A Good Martha Stewart Find

Our guest bedroom has gone through several transformations throughout the last year – it has mostly served as a loading zone/storage unit and for about 9 months living quarters for Will’s business partner.

Once the room was mine, all mine I went on the hunt for affordable bedding – oh, and a bed to put it on. My goal was to spend no more than $100 on the room.

In-expensive mattresses are hard because you don’t want to go 2nd hand. I can’t think of anything worse than a 2nd hand mattress – unless it comes from a friend, rather a clean friend. After Will told me to chill and that a mattress will find us, not the opposite, I found out that our friend Monica was storing a queen mattress in Austin while they were away in Vancouver for the year – Note to self, listen to cheap husband more often. Instead of having it stored away, we thought we’d put it to use! Rodenbusch 1, pocket book, 0.

Once we had the bed and the rails, I went on the hunt with every coupon known to man and headed to my favorite retailers – Tuesday Morning, Bed Bath and Beyond, JC Penny’s, Pottery Barn Outlet. However, all my usual suspects had failed me. Apparently this recession has put the power back in the hands of the discount retailer. So I thought It’d take a gander at Macy’s of all places and I found the most beautiful Martha Stewart bed in a bag, originally $225 – now only$59.

That’s right… I said “bed in a bag.” I love quality linens, and they typically aren’t found stuffed in a plastic bag. But in all honestly, it’s nice! Thank you, Martha! It’s hard to tell in the picture, but the bag included 2 euro shams, 2 standards, a bed skirt (not shown) and a comforter. The paisley was a bit much for the olive/khaki walls, so I left it folded at the end of the bed. The white down comforter came from TJ Maxx ($18) and the sheets from Tuesday Morning ($24).  I don’t count these in final total only because these were items I purchased long ago… so like not real money.

With my $30 something dollars left, I have big hopes for either a headboard or a mirror. Speaking of potentially cheap mirrors, did you know that Aaron Brother’s has a 40% – 50% coupon on their site at all times? Mmmm… good finds..