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Adventures in Antiquing: Clinch River Spring Antiques Fair

by H. Camille Smith May 15, 2013 16 Comments

This time of year is my favorite for so many reasons: warm weather, spring flowers, longer days…but the thing I love most is spending sunny weekends outdoors hitting the local antique fairs. Thanks to the favorable weather, most fairs take place in the spring and fall — check this list to discover one near you.

The closest antique fair to HGTV’s Knoxville HQ is less than 20 minutes away in the Mayberry-esque hamlet of Clinton, TN. Each year in early May and October, this sleepy Southern town draws antique and collectible dealers from throughout the Southeast for their Clinch River Antiques Fair. Best of all, mixed in with the professional vendors are lots of locals who’ve cleaned out Grandma’s attic, barn or basement — so, although the prices and quality of antiques vary dramatically from booth to booth, there’s so much to choose from that I never leave empty handed.

Here are a few of the goodies I spied:

A coat of bright green paint and a liberal sanding give this 60-year-old dresser a kicky update — $150: Distressed Green Dresser

Mixed in with the antiques were a few crafts. How clever are these?! Old Reader’s Digest books cut into initials — such a great idea for a kids’ room or nursery – $15 .

Secondhand Sprucing: Office Upgrades + Thrifting Tips

by Kate Riley October 9, 2012 10 Comments

Hi everyone, Kate here for the final round in the Secondhand Sprucing series. Today we’re looking at some inspiring home office makeover ideas from creative DIYers. Setting up a small home office in your home requires two essentials — a desk and chair. Beyond that a lamp and a storage solution for files are an added bonus.

Desks are easy to come by if you keep your eyes open. Just look what can happen when you dedicate a few hours to revamping a discarded secondhand desk.

Desk (Repainted curbside desk find by Sunset; White Craigslist desk makeover by How Does She; Mint painted desk by Bridgey Widgey; Striped desk makeover by Because I Like to Decorate)

Desk chairs are often the ubiquitous and mass produced swivel varieties. If you’re going to spend hours of your time working in one place, introduce a dash of panache to your office space with a reupholstered or repainted desk chair.

Chair (Office chair makeover via Apartment Therapy; Office chair makeover from Design*Sponge; Spray painted office chair by Young House Love; Office chair makeover by Sincerely Co.)

Finding a great desk or chair can happen if you head out early to garage sales or get lucky when stopping by your favorite thrift store. With Craigslist, it’s just a matter of finding what you need in your area when you happen to be online. Craigeasy is a helpful tool for narrowing down what you’re looking for with an image search. Thrifting is always a treasure hunt, and you never know what you’re going to find. Here are a few of my best tips for shopping thrift stores for great secondhand furniture finds.
Centsational Girl Tips

Secondhand Sprucing: Dining Rooms

by Kate Riley October 2, 2012 15 Comments

The thing I love about this continuing series on sprucing up secondhand finds is it reminds me how very creative and resourceful people are with reinventing thrift store scores. This week’s focus is on the dining room, and what do we all consider essentials for any dining space? A table and chairs to start, and a sideboard, console, or hutch is always an added bonus. Great lighting certainly plays a part too.

Every time I visit a thrift store or go to a yard sale there is always a chair or two sitting around, looking for a new home. Often they cost $5 or less, and you’re lucky if you find a set of four or six. Side chairs don’t need to match end chairs or each other for that matter; in fact a dining space can be more interesting and have a ‘collected over time’ look when the chairs aren’t from the same set. Take a cue from these secondhand finds revamped with a fresh new look, both modern and classic in style.
Dining Room Chairs

(Craigslist black bamboo chairs by Design Manifest; mismatched chairs unified with paint at This Old House; Black pair of Goodwill chairs by Beneath My Heart; French slip-covered chair by Miss Mustard Seed)

We all need a table, and you can score a great one if you keep your eyes open at thrift stores or frequently visit Craigslist. They can be sanded and stained, painted, or given an intricate stencil treatment for big impact after the dishes are cleared.
Dining Tables Image

(Restained Craigslist dining room table by 4Men1Lady; inlay stencil by Kim Myles; painted dining room set by Loving Life; Dining set score by Sand and Sisal)

Secondhand Sprucing: Bedrooms

by Kate Riley September 11, 2012 30 Comments

Greetings all, Kate here from Centsational Girl beginning a five-part series on one of my favorite topics: sprucing up secondhand finds and turning them into stylish home decor. Anyone who follows my blog knows I frequent a lot of thrift stores in search of pieces to transform into something fresh and fabulous. Let’s get started today with a peek at the potential that awaits some secondhand finds for the bedroom!

These creative bloggers show that with a little vision and some paint or fabric, you too can have a one-of-a-kind accent in your home, all on a dime. They all took a tired piece found in a thrift store or on Craigslist and revamped it into something unique and chic.

Headboards add style and structure to beds, and since they’re the focal point in a bedroom, consider some of these clever revamps for a contemporary look.

Headboards (Tufted headboard by Little Green Notebook; Coral painted headboard by Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss; Upholstered headboard by High Street Market.)

Dressers are a common thrift store find, and when you compare them to the cost of mass produced retail versions, a thrift store dresser is a cost conscious choice but also possesses unique character. Whether you choose a neutral or a bold color, an old dresser gets a new lease on life and packs a lot of style with a coat of primer and two coats of paint!

Dressers (White dresser by Live Love DIY; Gray dresser turned TV console by Living with Lindsay; Yellow Dresser by 4 Men 1 Lady; Craigslist blue dresser by Primitive and Proper.)

Don’t forget such lovely accents as chairs and benches which can be reupholstered professionally or with a little DIY know how. Lamps get refreshed with a quick coat of spray paint and vintage textiles are reinvented as accent pillows.

Accents (Bench by Style by Emily Henderson; Accent pillows made with vintage fabrics via Sunset; Painted lamp by DIY on the Cheap; Reupholstered accent chair by Budget Wise Home.)

You can rework an entire bedroom, whether it’s yours, for a guest, or for a child, if you’re willing to do a little treasure hunting. Paint and fabric are always your best friend; if you find something with the right proportions, you can make it work for your space, and chances are, you’ll love the cost savings and originality that comes from adding your own style to a secondhand piece.

Coming up next week, a look at the potential that hides in secondhand revamps in the family and living room, stay tuned!

Book Review: I Brake for Yard Sales

by Liz Gray April 20, 2012 31 Comments

When Lara Spencer, coanchor for Good Morning America, says that it’s easy to get “addicted to the hunt,” she’s not talking about stalking celebrity news stories. She’s referring to her off-the-clock passion: finding raggedy, outdated, neglected furniture via yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets and yes, even dumpsters, then transforming it and using it to create amazing, high-end rooms on a budget.

I can totally relate, because her lifelong addiction to “sale-ing” is my brand new one: Since I bought my first house, I’ve been a Craigslist and estate sale addict, and the thrill of finding (and transforming) that amazing piece is intoxicating. New to the hunt? Lara’s new book, I Brake for Yard Sales, shows you how to find furniture gems in the rough. (Get more of her tips tonight at 8/7c in her HGTV special!)

Thrifting runs in Lara’s family — she spent nearly every weekend as a child hopping from secondhand shop to yard sale to auction with her mother and siblings — so she’s nailed down the tricks of the trade. She starts by helping you define a your style, then offers tips for how to recognize quality pieces (and duds.) She also shows you how to use the pieces once you get home — a vintage sign becomes an industrial-chic focal point in this space filled with modern, graphic touches.

From flea market find to living room showpiece.

And as Lara reveals how she makes over and styles each piece, she also tells you how much she paid for them: Can you believe she picked up an Eames lounger for just $150 and a pair of Picasso sketches for $30?! (So. Jealous.) This collection of medallions set her back only $20, while the ornate “musical” chair was a mere $50. Looks like a million bucks, right?

Retro yellow wallpaper gives traditional furniture a modern look.

The book also shows off some of the interiors she’s decorated with flea market and budget finds. My favorite: This living room in comedian Kathy Griffin’s house that’s decorated in a style the friends jokingly call “Palm Springs gay man going through a midlife crisis in his midcentury home who wants to attract the hottest guys to come over.”

Kathy Griffin's living room, designed by Lara Spencer.

And Lara is full of ideas that take decorating outside the (reclaimed and repainted) box. After recovering her kitchen chairs one t0o many times, she found the perfect budget-friendly solution to two messy kids: cover the chairs with shower curtains! She used one heavy-duty plastic curtain per chair, and hid the seams with chrome upholstery tacks.

Dining room chairs recovered with high-end shower curtains.

When you finish the book, you’ll want to drive off and slam on the brakes for the nearest yard sale…I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!

Take a break from furniture scouting tonight at 8/7c to watch Lara redecorate her best friend’s home on the HGTV special I Brake for Yard Sales.

Happy bargain hunting!

Thrifting: Sales Sales Sales

by Rashon Carraway February 24, 2012 3 Comments

A good thrift store becomes a great thrift store when you can maximize your spending power. Discount days are perfect for getting more bang for your buck.

Some stores run daily or weekly sales. Often times, sale items are identified by color tags. I find it difficult to keep up with the ever changing sale days and colors, so I have a notebook to write down which days have which colors and what percentage off I can expect.
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Thrifting: Paint It

by Rashon Carraway December 16, 2011 19 Comments

The year is drawing to a close and I am sure many of you have projects sitting in your garage or storage closet waiting to be tackled. Today I’m offering one simple suggestion: paint.

A good paint color can transform a drab item into an amazing statement piece. Best of all, all it takes is some patience and a little bit of money.

Most people think painting furniture is only for wood or plastic pieces. Not true. Almost anything can be painted.

Just recently I painted a set of wing-back chairs. At less than $10 for supplies, I updated them in just one weekend.

In its past life this desk was probably the life of the room, offering substantial storage and a sturdy writing surface. However, years passed and trends changed. Natty by Design brought this gem back to the modern era with a fresh coat of paint. Its high-gloss finish adds just the right amount of pizazz without being overpowering.

You can also use spray paint to give something new life. While these particular lamps weren’t thrifted, Janel Beals knew the blue color wouldn’t work in her space, so she fixed that dilemma with a nice coat of white paint. Thrift stores tend to have reasonably priced lamps with great shapes.

Perhaps you like the idea of painting but want to go the extra step. Take this secretary that received a facelift for one of Amy Meir’s clients. Yes. I know. Spectacular.

Now I know the secretary was a quite daunting. Some of us are not quite ready for that experience. How about this boot jack? I found it while browsing a local thrift store and was not a fan of the color. I simply spray painted it gold and now I am using it as a paper weight. How easy was that?

Have you also painted a thrifted piece? Share!

Do You Thrift With Friends?

by Rashon Carraway November 11, 2011 6 Comments

While I sometimes enjoy thrifting alone, going with a friend can be a whole lot better.

'i <3 thrifting" day 2011

Shopping with a buddy gives you an opportunity to get a second opinion right on the spot about an item.

What’s I Heart Thrifting Day?

Of course, this will only work if you value that person’s opinion, so make sure your friend is one you trust. You need someone who can even be truthful and let you know when you don’t need something, too.

"i <3 thrifting" day 2011

Small groups are an excellent way to cover more ground a a very large flea market. Put together a list of what everyone is seeking and you can easily text or send a quick picture if you find something on the list.

"i <3 thrifting" day 2011

How great is it to smile with a friend about one of your awesome scores or share thoughts on the seller whose prices were sky high?

So what are your perks for having a thrifting buddy or group?

When Thrifting, Edit, Edit, Edit

by Rashon Carraway November 4, 2011 19 Comments

When I first started thrifting for my apartment, I filled my shopping cart with everything that caught my eye. Too many times, I’d leave an item behind to give myself time to consider it, only to come back to find that someone else had bought it.

Thrifters Gotta Have Patience

But the real trick isn’t throwing everything in your cart just to keep someone else from picking it up. It’s editing before the item even goes in your cart.

Yes, this vintage bowl is gorgeous. But do you really need it?

The first thing is to ask, “Do I really want this? Where will I place it?” If you say yes to the first question and give a quick response to the second, I would say it’s a keeper. However, if you don’t have a place for it, and/or it doesn’t give you the happy feeling, let it go.

I admit to having way too many dishes. I used to buy inexpensive pieces because they were my style. Many of those pieces are still sitting in the bag the cashier placed them in. If you don’t entertain regularly, or display dishes as soon as you get home, chances are you won’t ever use them. So edit your cart and take out those pretties. Heartbreaking, I know. However, it’s for the better.

How to Display Dishes if You Just Can’t Part With Them

Double check what’s in your cart to make sure you don’t already have something similar. Unless you collect canisters, ask yourself whether it’s necessary to have two sets.

Do you edit while you shop? What are some of your tips.

You Gotta Have Patience…

by Rashon Carraway October 28, 2011 10 Comments

It has been said many times that patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, neither patience nor virtue can be bought in stores. If you have it, then you should put it to good use when thrifting.

design star thrifting

HGTV Design Star contestant Mark Diaz thrift shopping.

Thrift stores in general don’t have an overstock of items, that once gone are replenished. The inventory is updated as often as things are brought onto the floor. A moment of patience can change your life in a thrift store.

Many people go into a thrift store and see nothing they want in the first five minutes and say, “There’s nothing here for me.” However, the moment they leave could very well be the moment the exact item they desire comes from the back room.

True story: I was shopping for a client’s room and was about to walk out the door. As I walked down one aisle, I saw an easel. This easel had not been there while I was shopping moments earlier. I immediately inquired and bought it.

Another true story: I was again shopping for a client and saw a mirror that had just come onto the floor. I told one of my assistants to inquire about a price. Unfortunately they didn’t. It was already sold by the time I could ask for the price myself; just that quick.

It’s not a race to see who can snag the best deal, it’s about being patient and not being in such a rush to leave. There is no set time when inventory is brought out. There is no planogram for the new and incoming items.

If you are leisurely shopping, I say giver yourself an hour to just watch the store. See if the associates are bringing anything out. I am not by any means suggesting you stay there all day (although I know some people who do spend that long). I am simply encouraging you to be available to what may be “The Find” for you.

So tell me. Do you leave a thrift store if you don’t see anything that catches your eye upon arrival?