Kitchen Plate Wall

Looking from the entrance to the kitchen. Don't mind the light fixture that will someday be switched for a pendant light.

We've lived in this house for four years, and I've always been a bit stumped with the main wall in my kitchen. See, my kitchen is fairly compact and there is really only one big wall. Everything I tried was too small.

A year or so ago, I made a DIY Chalkboard from a cheap-o picture (from D.I.) I hung that up. I have really enjoyed using the chalkboard for my weekly menu, birthday announcements and favorite quotes. But it didn't seem quite finished.

I got it in my head that I wanted to do a plate wall around the chalkboard. Despite my husband's utter confusion as to why I would hang plates on the wall  — 'cause don't you want plates on the table so you can use them? — I went for it. I love the result and the fact that the whole thing was done for less than $20 makes it even better.

This was seriously a 2-minute project.

I bought all of the plates for the wall at Savers (local thrift store) for $1 each. Funny story: My good friend Shannon came over one day and asked where I got the plates. When I told her I found them at Savers, she recognized a few of the plates as ones she had recently donated. So funny, thanks Shannon!

  

 For a more "collected" look, I didn't choose a matching set of plates. I think I have two pairs that match and the others are just random. There were actually a ton of plates to choose from, and I tried to stick to ones with interesting details. Love the little scalloped plate at the top.

 

And here is the wall that faces the plate wall, just for kicks. It's pretty much all business.  

If you need something to perk up a dining/eating space, might I suggest a plate wall? Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!

Things I Only Buy at D.I.

All of these books were purchased from D.I. for $1 or $1.50

Most people have go-to stores for certain items. For instance, you may only shop for jeans at Gap, gas up exclusively at Costco or maybe you always buy craft supplies at the Dollar Store. Me? I only buy books at the thrift store. Seriously.

I love to read and try to utilize my local library as often as possible. But I also love to own books. There is something about a bookcase full of books that just makes me happy. Nerdy, yes, but true. I especially like to buy books I've already read so that I can lend them to friends or re-read them on vacation.

Purchasing books full-price can be expensive, especially when you speed-read through them like I do. (I can't help it, it's genetic). My sister (and crazy-bookworm) Melody clued me to shopping for books at D.I. The first time I went to look for books with her at the Mesa Deseret Industries, I was completely blown away. The place was stocked with tons of brand-new or like-new bestsellers, many with the Costco price stickers still on them. There were multiple copies of especially popular titles, and most of the books were $1.

Now, I check the bookshelf every.single.time I go to the thrift store. If I can't find a book at D.I. or Savers, I put in a request with Mel and she can usually it for me.

Other things I always buy at thrift stores:

• corkboards (there are seriously a plethora at thrift stores and I usually cover them with fabric or paint the trim, so why buy new?)

• plates for my plate wall (I'll be posting a picture this week)

• picture frames for projects — I've never have much luck finding really nice frames but I have found ones that are decent enough to spiff up with paint

• backpacks and bags for 72-hour kits (and clothes for kits, for that matter)

Am I the only person that has go-to thrift store items? Tell me I'm not alone ...

Thrifting Season

Did you know that now is the best time of year to hit the jackpot at the thrift store? And by hit the jackpot I meant find really cool stuff in great shape.

Why now? Because people are clearing out the old to make way for new Christmas presents and trying to minimize clutter at the start of the year. One person's New Year's Resolution to get organized could equal awesome treasures for you.

(Of course, if you made a resolution to get organized, it may not be a wise time for you to stock up.)

Usually I don't find much at the thrift store — aside from a few no-fail items that I will blog about soon. But on a recent trip I had some awesome finds: 

These cute black Madden Girl pumps ... $5 in like-new condition

Sofft brand black pumps ... $5 and also like new. These are even cuter on than they are in the picture.

Simply Vera by Vera Wang purse, immaculate condition, $2

Brown Madden Girl kitten heel shoes, $5. I wonder if all of these shoes are from the same woman's closet?

I have wanted a purse this color for ages, and I was so stoked when I found this for $2

See, look, it's even cute inside!

I also got two skinny belts (one in a cognac brown, the other black) and three shirts.

Have you found any treasures at the thrift store lately? I'd love to hear about them.