Comments on Want What You Have: My Debt-Free Decorating Philosophy

Amen to that! Women should not be bound by a set o...

2009-01-10T09:52:00.000-06:00

Amen to that! Women should not be bound by a set of obscure rules about what's in fashion. Your home is both beautiful and functional. Thanks for showing us that organization is an attainable goal.

I really like this post. I used to feel very free ...

2009-01-08T18:46:00.000-06:00

I really like this post. I used to feel very free handed with my decorating. I liked to have something visually appealing in every area your eye might come to rest in a room. My husband however is very minimalist and lately seems very concerned about our home "image" and worrying about appearing to guests as if our home is a garage sale. I wonder that a link to your post might get him thinking about the freedom of doing what pleases you, rather than doing what you think other people will be pleased by...

Really like this post. I used to feel very free ha...

2009-01-08T18:42:00.000-06:00

Really like this post. I used to feel very free handed with my decorating. I liked to have eye candy everywhere. My husband however is very minimalist and lately seems very concerned about our home "image" and worrying about appearing to guests as if our home is a garage sale. I wonder that a link to your post might get him thinking about the freedom of doing what pleases you, rather than doing what you think other ppl will want to see...

See, this is why I love your blog :) You're so sma...

2009-01-08T14:25:00.000-06:00

See, this is why I love your blog :) You're so smart and logical!

...sounds like your friend isn't aware of what she's saying - no clue how hurtful she sounds. Too bad for her. (And I'm guessing she's either super rich, or super in debt ;) )

Anyone (with buckets of money...not me) can go 'bu...

2009-01-08T14:11:00.000-06:00

Anyone (with buckets of money...not me) can go 'buy a room'. Personally, I prefer to surround myself with hand-me-downs from loved relatives and friends and also things that are great finds. What a thrill it is to go junking and find THAT TREASURE! I also love to go shopping in the other rooms in my home. I do have good tast, after all! ;)

I don't know if you ever read my post series on "F...

2009-01-08T13:22:00.000-06:00

I don't know if you ever read my post series on "Frugal Living Our Way" but if you did, you will see how very alike we are in this way.

I have some friends whose homes are elegant and warm and inviting and beautiful. Like walking into a showroom or something. That's how pretty they are.

I call mine "shabby chic" or "cottage style." I figure mine is just as warm and inviting and beautiful in it's own less fancy way, but without the debt!

I tried to do a link to your post, but discovered that I have no idea what I am doing and clearly, I don't even really understand what that is. So if you see anything funky being done, it was clueless me.

Hi Heather,I can't believe that someone (especiall...

2009-01-08T12:32:00.000-06:00

Hi Heather,
I can't believe that someone (especially a friend) would say something like that to you! I just can't imagine hurting someone like that!

That said, I just love the way your house looks! Some of my favorite posts are when you show pictures of your home!

I haven't had new furniture in a while, but it will happen when everyone is grown. All 10 of your tips are great...this is why I keep coming back! You are not pretentious or a snob and I think that is what everyone loves about you!

Love Ya, Janel

Say yes to color! I went against my mom's advice a...

2009-01-08T11:34:00.000-06:00

Say yes to color! I went against my mom's advice and purchased some inexpensive, colorful fabric to re-cover our window seat and throw pillows. Even she admits they look wonderful. I stuck with neutrals for a long, long time, but Mr. Clairol got me out of my rut. He loves bright colors and bold patterns and I find I do too!

Next summer, I'm keeping a garage sale fund and scouting the sales in my area. You've inspired me!

Such a great post! My husband and I have been ble...

2009-01-08T11:26:00.000-06:00

Such a great post! My husband and I have been blessed to travel the world with the military. Along the way we picked up a few Turkish rugs, a Belgian coffee table and a few knickknacks because they were so cheap in the countries they were made in. People always ask us why we didn't buy new couches overseas (ours are old, old and old but they are so comfy...we love them!) I tell them we needed something from America, they came from that trendy USA store called Goodwill! LOL

You make some great points! I try to follow those ...

2009-01-08T09:57:00.000-06:00

You make some great points! I try to follow those decorating guidelines, but I admit that #1 is a big problem for me. If you ever want to look at some decorating ideas on the cheap, check out nestingplacenc.blogspot.com She has the same philosophy as you, and gives some great tips on faking things to look like you spent a ton of money.

Oh, I so love the trendy furniture (yes, there is ...

2009-01-08T09:41:00.000-06:00

Oh, I so love the trendy furniture (yes, there is a bit of sarcasm). We moved and I attempted to find a high quality couch (actual foam rubber in the cushions instead of fluff, real wood frame and not corn flakes and glue). We went to the trendy stores, where the furniture was expensive, and the quality was cheap. Most of the new stuff is very poorly made and you have to go to discount stores to find the old, high quality, used furniture. I laugh at all the yuppies that buy trendy thinking they are getting what they pay for :)

I love "the queen of fifty cents" comment.=) So tr...

2009-01-08T09:33:00.000-06:00

I love "the queen of fifty cents" comment.=) So true about enjoying their castoffs! Knowing the basic decorating rules helps to you know what to do with the things you have in the areas of balance, line& color, but things like "have one piece of animal print in every room" ~ Come on now...no thank you. I have enjoyed you home tours because your home is calm & comfortable.What ever would we do now if our grandparents had thought like that woman??? ;)

I'm like you I'm not into what's hip. I know alo...

2009-01-08T09:16:00.000-06:00

I'm like you I'm not into what's hip. I know alot of our neighbor's get the most expensive thing & have rooms decorated for "show" I don't live like that in my house. They frowned down on me when we told them we made one empty room on the first floor a guest room, one said that's supposed to be a office, I said maybe in your home. You have some great advice & you are right garage sales are the best places & thrift stores.

Number 11: Take that rude woman off your invitatio...

2009-01-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

Number 11: Take that rude woman off your invitation list for any future dinner! Of course, thrifters love people like her who have to have the latest thing, because we can pick up her discards for next to nothing and not only have an interesting and functional home but money in the bank as well.

I can't tell you how much I love your blog. I am a...

2009-01-08T08:38:00.000-06:00

I can't tell you how much I love your blog. I am a lurker~ yep that's me. Not because I want to be but because there are only so many hours in a day~ LOL
Last year we had to finally buy new furniture as my couch leg kept breaking~ 14 year old furniture will do that from time to time~ I was determined to find a great steal and so I checked Craigslist. We found an amazing leather sofa and chair for about 1/4 of what they were worth. They had sat in a home office and barely been used.
I got such a laugh at your curtains~ No, not because they look funny, but because I did something similar. I used rubber bands to make rosettes and push pins to hold my swag in place, I found the swag itself at Ross on clearance for $3.00. In 5 years I'm not going to remember my furniture~ I'm going to remember the many happy and wonderful times we spent together as a family.
Thank you for being so real and honest and for sharing your tips and thoughts with us.

Ok I have a confession to make~ I'm a lurker and I...

2009-01-08T08:32:00.000-06:00

Ok I have a confession to make~ I'm a lurker and I should have posted yesterday but I ran out of blog steam~ LOL First off I can't tell you how much I love reading your blog. I am always either inspired or encouraged and I love how real you are. It's not easy in today's world to not want the latest and greatest thing but you remind us why we don't have to have it. I recently had to buy new furniture and I was determined to find a steal. We took a shot at CraigsList and found a Leather Sofa and Chair for dirt cheap ~ When we went to check it out (thinking something must be wrong with it~) It was sitting in an office in the folks house and hadn't hardly ever been used. We paid about 1/4 what it was worth. Oh and your curtains~ I did basically the same things with my swag~ Rubber bands to make the knots and push pins hold it in place... But you would never know to look at it... the swag I found on Clearance at Ross for $3.00. Ah there is nothing better than finding a great deal!
Oh and in 5 -10 years we won't necessarily remember the furniture in our house ~ We'll remember the good times we spent there with family.
I think your living room is beautiful and it looks inviting. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and tips with us.

When I was in college a boyfriend of a friend comm...

2009-01-08T08:26:00.000-06:00

When I was in college a boyfriend of a friend commented to me that when I finally got a career I could afford nice furniture. I looked around my cobbled together apartment with the garage sale couch and hand me down coffee table that I was so proud of and felt weird. It never occurred to me that someone else should think my precious apartment was shabby just because it didn't come off of a boring show room floor. I had pride in what I owned because I owned it and put it together the best that I knew how.
I love your decorating philosophy. I don't like trends because they change so fast and I am not about to throw out good stuff because it's dated. So, I buy what I like at garage sales and let the rest go.

Great job! I try to decorate cheaply as well. Righ...

2009-01-08T07:37:00.000-06:00

Great job! I try to decorate cheaply as well. Right now we have a sage green sofa that I bought 8 years ago for $400 at a store that sells discontinued items. It's now starting to fall apart and is getting rather ratty. DH was pushing to just buy a new one which we really can't afford so I simply bought a slip cover. It's not perfect but by golly it works for now! :) Thanks!

Heather, I happened to stumble upon your blog on a...

2009-01-08T07:19:00.000-06:00

Heather, I happened to stumble upon your blog on accident, I was actually looking for blogs of SAHM. And I found yours. I'm so glad that I did. Your advice is amazing and so true. I am new at motherhood my daughter was born in mid Nov. and it's amazing how quick one can change. I'm so with you on the bargain stores, and garage sales. Luckily I'm a crafty person, so I've been able to revamp a lot of things for our house. It's funny how one will go and spend $60+ on a couch cover, when all you need is about an hour of time and a $15 sheet from Wal-Mart. I can buy 4 sheets at the original price and rotate throughout the year. Keep up this amazing blog. It is such an inspiration

What a great post...I love to read numbered sugges...

2009-01-08T00:22:00.000-06:00

What a great post...I love to read numbered suggestions on how one handles an issue such as decorating. I think your tips are very thoughtful and represent a lot about who you are as a person...plus they encourage me to focus on things that are important to me as well...thanks!