Why I Thrift
February 25, 2010
Again I found myself stopping by the local St. Vincent de Paul today looking for great pieces of furniture. This thrift store can be hit and miss, but today, it was a definite hit. I was just so excited about all of these finds, I had to share. Call me strange, but scouring a thrift store on a treasure hunt just makes me giddy.
Look at these two beautiful honey tone dressers – they could be stained darker or painted. Perhaps given some new modern hardware. I visualize an asymmetrical art gallery or statement mirrors above them !
I fell in love with this chair ! If it’s still there tomorrow, I might go back for it. All it needs in new modern fabric and it would be fabulous !
I loved this table for $25 dollars. It would be the perfect candidate for Layla’s dining room table treatment. You must see her whitewashed distressed table !
Detail:
I’m not wild about knotty pine (except in rustic mountain homes), but these armoires would look amazing if given a great paint treatment. Black ? French gray blue ? They’d be statement pieces when refinished.
Oh, and yes, I sometimes do take my daughter with me. This one’s in training !
I found these great end tables . . .
Look at this perfect TV armoire ! You’d pay ten times more in a furniture store.
Okay, this sideboard stopped me in my tracks. Perfect lines. I’ve got absolutely no place to put this, but I LOVE it. A fresh paint job and some new hardware ? It would be incredible in a foyer or dining room.
This simple small desk could easily be freshened with paint and fun knobs to create a mini vanity or even an end table in a bedroom. Perhaps a subtle harlequin pattern painted on the top ?
Oh my, look at this oak china hutch. Imagine it in black, perhaps with a damask wallpaper background. That would be so sleek and modern. LOVE.
Most customers look at me strangely because I audibly gasp whenever I see pieces like this ! Such potential !
This corner end table has two great surfaces, a lower for magazines, and the top to hold a lamp.
Speaking of lamps, I always find the most interestingly shaped lamps at thrift stores. Many are junk, but every now and then you find a diamond in the rough. I happen to love both of these colored glass bases. All they need is a modern shade !
How about a little spray paint to cover the brassy metal on this one on the left. Fill the glass halfway with white sand and float some shells on top for an instant beach scene. The one on the right could stay copper, but personally I think it would look amazing in a high gloss peacock blue.
Both of these mini cabinets would make great candidates for a makeover. They’d be wonderful end tables next to a bed, but also I’d love to convert them into mini bars, with room for glassware and bar supplies inside. I imagine a beautiful tray on top corralling martini or wine glasses and beautiful glass bottles. Party perfect !
If only I had nine lives, or a shop with helpers ! How much I would LOVE to refinish each and every one of these.
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In other news, I’m still struggling to get some video footage on the kitchen island paint job, so I’m putting it off to the weekend to work on it then. Hopefully early next week !
Also, if you recall all the beautiful personalized stampers available at The Paper Cafe, keep in mind with this discount code (CG15OFF) you can save 15% through March 1st !
Now, should I go back for that chair ? I’m thinking maybe so. :-)
Tags: thrift store find
Yes, go back for the chair!!!!
I can’t believe how many beautiful pieces there are. We don’t have these opportunities where I live. So jealous.
Loving the chair and the cream french sideboard.
goodness, your Vinnies is about a million times better than mine, I think I’d buy all of those you shot!!
my local Vinnies is pretty good for lots of things but the furniture has some idiot who thinks he is an antiques dealer pricing it up, those things you showed would all be well up in the $400′s…sad cos now I don’t even bother going to the furniture section that much in there…I kinda whizz through…in fact I went there too and laughed out loud for price tags on some things in the 6 to 7 hundreds…just wonder who buys it
S
I will have to find some good thrift shops, because whenever I go, I just seem to see mdf fake wood units!
You have an incredible thrift store. I want the sideboard! I have been looking for weeks but haven’t found anything. What great finds – all of them.
I just did a search on good thrift stores in my area – not much yet. Our Goodwill just opened this fall, so there’s not much in the way of home decor – mostly clothes. I’ll have to find my inner sleuth!
Oh, you should go back for that chair. Or, if I could make it there, I should go for that chair.
A great store you have there! I must do some more scouting to see if perhaps there’s a good thrift store around here. My old faithful place closed its doors. Some of my friends thought I was nuts for bemoaning a thrift store’s going out of business. They just haven’t seen the light yet!
Wish I had a thrift store with half of the stuff yours has… I’d do more thrifting too!
I love your finds. I was just out yesterday myself at the local salvation army family store. They actually just had a sale and alot of their good stuff was gone. I am always on the hunt too!
Love your blog,
Jamilyn
WOW! You must live near the Holy Grail of thrift stores! Ours never have furniture that nice, and when they do it’s waaaay overpriced. Maybe you could pick up a few furniture projects and send them to me here in Texas?? :)
Awesome finds, I love those end tables. Especially the 2 tiered one. And that chair would be awesome redone.
Thanks for sharing
That first piece is almost identical to the one I got for $50 at my local GW! I’ve painted it white but I think it needs one more coat to be finished.
I take my 3 year old daughter to the thrift store with me, too. They’re never too young to learn how to spot a bargain!
those are great finds!!
That first piece would be amazing turned into a vanity!!! I’ll definitely have to start thrifting once we have our house built by the end of this year hopefully.
What great finds! I wish my thrift store had such good stuff. You have such a gift for spotting potential and visualizing how a piece should be used. Love your site!
I’m still dreaming about it. Painted with a distressed white finish. A beautiful bowl sink. Oil rubbed bronze hardware. Oh…divine!
That sideboard is amazing and I have been looking for something just like it! You have some great pieces at your local thrift store – I haven’t seen anything nearly as nice at mine. Great ideas too, to go along with those great finds.
Oh my goodness! I would go CRAZY in there. Too bad I live on the other coast!
Love the first dresser and the sideboard, both look like they would make great bathroom cabinets with the sink installed in them…..course thinking they would be to big for my bathroom.
What great finds! I love the first dresser. I am always thrifting, it’s such a rush to find those awesome finds that other people might have passed up. I love it.
Go back for the chair! My word, I’d love to go thrifting with you.
I looove to go thrifting, but it’s tough with the preschooler and toddler in tow. But like you said, you have to train them young. ;)
We have a very tiny St. Vincent de Paul…they don’t carry many pieces of furniture. Our Salvation Army usually has the most furniture, but their prices (as well as GW) tend to be inflated, in my opinion. You could have doubled the prices you listed today if those were in my GW. Not the best bargain. But I keep looking because sometimes SA will haggle or offer “Make a Deal Saturdays.” :)
If only our thrift stores were as nice as yours! Some of them are so expensive that it is not worth buying, like $300-$1000. I can only look at your finds and drool!
Wowza! The mother load for sure! How do you restrain yourself?? Those prices are super great..it makes me want to do more bargaining here at my lame-o store! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Wow, thanks for sharing your great finds and your visions for transforming them! It’s great inspiration for my creative thrifting skills. My husband thinks I’m crazy all the time when I drool over “interesting” looking out of date pieces at thrift stores, not seeing the potential of a new paint or finish or fabric update!
You need the chair – it’s begging for a a good home :). I’ve never seen so much awesome funiture at a thrift store…I wonder if there are ones like that by me?
All of that furniture could be redone so nicely! I love the possibility in all of it.
Great finds! Wish we had furniture like that at our thrifts. And you should defenitely go back for the chair…love it!
I just purchased the first dresser off CL. I plan to repaint and add new hardware, question for you…how should I handle the hinges? Should I paint over them or consider replacing them. This is my first revamp….your advice is greatly needed! Thanks…
Thank you for the inspiration. It was nice to hear your vision on things. When I go thrifting I have a hard time envisioning something great. Thanks for the ideas!
I want to be a helper in your shop :)!! I just found your site and love all the tips, photos and fun you share. Thank you.
Go get the chair! How perfect would those dressers be turned into vanities for a bathroom? I wish I was down the street from you and I would go now! What a fantastic thrift store! Do you think you could ship the sideboard to Virginia for me? :)
nice thrift stores…drooling here….
The golden oak hutch with the detail on the top…. I have its sister currently dismanteld and sanded up ready to be pained red in my basement as we speak. The brother is waiting for its dive into this decade also. Can’t wait to get this added color into my house and the carmel oak of the early 90′s out!
So much love!!! I have been searching for a great dresser for well over a year now. Both of those are incredible. Jeeeeeaaaaaalous!
And the sideboard and table are amazing. LOVE that sideboard. NEED that sideboard!
I have been looking for a green lamp like that one pictured as well. I am redoing my front room with a little bit of peacock inspiration. My white hutch has some pretty colored glass vases in it and I think that lamp would be a fabulous piece to tie in.
I have one of those old school orange glass ball on a chain hanging lamps from our newly-wed days (we had a celery green velvet davenport back then too). That was 8 years ago but we’ve never been able to part with the lamp. I am thinking of putting it in my husbands rustic meets world traveler office.
That’s it…I need to move to your ‘hood. ;)
P.S. I’m still drooling over the sideboard!
P.P.S. That chair would look fab in a room right off of the dining room with the table. The corners are similar, as are the legs.
I think you should start a furniture rehab business like Holly at Life in the Fun Lane (have you seen her blog?). Anyway, she is buying tons of stuff just like you found and has started a great business up in Canada reselling all her lovely painted furniture. That way you could justify buying all the great things you see and finding new homes for them. :)
You find such amazing pieces in your thrift stores — I must be looking in the wrong places around here! I second the idea of you doing a furniture rehab business or store — then we could all buy the fabulous stuff you refresh and we don’t have to do any of the work! I need to go to California and learn all your marvelous tricks!
Amazing finds!! Makes me regret every ‘big name store’ purchase I’ve ever made! I have a HUGE southwest style armoire in my lr that is like an elephant in the corner. I’ve been dreaming of the perfect shade…and you nailed it with “French Gray Blue” — can you give me some examples of actual colors?!
remind me, why haven’t you opened a little shop to sell all your refabulous’d furniture?
Being both a) a poor newlywed in a small, outdated apartment, and b) half of a one-income household, I find myself thrifting all. the. time. I frequent St. Vincent de Paul is, the Salvation Army, and both Goodwills. I’ve found some awesome stuff! Someday when we have a garage or a place that can serve as a workshop of sorts (rather than just a carport, hrrm) I would love to buy some bigger pieces and revamp them. You’re a great inspiration, Kate! Keep it up! And, yes, go back for the chair. :]
ok your thrift store is waaay better than ours- we are more miss than hit. I NEED that 1st piece you showed!!! and funny story about that chair you want – I have one almost exactly like that one-but the fabric has some blue in it along with the green-I got it for $5 at a yard sale last year-its quite comfy-but kinda low to the floor. So when ever Im in San Fran I am sooo going to visit your thrift store.
That white sideboard NEEDS me! Or, at least, I need it! LOL!! I’m looking for an old sideboard exactly like that for my dining room. *sigh* None of the thrift stores around here have anything that good. Guess I’ll have to wait to see what the local flea market brings when it starts up again in just over a week!
Blessings,
Stacey
great finds – I’m out now to do the same.
I am an organizer & found your website through a link from Real Simple, You really have unleashed my creative side that I never knew I had. I love your blog & it has inspired me to possibly start one for my business/passion!!
wow! my thrift store has NEVER had such a yummy and varied assortment of good pieces to choose from! How could one ever decide? i would quick load up that tiered end table and the sideboard i think and bring it home….lovely finds…did you choose one?
xoxox
joni
I can’t believe all those pieces are in one store!!!!!!!!!!!! the prices are incredible!!! Like many others I wish I could have a thrift store like yours!!
i loved the thrift store post! i’m like you, when I go thrifting, I see endless potential, and wish I had 10 homes to fill and decorate with all the re-vamped goodies!
i have a degree in film studies, and i do video stuff on the side. I’m happy to help you over email, if you need tips on uploading the video!
Great finds, you can work wonders!! Go for the chair!
Karena
Where do you shop at? I am in love with all those piece I am always looking for furniture to redo and I never find anything. I think the pieces you picked up will turn out great.
Oh if only I was 3500 miles away in Cali! I’ve been looking for a dresser EXACTLY like the first one. And the price is perfect too. Unfortunately, our thrift stores haven’t had anything appealing. I need to go during the week. But boy would I love to see what you could do with some of those pieces!
Ok, I give up! I live in Rohnert Park and don’t know where this great thrift store is. I’m looking for a small desk and this looks like the perfect place to look. Would you be willing to disclose the location? Thanks