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Saving Money on "Vintage" style
We're finally getting around to decorating the house we moved into back in November (I'm almost embarrassed to admit I'm still cleaning out boxes). We want to decorate the living room with a vintage rock feel. I'd like to save as much money as possible by making and re-purposing everything I can.
Here's what I've come up with so far (luckily my husband could really care less what I do, so I have free reign here). Any advice or ideas is VERY welcome! I want to reupholster our navy couches (we brought our college furniture with us... I know, it's so sad!). I want them to be black with red piping. I'm going to try to make the pillows (not a seamstress in the least, so it will be interesting). I think I'm going to use the recycle the zebra fleece table runners we made for my cousin's 80's bridal shower (theme neon pink and zebra). I was thinking of making a few red pillows trimmed in zebra and then a few zebra pillows either trimmed in red or just straight zebra.
Other ideas:
- Vinyl album covers for artwork - LOVE to get the bands that represent my husband and my style (which my son is quickly picking up on) -- Queen, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Blondie, Johnny Cash, Eagles, etc.
- Portrait shots of each member of the family playing their instrument or singing, then posterize it to look like a tour poster
- Make coasters out of old vinyl records (I have so many cheesy ones from my childhood, so I'd redue the label to fit the room).
- Guitar lamp -- my grandfather is actually making me a stained glass guitar lamp in black and red.
- I need to come up with some of curtains and a wall color. We have sany carpet and one wood paneling accent wall (other three are white).
Here's what I've come up with so far (luckily my husband could really care less what I do, so I have free reign here). Any advice or ideas is VERY welcome! I want to reupholster our navy couches (we brought our college furniture with us... I know, it's so sad!). I want them to be black with red piping. I'm going to try to make the pillows (not a seamstress in the least, so it will be interesting). I think I'm going to use the recycle the zebra fleece table runners we made for my cousin's 80's bridal shower (theme neon pink and zebra). I was thinking of making a few red pillows trimmed in zebra and then a few zebra pillows either trimmed in red or just straight zebra.
Other ideas:
- Vinyl album covers for artwork - LOVE to get the bands that represent my husband and my style (which my son is quickly picking up on) -- Queen, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Blondie, Johnny Cash, Eagles, etc.
- Portrait shots of each member of the family playing their instrument or singing, then posterize it to look like a tour poster
- Make coasters out of old vinyl records (I have so many cheesy ones from my childhood, so I'd redue the label to fit the room).
- Guitar lamp -- my grandfather is actually making me a stained glass guitar lamp in black and red.
- I need to come up with some of curtains and a wall color. We have sany carpet and one wood paneling accent wall (other three are white).
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Dobbins on -
I was forwarded to this discussion from the Decorating board on BabyCenter.
Curtains are going to be interesting, I agree.
Depending on their location, you could try using them as their own piece of custom artwork.
Such as, if you have old T-shirts or back patches or ripped up jeans, sew them together. It doesn't have to be particularly...pretty... lol
There's also the option of getting those band tapestries, and transforming those into curtains. All you have to do is fold the top portion down about 2 inches (measure the curtain rod first obviously) and sew a 1/4" seam all the way across.
http://www.rockstarhq.com/rocktaps/zeppelin.htm
Same goes for the throw pillows. I would use the same idea for the curtains above, just translate it to pillow form. -
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on -
Yes yes, I agree that it is much easier because my husband would care less about what I do to decorate our apartment! Things go much smoother this way!:)
Wow, you will be very busy with all these projects! I think that the zebra + red trimming pillow would be awesome! Red adds such a "punch":) It is boring when everything is neutral color:)
Also, I am wondering how will the guitar lamp look like? Does it take the shape of a guitar? I would love to see it when it is done!
Man.. you girls make me feel that I have done very little to decorate.. I haven't really tried making stuff myself but it sounds very interesting. It creates such a personalized feeling...
Joanna -
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on
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Hi Nicole,
Using curtains as artwork is a very interesting idea! I guess if I can even paint on the drapes and treat it as a picture instead of just curtain! Multi purpose! I like to paint water color and I wonder what kind of drape material will be good for that...?
Joanna
Nicole Dobbins said:I was forwarded to this discussion from the Decorating board on BabyCenter.
Curtains are going to be interesting, I agree.
Depending on their location, you could try using them as their own piece of custom artwork.
Such as, if you have old T-shirts or back patches or ripped up jeans, sew them together. It doesn't have to be particularly...pretty... lol
There's also the option of getting those band tapestries, and transforming those into curtains. All you have to do is fold the top portion down about 2 inches (measure the curtain rod first obviously) and sew a 1/4" seam all the way across.
http://www.rockstarhq.com/rocktaps/zeppelin.htm
Same goes for the throw pillows. I would use the same idea for the curtains above, just translate it to pillow form. -
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Permalink Reply by Ivy on -
Wow... I never thought about using tapestries as curtains! That is the coolest idea! I love the price too! The windows in our living room are fairly small, so I might even be able to use on tapestry for each window (just cut in half and hem the edges).
That is such an awesome idea! I did think about the t-shirts as pillows, but I never thought about using "patches" of multiple ones. This is going to be fun!
Joanna, the lamp will look like this except 3-d and red, instead of blue.
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Dobbins on
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You can't use watercolors on fabric, it spreads too much and kind of disappears. You can purchase silk paints, but they're quite expensive.
You can use acrylics. They make the fabric stiff, but since they're curtains it probably doesn't matter, and would even add another element of texture to your room.
If you don't want it to be stiff, try this stuff: http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-gac-900-fabric-medium
You need to make sure you wash and dry the fabric sans-softener.
Joanna said:Hi Nicole,
Using curtains as artwork is a very interesting idea! I guess if I can even paint on the drapes and treat it as a picture instead of just curtain! Multi purpose! I like to paint water color and I wonder what kind of drape material will be good for that...?
Joanna
Nicole Dobbins said:I was forwarded to this discussion from the Decorating board on BabyCenter.
Curtains are going to be interesting, I agree.
Depending on their location, you could try using them as their own piece of custom artwork.
Such as, if you have old T-shirts or back patches or ripped up jeans, sew them together. It doesn't have to be particularly...pretty... lol
There's also the option of getting those band tapestries, and transforming those into curtains. All you have to do is fold the top portion down about 2 inches (measure the curtain rod first obviously) and sew a 1/4" seam all the way across.
http://www.rockstarhq.com/rocktaps/zeppelin.htm
Same goes for the throw pillows. I would use the same idea for the curtains above, just translate it to pillow form. -
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on
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Wow! This is going to be an awesome lamp!! You should take another picture of it when it is done!!
Ivy said:Wow... I never thought about using tapestries as curtains! That is the coolest idea! I love the price too! The windows in our living room are fairly small, so I might even be able to use on tapestry for each window (just cut in half and hem the edges).
That is such an awesome idea! I did think about the t-shirts as pillows, but I never thought about using "patches" of multiple ones. This is going to be fun!
Joanna, the lamp will look like this except 3-d and red, instead of blue. -
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on
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Thanks Nicole for the advice! I love painting and have given out some of them as birthday presents. Though I have never thought on painting on other things or materials. It sounds like you do lots of these handmade decoration and crafts, would love to see some of your final products!
Joanna
Nicole Dobbins said:You can't use watercolors on fabric, it spreads too much and kind of disappears. You can purchase silk paints, but they're quite expensive.
You can use acrylics. They make the fabric stiff, but since they're curtains it probably doesn't matter, and would even add another element of texture to your room.
If you don't want it to be stiff, try this stuff: http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-gac-900-fabric-medium
You need to make sure you wash and dry the fabric sans-softener.
Joanna said:Hi Nicole,
Using curtains as artwork is a very interesting idea! I guess if I can even paint on the drapes and treat it as a picture instead of just curtain! Multi purpose! I like to paint water color and I wonder what kind of drape material will be good for that...?
Joanna
Nicole Dobbins said:I was forwarded to this discussion from the Decorating board on BabyCenter.
Curtains are going to be interesting, I agree.
Depending on their location, you could try using them as their own piece of custom artwork.
Such as, if you have old T-shirts or back patches or ripped up jeans, sew them together. It doesn't have to be particularly...pretty... lol
There's also the option of getting those band tapestries, and transforming those into curtains. All you have to do is fold the top portion down about 2 inches (measure the curtain rod first obviously) and sew a 1/4" seam all the way across.
http://www.rockstarhq.com/rocktaps/zeppelin.htm
Same goes for the throw pillows. I would use the same idea for the curtains above, just translate it to pillow form. -
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on
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Hi Ivy,
Just remember you will have this guitar lamp! How is your living room decoration going?
Joanna
Joanna said:Wow! This is going to be an awesome lamp!! You should take another picture of it when it is done!!
Ivy said:Wow... I never thought about using tapestries as curtains! That is the coolest idea! I love the price too! The windows in our living room are fairly small, so I might even be able to use on tapestry for each window (just cut in half and hem the edges).
That is such an awesome idea! I did think about the t-shirts as pillows, but I never thought about using "patches" of multiple ones. This is going to be fun!
Joanna, the lamp will look like this except 3-d and red, instead of blue. -
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