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Charm on the Cheap
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items Enhancing historic charm and character doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly charm-makers I’ve used to “un-flip” our 1922 French Colonial Revival cottage.
Sections
3
Household Fixtures
Decor
Color
Household Fixtures
Historic character comes down to the fine details, including fixtures. Here are my favorite, high-quality, period-appropriate, and incredibly affordable faucets, knobs, lighting, and more.
These solid brass pulls give Gatsby-level deco drama for a reasonable price. I used them to help makeover a built-in vanity that had lost its identity.
RZDEAL 6pcs Solid Brass Cabinet Knobs Pulls
A beautiful complement to vintage crystal doorknobs, we’ve added these to built-in cabinets to tie everything together with sparkly charm.
Crystal & Matte Black Drawer Cabinet Knobs
This gorgeous brass faucet is so well made for the price! We added it to our main bathroom and it instantly elevated our vanity from bargain basement boho to vintage character.
Uline Widespread Brass Faucet & assembly
A classic home deserves classic fixtures that stand the test of time, like these gorgeous solid brass toggle switches. Beyond the aesthetic improvement, these switch plates just feel special and luxurious. Many of the cheap plastic switches around ou...
The Brass Toggle Switch (1 to 5 Gang)
We had an odd built-in cabinet over the kitchen sink that had long since lost its door and it’s purpose. It was encrusted in decades of paint so the shelves couldn’t move to accommodate decorative objects nor kitchen accessories. We vowed to make it ...
Unlacquered Brass Gallery Rail: Bookshelf Tipping Rail
Wall mount faucets are so hard to find. Finding them in brass with a side sprayer? Next to impossible. We love this functional and beautiful addition to our kitchen.
Heritage KS1243AXBS Double-Handle 3-Hole Wall-Mount Bridge Kitchen ...
Decor
I’ll show you how cheap can still look chic with these top decor picks. From affordable rugs to curtains to floor tiles, you’ll be adding texture, character, and warmth to your home without breaking the bank!
No $$ for new flooring? I got you. These durable and beautiful stick-on floor tiles are a budget-friendly way to add some character to any space. In our case, these tiles are covering some unsightly flooring that needs to be replaced—which will cost ...
Peel and Stick Floor Tiles | FloorPops®
This gorgeous black lacquered mirror is so high-quality for the price. We loved that it could be hung vertically or horizontally.
Ali Wood Wall Mirror
Why are window treatments so ridiculously expensive?? I searched high and low for affordable ones that gave us privacy, sun protection, and wouldn’t require us to drill into the frames of our delicate wavy glass 1920s windows. After quite a bit of st...
LazBlinds Window Treatments - Home & Kitchen
My vintage home was riddled with can lights by flippers. I’ve been on a quest to bring softer light down to eye level throughout the house. My go-to lighting? Target—specifically any ceramic lamps from Studio McGee. For the price point, their lamps g...
Ceramic Table Lamp - Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee
Color
Looking for some color inspo? Here are my favorite recommendations for adding colorful charm and character without breaking the bank!
The cheapest way to transform a space is with color and I love the selections Sherwin Williams has curated specifically for historic homes. Painting a space with a classic color from the period of the home will instantly make it feel cohesive, elegan...
Sherwin Williams Interior Paint—Historic Colors Collection