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216 Comments

  1. Lynne Rutter
    April 29, 2013 @ 5:13 pm

    I am just so happy to see this post and find this blog and know that I am not alone! I have a wee 800 square foot Victorian cottage and am constantly stuffing things into. Had to walk away from a pair of aesthetic movement mirrors because they were 12 feet high and my ceilings are too short. You are so lucky you found this and got t and don’t ever let anyone tell you you weren’t absolutely right to do it!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      April 29, 2013 @ 6:21 pm

      I am terribly sorry you had to leave the mirrors behind. I probably would have just cut a hole in my ceiling, but I guess your solution was more practical.

      I got sucked into your blog… weirdly drawn to Nolan.
      Okay if I pin your Paris mural? Feel free to say no… I realize that artwork is very different from most of the stuff on there…

      Reply

      • Lynne Rutter
        May 1, 2013 @ 11:46 am

        Pin away! A lot of my work is on Pinterest which is why I watermark all of my images. Thanks so much for your interest!
        Believe me opening up the ceiling to allow for tall giant ebonized and gilt mirrors… was discussed. (Cutting the mirror frames down was not an option. ) Moving to a larger house someday was discussed. Getting a storage garage to keep things for a larger house I might have someday was discussed… and by discussed I mean I paced back and forth rationalizing for between 30 minutes and two hours at a time on the phone or in person with anyone who would listen. I texted pictures of them to friends and clients trying to make sure that they were at least bought by someone I know. In the end the seller, seeing my enthusiasm for them, decided to keep them. So at least I know where they are!

        Reply

        • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
          May 1, 2013 @ 1:08 pm

          I totally agree with you! Moving to accommodate furniture is TOTALLY reasonable. Cutting it to fit? Not at all.

          We kept a giant mirror in the garage (courtesy of Craigslist) for nearly two years, until the foyer was finished… to me this was sensible. To Paul, it was a giant waste of workspace…

          Reply

  2. Sarah
    May 19, 2013 @ 12:20 pm

    OMG!! I LOVE IT!!! It’s gorgeous just where it is! I love your description of your adventures getting the Downton Abbey Portal because I can so see my husband doing this “fools errand!”

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      May 19, 2013 @ 7:09 pm

      I am such a hoarder… no kidding. There is something about my brain that is SO happy with it.

      The adage about material possessions not providing true happiness seems stupid to me. CLEARLY this is the very embodiment of happiness!!

      Reply

  3. Brynne
    May 27, 2013 @ 7:58 pm

    Oh dear lord, I came over from the thread on the Young House Love forum, and you left out the most impressive fact of all, which is that you got that beautiful beautiful monster for $300!

    Also, I have to say that I just love your style of writing. I feel like we’re friends chatting – I will be following your blog for sure!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      May 30, 2013 @ 6:17 pm

      Aggravatingly, my comment–notifications aren’t working… (I have no idea why) and it’s only just occurred to me to actually LOOK at my blog to see if anyone new told me how amazing this is…

      I told Paul that other women spend more on handbags… you know, incase I needed a justification.

      Looking at your site… my bf and I lived in Ft. Worth for a while, so I think of Texas as a place where you just hang out with your best friend and laugh all day.

      Reply

  4. jamie@kreyv
    June 1, 2013 @ 11:17 am

    Oh. My. Gosh. Totally cracking up! I mean really, you can’t put a price on a portal to Downton Abbey AND Narnia. That’s priceless! Such an awesome piece, and thank goodness for willing hubbies…even if they don’t know what they’re in for! Mine, usually does…he knows me too well!

    Reply

  5. Debra@AModernTranslation
    June 1, 2013 @ 11:18 am

    Wow! What a beautiful find. It’s awesome. I’ll have to check out Craigslist for our renovation.
    Visiting from Sharefest. Have a great weekend.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      June 2, 2013 @ 6:49 pm

      Craigslist is like my other husband. One who never gets cranky!

      Reply

      • Deneen
        June 17, 2013 @ 3:30 pm

        Victoria, I love this post … hiiiiilarious & fabulous. You write like I think in this post & I, too, love Craigslist. LOL! You now have a new subscriber / Pinterest follower. I just discovered your blog via your comment today here http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/choosing-the-right-size-couch-five-key-questions-190895 .
        But, now I need to know what happened to that wardrobe (since it was too big for the kitchen). Were you able to use it elsewhere? Is your hubby Paul okay (did he implode when he discovered it was too big)? 🙂

        Reply

  6. Alison
    June 1, 2013 @ 1:35 pm

    Oh my heavens, how have we NEVER met, Victoria!??!
    LOVE this whole story and the antique piece/work of art!

    And I must tell you, you have to meet my fellow blogging friend, Andie, who also has a home full of THE most amazing CList items and stories to match, just like this.

    Please go check out her blog, because I am pretty sure you two are twins separated at birth!

    Here is the link:
    http://divinetheatre.blogspot.com/

    THIS piece, and YOUR story are just awesome.
    I can relate on so many levels, as can my mother, sisters,
    grandmother, etc. It runs in my family — for generations —
    finding and “acquiring” objects (our heart’s desires) at whatever
    the risk and the cost!

    Thanks so much for sharing your “work of art”
    with all of us and this wonderful story of wills and
    an obviously strong and loving marriage!

    🙂
    Alison

    Reply

  7. Ricki Jill Treleaven
    June 1, 2013 @ 1:56 pm

    WOW!!!! This is my favorite post of the week….you are one lucky duck, with your own personal portals to both Narnia and Downton Abbey!!!

    You are my new blog buddy whether you like it or not!

    I’m linking from Alison’s blog, and I want to link over to the Crazy DIY kitchen before I leave!

    xo,
    Ricki Jill

    Reply

  8. Garden, Home and Party
    June 1, 2013 @ 8:15 pm

    Victoria,
    This piece truly is an amazing work of art. You really did score on this find.
    Karen

    Reply

  9. Tess
    June 2, 2013 @ 11:02 am

    Found your blog through sharefest. cute story!

    Reply

  10. Kita
    June 3, 2013 @ 2:14 pm

    Now that is a fine Craigslist is a hit and miss most of the time but they do have some great hits when you find them. Stopping by from SitsSharefest

    Reply

  11. Jenner Stevens
    June 5, 2013 @ 9:33 pm

    You are fantastic! I had a decorating business for almost 7 years and loved those “finds.” My husband wasn’t involved at all. I had to hire my handyman to make things happen! If something you see moves you (I totally get it!) you HAVE to have it! No matter what!

    Reply

  12. Nicole @ One Punky Mama
    June 10, 2013 @ 2:56 pm

    I shouldn’t be laughing at all, but I am. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made (or sourced) purchases for the house that just. won’t. fit. It’s like, a normal occurrence for me. It usually involves me giving hubby a stern look, waving my hand around and saying “we’ll just move something else.”

    Reply

  13. Dria @ Dio
    June 12, 2013 @ 7:02 pm

    WOW I am soooo envious that is absolutely Gorgeous!!!

    Reply

  14. Alix
    June 18, 2013 @ 7:06 am

    May I ask where you got your coffee table/ottoman from? And the name of it/the style.
    I love the look of it but haven’t actually been able to find one.

    Thanks

    Reply

  15. Trace
    June 19, 2013 @ 12:37 pm

    Thank you so much for this! It made me laugh out loud on a less than exciting day. I can totally relate although I have never lucked into something so grand.

    Reply

  16. Janice
    June 21, 2013 @ 9:03 pm

    This is easily the funniest blog I have ever laid eyes on. I RELATE! Boy do I relate! I have a fancy for old sewing machines and prefer to think of myself as a stalker ninja. I’m about to become addicted and go read all of your past blogs! Consider me a fan for life! FFL!

    Reply

  17. Jane
    June 23, 2013 @ 10:39 pm

    “—I will never ever, ever, ever do this again.

    Which is a total lie!! We will DEFINITELY do this again.”

    You’re my new favourite, I nearly woke my baby up laughing. But you in no way resemble me. None. At all. Just don’t ask my husband.

    Reply

  18. Shar
    June 24, 2013 @ 7:43 pm

    You are hilarious and my kindred sister, omgosh I love love love, and your thought process, Im waiting for my hubby to get home so I can start reading him your blog and secretly make him start liking your ideas so he will support me more in my hunts. Im used to him saying “I hate you woman” when I call him for the truck just to move a door I found out on a curb for trash day and Im guarding it waiting for him to arrive.

    Reply

    • katie
      June 28, 2013 @ 8:31 pm

      My calls for the truck are recognized in one word.
      (ring ring ring)… “Hello?”
      “Sweeeeeeeeetie?”
      To which the reply is “What did you buy?”

      Reply

  19. Lisa
    June 25, 2013 @ 4:31 pm

    I am so glad to know I am not alone in the love for all things vintage/Victorian off Craigslist. Except I go on my adventures husband-less so when he gets home and asks where it came from and how it got there I can shrug innocently. Of course, I am limited to whatever I can shove into my Odyssey (which includes an entire solid wood twin size sleigh trundle bed with mattress, $40! and more recently a replica scale model carved wood carousel horse). I may not have much upper body strength but if it means getting it home I can double as Superwoman.

    Reply

  20. Mellissa Rose
    June 26, 2013 @ 5:16 pm

    You. Are. Awesome. (and my hero). I am in love with your blog and your style.

    Reply

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