So. Much. Purple
About six months before my Bear proposed to me, I was at a craft store admiring a super girly jar candle when it hit me: my time as a single lady was very likely coming to an end. If I ever wanted to enjoy surrounding myself with uber feminine decor, it was time to act. I proceeded to girl out my room in the town house I rented with three other wonderful women. I took these pictures shortly before moving out just as a way to lock in fond memories of this space, with no intention of sharing them, hence the messiness and the poor quality of the pics.
I used scarves to create an abstract, bohemian headboard of sorts and thrifted or hand-sewed pillows to complete the plush little nook. The comforter was loaned to me by one of my roomies.
A thrifted moon chair and side table provided guest seating which I tried to make more luxurious by the addition of a plush throw and more hand-sewn throw pillows.
This art was on loan to me from one of my roommates who was an art major. Once she saw the direction my room was taking, she suggested that I could use them. So perfect!
The roommate who lent me the art inspired me to repaint all of my furniture, which was all either thrifted or from Walmart. She had thrifted a beautiful set and refinished it with an antique glaze, giving her room a polished, mature ambiance. I went in a slightly different direction. What can I say? I love purple.
I love how the shelves of the cheap Walmart bookcase are bowing under the weight of the books.
All of the candles and knicknacks were either gifts or procured from thrift stores.
I carted this bookshelf home in my ’96 Toyota Corolla, but I have no idea how it fit. It gave me the perfect place to store taller books and my collection of CDs. Anybody remember those? I still have that little stereo.
The hatbox was given to me by my future mother in law, a harbinger of things to come.
The Bath and Bodyworks gift set was a birthday present from one of my roommates. Growing up, my family didn’t have resources for extra things like fancy gift sets from Bath and Bodyworks. I was so excited to be the proud recipient of such an exquisite set that I couldn’t use it; I found a basket to display it instead.
The dresser and bookshelf were also found at thrift stores and painted to fit into the scheme. I even painted little purple flowers on the wooden knobs. The collection of boxes kept jewelry and makeup tidy and out of sight – I still have them tucked safely away in a closet. Some people may say that’s hoarding, I call it being sentimental.
That little bookshelf gave me the perfect place to display pics of my favorite people: my sisters and my Bear.
It’s fun to look back and see how the people around me shaped my perception of what was possible in terms of creating a space I loved. The idea of refinishing furniture had never crossed my radar until that time – we had always just used the things that were available as they were. I’m so grateful for the opportunity this space gave me to explore what would eventually become my greatest joy: creating a beautiful environment by giving new life to pieces that other people no longer want.