New Apartment--Design on a Dime

If you have seen me smiling more in the last two weeks, it is because Lincoln and I moved into a new apartment!!! 

We are finally out of the basement, and into a two bedroom! I couldn't be more happy about it. Just having more natural light was good enough for me, but to top it all off, my mom flew out to help us paint and decorate our new place. Many of you know by now that my mom is amazing, and she seriously did wonders with our new place. 

{She is showing the step by step process on her blog this week 

and next week} 

Since we found out we were moving, I started shopping and 

gathering together everything we have. 

I LOVE CRAIGS LIST! 

It is like shopping at the thrift store, 

all from the convenience of your own home. 

I found a victorian style couch from the 1920's on Craigs list and bought it right away (I haggled my way down for a good price of course.) I had my mom help me decorate the new place around the couch, and I was very happy with the results. 

Here are some before and afters:

 (sorry the before pics are not that great)

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

We bought that beautiful China Hutch on Craigs List for $25

Our coffee table was given to us for free right after we were married, and the mirror table came from my mom who bought it at the Utah D.I. We brought it with us when we drove back from Cali to DC last summer. 

My mom also bought this awesome oversized lamp for me at the D.I. (I love the D.I.--I used to work there in high school. Best thrift store ever.) I brought it back with me in my checked luggage two weeks ago.

I spray painted my old dresser black, and now it is in the front room with the lamp on it. We also got the dresser for free. It was broken, and my dad fixed it when he came out for our graduation.

Before:

After:

The old ceiling tin above the TV came from Eastern Market. 

The Essigs bought it for me for my birthday, Thank you!. 

Before: (this pic is the only "before" picture I have of the kitchen, it was taken when the previous renters were there)

After:

That table used to be in our study area in our previous apartment. We got it for free because it was damaged on top. Lincoln sanded and refinished the top with a cherry stain.

We love it now. 

We bought the bar stools on Craigs List. 

The stand that the lamp is on was on the side of the road for free, so we took it.

Also, someone was giving these shutters away for free. Of course we snatched them up. It was my mom's idea to use them to frame our windows, inside the house. I love the cozy look it gave.

This buffet was made from two non-matching microwave stands. 

 {See the how to HERE}

We kept the same paint color in the kitchen. 

I loved it, but we did paint the cabinets bright white. 

I will post the bedroom pics next week!