RoomRecipes » Sabrina Soto

Digging for Deals

Sabrina Soto — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:23:01 +0000

Times may be tough for most of us in this economy, but your design plans don’t necessarily have to suffer. Instead of putting your design plans on hold, try using these resources for some of the BEST deals out there…with a little effort and some creative searching, you won’t believe how cheap good design can be!

1) Craigslist-you would not believe the things that people will give away for free or just a few dollars-and Craigslist is THE place to find those deals locally. From dressers to accessories to fabric and even magazines, you can find just about anything you’re looking for if you’re willing to be patient or put a little TLC into these pieces!

2) Community Recycling Centers-builders, homeowners, and designers often send their overstock or discarded items to places like this to keep them out of landfills. They are especially good sources for things like antique moldings, reclaimed flooring, old appliances, and even kitchen cabinets. Again, you may have to put a little work into these pieces, but the end result will be worth it-plus you’ll be doing a good environmental deed by keeping waste out of the trash!

3) Dumpsters-it’s called dumpster diving, and before you judge, just spend a day driving to trash areas behind condo and apartment buildings and even office buildings. You can find some totally unique pieces and without any investment!

4) Hotel liquidators-okay, so maybe not the best place for mattresses (yikes-you never know what goes on with those things), but a lot of furniture used in hotels is used very sparingly. This is a GREAT source for things like side chairs, armoires, and headboards…usually the pieces are of very good quality, since they are intended for commercial use, so you won’t have to worry about things falling apart!

5) Friends and family-you know the saying: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure”. Well that’s definitely the case with furniture and accessories. Ask your parents, cousins, siblings, and friends if they have anything they’re interested in giving away (or even trading if you have some discarded items). Often times, a little paint or upholstery can totally transform a piece!

IdeaPaint – Instant Whiteboard Wall Paint

Sabrina Soto — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:15:19 +0000

What a great idea! Paint that turns any wall into an instant write-on/wipe-off whiteboard!

It doesn’t matter where you spend your 9-5. IdeaPaint is the perfect creative solution for any type of business. You can create a place to share information with your customers, coworkers or clients. And turn any smooth surface into a useful and interactive workspace:

Desks
Doors
Walls
Hallways
Columns

Conference tables
Reception areas/lobbies
Seminar rooms
Cafeterias and cafes
Old whiteboards

Recession Chic Art

Sabrina Soto — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:08:43 +0000

Art can make or break the design of a room…but in a down economy, how can you get a high-end look on a reasonable budget??

Here are my TOP TEN ideas:

• Fabric: Chances are you have some leftover fabric lying around your house (and if not, head over to your local fabric store and rummage through the remnants). Pull the fabric around a wood fabric stretcher (available at Ikea) and staple the fabric to the back. Hang it on your wall, on a shelf, or anywhere else you need a splash of color and you’ve got yourself a great focal point!

• Plates: For an unexpected pop of color and pattern, hang a series of plates or dishware on your wall…there are endless inexpensive options at antique stores, or just find some inexpensive plastic ones (don’t forget to check out the Dollar Store). Add hooks to the back and create a custom look in minutes!

• Re-work your existing frames: By simply pairing a new paint job and pre-cut mats with a modern print or black and white photo, you can make any old frame look like a masterpiece!

• Free prints: Check out the online archives of the National Archives at the following link: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/. You can search for just about any topic and find all sorts of documents and historical photos to download and print…perfect for an unexpected art piece!

• Wallpaper remnants: Just like fabric stores, wallpaper stores also sell remnants at deeply discounted prices. Even something as simple as framing a square of a funky or modern wallpaper pattern can make a bold and lovely statement.

• Have a collection? Art doesn’t have to be two-dimensional. If you have some one-of-a-kind items or a collection of some sort, purchase some inexpensive floating shelves and create a focal point using your own items!

• DIY art: You don’t have to be Picasso to create your own work of art. If you keep things simple and geometric, even the most inexperienced artist can create something beautiful! Simply take a blank canvas, tape off stripes, squares, or other interesting shapes, and paint the background. Then use coordinating colors to paint the stripes and shapes. It’s simple, but fabulous!

• Photo Canvases: Transform your own family photos into high-end works of art by having them made into black and white canvas prints. Sites like kodakgallery.com will do this for about 100 dollars (okay, so not totally cheap, but still reasonable).

• Etsy! Etsy.com is a great site to find artists of all kinds all around the world. No matter what your personal style is, you can find something that’s just what you’re looking for!

• Go Vintage: Take an afternoon to scour your local flea markets or thrift stores (or just use your lunch break to check out Ebay) for vintage pieces. Whether it’s old posters, postcards, photos, or prints, sometimes there’s nothing more chic that placing a vintage art piece in a contemporary frame!