For the last several weeks I’ve wanted to change up a few things in our house. I feel like I’ve been staring at the same arrangement of the same accessories for the last sweet forever, and I thought it might be fun to do a little “sprucing” in the decorative department. Not anything drastic or expensive, mind you – but most definitely something different than, you know, those three candles that have been on my coffee table since 2001.
In short, I need to mix it up a bit.
This house was built in the early 70′s, and it has the sort of groovy 70′s vibe you might expect. I’ve mentioned before that we have a large bar in one corner of our living room, and the bar pretty much dictates that our decorative scheme has to be at least a smidge funky. No matter which way you try to work it, there’s just not much about an oversized wet bar that screams “SIMPLE ELEGANCE.” Since our furniture is pretty traditional, any hint of retro has to come from accessories.
And that, oh internets, is the heart of my decorating dilemma.
Also: I do not want to spend much money. Because I am somewhat cheap.
Well, yesterday my friend Leigh called me from an estate sale that was right down the street from us, and she said that I needed to get over there. RIGHT THAT SECOND. D. and I love the house where the estate sale was being held, and several times I’ve remarked that I could just TELL that the house was filled with groovy goodness. Since Leigh knows my taste really well, I stopped what I was doing and popped over there.
And can I just say? It did not disappoint.
I found a cool end table for $25 (TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS, y’all). I found this metal leaf tree thingy for $6 that is straight out a Partridge Family episode and is going to look absolutely perfect in our den. Then there were a couple of classic cookbooks, some kitchen utensils (the cooks who are reading will understand how giddy I was when I found a Le Creuset skillet for ONE DOLLAR), a pair of salt and pepper shakers that would make Carol Brady proud, some great Christmas decorations, and a beautiful copper planter with a matching base.
When all was said and done, I had two huge bags of accessories – plus a table – for $60. Even better, I found things for my house that won’t be in any chain store, things that I wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else. That tickles me to death.
And I will now employ the use of some visual aids.
Here’s the table I bought. It needs to be cleaned and polished, but I think it’s going to be perfect next to D.’s chair.
And my Partridge Family leaf tree – oh-so-groovy, don’t you think?
And I just have to show you one of the cookbooks, mainly because D.’s reaction was, “Um, was she trying to match her dress to her wallpaper?”
I told him to stop that blasphemy right that second because if not for Helen Corbitt, there would be no Paula Deen. Mrs. Helen was the original Southern hostess with the mostest, and WE WILL HONOR HER MEMORY IN THIS HOUSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
And I love me a woman who can work a bold print like that, y’all.
So here’s the plan for today. I’m going to take $40 to a thrift store. That will give me a total re-do investment of $100 – which is mighty reasonable, I think. At the thrift store I’m hoping to find a couple of fun things to hang on my walls, along with a few other accessories. If I hit the gently-worn jackpot, I’m going to get the living room all spiffy and revamped once I get home – and sometime in the next few days I’ll post some before and after pictures.
CAN YOU EVEN STAND THE EXCITEMENT OF IT ALL?
And I’m trusting that since Mrs. Helen is living at our house now, she will be perfectly capable of holding down the fort while I go shopping.
She’ll probably even make some lovely canapes.
{ 43 comments }
If you find Mrs. Corbitt’s dress at the thrift store, it would be worth every penny.
Green with envy
Love me a sale
From the looks of it
You did prevail!
That table is perfect
It’s just what I need
I’m keeping a lookout
For an estate sale, indeed!
my goodness- that metal tree thingy is straight from the Partridge Family!! too funny! Way to go on your wonderful treasures!!! Can’t wait to hear about what you find today!!
LOL!!! I just read the post about the bar for the first time. Your house reminds me of SO MANY we looked at when we were looking at houses this spring! LOVE IT!!! We almost bought a 1958 house which was the caddy of houses for the domestic housewife of 1958. Mrs. Brady and Alice would have LOVED to have it! My girlfriends joked that I’d have to wear heels and pearls while cleaning. DH thinks I’m more the “black coffee and a cig for breakfast” sort of housewife. Anywhoo…
It is a strong woman, indeed who can pull off THAT print. Might I suggest just scanning her into your computer, printing her out in all her grooviness and hanging her on the wall? In poster size?
Oh yeah, I am waiting right here until the next pictures post. You go thrift shop Mama!
boo..another idea is to find some “groovy” fabric you love…like from amy butler or heather bailey and modpodge it to a big canvas..they have some great updates but still retro prints in wonderful colors…also maybe for some pillows.
love the cookbook!
So funny! The comment about the dress and wallpaper is something that would have come out of my dh’s mouth.
And if you were to find the dress at the thrift store (as Big Mama suggested) you could always make some groovy pillows.
You, my dear, scored some great deals. How fun is that? A Le Creuset skillet for ONE DOLLAR?! Fantastic. And I LOVE that table. Love it.
Lovin’ that table! : )
That tree looks like one of those trees you get from Hallmark to hang family photos on. But yours is bigger and more vintage.
I’m fairly certain that IS the tree from Hallmark. I know because my MIL has one in her bedroom JUST LIKE IT and it has the photo frames with the photos of COMPLETE STRANGERS still in the frames. Guess she liked those people’s pictures better than any of her REAL family. :) Still, it is very groovy. Maybe you can find a partridge to hang on it. Ooh, you could go for a whole Partridge family theme! Of course, you’ll have to repaint your living room in primary colors and hang old P.F. album covers on the wall. And if you could get that dress that Ms. Corbitt is wearing, it would be like you had your very own time machine.
Weird…this is the second comment in a row on your blog in which I’ve mentioned the P.F., and I haven’t thought about them in years. I need a life.
Ok peaches, I never comment, but I love EVERYTHING about you….especially today :)
I can’t WAIT to see some before and after photos!!! I love me a good photo! :)
You are SO lucky!
I passed an estate sale this spring and had to stop. My five year old was not as thrilled, but I drug her anyway and explained to her how fabulous everything was. They had LOTS of sterling!!! What southern girl doesn’t love silver at a cheap, cheap price??!! The neatest part was the house was for sale too, and my daughter’s preschool teacher bought it!
Oh, dear Lord, I had me a vision!! BooMama in the bold print blouse and Big Mama in that black monstrosity blouse up on stage jammin.
“We had a dream, we’d go travelin’ together…
We’d spread a little lovin’ then we’d keep movin’ on …
Somethin’ always happens whenever we’re together …
We get a happy feelin’ when we’re singing a song …”
A perfect theme song for the Big ‘n Boo Southern Praise Pie ‘n Percussion Extravaganza
(BBSPPPE- ya just kindof spit it out)
A whole lot of lovin’ is what you’ll be bringin’ – Come On Get Happy!!!
Sister, what Bubba said.
It is all FABOO.
You have to love a good estate sale. I love the tree the best. Please post pics of the rest of your buys
Alright, Missy, whoop them pitchers on us! ;D
I really like that table! It’s a timeless style, really. Is it maple?
Have a great weekend, and good luck at the thrift store.
Love and hugs,
Diane
Oh I am SO SURE this is the next rising show on TLC…BOOMAMA and 100 bucks… redesigning the south one fritter at a time.
I’ll just live vicariously through you…my hubby bought a MOTORCYCLE this week–without my PERMISSION, mind you–so our decorating budget is no more for a very, very long time!
Boo Mama, My hubby and you would get along great! He is a year away from getting a degree in interior design. We go to flea markets every chance we get and have found many “groovy” items! I love your table! Happy hunting… Hi to Sister… :)
I think someone else has already commented on this but a few years back I started to buy the Hallmark Family Tree as a present for a family member…pretty certain it is the same. I love it and would not have minded having one myself except for getting tiny little pics in those frames!!!! But, I bet if you want some frames for it you can find them on eBay!!!
I love getting great finds at tag sales or the thrift store! congrats on the finds!
Great finds – love the table especially! That “working the big print” comment was seriously hilarious =)
I think the Le Creuset skillet for $1 alone was worth the trip down the street! Can’t wait to see pics of all your new decorating!
Sarah, TN
Yep, that tree is indeed from Hallmark. I got one for my mom several years ago for Christmas. That HUGE one was only in stores for a short time and was very hard to find afterwards. I eventually found it on eBay for a lot more than the store had originally charged. Good find!
That tree looks so familiar! Oh! It’s the one sitting in the box waiting patiently for someone to take it to the goodwill…maybe we should have a yard sale. I actually like it but it didn’t work for where I wanted it. Out it goes, along with everything else that isn’t working or hasn’t worked for the last 4 years.
Love your blog, btw. Keeps me rolling.
How fun to go with the flow of your home–what else to do? Can’t wait to see the pictures b/c I am just nosy like that.
Soooooo, are you done decorating yet??? It’s been a few hours… Waiting for pics of that groovy tree sitting on your groovy table in your groovy living room. (As you can see, my retro vocab is quite broad. I’m very proud of that fact. :wink: Perhaps your pictures will inspire me.)
I must agree that the table rocks. The tree…well it IS the one from Hallmark, and I know this because I received it as a gift a few years ago and was wondering what to do with it! Now that I know it is groovy I think I will keep it and groove up the rest of the joint!
What people don’t know is that the large meal in Miss Helen’s cookbook cover was prepared for two. :-)
LOVE the table. Great find.
LE CREUSET for $1.00….I actually have heart palpitations!!! Boy do I love me a good deal. We spent our last two weekends digging out 15 years of clutter from the crawl space and the attic…by-passing the potential yard sale all together, and instead, blessing the dump and the good-will store with our wares. Feels good to pretend like you’re moving!! My new motto is…if you bring something in you must send something out. Enjoy your treasure hunting!!
I saw the cookbook before I read your remarks and your husband’s comment was my first thought too.
But I respect anyone who can cook.
That tree is PURR-FECT! You have a good eye.
Love the table! What a find. I am a thrift store, garage sale shoppin’ momma too. There is NOTHING like the thrill of finding that fantastic deal. Just gets my adrenaline pumping to think of it!
Looking forward to seeing your re-do.
LOVE the partridge tree! Was there a pair? =)
that tree is the wallpaper of someones blog. I will find it.
A LE CREUSET SKILLET FOR $1!!!!!!!!!
THAT’s JUST MAD!!
That’s not even £1 over here – I need to move to USA!!
We don’t even do estate sales because we don’t move so far!!
How sad
Enjoy – the bargains
Shock of all shocks: I, too, live in a groovy 70′s house complete with blue bathroom fixtures and sparkles in the dining room paint.
Redocorate? I don’t think so.
But I’m glad you found happy doo-dads for your happy home.
yeah for you.. so glad you found some cool stuff, and that metal tree thingie is da BOMB!!!!!!
That Leigh. She’s just so super handy! Nice finds there.
That Partridge Family tree thing is to die-for! I LOVE IT!
I’m loving all the sprucing in your decorative department.
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