create a beautiful living space

On saturday, we got a table! We’d seen a few in thrift stores that we were considering, $65-$100 for a table, $15-$25 for a chair. That’s the going rate around here. I wasn’t planning on getting anything new, but I saw a table on sale at Target for $50. With the chairs, it was about $114, instead of the $450 it would have been at full price. I’m very happy! However, it was funny because the only one they had left was the one on display, and so it was bolted to the floor. Our table has little holes in it where it was screwed down, but it’s ok. I’m very happy with it. :)

I’m basically outfitting an apartment from scratch, and it’s important to me to have a bright and happy living space. Since I’m getting a lot of stuff at the same time, I want to make sure it goes together in some sort of coherant mannar.

I went to a few thrift stores today (two of which were pretending to be antique stores) and looked at furniture. One of them had an awesome red loveseat for only $100. I wish I hadn’t bought that couch at ikea six months ago, because some of the slats are already starting to break, and when I had to take it apart, I discovered that the metal is really soft and weak. Lesson learned about ikea. I can salvage it, but I’m disappointed.

One of the “antique” stores is going out of business and everything is half price. There’s a drop leaf table that is bigger than I want, but not bigger than I’m willing to accept. The apartment is small, so I’d like a table that doesn’t take up much space. Another store had a pretty neat fake marble table that looks like something from a diner, or perhaps a greek monument. I would agree if somebody called it tacky, but it makes me smile, and it’s a good size.

We didn’t get any furniture, but we got a bath mat, two trashcans, and a hanging shower caddy. I also put up the shelving I bought at the art store when it went out of business, and that looks really nice. I’m extremely pleased about those shelves.

Before we buy anything expensive, we need to have a lengthy talk about budget.