Can interior design be fast, cheap and good?  Please remember we’ve already had this conversation.

But I’m here to tell you that there is an exception.  In the kind of, sort of way.  Vintage pieces are often inexpensive and very well made.  Of course, it’s easy to know if the piece you want is inexpensive, but you’ll want to educate yourself on how to identify quality construction.  Buying vintage is also “fast” in the sense that you can usually buy the piece immediately  – hello, no lead times?! — but (and it’s a big BUT) there is likely a great deal of “sweat equity” in either searching for the right piece or restoring it or both.

Savvy vintage shoppers know the best haunts for scoring incredible vintage items and also the best time to stalk visit those haunts.  In all candor, I am not a great vintage shopper because I don’t have the time or the patience for the endless hunt.  I love vintage, however, which usually means I purchase items from those people who are savvy vintage shoppers.   Stuff: Vintage and Matters of Style Marketplace, I’m talking to you.  They both sell on One Kings Lane, too, so look there as well!  Oh, and that’s one secret of savvy MOMs — knowing when to outsource, baby.  Or babies, as the case may be.

Is it possible to take vintage finds and turn it into a chic family play room?   What about a nursery or child’s bedroom?   A “man cave” or living room?   Heck, how about a wedding reception?  Well, eight Lake Norman-area designers decided they were up to the challenge!

Tomorrow, Our Towns Habitat for Humanity is holding its annual ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge.   Using only items from the Mooresville and Cornelius ReStore locations (none of which could cost more than $100) and two gallons of paint, those designers are transforming eight 10′x10′ “rooms” (think of HGTV Design Star‘s White Box Challenge) into fully decorated living spaces.  Oh, and they are allowed to bring outside items … so long as they all fit in one standard file box.  Gulp.  There are no rules on “elbow grease,” but I promise you there is going to be a lot of that included, too!

I am super excited to be collaborating with Lisa Mende once again as we team up as guest judges for the event.   Not only is Our Towns Habitat for Humanity a great cause, but I love to support other designers in their creative endeavors.  Especially when they just “make it happen” for charity.  Because, really, what’s the bigger challenge: designing on a huge budget or designing on a practically nonexistent budget?  Talk amongst yourselves. 

Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and include two drink tickets and heavy hors d’oeuvres.  The fun starts at 6:30 pm and we’ll have a rollicking good time until about 9:00 pm.  After which those eight designers will collapse in relief.   Or maybe that’s just a Traditional Home showhouse flashback.  

Will I see you there?