You deserve it - a place of your own, somewhere you can read & dream and just relax - yet how do you find that place?  You aren't like those people in the magazines, you don't have unlimited funds - you don't have unlimited space.  You have a family and a budget, you're stressed for time and how can you create some of those sumptuous rooms you've seen in those magazines.  That's what this page is about - how to create that special place just for you using YOUR budget & your space - so let's get started.

First look around you & find a corner, that is all you need, really a corner.  You are going to make a vignette (vin-yea).  In your corner you need a lamp, a chair, a table & some things.  That simple!  Can't cost that much right...well that depends on what you want.  You don't have to spend a lot of cash - just use your talent.  Start hunting for the furniture, scour yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, friends who are redecorating.  Once you find a piece look beyond the surface and examine its bones.  If it has a good structure anything can be changed. 

If a piece of wood is in good shape but been painted 1,000 times, a little elbow grease can take care of that & then you can stain or polish the wood, or paint it again. 

Need a round table - why not do what I do.  Go to Wal-mart, buy a black $8.00 garbage can (for outside), poke some holes in the top & fill it with dirt to use for seedlings.  Now take the can - this is the base for your table.  You can use it for hidden storage!  Either at a yard sale or the store, buy one of those cheap round tables that have those stick legs and take off the metal holders for the legs.  (Or go to Home Depot & buy a piece of round pressed board).  Set this on top of your garbage can, cover it with a table cloth (made from a beautiful sheet) and you got it!  If your lucky for UNDER $15! 

The chair needs upholstering?  Simple!  All you need is a piece of fabric (believe it or not I find Great fabric at yard sales, expensive fabric, that is just enough for a chair - because it was more than the people needed).   If the bones are ok you can go to the library and get a book on upholstery or buy a pattern.  But you really don't need one.  Replace whatever needs replacing inside & then take the old fabric and use that as your pattern on your new fabric.   What - not taking the old fabric off?  Just as simple. If you are uncomfortable about making a pattern strategic from fabric, first get a couple of old flat sheets to make your pattern.  (Go to the thrift stores for these.)  

Take your new fabric & lay it over the area you are going to cover (i.e. back of chair) and one-piece-at-a-time cut out a section and add one (1-1½) inch seam allowances.  You will have to leave a little extra room to slide it down over the chair.  Just think as you are doing it and you shouldn't have any problems at all.  If it seems to hard or you get frustrated, set it aside and just leave it alone until another day.  That simple.   This is your place to relax, so just take it easy, take your time & make yourself something memorable.

Ever notice all those cute little picture frames & knick-knacks that are on the tables in the magazines.  Then you go to Target or Wal-Mart and see how much even the least expensive frame costs.  It's discouraging.   But why do you need new?  Hit those yard sales, etc. again.  Start collecting frames, things, vases, anything that strikes your fancy.  You can't have too many.  Some people get lovely things as gifts that just isn't their style or they have 2 of.  They sell those for a quarter, a dollar.  Get it!  The same for your lamp.  It's out there if you look for it.  Take a bunch of different size boxes & chests, etc. and stack them!

Speaking of lamps.  I have gotten great lamps with not so great shades, but before I buy a new shade, I buy 3" fringe and put it around the bottom of a decent shade and then take some gimp (costs about a quarter a yard) and glue it all around the edge of the shade over the edge of the fringe.  Then I have a Victorian shade!  You could do all kinds of things, as long as you don't have to high wattage in your bulb and keep fringe away from lit candles.