When is it okay to fake it?

Today I went to Homesense to return some props we didn't use on a shoot.....it's one of my happy places!! 

This trip lead me to thinking about when it's okay to use a fake or copied item and when you need to go for the real deal.

While I was there, I picked up a chandelier for our living room.  My friend Tammy (who is amazing, talented and super helpful at sourcing bargains) told me about this fixture.  It is a copy of one from Restoration Hardware...also a favourite shop.

Our old fixture in the living room is original to the house which is great, but it flickers and doesn't really light all that well....the wiring is old and it's not reliable.

The decision to replace it wasn't easy since I really liked the old fixture.  I know we could re-wire it but when I saw this other one...well, I was sold.  I knew it would freshen up the room and add some character as well.

Here is the Restoration Hardware fixture....

The cost of their version is $2595 US plus delivery....the delivery charge is something that really bugs me with Restoration Hardware since they have stores here...why can't they order it in for me and I pick up from the store instead of paying $80 to have it delivered??  At least give me an option to save that delivery fee please.

The one I picked up was only $179!!!  I think that at a difference of over $2000, it would have to give off light so amazing that I looked 20 years younger and 20 lbs thinner....and even then I don't think I could spend that much.

So, in this case, the decision is to go with the fake...it is a great option that gives you the look for less.

The other item I picked up while at Homesense is cookie mix...I know, right?  Kind of a crazy combination of items to buy in one place!!

This cookie mix sounded great...healthy, yummy and easy to make.  I have purchased things from this company before and they were good quality so I trusted them.

Excited to make these for my kids after school I preheated the oven and got ready.  All I had to add was a bit of butter (I used coconut oil instead) and an egg...perfectly simple. My youngest son Luke and I added the ingredients and started mixing.  Whenever we make cookies we always try the dough before we bake them.  Luke says it's "just in case" so that we don't "poison" anyone with our baking...I say it's because he has a sweet tooth like his mom.  So spoons at the ready we tasted the dough...it was pretty dry and crumbly....and it was pretty horrible.  Tasted a little like sweetened cardboard!!  I made the executive decision to add some more butter to make them a bit richer....mixed again, tasted again...still awful.  I decided to throw in some peanut butter...to give more moisture and some flavour.  We put them on the cookie tray and baked them up.

The end result wasn't too bad, but a pretty poor substitute for the gooey and delicious chocolate chip cookies I usually make.

The verdict here is that the "fake" cookies that are trying to be healthier just don't cut it.  Sorry Bob, but your cookies don't make the grade.

Progress Report

Well, this banquette/dining area is taking quite a bit longer than I expected but I have to say I am please with the results so far.

If you remember from my last post...I wasn't really happy with how the table turned out once I sanded it down and finished it....

It turned out just too red in colour and too "finished" looking for my liking.  I wrestled with the decision to re-do it and I am really glad I did.

I took this piece I had made for our dog's bowls (out of a table at the curbside) as inspiration.

It has the more rustic look I was going for on the pew and the table. 

So back to the workshop I headed.  I wanted to make the table top darker and decided to paint the base white (one order of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is on it's way to me as I write this).  So I sanded the table...again....to take off the oil finish and then added a coat of Dark Walnut Stain.  Then I re-oiled the top....I left the base as it was since I was painting it anyway.

Of course once I did that I took a look at the pew and wasn't happy with it...it's sort of an annoying habit I have.

I really have an aversion to orangey/red coloured woods...like really really have an aversion.  The pew was in it's original state and I was hesitant to mess with it.  But my theory is, if you don't really love something why have it in your house?  Don't we already have spaces that are too small, lives too busy and funds too short to put up with things we don't like just for sake of tradition.

Soo....my little pew underwent a mini makeover.  However halfway through my sanding...yes again sanding...I honestly was doubting the wisdom of this idea.  At least this time I decided to move outdoors to do all the work so the house wasn't covered in dust again.

Here are the results so far.....

Now all that is left to do is paint the base of the table (I am going to cover everything but the very top oval) in white, distress that paint a bit, wax that paint finish and re-cover the two chairs in a fabulous-yet-to-be-found-fabric.....sounds easy right?

I'd love to hear you weigh in on whether I should paint this table though...I have been flip flopping on whether to paint the base white, or just stain the whole thing dark like the top.  My gut says paint since we are redoing the floors in hardwood and I think it might just be too woody for my liking...thoughts?

This is what I am picturing it to look like ....

I plan to finish this project just as soon as my paint arrives....so hopefully that little brown UPS truck comes rolling up my street real soon...