Home Improvement On the Cheap

I agree with you,Im not a big stainless steel fan.I was thinking about these....




Might be a good idea to cover a dish washer. I think Im just excited about having a home.Never had a home of my own before.But I keep the expense down.But you did some major work in your old home. Talking about having a small space for counters reminded me of when I use to travel and sing.We had a 32ft motor home. Everyone thought it was so big.I told them "live in it for 6months out of the year and its gets really small really fast.lol I traveled around lot so having a big house is a whole new experience. I had no idea what colors to use,what to use to decorate I was panicked.But my hubby was really great and helped me make the decisions we needed tne day we were looking for decor for our kitchen and I was tired of looking and was cranky and near tears.He gently said "sweetie we're not leaving this store till you pick something,I know you can do it".lol lol I did finally pick something. Its a big job to put a house together.Like you said I also cant be bothered to make mine look like a magazine.My sister is like that.She does special paint and decor,everything matches.I cant be bothered.lol I just want it to look inviting and make people feel welcome.Thanks for the compliment btw

Hold the phone!!! I just saw this idea....may be the next project!! lol lol

Kaylagirl, you CAN have painted countertops -- but you can't paint the formica. So, you would need new plywood with nosing on the edge (Home Depot has a product called sandiply which paints nicely). You also can't cut on it as it will definitely leave a mark. But, for the money, you can buy pre-fabricated formica at HD pretty inexpensively. The only problem is there is little variety to choose from. Once you get to custom colors, it's gets expensive.

You could also choose ceramic tile -- you can't get some awesome colors pretty cheaply.

Actually I like that one Kaylagrl (the tin here) that could work. I have also seen backsplashes done in tin as well.

If I absolutely had to chose I would prefer this one to the first one that you posted (cause I dont like my stuff to look like my oven mitts lol) and those prints remind of that.

Seriously though, if I would decorate the way I truly wanted it would be very rustic, I love rustic everything. Althought when looking for kitchen arangement ideas (with similar layouts) that I could work with (less expensively) I thought of this one (for the layout only)



I dont like the floors either, I like large rustic planks of wood, the kind you could get splinters on if you dragged your feet (while walking barefoot)

This (whole set up) is really a cheap modern way of trying to produce an effect that wouldnt appeal to me either. I cannot find one kitchen on the internet under rustic kitchens that I like (even out of thousands of pictres).
They just look like new (overly expensive) bad copies of the older. Too much mix between modern and old (which are like updated replica's)

But it was only the lay out (above) is what I was trying "to imagine" when considering how I might do it (with the least amount of an expense) which you can sorta see (from the below pic from this angle) some kind of possibility (minus the window option course) but again... those dumb square pillars (which are pipe covers prevent me) and we have no basement, so I wouldnt know what to do with that one.



I dont like a kitchen without windows, its isolating.

I have always wanted to ask what on earth made them decide on putting the fridge all the way down the other end of the kitchen (leaving not one bit of counterspace to rest anything that was pulled from the fridge on it). Thats a pain, but you wouldnt really know that until trying to work with it.

I think Im done looking around though, Im approaching 50, it might not look updated, but neither did my granmothers home's (although now, to be quite honest) I would have loved to gotten my old grandmothers home with all the old kool stuff in it, which I would look for) lol

Its so weird how that works

Okay, remember, I only have the pictures. Don't laugh. Why not expose the pipes. Either paint and make rustic look, as there is pipe in living room from the fire stove. So you paint pipes to look rustic, but clean rustic. Then build counter around that the open pipes.

Maybe change the look of the coverings.

Now then: DH, don't hide the pipes any more. Don't be ashamed. Let them be. Free them! You can do this.

Really, maybe the pipes can be cleaned up and made bold, then go with it a bold counter around that. How about an old rustic table to fit between the pipes and look attached to the pipes. maybe you can build two oval tables around the pipes. Just don't be ashamed. We are with you.

You might be able to use the pipes when exposed to hold or support items. Who knows.

I am busy now, just wanted to check. Thanks for not being offended by anything I wrote.

Okay, now meditate. "Must not hide pipes. Must not hide pipes. Pipes must be freed."

Best,
Galahad.

for a quick fix, if you can't afford furniture stands, milk crates work nicely. I've used them for bedside tables, tv stands, etc. Also empty cardboard boxes work good too for holding books, tapes, etc.. turn the box sideways and you have a mini bookshelf.

Yay!! Looks like a cool idea!

Oh thanks for that info.That will be a down the road project I think.One to save up for.I still have some rooms that need paint yet.But I will keep this in mind when I do get to the project.

Nah, I think that would look even more retarded.

Listen Galahad (I jest, but not really) because I would definately not hire you to redo anything in my home LOL!!

And no, you did not offend me in the least.

I cant really be offended because I hated the house when I bought it. So it was retarded (to me) then and its retarded (to me) now, especially since nothing has changed since I bought it.

I love rustic, but this is not "that".

I think you might be under the impression that when I bought it I thought, "yah, groovy baby!"

Sparing you the details, I pretty much made a rushed out of state purchase purchase, and I reasoned we would get to renovating it later (without eyeballing it close enough). Anyway, long story short my kid died two years after moving in, and so renovating didnt remain high on my priority list any longer.

I think if I loved the things of this world, and love it (in general) I could possibly feel my taste was insulted, but since Ive always hated it (as I have already shared that it is not my taste) and havent done a thing to it (from the start) I cant possibly be offended. I didnt design it.

And given this is a "renovation thread" (and on the cheap), that should naturally tell anyone I am interested in changing some things (without spending that much money) but that Im just running into problems and short on ideas on my end.

However, it is still a sin for me before Christ to become lured in and covetous about these things. Because I can live here contently with what I have but sometimes I get that spring itch, as I clean up and and clean out and try to organize. But in respects to any of the changes you had advised, there are just some things (which if changed) wouldnt really make that much of a difference (at least to me) especially for the cost involved.

And I had already thought of recessed lights, and update the ones that were here I just decided against it. And I had never been big on pictures on any wall in my former house or this one but no one comes here (and the four of them we do have up are of our dead kid) and I dont think could even persaude my husband to rid the wall of them. And the reason we went to darker sofas is because our dogs would jump on them (and it just worked for us because they dont show as much). It was just practical in a 5 dog house, That sort of thing. But they have all passed but one, and I knew I wanted to wait till we were down to one dog before changing out the carpet.

I think this is why people who get paid to decorate for others get to know their clients first before offering any advice. Like the why's to their various odd choices (as they might be understood) and what bothers the person who lives there the most not the one who is just looking in from the outside but doesnt know the why's of some things.

But it really is about the things of this world (and fashioning our homes according to the worlds standards, in the appearances we allow or disallow) at any given time. So I try not to get carried away so much in all of it.

Thanks for your imput though

Pallet projects? Because I love those, because they are cheap and rustic looking.

I dont think they would be the same thing though

You can use them for rustic walls

Pallet walls



Pallet Desks









Pallet tables







Cheapy wood stuffs, I think alot of them are cute, way too many to post, but I wouldnt mind my kitchen cabinets to have that loo, that would work for rustic lol

Might not last so long, but as long as pallets remained easy to find, and either free, or inexpensive, who cares right?

I like pillows they are fun and set up a happy environment...


cotton linen couch cushion cover Creative bicycle pillowcase cheap the decorative throw pillows covers decorate for a sofa chair-in Pillow Case from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group


Cheap Pillow Case Creative Design Sofa Couch Seat Throw Pillows /Cushions Cover Office Decorative-in Cushion Cover from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group


Cotton Linen pillowcases cheap for pillows decorative throw pillows covers decorate for a sofa office chair cushion party decor-in Pillow Case from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group


High quality linen Decorative throw cushion cover set/ animals portfolio sofa Cushion cover /home Decor pillows cover 18"inches-in Cushion Cover from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group


New Retro Eiffel Tower Decorative Vintage Jacquard Cushion Covers Casual Two Sided Throw Pillow Case Home Decor Textile A2-in Cushion from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

DesiredHaven post 50
"I think that would look even more retarded. Listen Galahad because I would definately not hire you to redo anything in my home."

Love it. Hilarious. Thank you.
But ... Nah, never mind. Well, how about ... nope. I won't.
Okay, I was going to suggest, I forgot.

I unsubscribe

Peoples tastes are singular.I think each person has their own style and vision of what they like best.I had a woman offer to decorate my wedding cheaply.I told her what I liked and I thought we were totally on the same page.She told me if I didn't like something to let her know,she'd keep all the receipts and take it back.I thought it was totally under control. Well she came to me with her "designs" and it was the tackiest things I had ever seen.It looked like a group of four year olds put it together.I was so upset.I ended up having to fire her,in a round about way.She refuses to speak to anyone in my family.I'm sure by her standards she thought she did a great job.On top of it she wanted 900 $ and "may need more" for the tacky junk she put together.One mans trash is another mans treasure.People like what they like and you do what you feel comfortable with. Material things dont last.

I absolutely love that look. I was born and raised in the country and absolutely love the look of wood and have the rustic charm that these do. Not a bad a idea, I love the creativity.

Its funny how we like what we great up with.I grew up by the ocean but moved away and live a long way from a beach now.I have beach decor in my home anyway.lol Reminds me of growing up.

I know the one thing that I used to not like doing is spending a day going to yard sales. Believe me I did my share of them growing up. Now I absolutely love going to them because you can find one of a kind items and for the most part at great prices. I also like going to thrift stores, especially when a certain color is 1/2 half. There was one time where I bought a bunch of clothes and only spent about ten dollars on all of it. When I threw a bridal shower for my sister the thrift store was the first place I went for decorations and was able to make some of my own. I got told I did a beautiful job in decorating. Lets just say I don't like paying full price for anything, I am a savvy shopper.

I really love the Dollar Tree,they know me in there.lol I bought these pretty drinking glasses for fall.You'd never know they were only a dollar.Then they had ones with snowflakes for Christmas.The girls would see me coming and they'd go in the back and dig through the stock to get the dishes I wanted.You dont have to spend a lot to make a place look homey.

Glad you stopped in Miss Blue Ladybug! Always like to hear your opinion! Great ideas.Everyday things can always be useful.And since everyone is into upcycling it can be chic too!