My Latest Craiglist Finds

I don't like to brag because I'm convinced it's bad karma, but last week I made out like a bandit on Craigslist. Combined, my two finds were just over $100 which is a pittance compared to the beauty and function they add to our home. Let me show them to you!

Still Looking for a Campaign Dresser?

How about two Campaign dressers?

I came across this posting on Craigslist just this eve.

One is $60 (with mirror) and the second is $50 (without mirror), and they are both located in nearby Newtown.

Get on this find, Philly friends!

Care For a Drink? (Barcart Reveal)

Nearly two months in the making, may I present to you all my newest project: my goldleafed barcart.

My inspiration:

The "Roland" bar cart from Worlds Away, which is understated in its elegance and out of my price range at $825.
Surely you'll agree that this piece has style in spades.

(via Material Girls)

(via House and Home)

 What I started with:
A free (!) bar cart from Craiglist that was structurally similar, but a little clunky.
Just remember the operative word here: free.

The rounded trim on each end were quickly removed:

Instead of their rounded edges, I added a streamlined squared dowel to the two short sides and the back of the barcart.
I bought 2 dowels (cut in store) from Home Depot for about $2 each.

The rounded handles weren't the only thing to go.
The original casters were pretty heinous and fell off more than once, so I replaced them with 4 ball casters in brass.

Here is where the real work begins and where I keep it really, really, ridiculously real. 

Goldleafing is torture. 

 There, I said it. 

If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying to you.
As a result, I didn't bother to take process pictures of the goldleafing (I was trying to power through, forgive me).

All that matters is this, the final results.

 To recap:
--free barcart + $825 inspiration
--roughly $35 spent on gold leaf, adhesive and sealer
--two months of on-and-off process to complete this work

Hope you agree that all the time and energy spent was well worth it!
Now, who wants a drink?

Today's Guest Blogger: Noelle of Gray Paint Decor

Today, I'm lucky enough to share with you the unique perspective of one awesome blogger, Noelle of Gray Paint Decor, who also happens to be a superwoman (aka, a mother of 5!) So happy to have you here, Noelle!

*****

Hey there, Meet Me In Philadelphia readers! I’m super pumped to be guest blogging here while Ashley honeymoons. I hope she is having a seriously relaxing vacay.

Since there is no vacay in my near future I thought it would be fun to create a little patio moodboard that I wouldn’t mind retreating to this summer. There are two sad little chairs on my patio right now, so this is a budget minded moodboard with my ulterior motive being that maybe my husband will see it and decide it simply must be ours...

How funkified is that wood chair? I love me a random offbeat chair. It currently resides, along with the mirror and the pair of rattan chairs, on my local Ventura/ Santa Barbara Craigslist.  I love Craig and his list.

As for the other sources:

Rug: Overstock

Black stools: Overstock

Chair: Ikea

Sofa: West Elm

The rug and chair are under $100, and the stools are just a whisper above. The sofa is not super budget friendly, but I liked.

Thank you so much for having me, Ashley!

xx,

Noelle

Free Campaign Dresser on Philly Craigslist!

No, not mine.
I'm not dumb enough to part with a campaign dresser
...but someone else is (kidding, kidding).

(via Craigslist)

Now go get it, Philly peeps!

Recreating Ruthie

Perhaps like me, you've been a fan of this Ruthie Sommers loveseat for awhile now.

(both images via Ruthie Sommers)

We know that Ms. Sommers' loveseat didn't start out so fab. 

Take a look:

(via Ruthie Sommers) 

Now, what would you do if I told you I found this charming cream sofa with contrasting brown piping on Craigslist for only $195!?!?

(via Craigslist)

Now, no eye gouging or hair pulling to get this one.

If you're the lucky person to grab this deal, please let me know!
Let's make the lovely Ruthie Sommers proud.

P.S.:
Thank you for the overwhelmingly sweet comments about my sideboard project, everyone. You all really made my week!

I Need Advice: Fabric for Ottomans

I've got a second post today because I'm in a design quandry, readers. I need your eyes and good taste.

I'm considering using the "Togo" print in Titan/Birch (teal on a cream background) from Premier Prints for the two parsons ottomans I bought on Craigslist.

"Togo" print in Titan/Birch via Premier Prints

You may remember I spent only $25 on the ottomans, so I don't want to go break the bank with the fabric and reupholstery. I need about 5 yards and, at $10.99/yard, the "Togo" print seems like a fun and inexpensive option.

I turn to you readers: should I go with the print? Or will I tire of it too quickly? I'm thinking I could use the charcoal fabric from the loveseat for the cording detail on the ottomans--what do you think?

Share your opinions, please!

Has anyone ordered from Premier Prints before?
What was your experience like?

p.p. I sold the Williams-Sonoma striped cream/red rug that was in the den, so I'm starting over with a new color scheme.

Oops, I Did It Again...

I just couldn't help myself. And with the click of a keystroke, they were mine.

These matching ottomans were posted as part of a sofa and loveseat package (hideous, I must say) on Craigslist, but I appealed to the seller that these were just the thing I had been looking for. He was very willing to sell them separately to me and accepted my cheap-o offer. He even offered to drop them off in the city...from his far-suburb location at no cost (!).

So, how much did these babies run me? $25! That's right, $12.50 each. Sometimes I feel like I'm stealing from the nice sellers on Craigslist, I really do.

Is the minty tweed upholstery staying, you ask? No, certainly not. Instead, I am thinking of clothing these beauts in the same charcoal linen of my loveseat (they will serve as a relaxed, but refined kick-your-feet-up kind of coffee table for the "den"). I'm going to reach out to my trusty friend Joe the Upholsterer for these.

I still need to punch up the somber linen with some fun prints and color, but that's what accessories are for, right?

Stay tuned, friends, to see the next before-and-after here at Meet Me in Philadelphia.

Early September Finds

This weekend, it started to feel a lot like autumn here in Philadelphia. A farmer's market nearby our apartment offered up this beautiful floral fall bounty. I couldn't help but share--aren't the saturated colors just amazing?

Craigslist searching also proved successful this weekend. I found this interesting three-legged chair for $25 and quickly snatched it up. My soon-to-be mother-in-law was nice enough to pick it up in the suburbs for us.

Notice the western-themed seat? I quickly removed it and discovered a more-neutral black vinyl seat that will suffice for now. This new-to-me chair has already cozied up to the desk in the guest bedroom. Doesn't it look right at home?

How was your weekend?

Weekend Recap: Furniture Find

Good Monday morning, readers! How was your weekend?

Our weekend was fantastic, spent enjoying the wedding celebration of a friend (no, not Chelsea...) in my home state of Connecticut. The event was lavish while also intimate and personal. More on that joyous event this week!

But before getting into all of that, I wanted to share my weekend acquisition. It's just not like me to leave a state without some sort souvenir! Check it out:


This charming and very comfy chair was a CT Craigslist find (a very late-Friday-afternoon-bored-at-work-waiting-to-leave find, I might add). We picked it up from a very accommodating couple in Canton, CT for only $40. On the ride home, with the chair rattling around the backseat of the car, I was already imagining it's transformation...

I'm thinking Alan Campbell for Quadrille "Lascaux" in Camel II on Tint.

(via Quadrille)

The fabric's spendy but hey, with only $40 invested, it might be fun. Just look at it on a once-staid side chair:

(photo via Quadrille via NY Homes and Spaces)

What do you think?

Also, we're seeing Arcade Fire and Spoon tonight at the Mann Music Center tonight! We're so excited!

Because Sometimes It's Funny to Laugh at Others...

Because it's Thursday and not yet Friday, I figured we could all use a laugh. If you haven't already seen this website, please take 5 minutes out of your busy schedule to check out You Suck at Craigslist.

It's not nice to laugh at others, I know that. But this website had me in hysterics last night.

This is a personal fave. What exactly is a taco box, anyway?


(photo via You Suck at Craigslist)

Kids, it's critical that you learn your spelling and punctuation. Otherwise, you may just have jerks like me laughing at your Craigslist posting across the interweb.

For sale: Vintage Parsons Tables!

If you are reading this and are in the Philadelphia area, I'd like to share two vintage parsons tables I have for sale on Craigslist. They are sunny-yellow and will brighten any decor:

Large, square table ($75):

Smaller, rectangular table ($50):

If you are interested in either of these items, please contact me through the two Craigslist postings. More details (such as measurements) are available through the following links:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/fuo/1689385727.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/fuo/1689387973.html

I'm only selling these because I don't have room in my guest bedroom for them! Any takers?