apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

All good advice. All of these homes are very nicely done too. Drew and Ernie I am envious of the Eames piece.
I have had the same furniture since the 90's just cannot go wrong with modern classics.
My taste has changed some over time and I just paint or add a few accessories that I love and rotate. I was lucky enough at one time to purchase orginal art that I still treasure. My first chair was the barcelona and literally that was all I had in a few apartments was that chair and a bed. I built up slowly and the only temporary piece I bought was an Ikea bookcase to hold my TV. I have had this Ikea piece for about 8 years and it needs to retire.
I have never bought junk its either a real piece of furniture which can be second hand or a new classic. I have done stupid things but the one thing I am proud of is that I made good purchases over the years and they will never be out of style. I don't have the flair that many people have here but I cannot go wrong with what I have.

and if you can't live without some item from Urban Outfitters, for the love of God...google it to find a coupon.

25% off code: LUCKYBREAKS8

xoxo - who luvs ya?

If someone in your family thinks they're helping you by giving you some furniture, maybe it's worth something.*

*I think it came up recently what relatives might expect if they endow you with their nice things, so we keep those things separate in the mind (and do what we think is right in that regard) from things they were going to give to the Salvation Army anyway, but cut out the middleman on the way to your house.

If you get something and it's really crap, maybe spraypaint or reupholster it, experiment on it, use it to practice things you'll do to furniture you picked out yourself from the curb/yard sale/Goodwill. Things rarely turn out real well the first time you try them, and you'll find out if you're up for the task without ruining something you liked in the first place. I found out I don't like stripping and refinishing furniture this way, yet look forward to the upholstery project with enthusiasm.

Craigslist. Especially for furniture that isn't gonna see a lot of hard use. I picked up a cheap IKEA Tulip table knockoff even cheaper from Craigslist - just $75, as opposed to $150 (and far closer to home, too).

There's a whole IKEA warehouse full of furniture on Craigslist in most major metro areas. Cheap! It's especially good if you have a hack in mind . . .

Another tip:
buy some cheap fabric (or use secondhand curtains, table cloths or other flea market finds) to make new cushions or curtains. An easy, fast way to change something (without heavy lifting) about your home (and it takes up less space then furniture).

What is that gray in the last photo!? Anyone know? Or have a good recommendation similar to that? i need a light gray with a little beige in it.

Expounding on Nina's suggestion (I have some great floor cusions made from a Goodwill curtain) - slipcovers. You can change your room's look for a relatively small price.

If you just must have something different, pick up a small second-hand item. I often pick up little things on a whim and if they don't work in my place, I donate them back. It's an outlet for me to practice trial-and-error decorating; I'm a lot braver with thrift store items.

mgindc -- we recently painted an accent wall that came out to be almost exactly that shade of gray. I believe it was Benjamin Moore Pigeon Gray, but I'd have to check the paint can when I get home to be sure. Here are some pics -- the colors don't come out as well in pictures, but it's the darker wall: http://capitalnest.blogspot.com/2008/08/progress.html

All excellent advice, but Karl's is the best: "Don't do drugs or McMansions." ROFL!!!