Thrifting

Happy Monday, all!  We had a great weekend—just the right amount of activity + relaxation.  I also had a bit of alone time *gasp* since Matt decided to take Liam for a hike on Saturday morning—love that they got in some male bonding.  Oh, those cheesy mugs…

Liam and I had just hiked together on Friday afternoon, so I wasn’t all that jazzed to wake at the crack of dawn for a chilly blitz up Barr Trail, but I was more than happy to enjoy a quiet morning thrifting around town at my local favorites, the ARC (they mark nearly everything to 50% off on Saturdays) and Habitat for Humanity’s Restore.  While out and about, I snagged a few photos of some items that caught my eye.  Obviously many of these are in need of cosmetic upgrades, but since I mainly look for good lines (as in, the shape and design of a piece)  when thrifting, I thought some of my finds were worth sharing. 

They had two of these huge bowls, and I loved the cut-outs.  Sadly, they were waaay more pricey than most pieces I find at the ARC, but they still make nice eye candy.

I have picked up several of these little cloches over the years, as they make great accents.  I always paint or stain the wood piece to freshen it up.

This binder was brand new (originally from Target), and I loved the design. 

I was super impressed to see four extra-long pinch-pleat curtains on the rack; it’s always nice to see high quality items, and since there was a set of four, they could definitely be used to outfit an entire room. 

Bamboo frames are one of my favorite finds, and this one was nice and large.  With new art, and possibly some colorful paint, this would make a fun wall statement.  Keep in mind that you can always paint over the old matting, too.

This lumbar pillow in a funky ikat print was a happy find.

I spy me some Pottery Barn cushions…  Since these are white, they can be bleached and laid out in the sun for a quick brightening.  And of course, I love finding full sets of matching name-brand items (there were six of them).

This classic chair would be super chic in a new upholstery.  It looks like a fairly straight-forward DIY job that reminds me of when I recovered this lovely lady. 

I fell pretty hard for this octagon table’s unique shape.  What a steal at $20!  Wouldn’t she be pretty in a soft gray surrounded by upholstered parsons chairs in a dining room?  Or maybe an eclectic yellow with mismatched chairs to be used as a game table… 

This long wicker bench boasted storage space inside, and the cushion could easily be removed, as it wasn’t in the greatest shape.

The clean lines and simple feet of this mid-century modern dresser drew me in (sorry, I couldn’t get a good picture, since it was crammed between lots of other furniture—it had about six drawers and peg feet), along with the interesting pulls.

Birds—love ‘em.  This wooden one nearly made it home with me, but I resisted…

I found some cool lights at the Restore.  This one was sooo sweet and would be adorable in a little girl’s room or a powder bath. 

Massive lantern lights are all the rage right now, and I really dig their craftsman look.  There were two of these, and I think they would make a great pair over a long dining room table.  I would definitely spray paint them, as the shiny brass look isn’t my favorite, but again, it’s a quick and easy fix.  Priced at $30 each, you’ve got yourself some serious lighting for a great deal.

This guy was much smaller and would look cool in a boy’s room or hanging from an outdoor pergola.

At just $4 a pop, these outdoor lights would be dapper painted an oil-rubbed bronze.

Brainstorming ways to beautify old, used items gets me all giddy, but since I have limited cash and time to work on projects, this was the next best thing.  I will definitely be taking my camera on more thrifting excursions! 

If you were to pick from this virtual thrift store, what item would you buy?