Houzz Interview: Sarah's Thrifty Decor Chick

I remember seeing Sarah's nursery photos somewhere on the internet and thinking it's a beautiful stylish nursery. A few weeks later, I saw photos of the rest of the house and read a couple of Sarah's posts and knew immediately I have to interview her.

Sarah loves decorating on the cheap, but her house looks like a million dollar. She loves Goodwill and thrift stores, but with her great hands, every single piece of furniture looks like a high-end item purchased at a fancy store... She is also very creative and very generous in sharing her tips.

I'm very happy to introduce you to Sarah and her unique blog Thrifty Decor Chick.


Please tell us about your "first meeting" with your house to be


We had been living in apartments for years and knew we wanted something brand new. Hubby had lived in older homes and did not want the maintenance that came with one. I had never had a new home and it just appealed to me. We looked through model homes for weeks, and as soon as we walked into the model of our home, we were absolutely head over heels. It was exactly what we wanted – open floor plan, high ceilings throughout, two story front room, loft and master bath…it was perfect.

Now we know "new" does not mean maintenance free – there’s always something with any house. And although I absolutely love our home and floor plan, I sometimes find myself wanting more separated spaces – it makes for easier decorating.


The first step of your remodeling process


Our home has a staircase with ceilings to the top of our house. There is a massive wall I knew I wanted to do something with, so I my own spin of what the model home designers had done and created large squares up the wall with molding. I painted the interior a darker version of our wall color, then added decorative pieces inside. It was my first experience working with "real" tools and it was the start of my infatuation with molding and the dramatic difference it makes in our home.


The biggest renovation challenge you faced


My biggest decorating challenge has been dealing with the soaring ceilings. We, in general, automatically feel the need to decorate “up” to deal with this kind of architecture. I have learned over time that the best way to handle this is to bring everything down – artwork, lighting, molding accents around the bottom of the walls. I tell readers this all the time and it instantly makes the space more warm and cozy. We don’t need to accentuate the height of tall ceilings – they do that on their own.


Your favorite style and colors


I am very traditional. I am a "simple traditional" though -- I like clean, classic decorating. The exterior style of our home is cottage, and I like touches of that as well. I've used beadboard throughout our home. I gravitate towards warm colors in our home – tan, brown, green, rust. I don't have one white wall left in our entire house.



A spot in your house that makes you very happy/proud


My favorite room in our house that makes me extremely proud is our son’s nursery. I knew what I wanted in my head and it turned out even better than I hoped. I worked on it for weeks while pregnant – it was a true labor of love. My father and I built the built-in shelving using wood and basic kitchen cabinets. With his help (I couldn't do as much as usual, obviously!) I installed all of the crown molding, chair rail, painted stripes along the bottom of the walls, painted the furniture and made all of the finishing touches for the room. It is the most serene, relaxing space I've ever seen. I want to keep it that way till he's 18, although I don’t think he'll be cool with that.



Your precious accessory/furniture/art


I have a few antiques throughout our home that mean a great deal to me – some have been handed down from family, some were Goodwill finds, and my latest was a beautiful sewing table I found on the side of the road. Old pieces speak to me – I love having items with history in our home.



Your next house project

Would you like the five page list? ;) I have to keep a written list so I can turn my mind off at night. The next large project I want to tackle is crown molding in our family room. Like always, I'm going to add my own twist to it – I can see it in my mind, let’s just hope it turns out like that.


5 things that houzz readers need to know about you and your blog

1. I use power tools. Many of them and often.

2. Until five years ago, I didn't know the difference between a Phillips screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver. I have slowly but surely learned how to use tools and power tools and feel empowered because of that.

3. I believe ANY woman can do what I do -- even with the most basic tools.

4. I love thrift stores, including Goodwill, and believe the possibilities are endless with a little imagination and some effort.

5. I believe your home should be your haven, you should smile when you walk in the door. And you should never have to pay a lot of money to have a beautiful home.


Best tip for the remodeling beginner


Your first project will not be your best. It is a learning process – ask questions, research on the Internet, ask the staff at the hardware store. You have to take your time and do it right or you will regret it. But, you will, without a doubt, be so proud of yourself when you are done and will love your home more and more with each finished project.



Last but not least: as a houzz friend, you get to choose a giveaway gift to one of the lucky readers that will share their thoughts about your house and interview.


This is great! I love Ballard Designs, and I do my own versions of many of their items. I think their accessories are classic and timeless. I chose the Terra Cotta Pear for a giveaway. It’s been one of my favorite items of theirs for years and I have never spent the money on it myself. I found one at a thrift store I used to recreate it for $7, but someone else should win it with no effort and time.


Thank you for sharing your beautiful home Sarah!



For your chance to win the Terra Cotta Pear , selected by Sarah, comment on this interview by Sunday, August 30, at 5pm EST.