So, if you are interested in stopping at your local Goodwill, thrift store, or estate sale, here are a few pictures to serve as inspiration! My finds are typically pretty easy to incorporate right into your home.
These books I found at the Goodwill this week:
All 14 books of this set of "Little Journey's to the Homes of the Great", circa 1928, happened to be gathering dust in a bin. For some time, I've looked for older books that had time worn pages to them. In my mind, I was going to cover them with linen to get the Restoration Hardware-esq look of the books they have in stores, but this set happens to be perfectly neutral. Still, at $1.79 a book I just wasn't sure I wanted to buy all 14 of them.
I opened the page and the published date read 1928. I still wasn't sure if the value was there. A quick google search helped me find an identical set that sold on EBAY for $125 and one currently listed on ebay for $225. Sold! I quickly added all the books to my basket - lest the five year old little girl staring over my shoulder as I analyzed these books try to beat me to it. I'm embarrassed to say this did actually happen, but I was there first! ;) I could at the very least turn them around quickly for a profit. At the check out, all 14 only rang up for $8! Bonus!
I actually plan on keeping them around for awhile, and I might even read them:
I love the edges of the pages:
I also like the emblem of the man incorporated onto the cover:
Next up, I incorporated several finds into our dining room. These chargers add a little texture to our dining room walls and were a steal at $1 a pieces:
I've also mixed thrifted silver platters, bowls, and milk glass with crystal, china, and family heirlooms into our china cabinet (which I just realized I don't have many good pictures of, I promise you those pink poms aren't always there):
You can read about when I found the glass Dorothy Thorpe punch bowl pictured above and matching low ball glasses here for an awesome deal.
This milk glass bowl I picked up an estate sale for $3 and it is paired with a my grandmothers silver platter:
This huge piece of coral was $10 at a local thrift store. Not sure if that is a deal or not but I really wanted it:
I also like to look for paintings and prints to use around the house because I like to change it all up often. If the frame happens to work well that's a bonus. I used gold rub and buff on the frame of this $3 print - it only looks like a painting - to make it work a little better here:
It's hard to see, but I added the print below to a new frame to make it work in our bedroom. The silver rimmed glass bowl that's holding the shells come a dime a dozen at the Goodwill:
The colors of this Norman Rockwell lithograph worked perfectly for the nursery:
I painted the frame white on this $2 boat painting:
I found this globe the same day I found the Norman Rockwell lithograph and was over the moon excited about it since it worked perfectly in the nursery:
This little tin, um, thing (not sure what it is) works well as a temporary planter:
What do you like to look for at your favorite thrift shops?
Such awesome finds! Those books are amazing. I love the pages and how they look stacked up like that. Can't believe you got them for only $8, such a steal! I also really like that globe. I have a thing for globes!
ReplyDeleteSo many great finds! I love the books. They are great to scatter around your house or stage furniture. I love old books and at $8 that is such a steal! I also love your coral. We saw so much on the beaches of St. John and I was collecting it and then found out it couldn't leave the island.
ReplyDeletelovin the handsome set of books--they add a lot of interest and i can't resist vintage books in any condition! also feelin the coral and the texture that brings.
ReplyDeletehappy weekend, pretty mama.
michele
The books are awesome Dawn and $8! Really?? I used to do a lot of thrifting and just can't find the time to do it anymore and it bums me out when i see all the goodness being scooped up!
ReplyDeleteI always am hoping to have a great Goodwill find like those books! Which, by the way, are beautiful along with being worth something. :) A friend of mine just got a ukulele from there and it turned out to be a 1950s vintage one. I think I just need to be a bit more patient and perusing in my trips. And have a good eye!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I love thrifting and adding these little treasures to my home. Love those books. What a steal!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me I need to thrift more! Awesome find... you will use those for many years to come!
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so lovely!
ReplyDelete