{ Sources-Living Room }

Why helllo there. Welcome to my living room. Have a seat. Stay a while. We're going to dive right in here because we've got lotsa ground to cover.

Couch-$399 Ikea Ektorp Sofa with white slipcover. For many people, this is a cheap couch. For me, it was the most expensive purchase I made for my apartment. I planned/saved up for it all summer, and I'm really happy with it. It's so comfortable, and being able to wash the slipcover is such a live saver. 

Rug- $35 at Big Lots. I know. I think it was literally the luckiest find anyone has ever found in there. A lot of people were surprised that Big Lots would have anything worth while, but I'm here to tell you, keep an open mind when you're looking for inexpensive furniture sources. You will be surprised at what you can find and where you can find it. More on that later.

Coffee Table-bought from a local consignment shop in Houston called The Guild Shop. Listen up Houston friends: If you have not been to The Guild Shop YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING. It is my happy place. You can't really tell how neat this coffee table actually is in pictures, but  the top of it is this neat, aged herringbone wood pattern. I was totally fascinated when I saw it, and knew it had to be mine.  

Round side table-thrifted and and painted white

Bistro Chair: taken off the street by my boyfriend and given to me because he knows I have an obsession with bentwood chairs. We sanded it down a little so that it would be less glossy and have a bit more of a raw finish, and then recovered the ugly vinyl cushion in some pretty toile fabric on sale at JoAnns. I'm in love with it. I'll probably take some additional photos of it and do a separate post soon so you can see the fabric and details a little bit. Total cost of this chair=$7.

Small chest in the corner nook-Picked this up during some dumpster diving. At the end of the school year, everyone is moving out of their apartments and they just throw everything they don't want on the streets or around the dumpsters. When I moved in I had very little furniture, so when I saw this little guy I felt like I could use him. I'll probably still paint him one day, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. The bottom drawer was missing when I found it, so I put in a brown wicker basket in its place and it works great! 

Okay, lets talk accessories:

On the coffee table: Striped tray from Ikea. Round mercury glass candle holder was gifted to me by my best friend since 3rd grade at Christmas- she purchased from Home Goods. 

On the round side table: Design Sponge at Home book, and Ikea Lantern

Pillows on the couch: (from left to right) Ikea, Big Lots, Home Goods, Target, Pier One 

On the chest of drawers in the corner: Two Champagne Glasses from West Elm (gifted to me by my boyfriends amazing sister and boyfriend), two books (The One Hundred by Nina Garcia and Nate Berkus' Home Rules) Lamp from HomeGoods. Peachy/Pink Ceramic Cannister from HomeGoods.

Wall Art: Made by Girl I Love You Blogs and Coffee Print (gifted to me by my awesome cousin!), silver and gold mirrors were purchased from a thrift store for a dollar each (real fast: I LOVE the way it looks to combine the silver and gold. lends a playful touch. have fun with your decorating!) The New York City Map print on the other side of the wall is from Ikea, but I couldn't find it on their website so they may not have it anymore.

Okay, lovely readers, I think I may have underestimated how much we had to go through here, so this series is going to continue into next week. On Monday we're going to talk kitchen, and then I have a whole special post coming your way with my favorite surprise sources to find treasures, and what suggestions I have for you to find your very own budget finds. Stay tuned. It's going to be a good time.

I'm off to work. Thank you all so much for stopping in today. lovelovelove and a happy weekend to each of you!

-C

All photos by Arielle Elise Photography for The Everygirl