inspired

my move to NY is just around the corner which means the inspiration boards begin :)
my hubby and i decided to tough it out in his place, which happens to be the grimmiest of all projects in Harlem :S on the bright side i get to save money and i always love a challenge :) i wish i had photos of the apartment on me but as soon as i'm down there i'll take photos and post. i can't remember where i found all these darling images. when i come across something i like on the web i just grab the photo and put it in my inspiration folder. i usually prowl flickr, apartment therapy, or a few of the design blogs i follow here on blogspot. i'd like to go for something playful and retro of course and similar to my vangroovy pad you can see here. but this time around i'm going for modern touches here and there... a little more refined frugal if you will :)
here are just a few images. my keyword searches include: eclectic, retro, bohemian, modern

have a seat

i officially have a fetish with vintage chairs. dang...i guess i have a lot of obsessions. anyways, i found this beauty at Salvation Army on 12th & Main St. for $9.99. i bought the fabric from ikea for $6.99/m but you only need half a meter. so simpo!
cost: $13.49+tax

seat had paint stains. but i really like the design elements of the chair. very graphic. me likey.

just undo the screws

cut out a circle pattern with enough give to go around the chair and get stapled. i picked this graphic pattern to make this chair shine in all its glory. sew a zig zag stitch along the edges to prevent fabric from fraying

staple away

screw the seat back on and voila!

retro revamped

i know i haven't touched this blog in forever, but hopefully i can get it going again. i've recently been inspired by fellow bloggers and artists and a slew of frugal art that i've accumulated in the past four months. so to start off...
i found this amazing couch for FREE on craigslist a year ago. well it wasn't so amazing at the time but i loved the shape of it and it pulls out into a bed. this is what the original looked like:



then i started to take it apart so i could make a pattern.



next: measure, cut, and sew



i found the fabric at ikea in the "as is" department for $100. it was originally a slip cover but i reinvented it.




costs: $100(fabric)+$25(mover)+$15(odds/ends)+extreme patience

i just need to finish the buttons and sew a slew of pillows to complete the look.