Come On a My House!

The Ballard Designs catalog arrived today!

I absolutely love the things in there but usually only order once in a blue moon, just to make sure I still get the catalog. They pile up in my living room, then I transfer them up to my bedroom and then a few years later I finally decide I can throw some away. And most of the stuff in there is similar to what I saw in the catalog LAST TIME. Yet, I can't throw them away for fear I might not be inspired by the next one. Or worse yet, they might catch on that I am not their best customer ....and stop sending it to me! So it was today when I thought how much I wanted to order something when it dawned on me I've been picking up things here and there that remind of Ballard Designs all along.

These are items you can find in their catalog and online:

So, I decided to show you how this company has influenced my decorating... except on a beer budget! Many of the things I bought were found on clearance, at local auctions and even yard sales!

For example:

I was bound and determined to get one of these clocks...and finally found one at a Kirklands, on clearance, for 8.00. (Why I need such a big clock is a great story for another post.) The black one pictured earlier from Ballard is priced at $89.95 and I think mine is an even larger size.

My 1.00 shelf full of fun finds...the car photo is an actual photo of my Father-in-Law's car....that he took back in the 50's. I scanned it into my computer and framed it. (Yes that is a price tag on there...I had it in my antique booth and I haven't removed the sticker yet!) There are two more of these shelves I found at a yard sale. I spray painted them black last summer and finally figured out where to put one, in our family room. Two more to go! Ballard prices for similar shelves: $29.95 - 49.95.


Entryway table. This vignette could be improved...but for the price paid...it is perfect. The table was purchased at a yard sale....for I think maybe 5 or 10 dollars...the mirror at a local auction and for the lamp I just bought a new shade at Lowes.

I wanted something simple to hang in my kitchen ...but something that was soft enough to not distract from my vintage LuRay dinnerware. These three vintage plates did the trick. I believe I picked these up at Goodwill.
This is definitely one of my favorite finds at a yard sale. For a price of $2.00...it was just perfect for the hallway! The black mirror shown above from Ballards was priced at 399.95!!!! This one is too similar to pass up. We are usually looking for antiques and collectibles at the wee hours on a weekend...but I can't stop myself when these gems appear! My DH usually sighs and hauls it into the van for me.

This was a very vibrant copper colored mirror we received for our wedding. I decided to change it to a platinum and really liked the softer tone . The BISTRO sign is a TJ Maxx clearance item...and reminds my DH and I of romantic dinners together.

The whole section must be in honor of my DH and I...this just occurred to me. The pedestal (not shown) for the flowers was used at our outdoor wedding reception!

This chair was another yard sale find at a whopping 7.50. I have still not decided on the material I've chosen for the seat cover. The one I have gone with so far is not even attached yet. Still not sure...

This is an end table in our formal living room. My DH came home with the end tables from a yard sale for 9.00. For BOTH! Although I forgot to show the whole table in the photo, they are in great condition and have two drawers for storage. The glass lamp is another yard sale find....two for 8.00 (2 new lamp shades for 6.00 each and this is still a great buy for these lamps!) The great photo of my Step Children was the gift they gave to my DH for Christmas.

While I love yard sale decorating...I still buy occasionally at regular furniture stores...but sometimes you just can't beat a great deal when someone is having a moving sale or a sale out of their garage!

Hope you enjoyed stopping by my house. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and I am thrilled!

Now if we could just finish painting the rest of the house...