A Designer At Home

Designing Beautiful Spaces. Inspiring Authentic Living. Spreading Good Vibes.

A $20 Dresser Buffet

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thrift score thursday11

I like using interesting dressers for a lot of things. Dressers make great dressers, but they also make great media cabinets, console tables, and buffets. For my dining room makeover I wanted to find an interesting dresser to use as extra storage much like I would use a traditional buffet in this space.

I needed something long to place all of my plants. And with drawers to hide crafting supplies for my boy. And it had to have some kind of interesting detail. It had to, of course.

As I would in any search for furniture, I spent some time checking craigslist and lo and behold, exactly what I needed for a price I needed popped up. If you checked in for Monday’s post about my window treatments you already got a look at this piece. I finally had cleared out enough space to photograph it properly so here it is for thrift score thursday!

eclectic bohemian interiors old wooden dresser as dining room buffet and geometric teal planter with cactus

beat up old wooden dresser from craigslist with unique brass hardware for 20 dollars

Explore The #ThriftScoreThursday feed

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via @redhousewest

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via @mmvintage59

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via @thealabastervessel

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via @maggieoverbystudios

Have you scored anything good recently? You have to know by now that we want to see!

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!
  • Each week, Trisha from Black and White Obsession, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, 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.
  • Please remember that we can only share love for photos shared on public accounts. If your profile is private, we can’t see your finds.

As is always the case, I would be ecstatic to get my own hands on any and all of these scores and use them in my home. Visit the features and give them a kudos for a thrift well done ?

Before you run off for the day, don’t forget to visit your other hosts for this fab hashtag party:

Thrift Score Thursday Brynne color

Thrift Score Thursday Trisha color

Thrift Score Thursday Cassie

Spring Utilities Cost Savings Ideas

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11waystosaveonyourspringutilitybills

Spring is officially here and I am loving the warmer days! As part of my ongoing partnership with Rheem, I’m bringing you these Utility Cost Savings Ideas: Spring Edition. Here are 11 ways to save on your utility bills this Spring:

  1. Harvest rainwater to cut back on water utility consumption
  2. Open the windows when possible to cut back energy use from the furnace and a/c
  3. Continue using cold water for washing clothes
  4. Flip fans back into the setting to pull air down for a cheaper alternative to a/c for cooling rooms
  5. Have your a/c serviced before the summer rush (oftentimes rates go up when demand goes up)
  6. Replace HVAC filter (every 3 months!)
  7. Update older light bulbs with energy efficient versions, Use free sunlight when available
  8. Lower hot water heater temperature (it’s warmer now anyways, right?
  9. Plant trees on the east and west side of the house to reduce the sun’s rays from heating it up faster
  10. But keep plants trimmed at least feet away from your A/C unit
  11. Replace appliances and units that are underperforming

Utility Cost Friendly Products from Rheem:

SolPak with Electric Backup Tankless_Prestige_Condensinh__H95_&_H84_Direct_Vent_IndoorProfessional Prestige Series: 95 Direct Vent Indoor

Prestige_RA20

Prestige Series: Variable Speed (RA20)

A Designer At Home - Share this post11 ways to save on your spring utility bills

Latest Boho Must Haves

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Boho Decor - a maximalist in the making's must haves

I’ve been crushing on a few particular pieces for boho decorating lately so I thought I’d pull together some of my favorite items to inspire you to play around with your current decor. A lot of my decorating stems from gathering and collections. I like a mash-up of different styles and stories so the decor I gravitate towards changes and lends itself well to a maximalist in the making style.

Imari Ceramics:

Chinoiserie is a must have. But more specifically I’ve been crushing on Imari style porcelain. From insanely decorated plates to vases and more, these look great hung on a wall, styled on a shelf, and displayed in a cabinet.

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African Mudcloth:

If you can get your hands on real African mud cloth, definitely snatch it up. Also a super versatile favorite of mine lately. Sewn into a pillow, it makes a great pop on a sofa. Draped over a chair it gives a neutral global look to a space. Try draping it over an older chair to give it new life without a reupholstery job or tack to a wall for beautiful wall art.

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Mexican Blankets:

Mexican blankets are woven, they have fringe, they have beautiful colors and are so versatile. Use them as a rug, a tablecloth, a throw blanket or wall art. They’re much cheaper than kilims, and they are much thinner, but you get the same punch of color, interest, and texture.

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Mix Matched Furniture Styles:

This boho element I was incredibly resistant to for the longest time. I loved my midcentury and I didn’t want to let go. I’ve always loved rattan, but I didn’t think it would pair well. Listen to Nike and “Just Do It.” Seriously. Mixed decor and furniture periods is eclectic and beautiful. It’s also freeing because you’ll have the power to look at any piece of furniture as a candidate for your space.

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Patterned Tiles:

I resisted this, too, inititally. I worried it would dramatically affect the resale value of our home. But I just can’t. It’s so fitting for my style. And it fits into most design styles seamlessly. Most of us aren’t going to tile every surface in it’s entirety with in since it’s expensive and busy. But a little pop in a shower alcove, inset above a stove, or around a fireplace is the perfect interesting touch.

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Add these elements to your boho home and you’re sure to love their impact. Color and pattern are quintessential to bohemian decor, but even if full blown bohemian isn’t your style, these pieces will add an interest to your home that you’re sure to love. Color, pattern, texture- they’re all perfect home decor accessories.

Dining Room Window Treatment- Layered Window Coverings

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So I’ve actually already started some progress on the dining room makeover. I don’t plan on this being a very fast makeover, but I’ve been anxious to start since being bit by the inspiration monster. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s a link to the first post where I shared my Vintage Eclectic Dining Room Mood Board.

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Blindster reached out to me a while back to see if I may be undertaking any projects that could suit their products. I already needed new window treatments for this room (and I’d like to get around to replacing all of the blinds eventually) so it worked out. These were sent to me as a courtesy without additional compensation. I have experience with a lot of different blinds so I hope to have a good judgement on these ones.

These were easy to install, very similar to similar style shades I’ve installed before. The familiarity made putting all 6 of these up at once a breeze. And by breeze I mean it took about an hour by myself.

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This specific style is called “Morocco.” It’s really beautiful with different shades of brown and tan. I love the natural look. There isn’t a glossy sheen to them.

I wanted something a bit darker, but not dark, to stand out against the white walls. My mom thinks they’re very tropical looking.

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I wanted to do a semi layered window treatment in this room because I’m a sucker for using tapestries in my decor. And I don’t have a whole lot of wall space to hang them.

I chose to use this warm tree of life tapestry on a spare curtain bar I’ve had about. I hung it using my vintage family brooches.

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The room is far from finished but it’s a running start wouldn’t you say? Make sure you’re subscribed so you can keep up with the progress.

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For an eclectic look, I love this semi layered window treatment look. Taking a fun fabric or unique panel and covering just part of a larger area is different and fun. And a lot less commitment than a full length of panels. And a natural material Roman shade is a good textural base for any space.

Is My New Hot Water Heater Saving Me Money?

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Tough Talk Has my new hot water heater saved me any money

Is my new hot water heater saving me money?

We spend a lot of money to upgrade our systems with the promise that they’ll save us money.

I’ve read this, I’ve been told this, but I’ve never experienced it. I’ve never seen real numbers.

So as part of a collaboration with Rheem, they’ve provided a hot water heater to put to the test. I’m revealing my actual utility costs for Water, Gas and Electricity to see what the numbers have to say.

Here’s my 1st Quarter Hot Water Heater Utility Bill Comparison:

am i saving money with a new hot water heater

December 2014- February 2015 VS. December 2015- February 2016

December 2014
Water (charged bimonthly): 96.12
Electricity: 115.82
Natural Gas: 88.92
Total: 300.86		 December 2015
Water (charged bimonthly): 106.60
Electricity: 111.54
Natural Gas: 142.54
Total: 360.68
January 2015
Water (charged bimonthly): 0
Electricity: 135.07
Natural Gas: 135.97
Total: 271.04		 January 2016
Water (charged bimonthly): 0
Electricity: 115.43
Natural Gas: 114.29
Total: 229.72
February 2015
Water (charged bimonthly): 91.70
Electricity: 111.65
Natural Gas: 183.18
Total: 386.53		 February 2016
Water (charged bimonthly): 122.22
Electricity: 132.37
Natural Gas: 141.12
Total: 395.71

So, actually, we’ve spent more money that we did in the same period. Are you shocked?

If you’re simply looking at the numbers, this doesn’t look good. Especially when you look at the fact that the hot water heater was in our garage last year. Our garage is not temperature regulated and we regularly have our washer’s pipes freeze out there in the winter.

But, when I tell you about the way it’s completely changed our lives, you’ll look at those numbers and agree that it’s so worth it.

A year ago I wasn’t taking very many showers in the winter. I have bad arthritis in my knees and we couldn’t get enough hot water to fill even half our tub let alone a long enough shower to loosen my joints. Now, I can hop in the shower and relax. The water is hot and I’m relaxed. And then there’s my son. A year ago he couldn’t play in the bath. We couldn’t get enough hot water to fill it up. And since a chunk of the water was cool, the water cooled down a lot faster. I’ve stopped using hand sanitizer because I can turn on the sink to wash my hands and the water is warm. I even use the faucet for hot water to make tea. The water gets hot enough for me to steep tea!

The previous hot water heater made the winter months so unbearably difficult for me. It probably sounds silly, but I’ve saved time. Time that I would’ve spent curled up in my bed counting the days until spring. I’ve saved sanity because I can let my boy splash around in the bathtub, like little boys ask to do.

I’m using more water than I was in the same time frame than last year. So I fully expected my bills to be higher. If I wasn’t enjoying my hot water so much, I know my bills would have been lower.

It’s going to get real interesting once the weather warms up. I’m betting those numbers are going to show an interesting shift that these ones haven’t shown.

If you’ve missed the first 2 parts of this 12 part series, you can catch up on those here:

Hot Water Heater Moved & Installed

About Econet- And How To Use It

The 100th #ThriftScoreThursday!

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Hello and welcome! Today is the 100th #ThriftScoreThursday. I am pretty stoked because this hashtag party fosters such a fun community of epic thrifters, watchers and everyone in between. I love that!

I went through to the beginning of the more than 7,000 entries to pick out the top 10 favorites of mine in 20 categories. Have you ever had to narrow 7,000 of something awesome to just 20?! Oh man was this the hardest thing I’ve ever judged. I wish I had a prize for every single one of you. But since I thrift for both aesthetic and financial reasons, I had to settle for teaming up with the other fab hosts to give away $100 paypal cash. Be sure to keep an eye on Instagram today because we’ll be announcing all the details there. Instagram: @adesignerathome

celebrating 100 the top thrift scores of thriftscorethursday

The Top Thrift Scores of #ThriftScoreThursday

Best In Sofa Scores:

Best In End Table Scores:

Best In Dresser Scores:

Best In Lounge Chairs:

Best In Ornate Chairs:

Best In Chair Pair Scores:

Best In China Cabinet Scores:

https://www.instagram.com/p/vVppANp75C/

Best In Dining Chairs:

Best In Bar Scores:

Best In Foot Stool Scores:

Best In Table Scores:

 Best In Kitchen Scores:

https://www.instagram.com/p/oTqrxoPCn1/

Best In Dining Scores:

https://www.instagram.com/p/nvKe2OsaEN/

Best In Little Scores:

Best In Art Scores:

Best In Brass Scores:

Best In Wall Hanging Scores:

Best In Light Fixture Scores:

Best In Rug Scores:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BB5VIYvigGU/

Best In Loot Scores:

Be sure to visit and give all the heart eyed emoji’s to these guys. Hard work thrifting pays off! Before I leave you to visit the other hosts, I wanted to drop in the piece that went with the plant stand I unveiled Tuesday–

thrifted wicker chair

Want to play along? 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!
  • Each week, Trisha from Black and White Obsession, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, 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.
  • Please remember that we can only share love for photos shared on public accounts. If your profile is private, we can’t see your finds.

Now be sure to see how the other hosts are celebrating this awesome day!

Thrift Score Thursday Brynne color

Thrift Score Thursday Cassie

Thrift Score Thursday Trisha color