We live in a disposable society! If you have purchased any major appliance or furniture lately, then you know if you ask how long something will last, they tell you 7 to 10 years. In my opinion, that is CRAZY! The average price of a new major appliance STARTS at $500 and goes up very quickly from there. If you watch any of the home improvement shows on TV today then you know you can spend THOUSANDS of dollars on just a stove or refrigerator. What I have a hard time wrapping my head around is if it’s only going to last 7 to 10 years, then why do consumers want to pay thousands of dollars when it’s probably going to last no longer than the one that was $500?
While Main Street Shoppes doesn’t sell appliances, they do sell some FANTASTIC furniture and home decor items. NO, these items aren’t new, but isn’t that the point to being “GREEN”? Reusing and re-purposing items so they don’t end up in our land fills. The best part to this “going green” theme, besides keeping it out of our land fills, you get a MUCH better quality piece of furniture, with more character (doesn’t look like your neighbors), home decor items that are one of a kind, and in the end, it’s much kinder on your pocket book. And let’s face it, we are ALL looking for ways to save a buck or two these days.
I received a catalog in the mail this weekend from a high end retail store. As I was flipping through it I saw a lot of things that could easily be recreated using items found at Main Street Shoppes vs. paying the high end retail price. Let’s take a look!
High End Retail:
This adorable distressed red end table/box, Retails for $499.00. Or you could pay a visit to Lucky Dog Antiques (Booth 54) and grab this gem of a piece.
Yes…it needs some paint if you want that same red look, but I will tell you how to fix that a bit later!
High End Piece:
I LOVE this piece, but don’t LOVE the price at a whopping $279.00!
Well, we’ve got you covered! Lucky Dog (Booth 54) will help you out with the ladders
and Porch Swing Studios (Booth 18) will help you out with the wire baskets.
High End Piece:
Very unique olive crate lantern for your outdoor patio scape. This retails for $149.00 or check out The Pig’s Meow (Booth 38) for these awesome antique ammo boxes and recreate your own. Not only will these be a fantastic discussion piece, but they will be authentic and probably cost you about half the price! More money to buy something else!
Not enough color for you? Well Lucky Dog has you covered for that too! Use these colorful Coke crates instead!
I also saw this very cool chalk board while flipping through the pages! After you empty your wallets for the retail price tag of $249.00 you can hang this fun little piece on your wall! Or you could purchase and old window and some chalkboard paint and make your own…all for under $50.00. That’s $200.00 to spend some place else!
Wouldn’t $200.00 in your pocket left over be really nice?
Now back to that red box I posted in the beginning of this post! Stop by The Pauper’s Castle (booth #33) while you are visiting Main Street Shoppes.
Grab a can of CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk & Clay Paint to redo that cool box (might I suggest Traverse City Cherry for you perfect red) you picked up at Lucky Dog’s. I promise you won’t be disappointed. This paint is 100% Green! It is made from Chalk, Clay, Clay Porcelains and water. It’s completely 100% VOC (volatile organic compounds) FREE, has ABSOLUTELY no odor and is Non-Toxic. It can be used in doors and out and is available is 36 colors! Can’t find just the right color, no worries, grab a couple of colors in sample size and mix your own!
This paint can EVEN be used to paint fabric!
This chair has been Re-Upholstered in CeCe Caldwell’s Paint!
So let me ask you….Are you ready to “Green” with Main Street Shoppes?
Remember….things sell very quickly so hurry so you don’t miss out!
(High End Retail Photos courtesy of Pottery Barn)