From Empty to French and Shabbily Romantic in a Day

Those of us thrifty folks do ourselves a serious service by planning ahead. I knew there would come a day when the friend who was renting from me would be able to purchase a home of her own and the extra bedroom she occupied would be a blank canvas once more.

Well, almost blank, anyway...
With just a few remaining things to pick up and take to her nifty new digs, boy was I glad I had developed a plan for the blue room long ago! And even gladder was I that I'd tucked some things aside as I'd found them, to decorate it.

The theme? A shabby chic old world French feel.. A bit pastoral, a bit faded, soft and lush and relaxing... A place a person could come sit and read a book, play some music, or paint.

Here you see a last framed artwork that needs to find its way to my former housemate, and a ladder waiting for me to hang some drapes...
The stack of prints below are from my own hallway. I'd taken them down so the movers could get through easily. They'll go back to their places shortly. They won't live here.

Here is my old black Ikea couch, brought up from the livingroom when the red velvet vintage-style sofa I'd thrifted recently took its place. This black sofa's going to get cover-up job done to it shortly. (Apologies for the photographed spheres... too much dust there for a second!)
The cover you see below was one I bought from the Salvation Army thrift store years ago and tucked away for just this occasion. It's got an elaborate pastoral scene on it, chock filled with minstrels and courting couples. I hadn't seen anything quite like it, but thought it would come in handy...

You can se the figures up close better here, with this romantic couple...

And here, with these instrumentalists...To cover the arms, I had a vintage pink burnout velvet futon cover I'd also thrifted some time ago...
It looks a lot pinker here in the photos, for some reason. It's actually a rather faded soft pink, like the dresses in the pastoral cover.

Here you can see I put up some curtains. I'd gotten these two years ago from TJ Maxx, at $16.00 a set, valences and tasseled tie-backs included!...

Here you can see the cherub and lady painting, which had been in my entrway downstairs, got moved to an appropriate placement between the windows, against the flow of light...

The music cabinet underneath it had had an unfortunate mishap when I'd moved it. The momentum of the cabinet door swung the door right off its hinges, pulling the screws away from the soft pine piece. A sad thing, naturally, and I cursed myself a bit over it. But I think I can fix it. It's really the right height and size for the area.

This French tapestry chair was a Salvation Army find too, about four years ago. It was just waiting to come into the blue room!

And you can see it coming together so far...
This large Italian tapestry will soon hang over the couch. This was-- probably not surprising to you-- a Salvation Army find, as well!...

The frame is quite scratched, so I think I'll gold leaf it so it will match the other frames in the room.

I also have some small lyre endtables, a desk, and a couple of vintage lamps that will find a home here.

I hope you folks enjoyed the little preliminary tour. Knowing your taste, developing a plan, and having a lot of patience is a great way to decorate a room with interesting items-- and not a lot of money.

If not, I should have some other goodies to share with you this coming Wednesday. I hope you'll pop by to see what awaits.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

what can i say but wow!!!!! i love it!!!

~ Regan said...

Great transformation! Who would've thought that couch could turn into that jem! :)

Jenn Thorson said...

Tami- Oh, thank you! It's not done yet, but at least you can get a feel for it.

RM- Yes, the couch looks worse for wear, though structurally, it's still okay. I just couldn't quite put it to the road. It still has life left in it.

Linda B said...

Your room will be lovely, as is the rest of the home you have shown us. I hope you don't miss your friend too much!

Unknown said...

Linda- Aw, you're so nice. I think I'll probably be talking to myself quite a bit. But as long as I don't start answering myself, I should be okay. :)

Andrea said...

Beautiful! You are very inspiring! I'm a devoted thrift store shopper, too, but your results are amazing. I look forward to learning from your blog.

Bless you.

Andrea

Unknown said...

Andrea- Thank you so much! I admit, I'm having entirely too much fun with it.

Unknown said...

Great transformation magic! i love finding things in different places and seeing how everything works! LIKE MAGIC!

Lauren Jordan said...

This is very nice! I love the vintage look! If only I had the money to transform my house into a vintage theme! =) The most I can do is design vintage posters, which I guess that's a start!

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

MARVELOUS job on the sofa. (I do a LOT of thrifting/fixing/refixing myself.) As to the chair, I have a very similar one, also thrifted, and I LOVE it!! Great finds, and you're pulling them together very nicely indeed.

Jenn Thorson said...

Suburban Mom- It really does feel magical when things just visually connect together. I find it strangely soothing!

Lauren Jordan- Actually, it really doesn't cost much at all if you're willing to get your vintage things at thrift stores, garage sales and even road-side, and possibly put some elbow grease into them.

Lauren- Thank you-- and you were very lucky with your chair! They don't come into thrifts too often.

chyna said...

what were you doing on a ladder and no Scooby around to rescue you from your mishaps?! A whole new room to decorate, woohoo!!!

Unknown said...

Chyna- Well, a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do! :) Scoobie's got a whole house of her own now to worry about: can't be hanging around waiting to see if one of her friends gets treed on the ladder. :)

Film izle said...

thank you.

Down Comforter said...

What a great friend you are :) I really love the items you selected - they fit the old French style perfectly.

lvroftiques said...

Oh my goodness! That courting couples couch cover made me green with envy!!...Ok well so did the music cabinet.....and the painting! Your room looks fab! Vanna