It’s no secret around these parts that I am cheap. I mean really, really cheap. I can’t think of a single item in my home, aside from mattresses and electronics, that weren’t purchased at a thrift store, flea market or garage sale. Sometimes I’ll pick up goodies at Marshalls or TJ Maxx, but usually if they’re on sale. For me, shopping for my home isn’t just about finding awesome items, it’s about finding awesome items at an even more awesome price. It has nothing to do with my income, I just love it. If finding deals were an ultimate sport, I’d be draft pick numero uno every year, which is good because I suck at real sports. Yuck, dirty.
Even though I would never buy any of the goods I show you all daily, every once in a while I find something online, something that has (gasp!) never been owned by another person, and, well the price isn’t so bad. That is when I do something really bizarre: I think about buying it.
Without further ado, I give you my newest DC column: Crap I’m Thinking About Buying. You guys decide.
Aurel Schmidt’s door-sized print, Supernatural has been begging to live out it’s years in my living room for sometime now. At only $90 for 7 square feet of badassicalness, it is totally absurd that I do not own it. But every time I hover over “add to cart” I think, shit, how am I going to frame it?
What do you say, Supernatural: Buy? Don’t Buy?
When I was putting together my How-To post the other day, I came across this 72″ wide beauty on ebay. I know, I know, who the hell needs 2 giant tapestries? You kids are barking up the wrong tree: I aready own, like, 8 or 10 (a bit smaller, of course). But look at how big and pretty it is. With a current auction price of $14.99, this little gem could bring some much needed color to my dining room.
Another Tapestry: Buy? Put it Down and Walk Away?
Ok, this little beauty isn’t really open for debate, as I already told the artist, Hope Perkins, that Tiger in Bed has found it’s forever home in my bedroom. Once he comes down from his current show, he’ll be mine forever. (and for only $250!) Check out more pieces from her show HERE
Tiger In Bed: Not Open For Discussion
There is a bar in Austin with a giant plastic horse head hanging on the wall. I almost made my way out with it one night until the bartender grew a conscience and changed his mind. I made it mission #1 to find the horse head on my own. Once I found him at this prop shop, I was crestfallen at his $319 price tag. Couple that with the fact that I did just get a 3′ tall brass pony and one has to start to wonder: how many horse replicas does one girl really need? (I can’t believe I just typed that)
So, what do you say, Horse Head Mount: Buy or Don’t Buy (you guys really can’t let me buy this)
Almost as practical as a giant horse head is this oversized pair of scissors, which I found on (wait for it) Great Big Stuff dot com. At $219, the mere fact that I’m even considering these scissors confounds me. But! Guess what! For only $10 more you can upgrade to GOLD handles. Yes-sir-e-bob, great big stuff dot com, that sounds like a deal to me.
Verdict, Giant Scissors: Yes! No!
Elle Decor South Africa featured these hand beaded animals on their blog a while ago, at $24 US per toy, these little guys are easier for me to stomach. Oh, and the money goes to support women and their families living with HIV in South Africa, so, we can feel all warm and fuzzy about saying yes to these guys.
Life Saving Animals: Yes? No?
Recently, I was helping my mother find a new couch online, not one to normally shop for couches outside of craigslist, I was amazed at how many decent options there were at reasonable prices. Of course, rather than finding a couch I really need, I found this little Escala Seat. Now, I really don’t think I could bring myself to spend $875 for an indoor / outdoor seat, but it would be pretty perfect for the nook in my bedroom.
Dudes, you’re up, Escala Seat: Yay or Nay
While on the same mom-couch-hunting-mission, I also found these couches that I would happily replace my (tres uncomfortable) living room couch with. I know, I know, a white couch? I’m pretty sure that I’ve proven with my choices up until now that I don’t put a very high premium on practicality.
I do like how deep the top couch, the Spazio is, but at $2000, I don’t think I could bring myself to write the check. The bottom couch (bye bye flower pillows), the Sebastian, is much more reasonable at only $1,234
You guys can vote, but I’m not going to buy them.
Ok, here’s something I really and truly am going to buy: tile for my fire place. Both samples above are mirrored, affordable, and (guess what!?!?!?!) on sale at glass tile oasis. On the left, we have the gold mirrored tile I’m considering for the living room. I like it, it’s lovely BUT, I do have a lot of gold in there, and I’m a little worried about what gold mirror tile will do to the resale value of my home.
On the right I have black mirror tile which is absolutely going to be purchased for my bedroom, no questions asked. I’m checking out as you read this.
So, the vote gets fancy this time, Gold Mirror Tile for the living room: Do it! Do it! OR, No, it’s just way too much look, sister.
PS, if not gold mirror, than what should I use. See my living room HERE (psst, there’s a lot more stuff in there now and the fireplace has been painted white)
Ok, I actually had a couple more things to show you today, but I feel like I might be overwhelming you, as I have myself, with too many options. So, you guys go calculate, do some math, and let me know what to buy. I’ll save the rest of the items for our next installment. Unless you think this column is as crappy as it’s title.
Related posts:
Blimey Karly, you like a bit of scary artwork don’t you? That Supernatural print would have me quaking on the sofa every night.
As for what should you buy/what shouldn’t you buy. I say yes to the tiles and the horse head. It’s a resounding NO! to the giant scissors, the $$! outdoor seat, the white sofa (meant for relaxing on? I don’t think so), the hand-beaded animals (okay, maybe just one) and no to the peacock tapestry.
We clear? Okay then!
Love the life saving-animals, gotta say no to the tile unless you’re prepared to re-do it when you want to sell. Otherwise, it would be a lovely accent to your gold panther table. I feel your pain on indecisive shopping. My amazon cart is overflowing with crap I’d like to buy someday, but cannot currently justify… good luck and Godspeed!
Hmmmm… Yes to the peacock tapestry (that’s a lot of look for $20), yes to the black tiles (see how they go and decide on the gold ones later), yes to Miss Hope’s glorious painting, also yes to the Sebastian couch. Heh heh. I already want a new couch, too… Leather is so functional, but not always comfortable.
I like this column. I may even join you in your wishy washy consumerist impulses!
The giant pair of scissors gets my vote. They are just so ??!!
And the Animals, because they come from close to my home! In fact I have 2 living on my shelf already!
Good for you Karly and your one-woman stimulus plan. I vote for the life-saving animals because I used to carry them in my store and they 100 times cuter in real life. I have one, a long-legged ladybug that never sold. Don’t know why, because she’s cute as can be. The zebras always sold the best for me.
The black tile. Make coasters out of the gold.
Yes to Sebastian.
I will buy the horse head. You can visit it.
Wow! I can’t believe you guys didn’t loose your shit over the gigantic Supernatural print, I thought for sure that would get the most votes! Well, I do have A LOT of muted color in my house and would like to see more bright color. Oh, I just can’t decide
Thanks everyone for confirming my thoughts on the gold tile (and good idea for coasters, Raina, I’ll order a sheet for that reason)
Freshly Found, I love that you totally dig the scissors! I think they would look so fantastic hanging on the wall above the fireplace. Will they ever actually make it to my house? Probably only if they ever land on craigslist or ebay for a fraction of the price
And, finally, what tile should I use for the living room? Should I do that black, too? Something completely different? Oasis tile has a sale until the 20th, so I would love to decide by then: http://www.glasstileoasis.com
love to you all!
K
“Almost as practical as a giant horse head is this over sized pair of scissors” – this very well may be the most awesome thing you’ve ever said on her. I literally laughed out loud. Both giant scissors and horse head are something I would totally feel the need to have in my home. They’re fun! Love this new column!
I say No to Supernatural – but only for the sake of kidlets that may visit! You would scare the bejesus out of the little ones!
Im not a tapestry kinda gal, so will leave that with you!
Defiantely YES to the scissors! Those on the wall will certainly keep the hubby in line!! but no to the horse head! -unless you plan on spraying gold! (-or gloss red! – just cause that would be awesome!)
Yes to the beaded animals – Hmm, these could help appease the visiting kidlets if you insist on scary supernatural!
I vote yes to the sofas -personally I think a sofa under $1k is just chipboard crap.
and finally yes to the black tile and genius is Raina’s suggestion for the gold.
Ah, thats my 2 cents for the day! Gotta love blog land, telling people what you think about stuff is just what i am about!!!
I’m a little late – but I’m thinking the giant scissors hung open beneath the plastic horse head… oh yes.
buy the print, it obviously moves you. have the frame built by your hubby – isn’t he handy? mat it yourself, you probably already know how. and done.
Damn girl you have a thing for great big scissors. Hoby Lobby has a pair in wood, not near this big or as cool but just down the street.