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STYLE OWES NOTHING TO MONEY! ARTICLE 2 (1) HOME DECORATING ARTICLES EBOOKS
Determine Your Best Buys For Great Home Decorating Ideas
My work has required spending a lot of money on behalf of clients in the design and decorating of their upscale town and country homes, chalets and condos. My own preference however, leans toward the eclecticism of retro, deco, and antique furniture and accessories. The various period furniture styles even in modern history provide far more interest - and often quality construction - than what is available new. I have found really bad looking pieces with good ‘bones’ in junk stores that most people wouldn’t look at twice! I’ve saved some remarkable pieces from being dumped. It is shocking to some that I then spend money to rebuild and re-upholster. Why? For simple reason of uniqueness that cannot be found otherwise. CHEAP FURNITURE - IS IT YOUR BEST BUY? At least put your money where it counts the most. A cheap sofa will turn out to be pretty expensive when the springs sag, fabric wears or the frame breaks. An extra couple hundred dollars may bring your selection into a better quality It is a fact that people spend more money on poor quality cheap furniture in the course of a lifetime, than on quality lasting furniture. OR - Your best deal in quality items may be for example, a used quality sofa rather than a cheap new one. Furniture selection can take time to scout out and in fact great finds most often come along when you’re not looking for them. Keep your eyes open at all times – that perfect piece at the perfect price will appear when you least expect it to. Driving between client appointments, I have often seen perfectly excellent cast-offs sitting at roadside waiting for someone to take them away. I sometimes feel tempted, but since I haven’t had an immediate use, I passed on by. But many of my stager and decorator friends pick them up and amazingly transform them! CHEAP FURNITURE – USED RETRO ANTIQUE There is a new wave of unique designer retro, used and antique furniture stores stocking terrific period furnishings. Lois Lane Retro Warehouse is one such place here in Kelowna BC with the focus on 1950’s to 1970’s. Interior design accessories also fill these shops making them a budget decorator’s dream. Used retro furniture has become ‘designer’ savvy with showrooms filled with delightful styles that cannot be found otherwise. You may for instance find 1960’s reproduction French Provincial dresser that you can refinish with a warm umber antique glaze that will make it look original ‘Provencal’! Re-using and recycling not only allows you to create original style, but it is environmentally wise as well. You will be getting better quality than buying new and cheap. There are some great pieces just waiting to be given new life! CHEAP FURNITURE - USE WHAT YOU ALREADY OWN
You will need to sort through what you will be keeping, perhaps not all at once, but as you go along with your collection of new additions. You may be hanging on to some things that just should go - you know which they are. When you already have some pieces you know you will keep it is a good start. You may be able to refinish some, add a slipcover, new cushion tops, etc. Again as above adding accessories and furniture from a variety of sources is the way to saving on decorating. If you are handy with sewing, slipcovering is a wonderful way to refresh the look of a room, especially great for traditional seasonal changes. There are terrific guides, which I have used myself to create delightful new furniture covers. TO ARTICLE 1 - DECORATING ON A BUDGET WITH CHEAP FURNITURE 
Art Prints and Posters for Budget Decorating
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Continue to the second article in this series, Style Owes Nothing To Money
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