I wish I could say we have the nicest things.
But we don't.
Infact, small secret?
Most of our big ticket furniture items...are hand-me-downs.
We had moved back to CA at the start of the economic meltdown in 2008 and were adjusting to life on one income
and quite frankly,
M and I...
are just not caught up in fancy, brand-name things.
Part of it being our personalities and the other part being, culturally, how we were raised.
I mean, both of us were raised sleeping on futons on the floor at our grandparents house.
And to be honest, those are some of my best memories.
So when we were offered a bunch of stuff from my family...we took it.
One thing we were exceptionally stoked about
was the most comfortable california king bed we have ever laid on.
Everytime we lay down, it's hard to get back up.
But the headboard and footboard were hideous
and wouldn't fit in the master bedroom of our little apartment.
Not to mention, the 6" wide gaps where the headboard/footboard met the mattress
never would have worked for us, since Miss B never left our bed.
So we donated the headboard and footboard and just used the frame.
And it was ok. No complaints here.
But with all the beautiful bedroom sets out there,
I couldn't help but think about how beautiful and organized a beautiful bedroom set would look and be.
But M and I just couldn't justify spending the money on it.
We had to figure something else out.
Basically all the best ideas
combined in one, visually stimulating site.
I couldn't love it or spend anymore time on it then I already do.
The creative muses speak to me everytime I'm on there.
So when I saw this:
I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
It looked so relaxing and inviting
And would be perfect for a headboard
So the wheels in my head started turning...
Where could I find these for cheap?
Garage sales? Antique stores? Craigslist?
I was at a loss.
Especially since I didn't want to spend more than $50 altogether on the project...
So I started looking.
And some people on Craigslist? Wanted $200+
Umm, no.
So I waited. Patiently.
Or as patiently as I could, considering when I want something, I want it NOW.
And one day
the Craigslist/shutter gods shined down on me
I found old plantation shutters for $15
And even more fated?
They measured perfect.
It was meant to be.
So I sent M to pick them up.
Because, let's face it, there are some crazy yahoos out there,
and going to random people's houses to pick up their old junks is not my thing.
Then I started brainstorming our room and my shutters.
What color did I want them?
Did I want to glaze them with that rustic antique look? Or just leave them one color?
What could we do to wrap it all up together??
Then while, walking around our local Ikea one day, we found this beauty for less than $150
and it was like the pieces were all starting to fit together.
I decided to go with a blue for the shutters.
Which would go with our gray sheets and comforter set
and tie in with our new dresser and a yellow desk that isn't pictured
We found a $2 can of paint at Home Depot of a light baby blue
and since we were on a budget
I figured, ok. Let's see how it looks.
So M sanded down the shutters, put everything together and got to painting
Please don't mind the naked toddler in her pink snow boots. ;)
But the blue was a little lighter than I wanted.
And even though I loved it, I wasn't completely sold on it.
Until my genius husband decided to darken up the paint a little
and voila!
I was in love.
Now to tie in our gray sheets/comforter and finish up the rest of the decorating the room.
This project = less than $25!!
So easy and fun! And there wasn't even any need to glaze it like I thought,
though we are keeping the option open if we decide later ;)