Sunday, July 15, 2012

Before and After...Daughter's Apartment

My daughter recently graduated from college and has her own apartment for the first time. One thing she did not have was furnishings so for the last few weeks I have been scouring my basement, garage sales and consignment shops to help her furnish it.   My sewing machine has been busy too.  She was shocked when her dad and I showed up with trailer FULL of furniture and furnishings.

I had been on face time with her and seen the apartment that way and had her measure everything so I knew where to put everything as it was being moved in.   She was quite surprised because she thought we would be bringing a cabinet from her old bedroom and her grandma's old ugly love seat, curtains and potholders I'd sewed....

This is her entryway when we came...


Minutes later....


Her wish was to have a bright, welcoming entry so I painted a mirror that came off a consignment dresser with bright colors, made a orange pad for a bench that she'd had in her room growing up, and sewed a bright pillow.   You can't tell in the photo but I made a window valance for the front door that matches the pillow.   

Her living area when we came....  She made delicious pork barbeque sandwiches with coleslaw and we ate before we got to work hauling stuff inside.    We had to sit on the floor because she had absolutely nothing in this room...

 

In a short time, it looked like this...
(bad lighting...sorry)


Now she has a place to sit and watch the TV we brought her, a place to eat meals and to relax.   She is thrilled.    She painted the dresser green after we left... it was a project I didn't get to complete but I left her the paint and paintbrush and she was happy to finish it.  Everything in the room except for the counter height table came from our basement, garage sales and consignment stores.   The love seat was her grandmothers, from probably the 1970's.  I painted it and made slipcovers out of drop cloths.   They aren't perfect but when you don't have anything, they are good enough.    As my sister says ... you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

She had a cute little nook that we furnished as well.

Before (this is all the furniture, except her bed, that she had):


And After
 again, repurposed, repainted  stuff...   looks very cute...



Her little bitty kitchen just needed a bit of organization and a few decorative and practical things and it looks much neater....    My sweet sister Tonja bought her that microwave at a garage sale... I come from a family of thrifters...



Her bedroom and bathroom got a few updates too but I don't have any pictures.  

I had asked her to repaint before I came and  I'm so glad she did; everything was bright white and clean.  She was thrilled, surprised and grateful.   

I, of course, was beyond thrilled with what could be accomplished from hours away on the cheap with what was in my basement, garage and consignment sale finds, paint, and a sewing machine. 

2 comments:

Missy said...

Great job Mary!!! I love it!!! I am sure Joey was soooo excited with it all!!! She is one lucky lady!! I might have to have you come over and redo my house too!!

Anonymous said...

Love it you did a great job. Your awonderful mother. Love MOM