Oh, NO they didn't!

Many faux celebrities, reality 'stars', and 15-Minutes-of-Famers will do almost anything to get media attention.   Some decorators aren't much different:

Source

Believe it or not, this is the 'after'.  I totally get that

reproductions of early Edison bulbs are the rage

among hip designers, but please don't hang them

with an orange extension cord.

Source

More 'bare bulb lighting by extension cord' concept.

Ridiculous.

Note to self:  there's a fine line between edgy and dumb.

Another pass on the bare bulb chandelier.

This might be the first time in the history of

interior decorating photos that someone

forgot to put the cat's food bowl out of sight!

This presentation came as a total shock to me when

I found out it was from Architectural Digest. 

As Mamaw would say, "They know better."

Source

Okay, we totally get the dramatic technique and

symbolism of emphasizing proportion in our lives

but a Godzilla cabbage rose?  Seriously?

Source

Who forgot to tell me there was an Ugly Lamp Contest?

Apparently, Vogue thought it was uber cool to hang a

larger-than-life print of Elizabeth Taylor with a cocktail

in her hand while wearing lingerie in a nursery.  

A huge NO on so many levels.

Source

Actually, this is a beautiful (if a little anemic) design - except

for that awkward booth seat right in the middle.  Why do I

feel the urge to turn my 6 year old grandson loose in this

room with a triple chocolate ice cream cone?

My sentiments are the same for the room below - classic white

and the tablescape is fab.   But why would you load the

bookshelves with garish paperbacks and dvds, not to

mention the $8 print from WalMart hanging over

the beautiful fireplace? 

Source

Source

Ask yourself, "If company stopped by where would they sit?"

Lounge sofas might be the worst invention of the design

world but that torturous metal chair could be a close second.

And don't even get me started on the dust magnet that is their

flowery artwork.  (Kinda diggin' the oriental statue, though.)

Source

The 80's are back?!   Laura Ashley is out of rehab?

What kind of Toy Land lamps are those? 

For what the homeowner paid, shouldn't

the chandelier be hung straight?

After viewing these 'professional' faux pas,

don't you feel better about your own home? 

I certainly do.

Watching our pennies

A friend recently said, "Things are so tight, even our piggy bank is on a diet."

In today's economy we're all watching our nickels and dimes more carefully.  As the cost of the 'basic essentials'  goes up, it can be hard to find money for a decorating budget.

The philosophy behind fleaChic has always been Re-do, Re-use, Recycle.  I'm proud to have coined a new word:  Repurposefulness. 

Here are some ordinary items that were repurposed in clever and thrifty ways:

Designer Marguerite Moulin framed her grandmother's
vintage hankerchiefs to create this charming grouping.

The 'art' below is actually the envelope from an
ancestor's letter that was blown up and framed:

 Source

Source
Another personal presentation is this enlarged
sheet music from the homeowner's wedding!

Source
Create your own work of art with
materials lying around the house. 

Source

Turn an old spice tin into a useful refrigerator magnet!

Rashon Caraway, aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting, 
combined two of my favorite activities -

Before & After and Repurposing:

BEFORE - an art easel from a thrift store 

AFTER - the easel became its own useful
work of art and is now a TV stand:

Source

We're all not lucky enough to own vintage wooden buckets but these make darling lamps.

Source

Caster wheels were added to a rough shipping crate to make a portable coffee table.

LOVE the re-claimed wood chair, too.

Here's another photo of a small crate being used as a coffee table.  Thrifty, clever, and fleachic!

Source

A simple, painted boat oar became a

handrail for the entrance to a lake home.

Source

People often think that antique and vintage pieces are

delicate and should be admired but not used.  Hogwash! 

This mail sorter has been put to work holding family

items that are easily misplaced.

Source

A desk drawer was turned into a bedside
shelf, the perfect perch for night time reading.

Laura at Decor to Adore was sent a cigar box

from a relative with the challenge to make 

something unique and charming with it.  She did!

Laura decided to make the cigar box an homage to

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  She lined the

box with a yellowed page from the play that she found

in an old poetry book.  She included a small picture of

the famed poet, two inexpensive little figurines that she

found on eBay, and a doll house cupboard containing tiny

items to represent the young lovers' troubles.  Sortilège!

Laura's delightful project should encourage us to think 'outside the box' when it comes to reusing, recycling, and repurposing everyday items.  Put your creativity to work and have a wonderful weekend!

Simply Sublime . . . . . . .

Source

Source

Source

 www.hgtv.com

 Source

 Source

 Source

Source

Source

 Source

Source

Source

 Source

 Source

 Source

 Source

Source

Source

The Simply Sublime Tour of the Day is over.  Go back to work.

People, meet Kristine

One of the cutest, most entertaining blogs on the net is The Painted Hive.  The site is hosted by Kristine, the undisputed Queen of Restoration in Melbourne, Australia.  The Painted Hive features tons of Before and After projects along with photos and commentaries that appeals to the thrift in all of us.

Here are just a few of the many restorations she's posted:

BEFORE - tired, sad little cabinet:

AFTER - an almost unbelievable transformation:

Kristine transferred the template below onto the knobs:

BEFORE - the picture is a bit grainy but you can see

the ho-hum blandness of this telephone bench:

AFTER - how charming is the bench now?! 

It works so well at the foot of the bed.

BEFORE - we've all seen dressers like the one

below at thrift stores and yard sales:

AFTER - the laminate and wood were in

good enough condition that Kristine was able

to polish the dresser and add new pulls:

Before - this pine armoire was just waiting

for the right buyer with vision:

AFTER - beautiful, right?!

BEFORE - here's a photo of Kristine's bedroom:

AFTER - what an amazing difference.
Notice her newly renovated pine armoise?!

BEFORE - a dull, ordinary table:

AFTER - yes, it's the same table
but now it's a serving cart:

Look at the surprise on top - sheet music!

Too charming!


BEFORE - this vanity was in sore need of salvation:

AFTER - so darling!

Do you prefer the vanity with the mirror or without?

BEFORE - how many times have we all walked
right past an almost-tacky painting without
considering the beautiful frame?

AFTER - look at the frame now holding
a vintage lithograph of Paris:

BEFORE - I'm still undecided about

the fate of this precious little table:

AFTER - it does look charming:

BEFORE - a previous owner had painted this

cabinet white but it still needed Kristine's touch:

AFTER - the cabinet is so much more appealing

with Kristine's "distressing" techniques:

 BEFORE - Kristine sanded the top of
the table below due to the excellent
condition of the wood:

AFTER - the painted legs and frame of
the table make the stained top POP:

BEFORE - ordinary (i.e. boring) coffee table:

AFTER - perfect for a beach house or cottage:

Be sure to stop by The Painted Hive and take a look at
some of Kristine's other projects.  She's one talented Aussie!