Saturday, October 13, 2007

Recycled Decor - Cottage Bedroom



How I turned THAT to THIS!

I was aiming for a "shabby cottage" look when I started redecorating this room. First, I painted the paneled walls a color called White Chocolate...yum! I got a real bargain on a scalloped floral wallpaper border at a local store for only $3 a roll in the clearance bin and it was perfect for the look I wanted to achieve. With that done, I began looking for curtains, and came up with a pair of matching embroidered sheer white floor-length panels and topped them with a pair of lace valances also in white....these were yard sale and thrift store finds. The off-white crochet-edged comforter and matching bed skirt were also thrift store finds, although I bought the bed skirt several years before I bought the comforter. I think I paid about $15 for both pieces. The vintage patchwork quilt on the end of the bed came from the antique shop my husband used to own so it was a freebie. I found the crochet throw at a thrift store for a couple of dollars. I think the bed itself was the hardest item to find because I wanted just the "right" bed for this room. I finally found it sitting outside a fleamarket in a neighboring town. It had been white but was weathered and chippy when I found it.....and best of all, I only paid $10 for it!


Above the bed is an old window frame that I hung another thrift store lace curtain behind and used as wall decor. The nightstand came from a local second-hand store, and the lamp was actually two purchases. The lamp base was a $3 yardsale find and the shade came from the clearance aisle at a discount store. On the side of the room you can't see in the pictures, is a beautiful old 1930s era dresser that I painted white (as I recall, I paid about $25 for it at an auction). I decided to enhance the "shabbiness" of the decor with the two old mirrors, that I only paid a few dollars for, and left them chippy like they were when I got them. Since these photos were taken I have also added a 1930's overstuffed armchair upholstered in rose pink satin that I bought from a friend for $25. So for only a few dollars I think I achieved the shabby cottage style I was trying for in this bedroom. What do you think?

Recycled Food


You are probably thinking ewwwwwwwwwww! Well, this post is about recycling your leftovers into a new, tasty meal. Here is one of my favorite recycled dishes:

Baked Potato Soup
Serves 2

2 leftover baked potatoes, skin removed
3 cups milk
2-3 T. flour
1 T. margarine
Dash of salt.

Melt butter in a medium size saucepan. Add flour and salt, and then add milk slowly. How much flour you add will determine how thick your sauce is so you may have to adjust the amount to your liking. Cook until bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add baked potatoes that have been cut into chunks. Top with any or all of the following: sour cream, chopped green onions or chives, shredded cheese, bacon bits.

Serve with a tossed salad and enjoy!