You don't have to spend a fortune to design a creative space, nook or cranny. Recently, I was invited to be featured on a few segments of Fox 7's Good Day Austin. For one of the segments, I decided to do an experiment to help show people that there are literally hundreds of thrift store and flea market finds ready and waiting to be made over. You just have to look for them. So, I grabbed some "spare change", and went to Goodwill. After spending about $150 on a bunch of gently used items, I returned home and set all of my new finds out on a table so I could assess my loot and begin this "Eco-deco" challenge. I must admit, the display table looked more like a garage sale than the makings for a TV segment. (Honestly, it resembled some form of a "Where's Waldo" game except instead of finding Waldo, the challenge was to pick out the junk with makeover potential.)
 
After a bit of brainstorming, I became inspired, and let the makeovers begin.You can see some of the pieces that ended up "making the cut" for the Fox segment by clicking on the photo below...

{By the way -- the producer and show host kept referring to these tips as staging related when the segment was in fact, supposed to be on DESIGNING on a budget - not staging! (Like I'd really put tennis rackets on with earrings on them for a staging?? Or whacked out lamp shade covers? HA!) Oh well, any of you who have done local media shows will understand what a challenge it can be in pulling off one of these programs.}

And, a side a note on the sea shell lamp... on a recent beach trip I was perusing through one of my favorite resort furnishing and interior design shops on the island. I came across a lamp almost identical to the one I had made over. The look I created cost $5 for the lamp and $20 for the Frockz lamp shade cover. The seashells were free (my son has collected hundreds after many, many beach trips.) On the contrary, the lamp I saw at this high-end design shop was $365!

I hope after seeing the segment you're inspired to help your clients take on an Eco-Deco Challenge.  Re-using, re-purposing and recycling items will make less of an impact on the environment and your wallet! Plus, purchasing items from a nonprofit like Goodwill Industries helps hundreds of people. Goodwill is North America's leading nonprofit provider of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience, as well as those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Last year, local Goodwills collectively provided employment and training services to more than 1.1 million individuals. 

Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships. Everyone deserves a chance to have these.
Now that's pretty cool!

For more from a Decorator's Notebook and to check out this month's color favorites in "Hue Gotta Love It!", click here.