Today, I decided to hide out in my bed and do nothing. No church, no rushing here, no grocery shopping, no popping into Target, just lying in bed, browsing the internet for design inspiration and reading my novel that I bought for 50 cents at Big Lots. Yes. Fiddy cents. Not happy for the author but happy for me!
But before I go back to my book, I will leave you with pictures of my now complete dining area and living room.
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| Before. |
My goodness. It took forever for me to get these pictures, and I am still not satisfied. They look a bit muddy. But here they are.
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| Living Room |
Do you see that the bowl from the foyer post is now empty? I don't know what it is, but every time I take a picture of a plant, they die. The gerbera just rotted on me. I wasn't over watering, I promise. I only watered when the soil was begging for water. I tire o.
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| Bookshelf |
I got this bookshelf from West Elm in Miami. The apartment I had moved into gave me a $1000 giftcard as a bonus for renting. Knowing what I know now, I would have used that card a bit more wisely.
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| Top |
The photo to the right is of my mom holding me, the center photo is of my mom holding my nephew. My father took both pictures. The second one is one he took to test out his new digital camera way back in 2004, he printed it out on his laser printer on plain paper. I rescued it and have been carrying it all over the country, from Worcester, to Miami and now here. The third picture is actually a Christmas card, I bought them while in medical school from Marshall's or TJ Maxx. I can't recall. I was planning to give them out but didn't until this year when I sent out three. Lol. I procrastinate! Vase thrifted of course. The orange from the
shelf and the blue is something I tried to replicate throughout the apartment.
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| Framed Ankara |
I had too many frames. So I cut a piece of cloth and framed it.
The chair was from Kirkland in Aventura, it was actually bought for my desk. I spent many hours in that chair studying for my boards. I had always passed by the Kirkland's but had been too scared to go in because I thought it was a high end furniture store. LOL. Yes. I thought so. Anyway, one day, I was walking by and saw the chair on the sidewalk on clearance, after calculating I realized it would be $35. I had been looking for a chair for my desk and the price was so right. I walked in and the cashier hooked me up. She was so sweet and told me of the promotion they were running and gave me discount upon discount. I also got three framed bible verse prints. You will see them later.
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| Ottoman |
Please plant don't die on me!! I found the mirrored tray at Goodwill, it's originally from Target and am sure it was overpriced at $5.99 but I loved it and brought it home and spray painted it white. I have shown the plant holder before, I bought it from Savers when I first moved down here. The vase in the middle holding the remotes, I bought from Goodwill for 1.99. I had planned to use it in the guest room but it was too small. The woven container is from Nigeria. It actually has a name which I am blanking on at the moment. It is designed to hold jewelry. I use it to hold the earrings I pull off when I'm sitting on the couch. My mom brought me several in various sizes. Again, I had seen them in the market, and thought them too small. Then I saw something similar in West Elm. Much bigger of course, and hundred times more expensive and I screamed. I should have taken a close up huh? Yes, that book was 50cents too.
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| Dining Area |
All the frames were thrifted. They were of varying colors and I spray painted them black. The furniture is from Target. This was certainly a case of delayed gratification. I didn't want to spend too much on them because well.. Anyway, I had to wait until I had the money, then I had to wait for them to go on sale. There is a cycle to their sale. I know cos I watched for 4 months. Then, when it finally went on sale, the chairs were not free shipping. I ran to Target to get the debit card so I could get free shipping but alas I couldn't buy online with the temporary card so I had to wait another month for the chairs to go on sale again to the price I wanted to pay. Yeah, I've become a bargain hunter. I'm telling you, the damage I could have done with $1000 at west elm, knowing what I know now. But I digress.
The rug I bought in Miami as well. There is this "antique" shop in the area where my first apartment was. As usual, I was terrified to go in. I equate antique with crazy mad expensive. But it was mad cool. I spent many hours in there talking to the salesman. He even gave me a figurine (which I later donated, couldn't stand the smell). We bargained and chatted and whatnot. I even got offered a job. The owner of the store, also owned a pediatric clinic right below it. I was just a first year at the time, plus umm I didn't really trust that clinic.
Be that as it may. I still think I overpaid for what I got. This rug is not an antique. I think it was even made in Georgia recently. LOL. But the experience was worth it now that I think back on it. I think he was going to charge me $100 but by the time I bought two other items he may have reduced it a bit more.
Wait, let me a shed a tear. I miss Miami.
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| Centerpiece |
Another thrifted find, on Easter Sunday no less. My original plan was to put a plant in water but it died. I'm telling you, I am a brown thumb out here. One time, I pinched, just like I pinched the plant that died, a leaf from some foliage. I had that leaf in water for almost 2 years, it grew very slowly but it didn't die! I had to leave it behind when I moved down here. Maybe the water is killing the plants. Maybe I need to use bottled water. I am really perplexed here.
Anyway, I settled for pine cones that I found during my morning runs. The tea light holders are from ikea from way back who knows.
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| Adwa! |
I had to showcase this. I have a thing for posters. I saw this poster in 1999 and I took it, and I have had it ever since. I love
Haile Gerima. He also did Sankofa. I need to own that. I should get on it.
And there you have it.
I bought the sectional in Miami as well. Am not too fond of it anymore, but I am not buying anything until I own a house. The TV stand is from K-Mart. Yes K-Mart. I bought it in Miami too. It fit perfectly with my decor at the time and it was $40. Yes, pricey for me now, but a bargain then considering the options I had then.
Any questions, please feel free to ask. I really need to figure out this camera soon because I have more pictures to take.
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