Guest Room: mini makeover on nearly zero dollars

So when you have houseguests for a month, you want them to be comfy.  I had big plans to get this room in tip-top shape, but between all the hurdles of the last couple of weeks, I ended up just getting the furniture in there-- unpainted-- and calling it a day.  I have to say, though, it's still mighty cozy.

I hope you have learned by now that you SHOULD be going to thrift stores and shopping on Craigslist.  This room is living proof.  We started out with just the mattress-- the bedframe is a CL find that was brass, painted nickled silver, and blogged about here.  I. Love. It.  I wish it was my bed.  The side table we had-- it's an old sewing table.  We have a gorgeous antique secretary that was a wedding gift that would be perfect here-- I've always thought it was pine, but my husband informed me that nothing that heavy is possibly pine.  It is not light.  And our stairs are not gently sloping.  Maybe he'll move it up for me, though.  The small chest was inherited from my Grandmother, and it will be getting a coat of paint at some point-- probably "Talc" from Martha's new line for Home Depot-- it's such a perfect whiteish cream.  The map was a $5 find from Adelaide's, and is destined for my boys' room, but it is large and fills up some space and I was in a hurry.  Round mirror (moderatley similiar to this one) was $10 at a resale shop-- I'm going to sand off the varnish at some point.

Pillows made by yours truly.  The linen ones are a linen/cotton blend drapery panel that I found thrifting for two bucks.  I sat with my seam ripper and 15 minutes of Sienfeld and took it apart, yielding 3 yardsx 60 inches of fabric.  Not too shabby.  I wish I'd thought to add a cute boxpleat ruffle edge-- I spied on in a phot here.  I just might go back and do it.  Ticking is from Leisure in High Point ($3/yard)-- I bought 10 yards last month and wish I had bought more-- I can use it EVERYWHERE!  Lamp is from the Salvation Army-- very similar to the one in Lauren's pad and the one Jenny's sister now has.  I have some linen in the exact same shade as the lamp to make a long pillow for the bed-- maybe this week? (ha.)  The curtains are actually pure linen tablecloths I bought on clearance at Wal-Mart about 5 years ago for $1.99 each (I'm so, so sorry little Chinese child who made you.  If it makes you feel better, I'm doing my part to put you out of a job now.)

The chair is a cast-off from my neighbor-- just like this one, but for $0 instead of,  you know, $2700.  Right now it's covered in a leftover slipcover cushion-cover (from another neighbor), but I plan to paint the frame black and have it reupholstered (by a pro) in a muslin with exposed tacks and extra-large nailhead (ala here) when I have the money.  The little cabinet, which used to be the top of a hutch, I think-- stuffed full of all kinds of yummy books-- was $20 at a thrift store, and will get a coat of "Talc" and a navy blue interior.  The mirror above is from Adelaide's, around $20, and will become navy blue, as well.  I'm planning to add a little coffe pot and some snacks to the cabinet.  I just threw what I passed on my way upstairs on top-- my Fenton glass and a little terrarium box (that needs a plant!)

The window seat is stocked with magazines, kids books and linens.  The curtains are more of those tablecloths.  Eventually a cute cushion and pillows are coming to the window seat.  AND-- I'm really stoked abou this-- the ugly carpet will come out and I can paint the existing (and badly damaged) hardwoods!  Grey? White? Stripes?  Thoughts? 

Thanks for indulging me in this loooong post.  I'm feeling so much better-- I caved and took both antibiotics and predensone (for a heat-related rash that had turned my hands into the ickiest glove-like mass of blisters you have ever seen.)  I try to treat myself at home as much as possible with natural stuff, but for this, I called in the big guns.  Just wish I'd done it last week.  And I'm delighted to report that Charlie-dog is home and ravenous-- must have been an odd doggie stomach bug.  He's so happy to be an only dog for the first time in 8 years that we wanted him to get to live long to enjoy it.

That tutorial?  It's comin'.  I promise.