Live Breathe Decor

Hello All and Yes, there is still a blog here! I’ve just been taking a little break and putting my energies into other things. Thanks to those lovely readers who took the time to enquire about my whereabouts and well-being. Please rest assured that if you don’t hear from me in awhile, I’ll always be back sooner or later.

If you have read my blog before you will know that I am a big believer in the decorating resource that is ebay- and my latest purchase, an antique Persian rug, arrived this morning. I didn’t have a plan of where it was going to go, but threw it in with the blues and tans in our living room, which has been without a rug for the past several weeks. I do like this look but if it becomes a bit too warm looking in summer I can always change the cushions again and switch a sisal back into this room. But you know how ebay is a bit hit-and-miss? I think this one was definitely a hit.

(not sure why these pics came out so dark! I seriously need a new camera and a new house with better natural light)

Another fairly recent purchase was this black library for the dining room wall. This room never looked quite finished, and I really needed some vertical display/storage for my constantly-changing bits and pieces. I figure this piece will be great for one of the boys’ rooms or a playroom when we find the next house (yes, still looking!). I’ve kept it pretty neutral in here- only antique leather books, whites and glass- and one little shelf for family pics.

The ladder bar at the top is a great place to hang birthday and Christmas cards!

Another recent ebay buy was this big black-framed mirror. It’s the kind of piece I’d need to have hung professionally, but it’s in this corner until I decide whether to bother hanging it or to wait until the next house.. When I had this delivered my delivery guy apologised that it was so filthy- I explained to him that the glass has a mottled effect that makes it look aged, and that believe it or not some of us actually pay for this look!

I’m also still working on my office. I really wanted to replace the bookshelves with more attractive storage. I did find the perfect shelves, but they were more than double what I wanted to pay, and I’d need two of them! So I was on a mission to find something that would hold files and boxes of swatches, and store some magazines, and that didn’t cost a lot. I still hope to buy my ideal shelves, but I want to see the office in my next house before I commit!

After looking around at a lot of wholesale suppliers, as well as places like Ikea and Freedom, I eventually settled on this grey cabinet from Early Settler. They have a black version but I had just bought the black library and didn’t want to keep collecting painted black pieces of furniture. In fact I’ve been trying to steer clear of painted pieces made in China and focus on collecting antiques that I’ll keep forever. But the $800 price tag was impossible to beat! I figure it will look great in the future in a laundry or bathroom, or maybe even a kitchen area.

I might add that Early Settler sometimes have great prices but they are SO unreliable when you order something ahead. Already the delivery date for this cabinet has been pushed back by a month, and this isn’t the first time I’ve had this experience with them. Still, this is the price you pay when you are shopping on a budget. Has anyone else had this experience?

Have a great day, and it’s good to be back.

Naomi xx