Live Like You & Marmalade Interiors
  • Green

  • 21May

    14 Comments

    What to do with your used furniture

    Posted in: Green

    Our taste changes, we move, we get married, we want a new beginning, we break up, we get divorced, we retire, we get a new job, we evolve.

    With every life change there’s always a bunch of furniture that we want to get rid of.  And what do you do with all the pieces that you no longer want? The resale value of your most precious purchase goes down drastically the second it arrives in your home. I get asked this question daily from clients and friends and I feel like I never have a good answer. So I’ve tried to assemble a list that can help. And I’m hoping that you can help…. If you have a blog perhaps repost this list and add your ideas. Or add the link to this blog post to your Facebook page. I think we all need to help, and do what we can to be environmentally responsible!

    If you have any great ideas or resale sites to share, PLEASE leave it in the comment section. I will add them to this blog post as soon as you do.

    1. REINVENT WHAT YOU HAVE

    Before you throw anything out, ask yourself if you can reinvent what you already have. Any old piece can look amazing with some paint, fabric and imagination!!   This is obviously a personal favorite, as I think creating something new out of something old, gives you the best piece.

    2. CRAIG’S LIST

    You of course know this one. Craig’s list is perhaps better for purchasing than selling I believe, as you won’t get a lot for your good items. But it’s a great source and perhaps the most wellknown out there.

    3. FIND CLEVER RESALE SITES

    I was excited to find this site – www.hipswap.com. A clever company that allows you to find people selling items in your neighborhood. And they have a delivery service that picks up and delivers from buyer to seller and vice versa. Check it out! That takes the pain out of delivery and meeting with customers.

    You can google and find tons of online stores that sell recycled furniture as well. If you know any fantastic sites you would like to recommend, please post!

    5. ESTATE SALES

    Estate sales are great if you are moving and have a large amount of items you need to sell. They can arrange a sale at your property. Or if you have fewer items they can pick them up, and sell them at an auction house. You can plug in your zip code on the Estate Sales Network website and find companies near you.


    6. AUCTION HOUSES

    For antiques and high end items search out good auction houses. Every city has them.  They range from the big famous houses like Sotheby’s, Doyle’s in NYC to small local auction houses.

    Many local auction houses have their advertised big yearly auctions, but also weekly auctions with less expensive items.

    7. DONATE TO CHARITY

    A large charity will pick up your items, and give you an itemized list that you can use for tax purposes.

    I would love to hear from you!

    If you have any great sites, organizations, local or national, or ideas I would love to add them to this blog post!

    Okay…adding reader links and comments–

    “Apartment Therapy launched a “Classifieds” section about a week ago, and any AT member can post a piece they no longer need or want. There are some great finds to be had there!    (THANKS MEREDITH & GWYNETH!)

    http://classifieds.apartmenttherapy.com


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  • 23Oct

    4 Comments

    Treasure hunting – Swedish style

    Posted in: Green

    I’m a HUGE supporter of recycling and reinventing furniture. I think the most impressive, effective, green store I’ve ever been to, is the giant warehouse in my hometown, called SOLARETUREN.  Local citizens dump all kinds of unwanted items here. Furniture, clothes, sports equipment, toys, everything down to that old broken microwave oven you were about to throw in the trash – really ANYTHING!!  Once items arrive, everything is restored and fixed by a team of handy workers, and put up for sale. Nothing goes to waste!   And the best part….armed with some imagination, paint and fabrics- you can furnish an entire apartment fabulously for less than $ 1000.

    To visit here is a win-win situation. You score great items at unbeatable prices, support recycling and help offer job opportunities. The store hires employees who’ve been hard to place elsewhere.  In short- totally guilt free shopping. I of course have never left here without the car filled to the brim with items!

    There’s nothing fancy or pretty about it. But all areas are sorted nicely.

    Here, my mom is checking out the chair section. You have to sift through a lot of stuff!

    The largest room in the building is filled to the brim with sofas, book cases, old doors, bathroom sinks…How about that sofa and chair? Some new fabric and you’re set.

    There’s coffee tables, dining tables….some awful, some surprisingly nice.

    …chest of drawers stacked and stacked.

    I don’t think there’s anyone in my family and circle of friends in town who has not shopped here. There are other smaller stores like this one i town as well.  The days they are open there a long lines. People stop in the cafe and have coffee, cinnamon rolls…it’s basically an event.

    This is the lamp and lampshade area. Everything gets fixed.  Tablecloths, sheets…

    An endless china section.

    Sports equipment…

    This summer when we visited I settled on a few items that will be redone when I go home next. I picked up this bookcase…

    ….for the corner of our family room, for about $ 50.

    Really liked the doors.  It will look great painted. And was just the right size.

    I needed a small, light chest for the guest house sleeping quarters. Bought this for $ 9.

    Some retro seventies plates.

    A wool carpet for $ 20 with a nice Greek key border.

    I wanted to bring it back to the states, but it’s still there laying in the upstairs landing.

    Pretty nice for $ 15 i think!

    Doing some green shopping yourself, and need ideas how to reinvent a piece?  E-mail me, and I’ll post lots of ideas here on the blog.

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  • 30Jun

    6 Comments

    The Green Diaries

    Posted in: Green

    Danielle has worked at Marmalade Interiors and LiveLikeYou for the last year and her passion for the environment has been very contagious. Her home is entirely green down to the mattresses they sleep on! She is a master “craigslister”, helps “green” school environments, and is a huge fan of salvaging trash. If she comes over to your house and you eat take out dinner, she might very well start packing up your trash to bring with her(!), saying something like “Fairfax county doesn’t recycle grade 5 plastic but they do in my county, so I’m bringing it with me.” Huh?

    We should all be like that! I think more and more it’s our responsibility as citizens of the earth. As a kick off to a regular green post on this blog, I asked Danielle to share her TOP 10 eco-friendly advice for the home.

    Check out the awesome couch she found (as is) on Craig’s list, and chic flea market mirror!

    Danielle’s Top 10 ECO-friendly advice for your home:

    1.REDUCE! Do you really need another duvet for your bed or another shower curtain? Think of ways you can live without.

    2. REUSE Why not dye your old duvet cover with natural dyes or update a curtain with a ribbon? Or paint a piece of furniture. Look for ways to reuse what you already have.

    3. RECYCLE If you don’t need that extra lamp that’s sitting around collecting dust, then give it to a charity, sell it on Craig’s list, or give it to a friend.

    4. UPCYCLE Upcycling is the process of using waste materials or useless products and turning them in to new material or products of better quality and higher environmental value. Eat a lot of jarred food? Why not make a light fixture out of them? Check out this unique project done at Design Sponge.

    5. USE NON TOXIC PAINTS Now that you want to paint your dresser instead of trashing it, you need to think about the chemicals that off-gas from conventional paints. Look for low/voc paints at your local paint store.

    6. BUY SUSTAINABLE – Maybe you need a new sofa but you feel a little uneasy buying a used sofa and recovering it with organic cotton fabric. If so, there are many known manufacturers using sustainable woods and soy based foam cushions these days. Check out this adorable and affordable sofa from Crate & Barrel.

    7. USE NATURAL MATERIALS - Instead of buying that plastic storage bin, think of how long it will take to decompose and all the chemicals that went in to making it! Once you go down that path options become easier! Instead of plastic, I buy glass containers instead. And for rugs – sisal,wool and organic cotton are great choices.

    8. BRING THE OUTSIDE IN Buy plants instead of “stuff” to improve your air quality, and plant them in ceramic pots. Plants can help reduce the toxins in your indoor air.

    9. GREEN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES Even your outdoor space can become environmentally friendly. Why not look for your garden furniture on Craig’s list or flea markets? It’s amazing what new paints and cushions will do. And even outdoors, it’s important to use natural materials. Outdoor resin wicker furniture is pvc. Instead opt for natural wicker or metal. Jill recovered her old Restoration Hardware outdoor pieces in Trina Turk fabric and got a whole new look.

    10. LIVE LIKE YOU You don’t have to sacrifice style for being green. There are so many new green and uber stylish products out there to satisfy any design. And look to the past…remember how stylish mid century interiors were? So get a glamorous side board from your local flea market or antique dealer.

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  • 16Jun

    8 Comments

    The story of Grandpa’s chair

    Posted in: Before/After, Furniture makeovers, Green

    INT. ANNA’S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM – WASHINGTON DC – EARLY EVENING

    Anna and Jill, blond, both of undefinable age(!), are seated in an airy, white living room engrossed in what appears to be a discussion about design plans. The room is empty except for a few items. A small Ikea couch, a wood table, some wall sconces, and over in the corner…an old, lonely, worn chair who sadly has seen it’s best days pass. It sits shamefully in it’s faded glory fearing a trip to the landfill.

    Anna looks over at Jill shaking her head, laughing sarcastically at the poor chair.

    ANNA: The Ikea couch will go in my son’s room. And well that silly old, UGLY chair don’t worry about that, that will definitely go. That used to be my grandpa’s, then my dads, then mine. Now it’s just…TRASH!

    Anna’s husband briefly passes by, hoping to avoid getting pulled in to ANY design discussions. But he nods in agreement…that sure is one U-G-L-Y darn chair!! And it needs to GO! Finally it will, if only this place would be finished.

    JILL: I like something that has your history and is unique. An I really like the shape of that chair. Why buy a new one if you don’t have to? Let’s give it new life!!

    Anna thinks for a moment, then reluctantly agrees…yet quietly intrigued by the idea. But how could an old, crappy chair possibly look nice in her soon to be furnished living room?

    CUT TO:


    Shiny black spray paint.

    CUT TO:


    White geometric fabric $ 11.99 yard.

    INT. ANNA’S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM – WASHINGTON DC – DAY

    Five weeks later….

    Anna is speaking excitedly on the phone.

    ANNA: I love my Grandpa’s chair. It’s so chic! I’m really in to this thing of redoing furniture now. I’m seeing things in a new way. I LOVE IT!

    Anna’s husband (who rarely notices any interior details) passes briefly, then suddenly stops and looks down at the chair.

    HUSBAND: I love that chair!! Is that new? The fabric is great! Very HERMES! That’s a NICE chair!!

    Anna is in shock.

    The next day Anna’s dad arrives. He looks around the living room…

    DAD: Of everything in this room I like the black chair the best. It’s just the most good looking. Where have you bought that? It reminds me of something…..

    Anna smiled wide. So did the chair.

    The chair that once lived in this almost empty living room…

    ..now lives happily ever after in this SOON TO BE FINISHED living room. It proudly sits side by side with new Lee couches. And while the room waits to get completed it knows…

    …it fits right in, and can float around gracefully anywhere in the room depending on it’s mood.

    And somewhere…there is some extra space in a landfill.

    THE END

    REUSE, RECYCLE AND REINVENT!

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