WHY NOT WEDNESDAY : January blah fix for a buck!

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$1 home decor, Accessories, antique vintage chandelier crystals, budget decorating, Candle, coarse sea salt candle, decorating after Christmas, decorating on a budget, decorating the kitchen, decorating with antique crystals, decorating with candles, decorating with coffee bean burlap candy crsytals, decorating with coffee beans, decorating with valentine candies, February home decorating, Home and Garden, home decor, home decor after the holidays, home decor candles, home decor on the cheap, hone decor for under $1, Interior design, January decor for cheap, January home decorating, making a home cosy in winter, Tips for decorating on a budget, tips on decorating in January, tips onhome decorating after the holidays, winter home decorating

“candles, candy, coffee beans, crystals and a dash of salt!”

It’s January.  The holiday decorations are put away, the planning and entertaining has been replaced by daily routines and many of us are trying to get back on a budget in order pay down that credit card before spring.  Blah.

Still, it’s nice to treat yourself and your space to a little something new.  With the lose change floating around at the bottom of your purse and a few items you may already have around the house, you can create a cute custom candle or two!

Pretty Edible: This tarnished silver crystal bowl was $1 (check out those second hand shops people!).  The small vanilla scented candle ($1) and bag of valentine heart candies (also for $1) were both purchased at the Dollarama.

Wedding Leftovers & Coffee Beans: Dig out one of those centrepiece vases you were lucky enough to bring home from the last wedding you attended (sarcasm alert!) or pick up something new (the round glass vase pictured, was only $1).  Browse your collection of candles (or treat yourself to a new one).  Add a couple of scoops of whole coffee beans to your vase (about $1 worth, from a bag that cost me about $6) for an adorable, not to mention great smelling, candle -perfect for the kitchen!

Q. What is that?
A. Chandelier crystals, duh!

Bling It: Who doesn’t have a pile of antique chandelier crystals hanging around am I right? OK, well I had some sitting in a closet …and one day I just thought; “hey my crystals might be cute in this candle holder with the woodsy smelling candle I scored for a couple of bucks!“.  It is, and I love it! (candle from Michael’s arts and crafts store).

Faux Snow: Here (below) is an idea that comes in way under a buck.  A pretty glass from your pantry, some coarse sea salt and a tea candle = a sweet winter theme candle!

The 101: Why spend a lot on something you are literally going to set on fire!!?

Q. What is ‘CINQ‘?
A. It’s French for ‘FIVE‘

DIY canvas photo peg board

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bar decor, basement decor, basement decorating, budget decorating, canvas can be used as peg board, canvas peg board, DIY blog, DIY home decorating, DIY memory board, DIY message board, DIY peg board, Do it yourself, Easy DIY photo board, home bar, home decorating, home decorating tips website, HomeSense, inexpensive photo board, interior decorating, photo message black board, vintage peg board, Visual Arts

“Push pins work pretty good on painted canvas”

What’s a home bar without some great photos of friends… old memories you can recount and toast to?  For some reason when I walked into Le Carrefour De L’espoir (second hand shop) and saw this original (yet, let’s be honest, ugly) art piece, I knew immediately it’s second life would be as a peg board for our basement bar.

Something about the frame looked 70′s ish with its slightly yellowed fabric (think, smoky cigar lounge) but the faded black and gold accent frame seemed right on.  I snapped it up for $20.  Maybe it was a little pricey (considering), but I really had been looking for a long time, and I knew I wanted something “authentic” vintage and not new “made-in-China” from some retail chain.

TIP: “every room in your home should have a thing or two that is old, unique or eclectic”

With a paint brush and a tube of black chalk board paint I painted over it.  I know I know, you’re thinking: “huh?”  First, I knew I wanted to paint it black and already had this stuff laying around the house.   Second, the painting was done in oil and already textury (OK, that is not a real word but you get me).  So painting it with a small brush instead of a roller to help even out and add even more texture seemed like a good idea.  Third, I knew most of it would be covered by photos anyways so I thought “who cares!?”.

More bar pics to come soon! Thanks for checking in -Julie

*re-posted by BOB VILA NATION on December 5th, 2012

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Fake Chalk Board

Chloe’s Room: bohemian-vintage inspired

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bobvila, Bohemian inspired bedroom, budget decorating, Chloe's Bedroom, Decorating a child kid girl's bedroom, DIY kids decor, easy DIY painted wall mural, Emeco desk chair, Girl's bedroom decor inspiration photos, Girl's Vintage Bedroom, gold silver leaf desk, hand painted tree with UMBRA 3D flowers, Home Decorating Kids, home styling, Hot Pink Aqua Bedroom, pink blue yellow room, redesigning, Repurposing, salmon pink watermelon aqua, Shoe pattern lamp shade, spray painted bedside table, swing arm elbow curtain rod, Tips for decorating on a budget, under bed storage for small toys, vintage desk, Vintage doll house redo, Vintage Emeco Desk Chair

Kids bedrooms are a great place to take decorating risks: Try a new DIY project, choose a paint color you would never dare use in the living room or re-purpose an old piece of furniture.  It doesn’t have to cost a bundle for a child’s bedroom to change and reflect their personality as they grow up.

The baby blanket I made for Chloe when she was a year old was the inspiration for her new room (in the new house).

The bed and color scheme below might be too childish for when Chloe becomes a senior in high school, but imagine the same bed repainted in high gloss black or kelly green  -with zebra print sheets!  Suddenly the look is much more fun and mature -a whole new look for the cost of a sheet set and a can of paint!  Meanwhile this color palette of watermelon pink, sunlight yellow and ethereal blue add to the sweet vintage vibe which suits her right now.

A variety of watermelon pink hues, sunlight gold and icy aqua blues make up the rooms color palette and give it a vintage vibe!

This twin sized bed has a laid back feminine feeling by mixing and matching different co-ordinating vintage patterns and colors.

Imagination required: icy pale blue walls, crystal chandelier, feathery faux fur throw, freehand painted white tree with 3D flowers and a yellow sky? Why not?

No need to hire an artist (or be one) for this wall mural! Using leftover white trim paint simply paint out a trunk and a few branches (don’t over think it!), pin a few 3D flowers by Umbra and you’re done!

Inexpensive sheer drapery panels on swing arm elbow curtain rods are fun and different, and give the feeling of shutters, while horizontal white wood blinds installed inside the window frame provide privacy and room darkening.

Chloe loves animals (and shoes!); Luckily it’s easy to find cute and fun animal art in most home decor shops.

An old and outdated bedside table takes on a more custom and whimsical look with a coat of watermelon-pink spray paint and a light mist of gold over top.   The gold oval mirror picks up the shape of the door hardware which I also spray painted gold (I love how they look like earrings!)

Re-purpose old or outdated furniture in a fun color for a child’s bedroom!

Chloe’s vintage desk/vanity: I silver and gold leafed the desk top and re-upholstered the adjustable vintage Emeco desk chair (I scored a few years ago for $15) in hot pink velvet.  Peel and stick mirrored wall hooks from the dollar store are a no fuss way to store necklaces and bracelets.

A magnetic board painted with chalk-board paint and an unused galvanized metal window box hung below it now holds eraser, chalk and snowflake magnets (in winter, flower magnets in summer!).

An adorable shoe printed table lamp with an amber color light bulb provides soft lighting for reading before bed.

Of course, Chloe’s room doesn’t look this tidy all of the time! Under bed bins provide easy hidden storage for small toys and dress-up clothes. (The doll-house was mine, a kit-build from 1979, I redecorated it and gave it to Chloe when she turned two!)

What little girl doesn’t want a pink walk-in closet complete with a pink fringe entry?

Girl’s bohemian-vintage inspired bedroom

The 101: spray paint can transform and update just about any furniture or accessory and keeping your redecorating costs to a minimum!  Look in the garage, storage closet and kitchen cupboards for items you don’t need or use every day which could be re-imagined in your child’s space.  Usually pushing furniture up against the wall is a decorating no-no, but making sure that a child is comfortable and has enough space to spread out and play with a friend is more important than aesthetics!  Hit up dollar stores, clearance bins, second hand shops and grandma’s house …not only will it save you money, but you can end up with some really unique finds and as an added bonus you won’t feel too badly when one day your child decides she longer likes pink!

Check out my boards on PINTEREST

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My Dining Room

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budget decorating, Burlap Curtains in the Dining Room, burlap drapes, collecting shelves, color palette dining room, colours to paint dining room, Cozy Dining Room, Dark Walls, Decorating and Displaying your collections, Dining Room, Dining Room Decorating Inspiration, Dining Room Photos, displaying art collections, interior decorating, Julie Cadieux, Making a Traditional Dining Room more Modern, painting dining room, Restoration Hardware, Timless Eclectic Dining Room, Vintage Emeco Chairs, Vintage Furniture in your Dining Room, Vintage Steel Lawyers Bookcase, Wine Theme decorating

Dining room wall color: Intellectual.  Pale grey wall color leading to the dining room: Ash, both from Behr paints.

My dining room has two large windows and two separate arched entries leading to it, one off the home’s main entrance, the other just off the open living/kitchen area.  The bones of the room itself could be considered quite formal with its high ceiling, large moldings, medium width maple floors in a bark colored stain, traditional style windows and a dramatic light fixture by Kichler.  However, its the eclectic furniture and decor that make the space feel more modern and relaxed.

The left side of the arched entry has display shelves, for balance the right side has a small gallery which re-enforces the dining rooms wine theme.

My home can be described as a red brick colonial, which I custom built, and so while choosing the finishes I tried to keep in mind that this type of architecture is traditional and elegant yet simple;  I wanted the look and feeling of an older home that had been updated and modernized without compromising its integrity -oh and of course, all of this on a very tight budget!

My dining table is from Restoration Hardware and the aluminium chairs are vintage  Emeco, which I re-furbished myself.  The red voluptuous armless loveseat is far from new -but is a new addition to the dining room.  It looks great here against the wall color, although it sits a little too low, I have plans to raise it by either replacing the legs or doing some kind of diy project to it.  The vast empty wall behind it was initially going to get an art installation but I’ve since grown to appreciate its plainness.

Vintage Emeco Chair

The lamp and drapery rods echo the finish of the light fixture, yet the burlap curtains are a surprising contrast and are definitely key in helping to make the room feel less serious (more on my DIY burlap curtains here).

The lamp, light fixture and curtain rods all have clear crystal and chrome in common.

Dining Room light fixture by Kichler Lighting purchased from Multi-Luminaire.

The vintage steel lawyers bookcase is my pride and joy;  I refurbished it years ago.   sanding off the powder coated charcoal paint to expose the industrial steel underneath.  I use it to store and display my wine glasses (which I collect) and wine related accessories.

Although red is the main recurring pop of color in the room, the handmade rustic yellow pottery, the gold tray and yellow label from the Veuve Cliquot champagne bottle all pick up on the hint of yellow in the rich red abstract painting.

The three floating steel shelves are a nod to the vintage cabinet and make a great place to display more wine items along with my collections of mushrooms (more on the mushroom collection here).

Stainless steel shelves display collections. Curtains made of simple burlap.

Less expensive then fresh cut flowers; real-live plants add contrast, texture and interest to any space.

The moody wall color is called Intellectual and I love how it changes from brown to charcoal to black depending on the lighting.  The molding, trim and ceiling is the most milky of high gloss whites, Ultra Pure White both from Behr.

Hang art off centre and layer objects in front of it for an easy and casual vignette

The 101: To avoid the cold and boring ‘dining room from the store’ look don’t buy a dining set, instead try mixing different furniture.  Mixing eras can help make the space feel inviting and eclectic.  If you have a collection, display it together for the most impact.  Paint can do wonders for setting a mood.  Moldings and even ceilings can take on a different vibe painted in a high gloss finish.

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DIY Mirrored Coffee Table

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a mirror and a used coffee table, bobvila, budget decorating, buy a wall mirror make a coffee table, discounted mirrors, DIY blog, DIY furniture, DIY Mirrored Coffee Table, do it yourself mirror table, How to make a mirrored occasional table, Julie Cadieux, Mirrored Furniture, The Hudson St-Lazare Gazette, wall mirror becomes coffee table

I love mirrored furniture.  Loved it even before it became a hot new trend in home decor and pieces could be snatched up a places like Target!  It brings glam, luxe and a feminine vibe to a room.  Plus, I am a firm believer that every space needs some sparkle so if you don’t have it in the form of candle holders or picture frames then this is a good way to get some!

After months of shopping for a coffee table, I decided that either a super modern glass table or a charming vintage-y mirrored one would be the way to go.  But every time I came across a potential candidate it was too perfect and pricey;  I like nice things but I don’t like feeling I have to run around strategically placing coasters or plastic sheeting to protect my family or guests from my stuff.

One day I was perusing the wall mirrors at HomeSense  (a.k.a. HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Marshals, Winners), when I had a vision: so many of these mirrors which were meant for walls could totally be re-imagined as tables.  I was psyched.

That’s when a large mirror reduced from $189 to $49 spoke to me.  Sure the frame was scratched (already distressed? perfect) and it had two tiny cracks on one of the mirrored tiles (nothing a pile of magazines couldn’t hide?).

After I hauled it into my car, atop my groceries -during a snow storm might I add, I popped over to a local second hand shop where I had seen a cute coffee table the week before with a bowed top (as if someone sat on it).  Luckily it was still there, the perfect size (slightly smaller than my mirror) and for $10 it was cheaper and sturdier (because of the framing) than buying pre-made legs from the hardware store.

Later in the garage I removed the table top, gave it a quick coat of black spray paint and with a little wood glue and some screws I re-attached the base to my mirror.

I was amazed at how awesome it looked, how little it cost me and how impressed the kids were that I whipped up a coffee table between dinner and dessert!

The 101:  Scan the isles of your favorite store for discounted mirrors with a frame that could pass as an occasional table.  Rather than buying pre-made furniture legs at the hardware store, look for a used table or even re-purpose one you already own.  Spray paint is a quick fix to make odd pieces match.

*Slightly different version of above article was also featured on The Hudson St. Lazare Gazette‘s web site on Wednesday January 11, 2012

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