Monday, October 22, 2007

Pottery Barn hacks

Pull the latest Pottery Barn catalog out of the recycling bin and visit us at Frugal Hacks. Today we're brainstorming inexpensive versions of the latest styles. Fun!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meredith, do you remember last year's desire to make The Magi or something for your lawn? Still thinking about that? You could do a great and inspiring job!

deb meeyrs

Anonymous said...

Oooh! I'm bouncing between Frugal Hacks, the Pottery Barn, and Merchant Ships.

I have never had an eye for decorating, but maybe this will help train me.

Brilliant, Meredith!

BTW, after my "lavish Halloween decorations" comment yesterday, I got my comeuppance today when I read my Daily Bible Readings and Meditations (Catholic):

Monday (10/22): "One's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions"

Jora

Anonymous said...

I wish I knew how to post a picture on the web (or any place else for that matter) of the beautiful hand made snow flake decorations my mother in law made. She did each and every one by hand, using string, (not crocheting thread) to make hundreds of these. She used spray starch and an iron to make them stiff and hung them on her tree. It was the most beautiful tree I think I ever saw. It cost her nothing but time. (well, maybe 99 cents for the ball of string) She passed away this past April. When I hang her snow flakes on OUR tree this year it will be bitter sweet. She is missed very much. Anyway, I have seen these snow flake decorations made of plastic that sell for a lot of money. My mother in law never had much money to decorate her home; but her home was always a warm and welcoming place. There was always food something warm and sweet from her oven and of coarse coffee or tea.
Thanks for the wonderful blog. I enjoy it so much. Roxie

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...would it be ethical for me to request that Pottery Barn start sending me catalogs? I have no intention of buying their products, so I guess not.

I am blessed with a terrific thrift store. So, when looking at PB's 'clearance' section, I found several decorating ideas that I could pull together froml thrifted materials. (seashells in glass jars, for example).

-- Jora

Mrs. Fussy Fussypants said...

Cool!

rural momma said...

I don't see why it would unethical to request a catalog. The thing is these companies want their catalogs out there so people can see them. I actually put an order in for one today!! :0)

Thanks Meredith for the tip!! :0)

Meredith said...

I don't think it's unethical. Who knows, you just might find the perfect thing for a gift!

On the other hand, I am concerned about the amount of paper that all these catalogs use. For that, I commend Pottery Barn for developing such an incredible website. You can see individual items up close, as well as a different shot within the room (each item has a link to the larger photo beneath it).

Otherwise, just fish one out of the recycling bin next time you take your newspapers. There always seem to be fifty copies right on top whenever we recycle!

Anonymous said...

Well, thanks for the reassurance. I went ahead and ordered Pottery Barn and PB Teen for my future interior-designer/architect.

Jora

Luke and Valerie said...

Thanks for this, Meredith! It looks like the post for FH took a long time, what with all those links! A true labor of love. Thanks for the inspiration.

Missy K said...

Meredith, I just had to come over and say that I think this is the best post you have ever done. Blessings!

Nicola said...

Oh, this is one of our favorite pastimes...creating things for ourselves, frugally, using ideas from catalogs and magazines. Here is one of my favorites my husband made earlier this year based on Pottery Barn: http://whichname.blogspot.com/2007/02/eat-this-pottery-barn.html

I cut photos out of catalogs and paste them in a notebook for ideas later when I need them!

Mama Squirrel said...

This is a really fun post, Meredith--Pottery Barn may forever ban you from getting catalogues, though! (grin)

inspired said...

I love your blog! Honestly, who would want to put some of the things in their house that pottery barn has. Now your ideas were great. I would love to know how you would "hack" the furniture that they sell...That is what I love about pottery barn! I guess that would be called "shabby chic".

Stephanie
www.homeschoolblogger.com/inspired/

K E Fleck said...

oh, how totally cool!

Creative Life Studio said...

Wonderful, as always, Meredith! :) I don't get the PB catalog, but my mom does. I'm going to take a look at it when I see her Wed. night. Thanks for your continued inspirational ideas.

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

Awesome!I love pottery barn!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see what you all have done over at Frugal Hacks. Sometimes I throw my PB catalog away immediately because it makes me feel so discontent!

I have a question about painting furniture. Wouldn't a polyurethane (sp?) coating be better than the wax for a table where we do crafts, school and eating? I'm getting ready to finally get up enough nerve to paint our dining table black.

Thanks for all of the great ideas!
Sharron

Meredith said...

Sure, Sharron, I think polyurethane would work fine. I prefer the softer finish of a wax,plus I needed the wax to fill in the irregularities of a spray paint finish. I didn't have time for the brush stroke and sanding a good polyurethane finish would entail.

Of course, a semi or high gloss paint would probably offer enough protection without either wax or polyurethane.

Let us know how it goes, okay?

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate said...

Yup, it's your fault that i had to order a catalog too. :)

On the table issue-I just bought one of those vinyl tablecloths that is like a shower cap-has elastic all the way around. That way it protects the table from the kiddos until they are old enough not to destroy the finish.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/mercado/search.do?freeText=tablecloth&Search.x=0&Search.y=0

I can pull it of when I want the table to look more "adult" and because of the elastic the kiddos can't pull it off. I am considering getting the burled wood one.

And just so you know, I rarely recommend that someone go out and buy something, but in this case I think it is worth it to protect my table.

Carrie said...

I love getting PB catalogs. Though they make me itch with ideas to decorate my home, they do not make me covetous of their products - they are so overpriced that it's almost a game to look through the catalog and say "I saw that for $24.99 at Hobby Lobby - who on earth would pay $100?!". :) Great job with the hacks!

~katie~ said...

I will definitely check this out! how fun!!

Thanks also for your wonderful idea for my shepherd's hook!! How creative! I couldn't think of anything and you and two other ladies thought of something so neat with little effort!

Many thanks for your inspiration...
~Katie

Karla Porter Archer said...

thank you for this! The PB catalog always depressed me when it arrives. And now I can work my own magic!

Blessings,
Karla
ps - I keep forgetting to email you... I would like info on your get-together!!!

Mrs. Jones said...

I think this is one of my favorite posts *ever*. I have a pile of PB and Ballard Design catalogs that I memorize and then copy. I missed the photo with the frames on the Christmas tree though. So cool!!