Magic (Econo) Carpet Ride

I gave up rug hunting a few months ago, beaten down by the prices and options.

The husband, however, hadn't given up faith. "Wanna go check out that rug place?" he asked two weekends ago.

Whatever. Sure. Blah. Blah. I guess it had been long enough to where I could try again.

So we ventured down to Myer's Carpet (1500 Northside Drive; Atlanta 30318; 404-352-8141). I'd been there once before (see the post here) and the hubs had only seen the samples I brought back. Last time I visited, I was sticker shocked; the least expensive scrap rugs cut to my custom 8 x 11 size would have still been nearly $300!

We wandered around the expansive back warehouse, barely getting a "let me know if you need anything!" from some employee off in the distance. (If you read their google reviews, you'll see a few mentions of lax customer service/attentiveness.)

One piece of good news here is that we realized the pre-made rugs rolled up and stacked against the walls were more reasonable than I remembered. We found some neutral, durable 9 x 12 rugs for anywhere from $250 to $600. Of course none of these were your fancy orientals or fine fibers — but they would have done the job of covering our master bedroom floor just fine.

A $250 pre-made rug from Myer's Carpet we almost bought (9 x 12).

However, we weren't enthralled. There wasn't one rug that begged, "take me home!"

I casually mentioned to Dan that we could maybe check out Excel Carpet in Dunwoody before we called it a day. I called and asked, "Do you have pre-made rugs, say 8 by 11 or 9 by 12?" A friendly voice said something to the effect of, "No, I don't think we have any pre-made ones in today... but I could tell you how much having one made would cost." (I anticipated a tough-to-stomach number but asked for more detail anyway). "Sure, what's the average price?" I asked.

When we heard, "Oh, probably $175 or $200," we were sold.

Since we didn't have anywhere to be that particular Saturday, we made the trek up 400 to Excel Carpet (8345 Roswell Road; 30350; 770-650-5959). If I would have visited the Kudzu page for Excel in advance, I would have seen 76 5-star ratings.

The show room and remnant "warehouse" at Excel are about an eighth of the size of Myers', but they made up for it in price and customer service.

We were greeted by a friendly employee named Russ, who helped us in a not-overly-salesmany way throughout our entire visit. We asked for quotes on a few rugs — and he looked hesitant to tell us when a rug would be closer to $200 than $175. We told him not to fear, that the prices were still very reasonable. He answered our questions, told us what was most popular and walked us through the timeline (rugs are usually ready the Wednesday after you order them).

Excel works like this: remnants stacked along the wall are marked with their dimensions and prices. You buy the WHOLE remnant (even if it's a little too big) but the binding is at no additional charge. And we saw big ole remants (14 x 8 and crazy sizes like that) for under $300. You can also shop from large rolls of their popular carpets — these are sold by the foot and do not include binding. Then there are seagrass options, for which they only charge for binding. (To put some numbers around that, a 11 x 7 foot seagrass rug would have been about $180 for the binding). Excel carries berbers, polyesters, etc. etc. in mostly neutrals but a few patterned carpets. And I should also point out that while Excel has nice items, Myers has more in terms of high-end/expensive options.

Shaggy, multi-colored fiber carpet that can be made into rugs per your specs.

One seagrass option. With seagrass, you get to pick what color ribbon/cloth binding to put around the edges (hunter green, burgandy, black, chocolate, etc.)

We opted to buy some slightly shaggy, multicolored carpet (off a large roll) in 11 x 7 versus 9 x 12. That way the rug would be about 20 inches from each wall in our master bedroom. With the the necessary binding it was $183. We also have our eyes on a nice, large berber roll that is $179 (would have free binding).

If we were to come into some money and need a new living room rug, I'd get one in this pattern made. Love.

We left Excel feeling good about the customer service, selection, pricing and information. I didn't know to to dislike our other store experience until we went to a place with a much more customer-focused vibe.

Picked up the finished rug/carpet Tuesday:

The fibers.

Our one regret is that we didn't REALLY diagram where our furniture was, how deep each piece is, etc. We would have maybe made the rug just a little bit wider — not because it HAD to be wider but because aesthetically it may have made more sense. Still, we're very happy.

And for fun, pre-rug:

Hurs Jewelry Mart Revisted (I Think Elizabeth's in Love)

Just before Christmas, I blogged about the fabulousness that is Hurs Wholesale Jewelry Mart(just inside 285 on Buford Highway*).

It's both a good and bad thing that I've stayed away.

The prices are so affordable that you can buy a boatload of stuff. And unfortunately, being inside this place makes me want to buy a boatload of stuff! I mean, when you walk in, you almost hear chimes and trumpets of celebration!

I wanted to introduce my colleague Elizabeth to the many treasures (brooches, rings, handbags, headbands, necklaces, earrings, etc.) that fill the aisles of Hurs store. Once we entered the magical doors, Elizabeth knew what I meant when I said I could spend hours in this store (which is the size of a small grocery store inside).

(Click any image to enlarge. Many photos include price tags.)

tahh-dahhh!

(Our colleague Edie asked that we look at faux engagement rings while we were there. Upon returning to the office, we gladly reported that Hurs offers faux engagement rings ranging from $10 to $10, depending on the band material.)

These were the $40 variety.

Had to try one on!

Fun, summery and flirty cream necklace ($5). They also carry this in chocolate brown and black.

Bam! Love these dramatic statement and bib necklaces. And ooooh the fun bangles! (Mostly $7 to $14).

I fondly referred to this aisle as "very rock and roll." Mirabelle, are some of these necklaces not totally calling your name? Chains, metal and glam galore.

This one didn't make it home with Elizabeth, but it sure looked good on her.

Rrrrrar! ($10 necklaces, including matching earrings.)

Adorned headbands for $14.

Young Hur, the very nice owner. (We also enjoyed KC, an energetic and friendly employee/cashier.)

The goods spread out back at the office.

What I brought home:

$5.

$10 (incl. earrings).

$5 (incl. earrings, which I will probably wear separately).

Simple, sterling studs for $4 (bringing my total to a whopping $24!!!).

And for Elizabeth:

Brooch with luminescent purple stones. $10.

Sterling snowflake pieces ($16 for the earrings, $12 for the necklace pendant).

Oversized crystal pendant on long chain ($5). Total for Elizabeth: about $43.

Best lunch break ever!

Had to bust out one of my new necklaces for a friend's Saturday night birthday party. :)

*Some of you may be nervous to hit up Buford Highway. Yes, it is a grab bag of shops, restaurants, cash-n-carries, etc., some of which are run by shop owners who don't speak English. Please know Hurs will not take you out of your comfort zone. Not to mention you may be in such a good mood you decide to take a gamble on one of the neat restaurants nearby. My faves: C'om Vietnamese Grill, Mini Hot Pot (which is BYOB, BTW) and Cafe 101.

Hurs Wholesale Mart

5316 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30340-1108
(770) 936-0948

Web site here. (You can also shop from the comfort of your own casa.)

Look Ma... I Made the Paper!

When I got a note from our realtor a few weeks ago asking if we would be interested in being interviewed for an Atlanta Journal Constitution piece about first-time home buyers, I thought it may be fun to participate.

After all, we are very happy with the home (and neighborhood - lurve me some Decatur) we ended up choosing -- and I feel like our story shows that if you think creatively and have a little vision, you can (over time) transform an old and slightly downtrodden house into a fresh and modernized one.

Well, here we are a few weeks later...

(Screenshot from AJCHomefinder.com) Read the rest of the story here. For the record though, I never referred to our house as a "disaster," though I did mention to the reporter that the carpet was a little gross...

And we don't have enough good things to say about the Peters Company (our realtors). If you're buying or selling, CALL ANDY AND LESLEY. You won't regret it. See more about our home buying and selling process here. Thanks for the opportunity to be featured in the paper, Andy.

Sweet Elegance Bridal

Gotta tell you locals about Sweet Elegance Bridal.

No, I'm not renewing my vows after less than two years; I went wedding dress shopping last weekend with one of my besties.


Megan had a few pre-reqs for her wedding dress, all of which are reasonable: flattering cut, fair price tag, elegant style... and good customer service from the bridal shop where she's buying. (The latter seems like it would be easy, but we've had too many frustrating experiences with wedding dress shopping and bridesmaid dress shopping. Note: stay away from New Natalie's.)

I digress. When Megan did her preliminary wedding dress hunting online, she kept seeing that the dresses she liked were carried at a Decatur shop called "Sweet Elegance." So she made it the first stop on her wedding dress journey.


Sweet Elegance is a small bridal boutique on Church Street in Decatur, Georgia. Amidst a sea of car dealerships, you could almost miss this gem of a shop -- not to mention its simple black awning and strip mall locale doesn't do its interior or experience any justice. The store specializes in dresses from $400 to $5,000 in a variety of styles and cuts.

The shop is owned by a mother/daughter team. Aimee, the mother of the duo, opened the shop about five years ago when she felt a void needed to be filled in Atlanta. She and her daughter felt as though all the bridal boutiques were overpriced, provided horrible customer service and/or didn't carry flattering and elegant styles.


When a bride makes an appointment at Sweet Elegance, she isn't rushed or pressured to try on dresses far out of her price range. Also, because the boutiques are experts at understanding the female body, they choose the dresses they feel would most flatter the bride.


Megan's experience was no different. She only had to try on four dresses to find "the one." Aimee showed us how Megan could alter the skirt of the dress for an even more "wow" silhouette. The sales staff was friendly and courteous and really made the experience feel special for Megan. She tried on veils and earrings and even did a little silly practice walk "down the aisle." And her mom was comfortable with the price.


Of course I can't post a photo of Megan on this blog until after her Spring 2011 wedding -- but I CAN show you a teeny crops of a photo. Isn't that the face of a gal who's found the right dress? Mike is going to have his socks blown off when he sees her walking down the aisle!

Sweet Elegance

1652 Church Street

Decatur, GA 30033

(404) 292 - 8424

Appointments Mon. - Wed. from 10:30 to 6; Thurs. - Friday 10:30 to 7; Saturday 10 to 6. Closed Sundays.

Social Media Preview: Fernbank's Gecko Exhibit and Bugs IMAX Movie

I love the idea of a social media preview. Bloggers get to check out something for free and in advance of the general public — and the restaurant/entertainer/bar/whatever generates some early buzz. I've been invited to a few sneak peaks and designer events but hadn't yet felt excited enough to one.

But, I felt excited about this little preview at Fernbank — so I RSVPed "yes" and invited my neighbor Vica to be my guest. So here I go with my take on Fernbank's new features:

We arrived around 5:30 to catch a few minutes of the Gecko exhibit before the IMAX film started. Unfortunately photos weren't allowed in the exhibit. 

We saw all kinds of geckos (maybe 20 species?) — ranging from bright green and tiny (think the GEICO gecko) to large and speckled. In some of the aquariums, it was incredibly challenging to spot the camouflaged geckos. 

I intended to write more about the gecko exhibit... but I'm not feeling it. They were spotted, green, small, big, wrinkly, shiny, etc. One particular species was flat and thin and quite reminiscent of leaves. I even petted one that was quite cute (thank you for teaching me the proper two-finger gecko petting technique, Lynn). I think the husband would have enjoyed it much more than I did. He's as giddy as a fourth grader when we go to the zoo. Vica enjoyed peering through the glass at the various species but wasn't too keen on touching one. I'm sure this exhibit will be a hit with visiting kids. 

I counted about 30 people in the IMAX movie. "BUGS: A Rain Forest Adventure" was narrated by Judi Dench (Vica called it right away!) and presented by... wait for it... wait for it... TERMINIX. Funny. :)

BUGS is a non-fiction and follows a praying mantis and caterpillar through their [short] lives. It also features cameos from some horn beetles, stick bugs, ants, spiders and centipedes. The caterpillar grows from almost microscopic to chubby as she gnaws on leaves and prepares for her cocoon. Watching the praying mantes hatch from their egg was bizarre and magical all at once — like the teeny spiders emerging at the end of Charlotte's Web but more alien-like. The rain forest setting reminds me a lot of the backdrop for Indiana Jones — and the music was part Pink Panther, part old Western. 

I'm not gonna lie — the adult praying mantis is rather maniacal and intimidating. A few times I found myself holding my breath, waiting to see if he would spare a poor, unassuming insect within feelers' reach. And while the caterpillar/butterfly transformation seems cliche, I still find the process mesmerizing and mystifying to watch. 

Throughout the movie, we heard a lot of oohing and aahing from the kids behind us, and cheerful commentary ("Look at that cricket, Mama!") In fact, I would say the kiddos are the prime audience for this particular flick. It has a simple plot and lots of eye candy. (I want to go back for Forces of Nature, perhaps for the more adult Martinis and IMAX event held every Friday night except for during the winter holiday season).

I really expected to see more mommy bloggers, and a bigger turnout overall. My feeling is that Fernbank is still getting in the swing of these social media sneak peeks. Oh, and I'd recommend they serve food and drink next time (there's little else that brings us bloggers out in force). Regardless, thank you for the invite, Fernbank!

Geckos: Tails to Toepads opens on May 28.

Bugs: A Rain Forest Adventure also opens May 28.

Tickets to Fernbank Museum of Natural History are $15 for adults and $13 for children 3 - 12 (IMAX tickets are $13 and $11).

Fernbank Museum

767 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

.

.

.

.

But what's most exciting about this post is that it marks my 500th post!!! Sure, that's my 500th post between this blog and my other one — but I still think it's worth celebrating! Thank you for being a reader of this blog!

A Classy Flea

"A Classy Flea" is just that — a thrift/consignment store with a slightly more upscale inventory.

Not long before I changed jobs, I took a little field trip to the Mariettta, Georgia, shop with some colleagues. A Classy Flea carries a variety of furniture, mirrors, vases and other antiques. I was most interested in the furniture, which ranges from $30 to $400. I must say its strip mall store front is quite deceiving — don't judge a book by its cover!

This chair helped make a good first impression. Love the pattern of the upholstery.

A Classy Flea is quite large inside; I would estimate about 2,500 square feet of furniture and other treasures.

This antique parlor dresser is a little too art deco for my tastes — but it's such a neat period piece and in very good condition.

Wish I had a place for this wood filing cabinet!

Super sweet twin bed headboard, footboard and mirror.

Maybe we can get a bench like this for our back deck one day. Love.

This table wouldn't fit with our home, but I love the juxtaposition of the clean/cool marble and the rusted/painted iron. It's modern and vintage all at the same time. $300 if I recall correctly.

I especially liked the offerings in this booth (kind of an updated French country vibe).

How cool is this vintage ice box? Beautiful. Wish I had a place for it in my kitchen or dining room.

I made the mistake of having an "agenda" when we stopped by A Classy Flea. Unfortunatey for me, there were no night stands or rugs that fit with our new home. They're constantly receiving new pieces — in fact, my former colleague Paul tells me he stops by the Flea almost every weekend to see what new inventory comes in. Regardless, even though there are several great furniture consignment/thrift stores near us in Decatur (Kudzu, Decatur Estate, etc.), I may actually make the trek to A Classy Flea few times a year because they have some great stuff (at very reasonable prices)!

A Classy Flea

1355 Roswell Road

Marietta, GA 30062

http://www.blogger.com/www.aclassyflea.com

(for you fellow ITPers, A Classy Flea is about 15 miles up 75 from Georgia Tech)

Saturday exploration: Myer's carpet

Carpet remnants galore at Myer's Carpet.

Shoppers write down the sample number and price per-square-foot on the back of each sample for easy reference.

Maria is a most beautiful and most helpful shopping companion.

A variety of textures and materials comprise Myer's' offerings. This damask one was about $5 per square foot.

Seeing how our samples look against the hardwoods. The closest one was a favorite.

Since this post is about thrifty shopping and about home improvement, I was torn about whether to post this here or on my other blog.

I've been on the hunt for reasonably priced rugs. In fact, there have been multiple posts dedicated to said search. Thanks to a comment from Naomi on this post, I decided to go check out Myer's Carpet (1500 Northside Drive; Atlanta 30318; (404) 352-8141).

My bestie Maria and I arrived an hour shy of Myer's' 3pm Saturday close time, thinking we would have plenty of time to comb through the store.

I had sorely underestimated how much time one needs to dedicate to a Myer's trip! Myer's sells carpet, hardwood flooring, high end rugs and other floor coverings (think Shaw carpets, Bella Wood, etc. etc.). We, however, were only interested in checking out options when it comes to making rugs from carpet remnants. Even though we made a beeline for the remnant area, there was still much to see.

A salesperson showed us which carpet remnants were fair game for custom rug-making. They were sectioned off by material: polypropylene, wool and seagrass (looks like woven natural fibers). Browsers can take home as many free samples as desired — and it's recommended that you write down the specific carpet's price per square foot and item number on the back of the sample (or else it would be hard to keep up with what's what). From home, you can see how the samples fit with your home's colors and textures then e-mail an account rep with your ordering decision (size, specific carpet, etc.). Note: there are some finished rug remnants available for purchase as well.

Most remnants were about $2.00 to $5.00 per square foot. Binding the edges is $2.50 to $3.50 per linear foot (depending on what binding material you're using). We saw everything from neutral berbers to wool remnants with beautiful flowers or damask patterns on them. Colors ran the gamut from animal prints to safe solids.

I immediately thought, "this is great!" Then I started doing the math...

I was hunting for several rugs (master bedroom, dining area and hallway runner). Take the master bedroom rug I had in mind. I want a rug that's 8 x 11 (to mostly cover the floor). If I found a nice remnant with a $2.50/square foot price tag ($220-ish for the carpet itself) then added the binding costs ($95), that would still be one expensive rug! (If you're a new reader, then I should point out to you that I am a rather cheap chica.)

Sensible Maria reminded me that paying $300 for a nice, custom-made berber rug is smart investment when compared to buying a poorly made one for $125 that may need to be replaced a year later. Hmmm.... I had a lot of thinking to do!

Luckily, Myer's' model really encourages you to "sleep on" the decision to get a rug. We may pull the trigger on one (master bedroom?) in the next few months, but I mostly feel too afraid to commit to three $200 - $300 rugs. I also hear that Excel Carpet on Roswell Road has a similar model and perhaps even more affordable prices, so I may go check them out.