dmh's Profile

pillows are so easy to sew and so expensive to buy!! try it! get a second hand machine from Craigslist or a thrift store and go to town. For down/feather inserts, I always check out the clearance section at Home Goods. I always find them for 5-12 dollars. donate the fugly pillow cover to the Goodwill and keep the cheap insert!

another tip: find out if the thrifts you frequent have regular sale days. The Salvation Armys in my area have 50% off days twice a month (second and last Friday), but go EARLY. everyone and their grandma shops on those days, so the early birds definitely get the best deals. And, don't be afraid to make an offer if you think something is priced too high.

(2) Ingmar Relling for Westnofa Flex Chairs for FREE - left on the street. I sold them on Craigslist for $500. They were in great condition, but I didn't have room for them.

Just a note to add to Number 4: if the item is appearing in the auction for the first time and it has a reserve, the auctioneer typically will not lower the starting bid if no one bids. It's only in the subsequent auctions that the price drops. Sometimes they will get offers after the auction is over if a lot has not sold. This is where the negotiation can happen if you're not willing to pay the reserve price. I have found a number of items this way - the auctioneer started the bidding too high, but I made a decent enough offer after the auction and they accepted. Happy bidding!

Open Studios are a great place to find art - unique pieces at sometimes amazing prices and most times you're buying directly from the artist. Not sure what part of the county you're in, but I've been to open studios in SF, NY and LA. SF usually has them most weekends every October.

Lovely!

Rosie: what kind of wood did your husband use to make those box shelves in the dining room? They look amazing!

I have a vintage aluminum Evergleam tree that I bought on ebay. It's awesome and looks amazing without lights. I'm not a fan of the fake green trees.

it needs some plants!!

I missed out on a danish modern sideboard that a lady was selling for $50.00 - I had an appt to purchase it and pick it up, but someone else called her offering her $150 and she sold it to them. But CL has been good to me, my best buys were a leather Knoll Pollack chair for $25, a set of 4 Milo Baughman dining chairs for $100 and a vintage 1976 Knoll Wassily chair for $20. I've also picked up stuff for free that I've resold later. LOVE.

There is an eco-friendly product called cellulose insulation that is made from recycled newspaper and is "wet blown" onto the surface and is then hand-trimmed. I don't know how the cost compares to spray insulation, but there is more information here:

http://www.cellulose.org/HomeOwners/