I hope you had a wonderful weekend. As you know mine was very busy. I had my garage sale and managed to get rid of 50% of my stuff (and raised almost $200) for myself. I plan to get rid of the other 50% at my local trash and treasure - date yet to be announced. I want to give myself some time off from this selling.
Selling as a means for culling is not something I enjoy. For the most part, I just want my stuff GONE and selling it off bit by bit is (to me) akin to pulling sticky bandage off my skin bit by bit. But the reality is that I really could do with the money at this time, so sell it I must.
Anyway, enough on that and on to happier things!
I finally finished my music room! This room, I decided to indulge my eclectic taste in art. Now my limited budget meant though that I could not exactly go to a gallery and just buy whatever I wanted. So I was quite surprised to find in the end that there are second-hand sources for art as well. So here it is...
Entering the room, you immediately see this:
I've already blogged about the quilt and pillow so other things you see here is an acrylic painting on wooden board that caught my eye a few weeks back at the local markets. It caught my eye because the woman looks like she may be ill, but yet holds herself so strongly and graciously. She is an integral part of her surroundings. I think I can learn a lot too from the brush strokes used to create this painting.
The empty frames I put there because I think a music room should always have room for a bit of imagining within a structure...(I know I'm coming across as a bit weird now but hey, art can do that to people. :P)
Oh I should mention that the futon was gifted to me last year by the lovely Jess of Button Beauty. I wanted a futon that turns into a bed and she wanted to get rid of hers. It was the perfect arrangement. hehe
As you walk into the room a bit more, you see this:
I decided to make the digital piano face the couch - that way when I'm playing I can still face other people and make it more like a "jamming" set-up rather than have my back turned to them. I want to do something with the back of the piano though to make it a bit more attractive. I'm thinking of decoupaging it with old sheet music... what do you think? Or would that totally ruin it? The back is just chip board - none of the electronics for the piano is attached to it.
The print above the piano was also a gift in exchange for a favour I did for my mum's friend and is an authorised print from a local artist. The greeny/blue canvases with writing on it is mine. This was me deciding to learn how to control a brush better by painting some words on canvas. I used the words from
And finally on the other side of the room is this:
Anyway, like my entire house, I know that this is not to everyone's taste but I like it. Oh but before I sign off, for the sake of consistency, I should reveal how much this room cost me:
Various artworks (including cost of materials for mine): $100
Other decor items (eg frames, quilt, side tables etc): $65
All the above are second hand except for 1 canvas which was for me the other two I sourced second hand but couldn't find a third of the same size, so I ended up buying that brand new from my local art shop.
And the piano? Um...well that cost me $1,500 so I've blown my challenge on furnishing and decorating my entire house for under $1,000... but if I exclude the piano then my total cost to date = $862 This includes, furniture for all rooms, kitchenware, diningware, cutlery, hallway decor (I found 2nd hand frames for those prints!) etc.
And that's the inside of the house finished!!! BUT I actually do have one more "room" to do - that is the outdoor deck. If I continue on the same vein as before (and conveniently forget that I bought a piano), it would mean that my budget for furnishing that would be $138 - that would take my house decor project cost to $1,000.
I *think* I can make it. I already have sourced chairs and a table (freecycle) but I do want a lounge/bench for myself and the kids (as well as guests) to sit on out there. Wish me luck in trying to find something for my budget!!
7 comments:
Wow Eilleen - your music room is lovely.
Regarding back of piano - why not decorate a piece of board with the old sheet music, and the attach it to the piano without causing any damage to the piano. That way, if for some reason you need to make a decorating change, you can do it without any problem to your most expensive piece of furniture
Yes yes yes to the decoupage! Do it!
:-)
(and blog it!)
I love the artworks in the last pic - would love to see the detail!
Really well done! I like the look of your 'words' canvasses, I think you've done well. Piano facing that way is a great idea, I imagine you would feel more like an entertainer! And go for the decoupage idea, you just know it would look good....!
I am so impressed at your decorating skills on a budget. In fact, forget the budget part I think everything you showed us looks fantastic and it doesn't seem on a budget at all.
I was going to suggest putting old sheet music on fabric, or hand painting some music onto a sheet/nice piece of fabric, so as not to damage the piano, but Janet's suggestion is great too.
And I think it is entirely jusifible to spend all the money you saved on a piano. Music is priceless and giving your children and yourself that gift is worth so much
Jen
Thanks everyone!
Janet - you're right, I might want to do a decor change down the track and I might regret something permanent.
My mum actually emailed me after reading this post (she doesn't like to comment on my blog :D ) and said pretty much the same thing.
I might go with Darkpurplemoon's idea of putting cloth on the backing but doing something special with the cloth. I'll have to think about it some more.
And for those who wanted to see some decoupage, don't worry! I think I'll save the decoupaging for my table on the deck!
Thanks again and talk to you all later!
Hi Eilleen, somehow I missed this post. I would like to know what model piano you bought. And what did you end up doing to the back?
Post a Comment