Furniture Shopping

Since we moved into our new-to-us c.1928 house last July, I have learned just how much money it takes to furnish a house (a lot more than I can spend and still be considered responsible), and how much time it takes to do it on a budget. Even after buying a refrigerator, washer/dryer, two sofas, an entertainment center, a kitchen table and chairs, three armchairs, two ottomans, furniture for the nursery, shelving, bookcases, storage bench, some bedding, and several accessories (all at the best deal I could find without waiting forever), our house does not yet feel completely finished. But I know that what makes a house a home are the relationships of the people who live there and the memories made there - not the fancy furniture and perfect decor... so I'm trying to be patient with my not quite finished living spaces. The better I am at being patient with it, the more fun it becomes to find those last finishing touches.

Back in August I found this Pottery Barn Kids magazine rack at DownEast Home (a great place to find discounted furniture and accessories) for more than half off the original price.

With my mother's encouragement I snatched it up, and Ben hung it in Paige's room to hold her books. Its espresso finish matched the cherry wood of her crib perfectly. But she moved out of the nursery in December and moved into a big girl bed and room which has no place to hold her books. Since there is limited floor space (old house = smallish rooms) I really wanted to get the same magazine rack in white for her room. But DownEast isn't the kind of place that carries the same things all the time, and I didn't want to pay the Pottery Barn Kids price tag.

Today while sorting through a stack of old mail I came across a catalog called Through the Country Door. I had never heard of this company before, never received a catalog, yet there on the front was a sticker telling me this could be my last one unless I ordered something. Both girls were napping so I thought I'd give it a look even though the style I'm going for in this house is more modern, more YHL, than country. And lo and behold what did I find? This.


Same dimensions, same materials, same everything, MUCH lower price,and it comes in white. I did a quick online search and found a 15% off promo code. Ordered :)

This or this is what I might be saving up for next.




For any of you looking to get ideas or decorate for less, I like these sites:
copycatchic.com
younghouselove.com
littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

And if you're ambitious/handy, take a look here:
knockoffwood.blogspot.com

Do you have any sites you like to go to for DIY or ideas for less? Please share.