Currently viewing the tag: "vintage"
Still laughing…
Just because I don’t really have anything to do apart from; search for a job, work on my freelance projects, arrange a 3 year old Birthday party, write for my blog, carve into bark for my Etsy shop, volunteer AND think of lots of games and activities for Littlelish every day because it is summer holidays! The universe conspired against me and also wondered if I’d like to furnish our entire house in Holland for a new family moving in mid August! This has called for serious shopping, unfortunately not the leisurely snuffling through charity shops that I so love. This is hardcore bargain hunting, scouring the internet for key pieces of furniture, you know like sofas, beds etc. Aaaargh…
Remembering back to the days when we furnished our house the first time around, both my husband and I were full time employed and there was no Littlelish, so we never really had any budgeting issues. Right now our financial situation isn’t looking as rosy as it used to so the budget is incredibly tight and we didn’t really plan to rent our house furnished so it came a little unexpected. This means we have to be extremely selective about what we choose because we also don’t want to just fill the house with old tat. Sure it would be easy but if we are going to do this we are going to do it properly, I don’t do anything by halves!
We took the decision to buy the larger items of furniture in Holland as it would cost far too much to ship everything over. In Holland there is a website called Marktplaats where you can buy second hand furniture from individual sellers. I guess a little like Ebay or the facebook selling groups although I actually find it easier to shop on perhaps because there isn’t so much rubbish to sift through. Don’t have time for rubbish!
We’ve decided to go with a look and feel that is sturdy and robust, natural with a good mix of contemporary and old/vintage. I’m hoping its going to look classically cool and with a funky edge and that it will have general appeal. I’m trying not to make it too much to my taste because I can have rather quirky taste that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!
So first up on our long list of must haves is a double bed and we have managed to pick up this absolute beauty made of Belgium oak for around 60 pounds excluding mattress of course (all these will be new)! Photo taken is not in our room or even in our house. These will follow when we have the grand task of putting everything together!
Then we found this funky dining room table with 3 real leather chairs and a bench for 170 pounds, I can really imagine this working as a family table in the right setting – our house!
It took us quite a while to find a good sofa that didn’t cost the earth but then we stumbled across these two fantastic and more importantly nearly new, brown designer sofas. First one we can have for 125 pounds the second for 170. All they need is some beautiful cushions, a snuggly throw and bob’s your uncle (I hope!) Which one do you think we should go for? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Isn’t it quite amazing what you can pick up second hand when you are on a budget? Makes me think back to all that money we spent first time round… gulp.
Stay tuned for the next installment! xxx
Linking up to Magpie Monday over at me and my shadow :)
After weeks of not being able to join in Magpie Monday, with no time to spend rummaging in charity shops I am finally back! And boy what a week it has been. You see as of this week I have a new mission (hopefully not mission impossible) to furnish our 6 bedroom house in Holland ready for new renters in a month!
This is the kind of project I love, but I have to say it would be slightly less stressful had we a large budget. Alas we don’t so I am having to have use every ounce of creativity, style and thriftiness in me to pull this off. Whereas at the beginning of the week the sheer scale of this task had me breaking out in a cold sweat, I think I might actually be enjoying the challenge a little. I went on a small charity shop run on Friday and to a carboot sale on Sunday and this is what I found.
1. A lovely solid country style table with painted legs. It is in good condition and just needs a new lick of (Farrow and Ball) paint on the legs for it to be tip top. £15.
2. A quirky antique leather magazine holder which I just really like. Not sure if this will end up arriving in Holland or if it will be mine! £7.
3. A mirror that just needs a lick of (Farrow and Ball) paint. £1.
4. A bright yellow bread bin. This isn’t old, it’s in far too good condition but I just think it is all sunshiney and warm :) £1.
5. A jug with a cool retro pattern on it again reminds me of sunny sunshine days… I think there is a reoccurring theme here, I want some sun! £1.
6. A set of 6 dishes, small plates, large plates and a serving plate with an awesome blue pattern. My husband and I are not sure if these are too much of an acquired taste even though I love them and something more simple may have to replace them. Oh well I thought they were a bargain for £6.
7. A gorgeous little owl thingamajig (I know there is a name for these but I cannot remember what!) for putting your hot pans on. He will be staying with me. £1.
Have you furnished your house on a budget? Any top tips you’d like to share? (please help!) Leave a comment and show me some support, I have a funny feeling I might just need it :)
I know you are probably eager to see how these beauties will look when completed and in their new home so why don’t you come back next week to find out how I’m getting on!
This week I added to my ever growing vintage book collection. It started when I came across a 1920′s edition of a flower fairies book and fell in love with it! I originally bought it to sell on as I knew the illustrations were rather collectable. But the book was so special, I couldn’t give it away let alone cut it up to sell the illustrations… and then it started! I realised there are some amazing old books that end up on the shelves of charity shops for a rather long time, no-one seems interested in re-homing these beauties. I have always had a love of books, I adore reading myself and also to Littlelish so I’ve taken it on as a personal mission to give all the books (well mostly gorgeous vintage children’s illustrated books) a loving home with us :)
So this week I found a vintage Fairy Tales book by the Brothers Grimm. I haven’t sat down to read it yet but I can’t wait to read “The shoes which were danced to pieces” and “Hans the Hedgehog”. As you will see it also has some lovely illustration plates in it by H.E Butler. I haven’t been able to date it just yet, there seem to be quite a few versions of these stories out there – some majorly collectable! I don’t think this is really worth a fortune but it is absolutely lovely nonetheless.
The other book I found was Stories from the Bible by Walter de la Mare, 1933. I bought this one really for the woodcut prints inside (by John Farleigh) which I think are absolutely beautiful. I would love to see them framed on a wall but I don’t think I will be able to cut them out of the book so I’ll just have to admire them occasionally.
And lastly I found this sweet 1940′s/1950′s wash basin set. Perhaps not to everyone’s taste and really rather “granny chic” but I think it is beautiful and can just imagine it on a shabby chic dresser. This little pretty is going into my shop Vintage Avignon for sale.
Since I discovered Magpie Monday last week I’ve been so excited to join in! Anyone who knows me well will know I love a good snuffle in a charity shop, street/flea/antique market. Today was supposed to be a ‘magpie’ day as we headed off bright and early (well 10am is bright and early enough for more »
Since I discovered Magpie Monday last week I’ve been so excited to join in! Anyone who knows me well will know I love a good snuffle in a charity shop, street/flea/antique market. Today was supposed to be a ‘magpie’ day as we headed off bright and early (well 10am is bright and early enough for me) for a local village street market. On entering the picturesque village we noticed it looked decidedly quiet and well, still picturesque. Where were all the stalls cluttered with other peoples junk for me and littlelish to rummage through? :( A sadly hung sign swung backwards and forward in the wind – Street market – Cancelled. I’m guessing they cancelled due to this monsoon we’ve been having recently although ironically we didn’t actually have any rain today. Oh well.
So I’m going to have to resort to an older find to share with you, but one I was very happy with. I often shop with the intention to sell the item in my vintage store on Etsy. I only have one slight issue in that most of the things I buy are things I like so much that I cannot part with them…. slight flaw in the business plan. Never going to make my fortune there am I?
Anyway I came across this vintage children’s scrabble game which I thought someone would love. Turns out it was me, I love it… (here we go again). I love the old cardboard letters, the font, I love the board and all the quirky colourful illustrations, I love the feeling of nostalgia it evokes in me (even though I wasn’t born when this particular game was made (1958)
Even Littlelish loves it. We manage a sort of 2.8 years old version of the game and it is a great aid to her learning to read :) So I’m keeping it!
I’m a freelancer in creative marketing with a background in design and styling but when I'm not working I'm doing the most important job in the world, being mummy to my beautiful little girl! I love to create and craft and have a passion for colour and beautiful detail. This blog is all about my life, my amazing daughter, my inspirations and creations!
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