...because home doesn't happen overnight.
03.23.10 / Outlet Outtakes

I live a skip, hop and jump away from one of my favorite home shopping destinations: exit 19 off I-75.  Not only is IKEA on this exit, but if you drive a little further west you’ll find the Ballard Designs/Frontgate/Grandin Road Outlet.  Yes, it houses all of those big names under one roof.

It makes me giddy.  I try to check it out every few months or so even if I’m not looking for anything in particular.  On my last visit, I decided to bring along my camera and be that weird girl who takes pictures of random stuff with a goofy smile on her face.  Yes, I’m that girl and I’m comin’ atcha with a few of my favorite finds.  I tried to focus on budget items even though this outlet also has pricier, high-end outdoor furniture and such. 

My first find was this rack of souped up charging stations or as uppity people like to call them “charging valets”.

You know I like to keep my electrical devices and wires contained and this bad boy could sure deliver in that department.  It has a pull-out drawer to store your keys, wallet, glasses or other non-charging items.

Lift the top to find a hidden power strip in charge of, well, charging your phone, iPod or camera.

If I didn’t already have a DIY charging station of my own, I would have totally brought this baby home with me.  At $25, it was a ridiculous steal!

Next, I drooled over this adorable yet feisty little guest towel tray.

For only $12, I started thinking I needed that tray.  Then I realized I didn’t have the guest bathroom, guest paper towels or guests to go with it.  Bummer.

On to the rug section where more than one foot-wiper caught my eye.

I can attest to the durability of these geometric print rugs…I have a larger one right inside my front door…that I paid full price for a while back.  Boo.  These smaller versions were on sale at $23!  If you have a door that seems to catch on every rug you lay down, this low-profile rug is for you.  Plus, just throw it in the washer when it gets too grody.  Easy. 

I couldn’t believe the price tag on this next indoor/outdoor beauty…

At $10, I seriously thought about changing my last name to something that started with an “L”, “N” or “Q”!  (Those seemed to be the only monograms left.) 

Onto the outdoor furniture section where…

…you guessed it, everything was an additional 50% off!  Woohoo!  I spotted this outdoor coffee table right away.  Heck, this glossy gal would even look good indoors!

With the 50% savings, this table could be yours for the low, low price of $75!  (That’s my best infomercial line.)  Man, I really wanted that table but, sadly, I couldn’t come up with a place for her to live at my house.  I made myself move on and came across these mod outdoor chairs.

The price of $150 was for the pair and that was before the 50% discount.  So, that’s 2 outdoor chairs for $75 total – roughly $37 a pop.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

My last find was the barstool triplets.

I totally fell in love with the textured basketweave tops.  But at $79 each, I was about to walk away.  Then I looked up, saw heavenly lights and heard angels singing…the whole bit. 

Ahhhhh!  Another 75% off?!  Holy bajeezes…that would be like $20!  And, then, like I always do when I decide to buy something, I pick over each one of that particular item to make sure I get the ‘best’ one.  I sat on each one, I stood on them, I made sure they didn’t rock, I checked for scratches/dings and I banged on the tops to check the stability of the basketweave seats.  It’s really a rigorous test that I put these things through.  Highly technical, you probably wouldn’t understand.  Anyhow, here’s the winner that got stuffed into the back of my SUV:

It sits next to my kitchen cabinet when I’m not using it to eat lunch at the island with my lil’ boys. 

I placed a basket on top of it to drop dirty dishtowels into until laundry time.  Before, I was just piling up dirty dishtowels on the floor next to the cabinet until I remembered to take them up to the laundry room.  This way, they’re kind of hidden.  So, my trip to the outlet only set me back $20.  I think taking pictures of the other great finds I didn’t necessarily need was almost as fun as buying them…and it saved me the buyer’s remorse.

How ’bout you?  Do you have a favorite outlet store that you frequent in search of great deals?  Are you ever the crazy person taking pictures of items you love but don’t really want to buy?  Or is it just me?

FYI-As much as I’d like to, I don’t get compensated for saying how awesome this outlet or its items are.  I just like to pass on the thrifty deals and eye candy to others.

6 Comments

24.March.2010

I’m just giddy at the thought that there’s a Ballard Designs outlet somewhere! Great finds too!

25.March.2010

Oh wow, I wonder if I have any of those in Columbus?! Here we have a JC Penny Furniture Outlet. Lets just say my kitchen table was $40 and is not easy for my husband and I to lift. Our stainless steel appliances were from a Sears Appliance Outlet also here in Columbus. I LOVE my bottom-freezer refrigerator even though it has a small nick under the handle. Hardly noticeable and that lovely little nick put $700 back in our pocket.

25.March.2010

Sheryl – I know! I couldn’t believe it when I discovered it a while back. Just goes to show that getting lost while driving around has its perks!

25.March.2010

Shayna – I hear ya on scratch-n-dent appliances/furniture! Heck, it’s gonna get nicked up as soon as I bring it home to my boys anyway…might as well save me some $!

26.March.2010

I.AM.JEALOUS! Seriously- fabulous finds. I wish we had better home decor outlets around here (in Northeast Indiana). *sigh*

30.November.2011

I am up to this post reading your blog and I must get ready for work. I love seeing your finds. I have been planning a trip to Ikea for years. It will take about an hour or more to get there and I want to look at EVERYTHING!!! Since we hosted Thanksgiving and hustled to get the moving boxes emptied and the house in order, I just may use Saturday or Sunday to go.

I don’t remember how I found your blog…that was 2 hours ago. Anyway, I know you downsized like we did. I asked my husband to give up our beautiful, traditional, large home for a much smaller cottage. In four years, I never hung one picture in that house. I never felt that it was home. I will get more into that later on my blog when time permits.

I am having a blast decorating my new cottage.

I feel like you are a friend I have known for years and I am catching up on your happenings. That is how you write!!! Entertaining AND informative….again, like a friend. Have a wonderful day…1 year and 9 months later :)