Holden’s Fresh & Frugal Hideout
Name: Holden
Age: 8 months
Location: Marin County, California
Room Size: 150 sq. feet
Holden’s home in California is full of love and adoring parents who are willing to scour the ends of the earth for a bargain to pull together a great look. This room is full of thrifted and even a few free finds that make it feel light, bright and playful — oh yeah and there’s a super cool cow on the wall!
Being renters the Hanson’s felt limited by many of the options available to homeowners. They’ve done what they can to ensure they get their security deposit back, while still giving Holden a great space to grow up. His room is full of personal memories, hand-me-downs and frugal finds that helped keep things on budget. You can find Mom, Lisa at her oh so pretty Tumblr where she keeps track of all sorts of fun inspiration and ideas. Want to hear how this small space came together?
How would you describe the look and feel of this room: Dad is from Texas and Mom is from Southern California. He is handy and loves re-purposing furniture, she is thrifty and loves digging for treasure, so both sensibilities played a hand aesthetically in Holden’s room. We did the entire room for just right around $500.00.
What is your favorite piece or element? Dad’s favorite element is a toss up between the antique wooden bi-plane and the enormous Angus head poster. Mom’s fave is the broken in rocking chair from the farm and the picture wall.
What was the biggest challenge decorating this room? Our biggest challenge is being renters. We couldn’t go all out the same way as if we owned.
What do your friends say about the room? All of our friends love the room — minus the vegetarians.
What was your biggest indulgence? Our largest investment was the custom frame for the free Angus poster. Even hitting the Aaron Brother’s custom frame sale stung the pocket book.
What advice would you give to someone designing a nursery or children’s room for the first time? We didn’t know if we were having a baby boy or girl, so his room didn’t come completely together until we met him. We are constantly adding unique finds which we find much more personal. Our advice avoid big chain store decor and NEVER pay retail. You can find more unique and less expensive decor on line/ETSY/garage sales and flea markets. If it’s not the color you like or is missing a knob, who cares — DIY goes a long way! If it is at a store and you must have it, buy a floor model at discount or find it cheaper on-line.
If money were no object, what’s your dream source: Flea Markets/ Texas Grandma’s Farmhouse/ Anthropologie clearance section.
Resources:
Crib – Vintage Craigs List. $100
Bedding – ETSY $60
Rocking Chair – FREE- Great Grandparent’s Farm
Animal Prints – ETSY $45
3-tiered-shelf – Garage Sale. Re-painted and added knobs. $8
Angus Poster – FREE – Source
Curtains – IKEA – $60
Ottoman – IKEA – $30
Pillow – Pier 1 clearance- $3
Wooden Airplane – Flea Market $35
Cedar Toy Chest – FREE – Grandma’s Farm
European Dresser/Changing Table – Estate Sale $50
Mailboxes added to hold diapers – Garage Sale $5
Radio Flyer Vintage Race car – $40
Rug – Anthrolologie clearance – $150
Holden Log Round – GIFT
Animal Art Print – GIFT
Beau/Holden necklace – GIFT
(Thanks, Lisa!)
Images: Lisa Hanson