark red, it adds depth and sophistication. The red ties into the copper accents in the space, too. Which helps bring the space together. My favorite resource for vintage rugs like these is ecarpetgallery on either their website or eBay.

The patterned tile is great for accents. Like a fireplace, a feature above an oven, backsplash, etc. But if you’re working in a space that doesn’t need tile, pick up a fleur de lis fabric and upholster a chair, seat cushion or ottoman. Or a stencil and stencil a wall or piece of furniture (heck, even the floor or ceiling).

The mixture of rich blues with patterns are key to the overall vibe of the space. The neutrals for the space are white, cool grey and cool brown. The pops are teal and red. The accents are light blue and a natural wood tone. And the metals for the space are oil rubbed bronze and copper. With so many strong patterns and colors, the lace curtains are a nice grounding feminine element.

As always, I hope this helps you design a space you love. If you have any specific questions, please feel welcome to leave them in the comments and I’ll try my best. Also, let me know what room under $1,000 you want to see next!

What’s On My Dresser?

August 11, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Are you ready for another edition of “What’s On My?” With ups and downs of thrifting and often times forgetting what I’ve thrifted, this has turned into a really fun way of showing you what I’ve thrifted and how I’m using it. Today I’m taking you into my bedroom to share what I’m using to decorate my dresser. The piece itself is a vintage mid century 9 drawer dresser with the original very danish modern mirror.

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The dresser wasn’t a deal of the century, but I got it for a good price and absolutely love the beautiful construction. Starting from the left, I have a basket whose weave looks very cool and geometric. In it I have a beloved pothos and I’m training it to grow along the mirror.

Beside that is a trunk I use for bathing suits. I’ve had this thing for more than 10 years and I think I bought it at Walmart but I’m not certain.

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Leaning on the trunk is the pink ukulele I bought on eBay. One night I couldn’t fall asleep until I had a ukulele and I have loved this piece so much ever since.

In front of the ukulele are candle votives I picked up at the dollar tree. I try my best to shop fair trade, made in USA or second hand but I’m quite happy with the impact $5 made here.

Then there’s the picture of my boy and I, a catch all dish from Target’s Nate Berkus line and the wood and hobnail milkglass lamp with one of my favorite scarves draped over it for ambiance.

What do you think? I tried to balance minimalism with my maximalism tendencies.

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What have you scored? Did you tag it on Instagram with #thriftscorethursday? Listen to Nike and just do it!

My Favorites:

insta features thrift score thursday

@jennbrasher | @moxandmolly

@design_it_vintage | @suite22antiques

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIx33_KBwFq/

And my mega feature goes to @christina_phoenixrestoration because hot damn!

Wanna Play? Here’s The Rules!

We want you to participate! Hit up your local thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, side of the road, anything! Thrifty doesn’t necessarily mean from a thrift store. We want to see your good deals, wacky finds and treasures.
Don’t feel like you need to save those finds for Thursdays! Yes, features are shared on our blogs and Instagram on Thursdays, but we’re all checking in on (and using!) the hashtag all week long. So, when you see/find it, feel free to share it!
Want to get featured? Add the #thriftscorethursdsay hashtag, Follow the hosts (@the_gathered_home, @primitiveandproper, @adesignerathome and @maggieoverbystudios) and tag a friend to play along, too!
Each week, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, Maggie fromMaggie Overby Studios and Myself (A Designer At Home) will pick a favorite thrift score or two to feature! So please note that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.