Our house burned down years ago. We found we could buy well-built, real wood vintage or antique furniture for cheaper than stapled together new furniture.
Isn't that crazy?!? I have been searching pre- COVID-19 but seriously recently. I am appalled at regular furniture stores and how much they want for subpar furniture. I like used too. Actually they were better made like you said.
I furnished two of my houses with cast-offs I found on the streets of Philadelphia. For example, some of my (nutty In my opinion) neighbors would through out *solid pine furniture* and then buy Ikea type fiberboard. I've picked up dressers, tables, shelves, chairs etc. I remember dragging home a solid wood bookshelf that someone threw out which was bulky, but I managed to drag it up the hill where I lived. I still have it. Some of those did come from local thrift stores, and some from "second hand" stores. I found an 1870s solid *oak* dresser in a second hand store in Greeneville, TN, which I got for $40.00. The drawers needed refurbishing and I got slabs of cedar from the local hardware store to install in the drawers. I've also found old mirrors which I now use in my bedroom over the solid pine dressers. My great aunt gave me her 1930s cedar blanket chest, and a friend "donated" some hand-made by her father, iron bar stools which I now have plants on. Remember the 1970s phrase "reuse, repurpose, recycle?" That's something I need to put on a t-shirt.
That sounds like an amazing house. I love wood furniture and am no longer a fan of particle board or fake furniture. For right now some are a means to an end but I plan to furnish with additional cast-offs as well as I found the desk I'm using now on the street while buying a plastic storage unit for my bathroom. Night stands were free online or cheap at thrift stores, along with TV dinner trays, filing cabinet,, mini fridge, platform bed frames and desk chairs. My recliner was also free from my parents. I only had to haul it 900 miles lol
Coming from the Philadelphia area I can attest to the curbside gleanings available. Dad had a station wagon and found all kinds of great stuff in Germantown as the original families died off.
@@oliviafox6745 Yeah. I remember that the last Monday of the month was always "bulk pickup day" where garbage trucks would go around picking up bulk trash such as furniture etc. I remember seeing folks on Sunday night scouring the neighborhood to pick up whatever they could find and then sell at the local flea market! How did that Joni Mitchell song go? "You don't know what you've got until it's gone."
We’ve been married 47 years my husband was in the army so we had utility furniture for a few years ,When he left the army ever since we’ve bought second hand ,We emigrated to U S 30 years ago and the only thing we’ve bought new is a leather couch and new mattress ,We go to thrift shops and side of the road finds ,Our current house we did the kitchen all from salvage ,
I'm glad the woman at the antiques shop convinced them not to paint the bed, it's become way too trendy to paint furniture and it's ruining so many antiques.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with 2nd hand. I may have a grand total of 5 regular store bought pieces in my home. Everything else is 2nd hand (stuff from GrandMa & relatives, thrift stores, found on the roadside). I've had these pieces more than 40 yrs. & they are all still in good shape. We even buy most of our clothing & household items 2nd hand (excluding under garments, stockings). Yes we even buy bathing suits, shoes and jewelry 2nd hand. Just makes sure everything is in very, very good to excellent shape. We are dressing in designer duds here!!!!! Calvin Klein, Coach, Brooks Brothers, cashmere sweaters, Prada bags, Tiffany jewelry!!!!! My late Mother use to turn her nose up at everything I bought but this has helped us tremendously live within our means yet still look fabulous. Our toaster was on its last legs. I really didn't want to spend $50.00 on a toaster and saw 1 in a thrift store. Tested it out (plugged it in and let it run a full cycle). Everything was fine. Got the toaster for $4.99!!!!!
Whenever visitors come to my home, they tell me that they feel relaxed as if they were in a quaint boutique hotel lobby. Even the snobby visitors who feel it beneath them to shop at thrift or consignment shops admire my eclectic style. I have a few Ikea pieces for shoe storage, a metal coat rack fashioned like a tripod with branches. I use it to store and display purses. On a curved metal silhouette of a woman, I hang necklaces. My house is only 930 sq ft, double the typical Manhattan apartment plus a basement. My house is completely paid for although over 35 years time many things have had to be replaced like the roof, the furnace, the hot water tank, and large kitchen appliances, but before replacing I’ve doubled the average life of use. And whenever possible, I thrift or buy off season. They key is to acquire what you love, but by bit. Don’t try to furnish your new place with everything at once or you’ll be wondering why you thought the item was really reflective of your taste and style. Finally, don’t be like your grandparents and think that your furniture is a lifetime investment. Do a refresh every few years by repainting, finding or relocating wall art and repositioning your furniture. Best of luck to my fellow thrifters.
I went to a popular discount store. They wanted $28 for a kettle. I was surprised 🙀 because I thought would be much cheaper. Thrift store had a beautiful one not sure it was used that much either. No marks or scratches dents etc. $4. You can buy almost everything a house needs.
Exactly! I found a popcorn air popper, a blow dryer and a curling iron, all three for 10$ total! If it had been a Wednesday i would have gotten a senior discount!
They have to do it on a specific budget with a specific deadline. You can do it over time with whatever money you save from your paycheck. It IS a challenge for them compared to you doing whatever you want whenever you want!
So my question is who won I know doesn’t mean anything to me if I’m watching this and I don’t even know who won the competition that needs to be included in your video otherwise I’m not watching it again
