Lindsey from Impatiently Crafty LOVES classic schoolhouse lights but sure doesn’t want to pay $200 a piece for them. She has become a master a refurbishing old lights found on Ebay and at salvage stores for much cheaper. With a light sanding, coat of spray paint, and new wiring, they look just like the ones found at high end stores like Restoration Hardware!
If you are one to frequently change out décor, you can’t beat chalk art. Jami from An Oregon Cottage found a piece of framed pressboard artwork from the thrift store and used paint to turn it into a chalkboard. She then used her tried-and-true chalk transfer method to draw a subway sign like those sold at Restoration Hardware. Before sporting this train sign, Jami’s chalkboard made an appearance in her Christmas gallery wall. And guess what? When she’s had her fill of the subway sign art, she can simply wipe it away and draw something new!
As soon as Aimee from The Vintage Estate came across some ugly canvases, she knew they’d be perfect for replicating the pricey subway signs she’d been eyeing from Restoration Hardware. All it took was some paint and handmade stencils for Aimee to give the canvases new life. It just goes to show that you have to use a little imagination in the thrift store aisles and see beyond what is to what could be!
Whitney from Shanty 2 Chic knew she wanted a large chalkboard like one from Restoration Hardware for her entryway – just not for $300. And why buy one when you can make it yourself for about $15? And in one hour no less! Whitney’s easy DIY chalkboard tutorial builds upon an existing chalkboard that she purchased from Hobby Lobby. Whitney added on to the existing frame with some furring strips and pine casing, transforming the plain Jane frame into a real showstopper!
Melanie of The French Cottage had been holding onto a tear-out of a Restoration Hardware chalkboard for years. However, she says her “inner frugalista” would not allow her to spend $499 on a chalkboard. Melanie also knew she could build her own chalkboard for much less and did just that for $50, which isn’t too shabby for a ginormous framed chalkboard. The fact that this chalkboard has a vintage schoolhouse look makes it perfect for Melanie’s son’s playroom. It’s a piece that both mommas and children can enjoy!
