Shopping Guide

TAXIDERMY ALTERNATIVES

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Taxidermy is everywhere these days. Though pretty high up on the coolness scale, it also costs a pretty penny and isn’t suitable for hardcore animal lovers. Here are some taxidermy alternatives that will add flair to your wall without the guilt.

For those bummed that they will never be able to “bag” a dinosaur, Urban Outfitters brings you this, for just $24.99.

Inflatable Dino Head

 

Get on this little guy’s good graces, and he may just tell you how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop. $13.85 on Amazon.

16-Inch Molded Owl

 

Cabela’s provides fishing tale fodder for the city slicker with this resin-based Bluegill replica. $79.00.

Cabela's Fish Mount Replica

 

Dapper Cadaver is one of the better URLs I’ve seen in a while. They sell all manner of neat oddities, like this jackalope head for just $36!

Replica Fur Jackalope Head

 

This cardboard rhino let’s you channel your inner Hemingway, minus the booze and broads. $52 from Cardboard Safari.

large rhino trophy

large rhino trophy

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Friday Finds

FRIDAY FINDS: GREEN GOODS UNDER $30

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Happy Friday, everyone. We at Frugal Materialist are desperately holding on to the last vestiges of summer. As such, this week’s Friday Finds are all in sprightly green and $30 or less.

Instead of nasty Post-It notes, encourage cohabitants to keep it clean with this fresh sign. $9.53 from the Home Depot.

Lynch Sign Co. Green Pitch In Sign

 

This Casabella bucket is surely better looking than whatever is currently lurking under your kitchen sink. $12.99 from The Container Store.

eclipse™ Cleaning System Bucket by Casabella®

 

At long last: a balloon with class. The $1.20 Chandelier balloon.

Green Chandelier Balloon

 

It slices! It dices! It looks great in the dish rack! The Santoku knife is $9.95  via Amazon.

Hampton Forge Tomodachi 7-Inch Santoku Knife

 

This cheeky umbrella cover says, “Hurricane Irene who?” $27.73.

Green Nylon Umbrella Cover

 

Green is clean. The $15.99 Penguin soap dispenser from Organize.com.

Penguin Soap Dispenser in Avocado

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Get the Look

GET THE LOOK: THE GROWN-UP DORM ROOM

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Summer is almost over, which means school is around the corner for some. Feeling clueless? Avoid the “Back-2-School” signs at Bed Bath and Beyond and start thinking outside the box. You’re guaranteed to win the respect of your college floor mates with your grown-up style.

 

 

This slim n’ handy tray table from MUJI is useful for so many dorm-like activities.

Steel Pipe Side Table, $88

 

The Bygone Blackboard is made of reclaimed oak from an old steel mill and repurposed leather from WWII soldiers’ spats. Fancy.

Bygone Blackboard, $28

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Rooming in close quarters calls for clever storage. Ditch those dull plastic bins for vintage suitcases, like this one found on Etsy.

Vintage Black Suitcase, $30

 

Store toiletries and school supplies in this sweet 70s Samsonite train case, from dirtiebirdiesvintage on Etsy.

Vintage brown Samsonite carry on train case, $22

 

Simple, cheap, and designed to fit pesky twin xl mattresses, these Target sheets get the job done (and come in a nice variety of colors).

Room Essentials® Twin XL Dorm Sheet Set , $17.99

 

Instead of hideous bed-in-a-bag sets, layer with cozy throws in interesting patterns. This jumbo Ikat throw from Urban Outfitters is a sure fit.

Ikat Woven Tapestry, $69

 

A book light is essential for late night cramming sessions. I’m partial to this modern LED model from MoMA.

Starlite Rechargeable LED Light, $25

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Shopping Guide

SHOPPING GUIDE: NATURAL FIBER RUGS

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Looking for an area rug? Here are three great natural fiber rugs for under 300 bucks!

This 100% Jute rug can fit into a traditional setting just as easily as a modern setting.  You can’t go wrong with this one for $279.00

Jewel Jute Rug

If you fancy a chic bold stripe then this the rug for you. 100% Cotton and only $299.00 bucks for an 8 x 10

Olin Rug

Clean and simple, this 100% Jute rug is available in 12 colors to match any room and style. $229.00

Company Hemmed Jute Rug

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Design Around...

DESIGN AROUND: A METAL DESK

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Building a look around a quality statement piece is a good way to anchor a room. When augmented with lower-cost pieces, it’s also a good way to achieve a look that’s greater than the sum of its parts. This week’s Design Around is an office space based on a metal desk.

 

The Parsons desk is already a classic, but this hand-wrapped metal version from West Elm really steals the show. $499.

Parsons Metal Desk, $499

 

The CoCo Cabana chair from Urban Outfitters is made of reclaimed steel and would look great shimmied up next to the desk.  $189.

CoCo Cabana Chair, $189

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This Silver Pebbles rug from CB2 isn’t necessarily cheap (at $399) but it’s big (5′ x 8′) and—as The Dude would say—it really ties the room together.

silver pebbles rug, $399

 

The Ljusas Salbo lamp from IKEA is complimentary while maintaining a character all it own. $39.99.

LJUSÃ…S SALBO Lamp, $39.99

 

A playful twist on the ongoing taxidermy craze, this inflatable tiger head makes for cheeky wall décor. $30 from Urban Outfitters.

Inflatable Tiger Head, $30

 

These baskets are great for floor storage of books, magazines or all of your already-outdated electronics. $44.99 for 3, from Target.

Espresso Wire Rattan Baskets 3-pk., $44.99

 

Things made of wood that aren’t normally made of wood are fun. Case in point: this stapler.  $28 from Seltzer Studios.

Wooden Stapler , $28

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Friday Finds

FRIDAY FINDS: STUFF FOR $36 OR LESS

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Happy Friday. This week, nothing over $36.

These 800 page behemoth journals promise to store a ‘lifetime of thoughts’ in style, from Anthropologie.

Suitcase Journal, $25

 

This roll of regal wallpaper is marked down to $36 for 56 square feet, perfect for a rainy weekend bathroom wall-papering project…

Graham and Brown Mode Wallpaper, $36

 

…then celebrate with some cake on one of these matchy melamine plates in the bathtub.

Set of Four Artifacts Dessert Plates by Thomas Paul, $20

 

Cotton shower curtains are underrated. The Olivia shower curtain is grown-up cute.

olivia shower curtain, $35

 

And speaking of grown-up cute, the Hello Kitty compact complements it nicely. From Sephora.

Hello Kitty Compact Mirror, $18

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