Craigslist

Patio Mission

I'll admit, I'm kind of at a loss about what to write today.  I have several project in progress, but no finished results to show yet.  The yard is being cleaned out and mulched, the porch will be getting paint in the very near future, chalkboard spray paint is being sprayed, and I've been spending a lot of time on Craiglist. I always pop onto Craigslist to look for cheap treasures, but currently, I'm on a mission.

Craigslist Mission- Find a bench for the pack patio.

Our back yard is all patio and gardens.  We have a table and chairs and a grill (which escaped the instagram shot below- its just outside the frame on the right).  We had old wicker chairs there previously, but they disintegrated this year after spending the winter outside.

naked-patio

Lately I've been thinking that with the English garden feel of the space, a nice bench in front of the giant hydrangea would look amazing.  So I've been scouring Craigslist and not quite finding what I want.

I love this one, but Hubby doesn't.  It also might be a bit too much.

deco-vintage-patio-set

I keep toying with the idea of buying a bench like this

wooden-bench

or this

curved-bench

and painting it to protect it from the elements, but I just can't bring myself to put such a gorgeous piece of furniture outside.  Plus everything seems to be about an hour away.

What I really want is a teak(ish) bench made for outside that has some design interest too it.  How dare Craigslist not have exactly what I want when I want it! #firstwordproblems

It's been less than a week hunting on Craigslist, but I'm about to ragequit and drop just a little bit more money to get something new at HomeGoods.  I'm going to try and hold off on my impatience and give Craigslist another chance.

Have you had any Craigslist luck lately?

Craigslist Treasure-hunting

I love spring.  Spring means sunshine, flowers, warmth, and most importantly, TAG SALES!!  The tag sale season has yet to start here (since the weather is still making up its mind about spring), but I am ready and rearing to go!  I've been spending a bit more time on craigslist, lately, since I can't wait for the actual tag sales to begin.  Although I haven't bought any new pieces (yet), it's been a while since I shared with you one of my craigslist 'shopping trips.'

  • I'm thinking about taking this guy home with me for $75.  Hubby's still not sold on a new dining table, but I think this could look rather sharp.  Mixing some good ol' midcentury modern in with my traditional room might be just what the design doctor (me) ordered.

cl mcm dining table

  • This industrial storage piece is beautiful, but overpriced at $300.  I'm sure someone will be willing to pay for this awesome piece, but I'm looking for tag sale prices here.  I want a deal! I'd adopt it for $100 - $150 tops.

cl industrial cabinet

  • Don't you think this weathervane is a STEAL at $299??  Everyone needs a copper dachshund to class up their roof..... (what??)

cl dog weathervane

  • This is listed for sale for $100, although I think you'd have to pay me $1000 to be anywhere near it.  How do you make classic art creepy?  Like this!

cl mona lisa

Now that I'm scarred for life by the Mona Lisa, how about another awesome industrial storage piece.

  • At $275, the price isn't bad for the size.  I wouldn't be able to justify the price for my basement work area, so I'll just fantasize about it instead.  Perhaps I could build something similar this summer.  Perhaps.

cl industrial storage

Have you purchased any awesome pieces lately on Craigslist?  Or have you just been scarred by Monstrous Mona Lisa like I have?

Sitting Pretty

As I mentioned yesterday, my latest craiglist find is a HUGE hit with my furry friends.  Normally they are rather uncooperative models, refusing to smize for the camera, but I think I'll have trouble getting any pictures of this sofa without at least one of them on it. craiglist settee

Meet my new settee/apparent cat bed.

Now that my parents once again have a home of their own, our guestroom emptied out and I can begin to transform it into my office/den.  This room houses our second tv and I needed (wanted) a small scale piece of furniture for lounging on when Hubby takes over the living room tv to watch the Celtics (or whatever the current sports season is).  Being the picky designer that I am, I wanted something with style, in good condition, and dirt cheap.  Check, check, and check.  Did I mention dirt cheap?  You can't do much better than $30 (plus a little sucking up to Hubby to get him to help me pick it up in the rain)

I knew from first sight, that skirt had to go to modernize it. Well, that skirt came off faster than a cheerleader's on prom night.

settee skirt

Lucky for me, the legs underneath were in awesome condition too.

settee leg

I plan to take a steamer and try and uncrush some of the matted velvet, but, wow, what a difference stripping the skirt makes!

kitten settee

That totally took it from dated to timeless.  AND it fits perfectly in the room!  I love free updates and cheap furniture, don't you?