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Thrifty Ideas from Danny Seo's New Place

2008-03-24-patchwork.jpgDanny Seo is settling in to a new home and is sharing the process on his blog - we pulled some of our favorite inexpensive products, projects and finds together here - jump below for photos and links:

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Taking the inspiration from this gorgeous $4000 rug (shown above), a patchwork of pieces from vintage rugs, but doing it as a DIY instead of paying the high price. Danny plans to find some old rugs at flea markets to cut up and stitch together with hemp string.

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Using lighting designed for the outdoors, indoors. A good look and a super price - these were $20. each at Lowes.


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The most eco-friendly (and cost-effective) way to work with a new space - keep what you can from the previous design. For instance, Danny inherited these great owl-motif fireplace accessories from the previous homeowner and plans to keep them in place. He says, "When I left the room and walked back, that's when I noticed that the glass eyes in the owls lit up with a slightly eerie glow. It felt very Harry Potter movie-esque to me. Needless to say, I loved it. You just don't find home products like this anymore. "


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Ceiling fans are a good eco choice and can really look good - case in point: these sleek industrial style fans. The best part: the price...$64 (also from Lowe's).


All photos and info via: Daily Danny

Comments (12)

Those "owl-motif fireplace accessories" are called Andirons...
...they're for holding the burning logs up off the bottom of the fireplace for more efficient burning.

posted by bepsf on 2008-03-24 17:14:38
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And, those andirons are Craftsman classics that sell for $300 and up at antiques stores. I can't believe the former owners left them behind!

posted by farmhousemoderne on 2008-03-24 17:53:24
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yeah, the logs go ON them.

posted by DahliaCactus on 2008-03-24 18:11:55
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Yes! Those are the fans!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/2213742418/

I've been searching the net for them and cannot find them.

I first saw them at my brother's house.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/2213742418/ Technically, they are shop fans and aren't supposed to be mounted on normal height ceilings. They could chop your head off. Or at least but a decent gash in your noggin. But for the price, I'd say they look pretty close to the Cirrus fan.

And the restaurant hood lights! Love the industrial ideas, especially for a loft like mine. He should throw some CFL's in those lights for a little more savings.

posted by art on 2008-03-24 18:18:57
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Whoa, those cheese balls on the ceiling are weird. Kind of like peanut shells on the floor.

posted by art on 2008-03-24 18:31:46
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The andirons are nice. Antiques are pricey but replicas are easy to locate for less than $50. E.g.:

http://www.google.com/products?q=owl andirons

posted by Jim G on 2008-03-24 18:55:02
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Whoops, the site split the URL I tried to post. There should be a " " symbol in there.

"http://www.google.com/products?q=owl andirons"

posted by Jim G on 2008-03-24 18:56:17
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Sorry, it did it again - even though the preview page showed it properly, and even though I put it in quotes. Add a PLUS symbol between 'owl' and 'andirons', or run the search yourself.

posted by Jim G on 2008-03-24 18:57:28
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The patchwork rug is hideous.

posted by Daily Nuance on 2008-03-25 12:06:41
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Holy Sh*t, the original andirons go for about $800 according to Jim G's url. I don't have a fireplace, and have a pair stored away in a trunk doing nothing!

posted by lonnstrom on 2008-03-27 09:26:49
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I DISAGREE DAILYNUANCE I LOVE THE RUG IDEA TO EACH HIS OWN ....MAJ

posted by majeral512 on 2008-03-29 10:58:57
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http://www.fireplacescreenshowcase.com/andirons.htm less than $30 here.

posted by citygirlincountry on 2008-03-30 17:22:43
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