Monday, January 16, 2012

Outlet Shopping and a College Apt.




I went outlet shopping this weekend, looking for some miscellaneous items for photo shoots and a new rug for my daughter's college apartment.  She goes to school in the hill country area of Texas and the San Marcos outlet mall is a rather famous destination.  Shoppers from all over head there for some real deals.  One of the best stores there is the Pottery Barn Outlet, full of furniture and home goods from their stores, PB,  PB Kids, William Sonoma, and West Elm.  You can't go there with anything too particular in mind because you never know what you will find.  Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware are there too, but RH's goods always seem to be heavily damaged.  It sort of turns you off from the products there.  Crate and Barrel is more dishes, storage, and misc., not much furniture. 

I scooped up these items for some upcoming photo shoots.




There's always lots of great baskets.



A couple of French chairs for $299 ea.



Zebra printed cowhide rug for $399.



Cashmere throw for $79.  Tangerine Tango???  I had to really resist this one!



Then after digging through the stacks of rugs rolled up in the back, I found this one.



Perfect color and size from West Elm....for $150! 


It looks great in my daughter's apartment, filled with the furnishings from my Showhouse I did last April.  It was a mix of high and low, old and new, in some bright fun colors with a white envelope.  Click HERE for more about some of the specific items. I knew it would transfer well to my daughter so I designed it with her in mind.




The Ikea sofa and vintage coffee table were purchased for the apartment, the rest came from the Showhouse.  Doesn't the rug look great?  We're looking for a deal on a parson's style coffee table.  She gives her furniture lots of abuse so I'm looking for something very durable.  I'm thinking of having it made in laminate!


Her apartment, like most, is completely devoid of color and personality.  The rug really gives it some life.



She has some shelving built-in, but no room for a tv.  We did an Ikea tv stand, kind of matches the built-ins.  She has some of her art projects displayed.  The wicker chair was used on the balcony in my showhouse room.  I bought it at market in Dallas last year.



The desk is actually an old Ikea pine table that my son used in his college apt.  I had it painted and had a glass top cut so she could use it for a desk or a table if she wanted.

(Another art project on the desk!)


The table before.  It actually cost me more to paint it than the table was itself, but then it wouldn't have had the perfect color, would it?




She used the art I had for the Showhouse room all over her apartment.  The three vintage fashion ads in their Target frames look great there on the wall to the bedroom.  We amped up some storage in her little kitchen with a Target storage cart.  Gee that was tedious to put together. She did it all herself.



She was able to use the dresser and tackboard in the bedroom.



The bed and leaning mirror all worked in the bedroom.  A turquoise paint color on two walls would be great in here.  If she stays in the apt. next year, she might do it.  She would have to paint it back when she left.



We changed from the white duvet cover to a subtle pattern for this apartment.  It is easier for her to keep it looking nice.  She loves the bed!



The bed, furniture painting (I took the wood pieces to a professional finisher), and custom pillows were the "high" part of the project. Everything else was from Ikea, Target, outlet stores, flea markets and antique shops. Now if I can just see the rug when I go back to visit, underneath the clothes and art projects!


Linking to:

Simply Klassic Sundays

Metamorphosis Mondays at Between Naps on the Porch

15 comments:

  1. Wow, you really did find some great deals! Love your daughter's apartment.
    have a great MOnday, Carla.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  2. The rug really does add so much color. Cute apartment!!!

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  3. sounds like a fun place to shop if you're into "new"..I personally prefer thrift and tag sales..but I think your daughters apartment is stunning..love the fresh colors!!
    best,
    maureen

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  4. Wow, Carla, it looks stunning. The rug was the perfect accessory...a statement maker for sure!! Love the greens ~

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  5. What a GREAT apartment! Lucky girl. I am so in love with that shade of green!

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  6. Super fun shopping! Some great finds there. I'm always at the local furniture outlets and GoodWill stores. Gotta love a bargain :-)

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  7. These outlet stores sound like fun places to shop. I wish we have more furniture outlets here.

    The rug is gorgeous. I love how it adds so much visual interest in the room. I am also loving the coffee table, the desk and the bed. Lovely apartment, everything looks so stylish and comfortable!

    Jessie
    www.mixandchic.com

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  8. The wicker chair and the green table are IT!
    It looks great, I thinks she´s going to have the best decorated apartament in Campus!!

    www.tatianadoria.blogspot.com

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  9. Lovely finds! The rug looks wonderful! Have a delightful day, Kellie xx

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  10. And here I thought there wasn't a college student alive who had a nice looking apartment-you dispelled that myth! The rug is a great addition to the room.

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  11. Carla,
    I loved seeing this! Thank you for sharing it. I am such a sucker for taking low end items, tweeking them a bit with paint, and then adding a few high end things to get a fabulous look. She is one lucky girl to have you designing her apartment!! M.

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  12. Love your daughter's apartment. I'm a huge green fan...love that rug. It was a great deal...and the desk. Perfect. XO, Mona

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  13. This is so inspirational...not a typical college apartment at all. Just shows what you can do with a budget and some creative thinking.

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  14. Looks great! Made me sad thinking of when my girls go off to college or get their own apartment. However, then I got a smile on my face thinking about how much fun that will be helping them decorate their new places. Well, that's if they let me! Great finds! Ruthie

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  15. You are so lucky to have a PB outlet nearby!!

    Your daughter's apt looks amazing - great job!!

    Thanks for sharing at Simply Klassic Sunday!

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