World Market Rocks for Adding Farmhouse Style

I have been sadly neglecting my craft blogging duties and I have several projects going that aren't even close to being finished and I haven't added anything new to the Etsy shop of late.

I have a lot on my mind, a lot on my work plate, a lot on my to-do list and a very cluttered personal space that needs attention. 

But yesterday, I got to thinking about Cost Plus World Market.  Someone I follow on Instagram posted some awesome mason jar themed finds from that store, and although I have never been in a brick and mortar (nor am I sure there is one in the Connecticut area) I fell in love with the online shop when I was searching for glass, gasketed pantry storage containers last Spring (you might recall.) 

And here's a picture if you don't recall. 

Anyway, I found myself browsing last night.  Also as some of you know, my budget is on lock down as I save, save, save for our pending move in Spring 2016.  I can't and frankly don't need to buy any more home décor items.  But that doesn't stop me from admiring and coveting from afar!

I thought I'd share some farmhouse style finds with you, that are surprisingly cheap considering.  And you know I like cheap décor.  I don't believe in shopping at the fanciest places.  Instead, I like to gain inspiration from those places (like Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma or Ballard) and find cheap sources of the same types of products.  Saving money yo.  Saving money.

It's really not that difficult or that expensive to change the look of your home a little bit at a time.  It surely is, if you do a full makeover, but I prefer to switch it up progressively.  It's more fun that way and more affordable.  Choosing a color scheme or a new theme (such as farmhouse, or floral or beach cottage or nautical) can get you started.  Be creative but be true to yourself.  Think about your hobbies, your family interests, your favorite colors, the feeling you want the room to evoke, and the functionality.  (Do you want to Relax? Read? Or do you want a vibrant space to inspire you creatively? Do you entertain in the space or is it for private family use only?)  Function is just as important as style. 

As you know, my personal style has evolved from a sleek, bright, contemporary love of red and black, to a more casual, country vibe that draws from the English and French countryside.  But, I still like bold modern prints, and I still love my red and black, only now I temper it with teal, turquoise, and white and an appreciation for more natural fibers/fabrics (hemp, burlap, linen, etc.)

Here is the link to this item.  27.99, and it's barn metal:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/aqua+barn+metal+4-photo+frame.do

 

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/charlotte-lined-wire-baskets.do

 These lined wire basket would add practical, but attractive, farmhouse style storage on a media console or a bookcase in the living room OR kitchen pantry storage OR bathroom / linen closet storage.  These range in price from $7.19 to $22.49 depending on which size you are ordering.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/wire-3-tier-glass-drying-rack.do

 French drying racks work wonderfully as display stands for mug collections.  You know: for those of us that have extensive mug collections.  Want!   This one is only $14.99 which is a steal.  I have seen similar items at more expensive retailers for about one hundred dollars.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/single+white+cast+iron+switch+plate.do

  One easy and cheap thing you can do to add personality to any room, is to change out the light switch plates.  When I painted my bedroom when I first moved in, I ditched the ugly almond broken switch plate in favor of a matte finish black one from Target.  This plate is country and distressed but also an elegant and refined touch.   $6.99 a piece!

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/linen+clare+tufted+upholstered+bench.do

 I had to include one splurge item.  I love the idea of using a tufted ottoman as a coffee table, with a serving tray on it as the hard, storage surface.  This particular piece is expensive because the upholstery is done custom for each order, and personally I adore this antique red.  This would be a statement piece in a living room.  While it seems pricey, it's linen and it's made in the USA and hand tufting is no joke: very time consuming.   $343.99 each. 

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/aqua,+black+and+white+floral+rosie+table+runner.do

 This fabulous, aqua and floral table-runner is only $12.49 right now and I adore it.  Modern and yet, evokes a French or English country aesthetic. 

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/red+villa+stripe+table+runner.do

And speaking of French Country, you can't get any more French than a table runner inspired by a French ticking striped grain sack.   $12.99!  I prefer table runners to table cloths for everyday use so that you can still see the table underneath but it adds a pop of color.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/metal+3-tier+stand.do

I love the versatility of serving pieces like this.  Right now, I use a wooden three tiered server that belongs to my sister Jennifer but I'd prefer something like this because it adds another material to a room (I like combing wood, metal, ironstone, glass, etc for visual interest).  It also reminds me of a project I recently checked out on the Dear Lillie blog where she made an Ice Cream Station on a 3 tiered grey wooden server.  See link here: http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-little-tiered-ice-cream-station.html

But really, there are so many things you can do with a piece like this.  If you have a buffet or a larger coffee bar, it could make an excellent storage piece.  You could do a variety of themed stations, such as Hot Chocolate in Winter, or perhaps it could serve as a dining room table centerpiece during the holidays (can't you just see pumpkins, ornaments or greenery in there!  I can.)  So many ideas, and so much room for creativity.  $39.99 from World Market for this particular model.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/blue+geometric+cast+iron+teapot.do

 Not much needs to be said about this awesome, turquoise, cast iron kettle.  World Market has a large selection of awesome kettles and teapots / infusers in a variety of colors, and I love tea kettles just as much as I love mugs, so at some point I will take advantage of their excellent selection and affordability. $24.99 for something truly unique and far beyond your basic Farberware kettle.



http://www.worldmarket.com/product/floral+concealed+tab+top+rosalie+curtains,+set+of+2.do

 Now that I have begun dabbling in sewing, I finally understand why curtains are soooo expensive.  Fabric is not cheap.  A decent home décor fabric ranges from $8 to $50 dollars PER YARD and you need many yards to make a pair of curtains.  It's worth it to invest in curtains that you KNOW you are going to enjoy for quite some time.  I know they say that you should not design around one element in a room, but for those of us on a budget, curtains (like area rugs) can be a commitment.  My Threshold brand Farrah floral curtains (black and linen) inspired my modern French country redesign and I waited to purchase them until they were clearanced and actually traveled to THREE Target stores around Connecticut to find all 8 panels that I wanted/needed.   So, to make a long story short, curtains are not cheap for a reason.  Yes, these are stunning (and notice they are the same pattern as the table runner I admired above) and I wouldn't mind owning these for a long time.  These are $69.98 to $93.98 for a PAIR depending on which length you order.  Not bad.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/teapot+chalkboard.do

At $4.99 this is a ridiculous steal, and I would love to hang this over my coffee bar.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/distressed+gray+aria+oval+mirror+sconce.do

These definitely look like they would cost a fortune at Ballard or Pottery Barn.  They really evoke a French or English cottage style, and I would LOVE a pair of these to coordinate with my white distressed wooden finish pillar holders I currently have on the mantel.  $17.59 a piece! You can't beat that at Pier1 or Partylite or the higher end department stores.

Living Room Vision Board

Even though we are probably six to eight months out, Mom and I have started to prepare for our inevitable downsizing move.  Back to apartment living for us!  That means saying goodbye to our 3,000 foot Craftsman rental, which I will miss for sure.

But new adventures and places await.  As I said, Southern Vermont is our target area.  But in the meantime, we have to weed out the furniture, kitchen stuff and home décor we can live without.  And in the process of discussing this, and debating how we will put together our living room stuff, this is the Vision Board I made.  As much as I swear against beige, with all of this color going on, I am planning on the Ikea Ektorp sofa in beige as our new living room seating of choice when we move.  Most everything else on here we already own or something really similar to it!

Red and teal forever!

Celebrating the 4th!

Traditionally, I have not decorated much for this holiday.  Mostly because it seems to come and go quite quickly, during a busy time of year.

But, since I am already doing a red, white and turquoise/teal blue theme in the living room, it was easy to put something together for this year.

So, I took a bit of poetic license with the Navy color.  Jennifer teased me, because I said that it was "French Country" 4th of July, but oh well. 

I found these three Mason jars at Joann's Fabrics, and they will match my décor all year round and fill the odd empty spot in front of our TV. 

As for the paper bunting, I have a ton of scrapbook paper just dying to get used, so I made triangles, and sewed a cotton red yarn through the top of each triangle through two holes I poked in them with a darning needle.  The thread was that "Sugar and Cream" cotton type, so it is more sturdy than acrylic yarn.   The mantle was finished off by an American flag tucked into the rooster aqua pitcher I have, and Joel's patriotic photo of his parents and father in uniform fits right in.)

And lastly, I wanted to highlight the wreath I have had up for some time.  It is just a grapevine wreath, with a center of origami scrapbook paper flowers I made (held together in the middle by glue, string and a button center.) 

Happy Independence Day!

The Country Living Fair!!!!

 

even the tables in the food court were decorated country style, and I loved that bunting!

 

 

We attended on the last day, but I didn't think it seemed picked over or almost sold out whatsoever, so each vendor must have really brought a significant amount of merchandise to flesh out their booth.  I loved it: I absolutely loved it.  And once again, thanks to my brother in law Dave for taking some of the better pictures below.

I think I am officially obsessed with Rhinebeck, NY.  I am ready to move there yesterday.  It was so my town: country but fresh, hip and artsy!!!!  With beautiful historic architecture thrown in beside a thriving, independently owned shop scene.  Go there.  Just do it.  I am not lying when I said I wish I could live there, and it's really not far from my hometown at all.

Anyway, back to the fair.  It was, first of all, the most impressive fairgrounds I have ever see (The Dutchess County Fairgrounds).  They have wonderful facilities and it was a great place to host this event.

I wish I had been able to bring more money.  I knew I would feel that way in advance.  It was especially difficult to walk by all the beautiful chalky painted furniture which I covet. 

Here are some pictures I took of the day and booths that caught my eye!  A big favorite was 2 Chix and a Barn (link to their website here 2 Chix and a Barn ) which happens to be a business owned by women I watched on Flea Market Flip, one of my fave shows.  This aqua dresser of theirs was my favorite piece of the entire thing:



their Airstream named "Pearl"

Here is more I just adored and/or caught my eye. 



I wish I could have taken a better picture without glare so you could see what a pretty aqua this clock really was.  I've had my eye out for clocks lately.



my brother in law is photo bombing this one on the right side, ha!



Ironstone in a hutch!  it doesn't get much better than that



more of my fave ironstone!



this booth made purses with vintage book covers: I mean hello.



If this Pride and Prejudice book had been in my budget, this purse would now be in my home.
website link here Beez by Scranton

 

another clock I adored, And the quatrefoil teal frame

how appropriate is this sign to my life and the lives of so many others! lol  Shannon modeled it gracefully



Jennifer looking beautiful pregnant in front of the awesome glass plant holder thingies

 Another business I love is Beekman 1802.  It is a company owned by a couple that moved to a small town in upstate New York called Sharon Springs, bought a Georgian mansion, fixed it up, and then helped the agricultural, economically depressed town get back on its feet while helping themselves make the farm profitable when they were unemployed.  Later as a couple, they won "Amazing Race!"

Read their story here...  Beekman 1802

 

 

I also loved Cari Cucksey (of HGTV's Cash and Cari)'s new line of brightly colored paints too.  I didn't get a picture of the paint, but we did take a picture of Cari doing a paint demonstration on reclaimed wood and her booth. 

Here is a link to the website of her new paint line.  I also love her logo:

Re Purpose Shop

 

 

So, now you want to know what I bought, right?  Not much.  I had a budget for this particular event because this was at the worst possible time between pay-days.  But I bought the soap above from Beekman 1802 that smelled amazing, AND I found two relatively inexpensive ironstone pieces that are unique and different than what I had already.  Plus Joel bought Jennifer this beautiful votive holder chandelier thing.

 



And last but not least, they had something for the kiddos.  The Rhinebeck 4H club had animals there, and Micah loved it.