What’s in a price tag?

I have a confession to make.  I’m tragically addicted to magazines…fashion, design, cooking, home improvement, everything but gossip magazines.  I just can’t bring myself to read about John and Kate or any of the other celebrities who’ve become famous for just simply existing (although, since I’m being honest, I have to admit that I’ll sometimes peek at those salacious stories while I’m sitting under a dryer at the hair salon or sitting in the waiting room of the dr.’s office. It seems appropriate there for some reason).  If however, there is a design rag available, I’ll take it over the gossip mags every time!  I can’t help it!  I’m completely and hopelessly hooked on the visual stimulation that they dangle in front of my eyes with each turn of the page. More often than not though, while I’m drooling shamelessly at the latest kitchen designs with their sparkeling glass back splashes or at the newest console that has been completely hand carved  by Indonesian artisans from a single rare piece of hard wood, what I’m really doing is desperately trying to figure out how I can create the same look on a normal girl’s budget.
Lets face it, people.  Very few of us are made of money these days.  We’re all pragmatic enough to realize that it could be years, if EVER that we’ll enjoy the same financial freedoms we used to.  That said, it’s often hard to justify spending thousands of dollars on  new furniture when our old furniture is  still in good shape because we’re simply tired of something, especially when we’ve got our financial futures to consider, now more  than ever!

So what does someone with an insatiable desire for cutting edge style do?
Simple:  RECYCLE…the buzz word of our generation doesn’t just apply to aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
Look closely at the console in the photo…look at the lines, the protruding details on the doors.  Does it look familiar at all?  I was totally drawn to this piece when I walked through the door of this beautiful, chic boutique because of the exquisitely worn gray coloring and the richness and weight of the piece itself. Then, as I looked more closely at the details, I realized that it was very similar to the old console my aunt had in her home in the 1970′s, in dark heavy wood, brass hardware, geometric shaped details all over it…you know what I’m talking about, VERY dated if you’ve seen it today. This however, paired with the same weathered looking chair upholstered in a soft tapestry cotton along with the luxuriously rich faux fur throw, GORGEOUS!  It’s inviting and  sumptuous without being pretentious. 
I guarantee that someone reading this right now has this exact or similar sadly dated item in their home in all of it’s former 70′s glory.  Its sitting there detracting from the updated value of their home and sucking the would be stylish potential from their persona because they don’t know what to do with it.
Here’s the idea, people, PAINT IT!  Update the hardware and give it a new life.  I promise, if you don’t like it, it can’t look any worse than it already does.  Paint is cheap and easy to do and it’s a whole lot cheaper than buying it new.
Get adventurous!  And send me pictures!!