'F' for Freebies Decorating

My Chairish Favorites, and a Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the striped antique sofa that I bought on Chairish. Shortly after I posted about it, I heard from the co-founder of the company with a sweet thank you note, and now today I’m excited to be working with them. I’m sharing some of my favorite pieces from the site, and offering a $300 credit to one lucky reader! First things first though. Let’s have a look at my finds.

Making it Lovely's Top Picks on Chairish

  1. Antique Butler’s Desk
    Looks like a dresser, but has secret awesomeness inside.

  2. Striped Settee and Matching Chair
    Someone spotted this set and left a comment pointing them out when I posted about my striped sofa. I’m at capacity, but maybe your home is in need of some striped upholstery?

  3. Painted Blue and White Garbage Pail
    The top edge is so sweet, and I love blue and white these days.

  4. Vintage Danish 1960’s Chandelier
    Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes to this light.

  5. Still Life Oil Painting
    I’m really drawn to this! If someone doesn’t buy it soon, I might.

  6. Mid-Century Patchwork Credenza
    Pieces like this work in so many homes, and the geometric detailing on the inset panels makes this one special.

  7. Oly Studio Settee
    Nail head trim, an interesting base, and lovely proportions.

  8. Blue and Ivory Smithsonian Rug
    Again with the blue and white.

  9. Set of 5 Cafe Chairs
    If you’re looking for a set of Thonet chairs, ta da!

  10. Brass Bamboo Tray Table
    This would make for a swanky bar, or throw a couple of art books on top and a plant. Whatevs — it would look great either way.

  11. Porcelain Noire Teapot
    Fancy a spot of tea? Use a fancy tea pot.

  12. Tufted Blue Twin Headboard
    Blue velvet tufting, plus great curves.

Chairish helps facilitate the sale of furniture directly by owners; they can help arrange for shipping cross-country, and also have a 48-hour return window. I think it’s such a smart (and needed) service. I had a lot of fun choosing my favorites to feature, and you can see my collection over on Chairish, too.

Now, you probably want to know about the giveaway, yes? Visit Chairish and enter to win a $300 site credit! One winner will be chosen at random, and the sweepstakes will end on November 4 at 11:59 PT. Good luck!

Comments here don’t count as entries, but I’d love to know what you’d pick. Am I the only one loving that painting?

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • Melissa de la Fuente
    October 28, 2013 at 9:21 am

    Oh! That brass table…..exactly what I have been looking for! eep. You are not the only one, that painting is beautiful….all of it really. Such a great find!
    xo
    Melissa

    • Making it Lovely
      October 29, 2013 at 9:20 am

      I kind of wanted to keep all of these finds to myself, to be honest. But then I thought, if I can’t keep all my babies, let’s let someone else have ’em!

  • Kelsey
    October 28, 2013 at 9:23 am

    Well $300 would scarcely cover it, but LOOK at the cool 192-inch circus poster! Amazing.
    http://shop.chairish.com/collections/the-gallery-wall/products/gigantic-clyde-beatty-circus-poster

    We’ll be finishing our basement someday that has only egress windows on either end of a long, narrow room. This would look so cool above a beadboard or board and batten paneling along the bottom and the circus poster above. FUN!

  • Heidi S.
    October 28, 2013 at 9:56 am

    Exciting giveaway! I’ve been eyeing several things over there lately. I love the brass table! I have also been eyeing Emily’s green chairs:

    http://shop.chairish.com/collections/emily-henderson-sale-part-2/products/2-vintage-green-wool-danish-arm-chairs-pair

    • Making it Lovely
      October 29, 2013 at 9:34 am

      Those chairs are such a good shade of green.

  • Neena
    October 28, 2013 at 10:20 am

    I am obsessed with the Mid Century Patchwork Credenza, which would be perfect in my home. Or those brass tables as nightstands in my master bedroom. LOVE.

  • alisa
    October 28, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Its funny because I had never heard of the site before you mentioned it, and I immediately fell in love with 20+ items. I love that credenza. I have my eye on a similar dresser to younghouselove’s that they use for the TV at an exceptional price. Hoping hubs will let me get it for my christmas present. :)

    Have a great day!

  • Jessica @ Of Sand & Snow
    October 28, 2013 at 10:45 am

    Loving the cafe chairs! (Ps. Check your email, Nicole. I’ve sent you a link to a sampling of my illustration portfolio, per our dialogue from last week.)

    • Jessica @ Of Sand & Snow
      October 28, 2013 at 4:35 pm

      On second thought…I think I’d want the butler’s desk. It’s sooo delicious!

      I’m such a sucker for secret compartments in antique furniture.

      • Making it Lovely
        October 29, 2013 at 9:36 am

        Secret compartments are the best. I mean, it’s great as a dresser and all, but the surprise inside makes it that much better!

  • Susie
    October 28, 2013 at 11:12 am

    Who can say no to Thonet cafe chairs? Not me!!

    • Making it Lovely
      October 29, 2013 at 9:38 am

      Ha! Me, apparently? There are 5 more waiting for me in Wisconsin if I just say the word. (In all fairness, I do love the look of them, but I think the antique ones in storage might be too rickety to be our everyday dining room chairs. The kids won’t be kind to them.)

  • Susie
    October 28, 2013 at 11:18 am

    Oh, man, so hard to choose. The Thonet cafe chairs – love! But there’s also a pair of vintage metal and wood drafting stools…be still my heart!!

  • Heidi
    October 28, 2013 at 11:56 am

    That chandelier is amazing!

  • Elizabeth @ hobbylobbyist
    October 28, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    I am in need of new chairs, so that’s what I would pick.

  • Jeanne Cameron Washburn
    October 28, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    I love stripes – anywhere, on anyone, on anything…that sette and chair – stripes, please. Thanks.

  • Laura
    October 28, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    I love the antique butler’s desk! Fun post.

  • Katy
    October 28, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    I need that smithsonian rug in my home!! I have a few pieces on Chairish bookmarked as hints for my husband. I love the uniqueness of the pieces!!!

    • Making it Lovely
      October 29, 2013 at 9:39 am

      Isn’t it good? I want it for Eleanor’s room.

  • Gerrie Wydeven
    October 28, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Thank you for including my great settee and chair (striped) in your “collection” – I love it too,

    Gerrie

  • Gillian R.
    October 28, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    number 7! Love that settee – not too big not too small… I wish this contest was open to Canada!

  • Gregg Anderson
    October 28, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    Hi Nicole,
    It’s so great to see my Thonet chairs in your blog!! Very cool!!
    I’d love to find a good home for these beautiful chairs and I really appreciate the opportunity for more people to see them.

  • Kayli Schattner
    October 28, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Wow! All of these pieces look like such great additions to a home. So beautiful!

  • laura
    October 28, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Love all these finds! I am crushing on all the black and white strip lately! I am reupholstering 2 chairs with a black and white stripe right now. I will check out their site! Thanks for the tip!

    Laura
    House Envy

  • Tanya
    October 29, 2013 at 7:55 am

    Hi Nicole, I have been reading your blog for years- you are fabulous. Just something I wanted to mention: I read about 15 blogs. I have noticed many bloggers are doing regular give aways, more than ever before the past 6 mnths. Even just now in the last 24 hours….40% of the blogs I read have a give away/ shout out/ competition going. I realize one has to look after sponsors- all of this makes financial sense -….but as a reader I am going onto blogs a little less these days as I feel like it is becoming so commercial and I am not ‘driven’ by the give aways etc. I miss the old days when it was more content driven! I don’t have a solution, and this is not so much a ‘criticism’ as an observation. I may be very alone in this- but I look forward to seeing bloggers work on this challenge, as this may have come up at various blog conferences in the last year or 2…..’keeping it real vs having to generate an income through advertising’. I wish you well! Ps. And your new house is stunning!

    • Making it Lovely
      October 29, 2013 at 9:03 am

      I don’t have giveaways often (and half of them are hosted on my Facebook page, not here), but I do have sponsored posts regularly which fall into the same broad category. I’m happy to partner with some amazing companies and I work hard on my sponsored posts, keeping them relevant and often aligning them with posts I’d been planning to write anyway! I’m glad for the feedback from you and other readers though, and I definitely keep comments like yours in mind when accepting and turning down offers. Thanks.

      • Xenia
        October 30, 2013 at 3:27 am

        Tanya makes some valid points. There are blogs that I used to love visiting because of the personal touch of the content. I do understand that one can make money blogging, and that is not a bad thing. I wish I could make some money with mine. However, there needs to be balance. Those blogs that I used to love visiting daily, I don’t anymore because they were “ruined” by constant sponsoring. What was once a warm, wonderful and personal blog turned into so much pushing of the sponsors. Advertising is now all over their sidebar, at the end of every post, over the blog title and banner. You name it, if there was a space to squeeze in an ad, it was done.

        You do a great job of keeping a healthy balance of it all, but always keep in mind why people visit blogs in the first place. Bloggers are online friends of ours. We can relate to you, and we inspire one another. We don’t want blogging to turn into black Friday. What I don’t mind at all is when bloggers promote other bloggers by putting their badge on their sidebar or featuring them in one of their posts. I have found many great blogs that way, and it is supporting one another. Sponsors are a whole different ballgame. I am not against them. I am only saying that it is important to keep a balance.

        Some bloggers like Brooklyn Limestone sells advertising space on their blog. Brooklyn Limestone does a great job of balancing it out. Her posts are still mostly about her home, family, travel, and DIY projects. This is what attracted her readers to her blog in the place.

  • Tanya
    October 29, 2013 at 9:29 am

    Thanks Nicole. It was a ‘broad’ mention, not targeting you at all I hope that came through, you in fact don’t ‘over-do’ that kind of thing at all, and I have noticed it is always tied in / seems very real to things you do anyway. I was interested in your general take on it… I have always appreciated your well considered approach to things hence dropping you a line. Wishing you well

  • Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
    October 29, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Hey, Nicole, it was great to get to know you at the LaZboy event. Love your new house & I can’t wait to check it out more. YOur blog is so pretty & such a reflection of who you are and it’s so nice to meet you finally, since we both started at the same time. Happy blogging!

  • Elizabeth
    October 29, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    I want that vintage Danish chandelier. Want, want, want.

    I hadn’t heard of Chairish before and it looks like quite a useful site, so thanks. In response to Tanya’s comment, I think that keeping sponsors appropriate is the key to keeping a blog’s content unified and useful, and I think that you do that especially well.

  • Clair
    October 29, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    The striped settee and matching chair, of course!

  • Nancy
    October 30, 2013 at 2:06 am

    Gahhhhh. So gutted! I have been looking for a credenza just like that but no delivery to Australia!