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Thoughts on Adding Quirky Charm

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When I had my very first apartment, I amassed quite the selection of odd tchotchkes.  I had the entire collection of N*Sync bobble heads.  There was a Britney Spears poseable doll.  I also had a really odd light from Ikea that had these colored slides that displayed different characters, like the international symbol for a woman’s bathroom or two hands shaking.  I know it sounds weird (or maybe oddly charming?), but the quirkiness of it all made me happy.

After Tom and I got married and moved into our first house, I decided that I needed to “grow up.”  Justin and Britney were donated to Goodwill, and I spent my time collecting items like picture frames and fake flowers.  I lived in that uninspired and “grown up” way for the next few years.  My brown leather beast of a sofa still survives from that era.

But one day, I woke up and realized that I don’t have to live in a home of uninspired niceties.  I needed to be surrounded by things that make me smile, even if they seem a bit odd to other people.  Luckily, my selections have gotten a little more refined.

Throughout the years, I’ve collected things that aren’t really what you see in the pages of your favorite shelter magazines.  It’s much more important that the rooms in my room scream “happy, quirky fun” than they do “you should want to live exactly like me.”

A few weeks ago, there was a vintage Basset Hound planter offered on One King’s Lane for around $130.  I wanted someone to buy it so I wouldn’t spend that much money on something so weird, but I fell in immediate love with him…and I fell hard.  Then, I realized I had some credits in my OKL account, so the price seemed a little easier to swallow.  I put the planter in my cart, but then I quickly did an Internet search to make sure I wasn’t crazy for convincing myself to pay so much.

Turns out I was.  I found an identical vintage planter listed on Etsy for $38.  I released the $130 model from my OKL cart and purchased the one from Etsy.   He now resides in my living room, holding some of my favorite types of succulents.

Have you ever fallen in love with something like a Basset Hound planter but been afraid to take it home with you?  Don’t be afraid to inject a little quirky character into your home.  Stop questioning  yourself and worrying about what other people will think, and add elements to your home that inspire you.

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Want to add some fun to your home through brightly colored pillows?  Two winners have been selected for the $25 shop credits to Modest Pillows.

  • #1 – Rachael
  • #51 – Amy P

For those of you who didn’t win, Modest Pillows wants to extend a discount code to you.  Enter the code LIVING at checkout and receive 15% off your purchase through April 15h.

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It’s also time to announce the winners of the Home Depot “Spring it Forward” giveaway.  Three winners have been selected to receive $20 gift cards to Home Depot.

  • #59 – Kyra
  • #82 – Tonya
  • #96 – Amber

You still have time to Spring it Forward with Home Depot.  Please visit Home Depot on Facebook to join in the fun!

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Comments

  1. Amber says

    It’s so encouraging to hear that I wasn’t the only one who went through a phase of buying boring “grown-up” furniture and home decor because I though that was what I was supposed to do. Luckily, the damage was contained to a small apartment worth of furnishings. I can’t wait to buy our first home so I can fill it fun items that just make me smile.

    Reply

  2. Jessica says

    I have all kinds of odd things in my house that make me smile. A gargoyle reading a book, my tin Easter basket from when I was a kid, a mexican doll I bought from some kid in Mexico (they know we can’t say no to cute kids!) I also have one of those “so ugly it’s pretty” chairs from the thrift store. It’s those little bits that really show our personalities in our homes. I think people get the idea that in order to have the “ideal” home it has to look straight out of the glossy magazine pages. It’s not real people! Someone should take a picture of the drawers and I bet you’ll find all the ‘real’ stuff they shoved in there just for the photo shoot.

    Reply

  4. Jenny @ House Full of Pretty says

    I love me some tchotchkes! I used to think they felt way too “grandma” for my house, but over the years I’ve grown to love my little treasures. I often pick up a small token when I’m on vacation, and when they are displayed the right way, they don’t look tacky and are often a great conversation piece!

    Reply

  5. Amy P says

    I love your little hound!! He is so cute! I have a ceramic deer head hanging in my living room that I just love. Your story is so similar to mine. 🙂

    I WON the Modes Pillow giveaway!! Yahoo! Thanks so much! Just let me know what I need to do.

    Reply

  6. Rona says

    I adore your little basset hound! Yes it’s easy to get sucked into the “lets go minimalist, or shabby chic or whatever theme is in fashion right now” but we loose our own unique sense of style and fun. Only last week we were in the dollar store and saw these white china rabbits…not something I would usually get and Lovely Man would normally call it tacky..but we both fell in love with them and bought two!

    Reply

  7. Karen says

    I guess that I never cared what others thought of my favorite things. I have quite a few so I put some out and rotate stock once in a while so new ones are out for me to enjoy for a while. I have a little plastic doll from my childhood, my 1967 Barbie with her boyfriend, a 12 inch GI Joe that barks only one order over and over now that he is old and senility has set in. Love is blind for her though. I have a few choice happy meal etc toys that make me laugh. A few old vases. A Garfield cat clock on my computer desk. Don’t be ashamed of what you like, it is what makes you YOU.

    Reply

  9. Kimberly J. says

    This post made me smile 🙂 I am recently graduated, married, and also just bought a house. With all of the changes everyone has their own opinions about everything in my life. One thing that was a struggle for me was the eye brow raises when explaining bathroom colors and living room ideas. But in the end I have stuck with my gut and love my “vintage-y” inspired living room. With my Casablanca framed poster, old trunks, and many other old things (gotta love estate sales and auctions!) I feel at home in my home. My husband agrees that it fits my “old soul”.

    Reply

  11. Amber says

    He’s cute! And even though he may be “quirky” he still fits in so well. Like that unexpected pop of color. Only, you know, it’s an unexpected pop of basset hound! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Megan says

    I don’t think I’ve ever posted on your site but when I saw the puppy planter, I had to say something. He’s adorable! And at $38, it’s not that bad! We (hubs and I) have a love for weird things too. Auctions are normally where we buy things so they are pretty cheap. We do have a few things that I could part with, and will eventually, but there are some things I love. A teal dog planter that has an opening of about a half dollar coin is one. It’s the same color as the popular jadite dishes.

    Reply

  14. Chelsea says

    Hi Lindsay,
    You have inspired me so much! It all started when I saw your “thrift store cast off dresser” on Pinterest a few months ago. Your advice about buying the piece right away stuck with me so when I stumbled upon a desk from the Habitat store for $40 that is perfect for me to use as sewing station I didn’t hesitate to buy it (the paint is drying on it as I write this). Also, I brought out the bright wooden tulips I purchased in Holland 15 years ago and hung a pastel portrait of my dog in the living room. I love me some tchotchkes, and am excited to sprinkle some personality into my home.
    Chelsea

    Reply

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