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Getting Thrifty

2011 February 22
by Sarah

I love thrift stores. If you asked me my favorite place to shop for clothes, I wouldn’t give you a brand or department store. Nope, I prefer to thrift my expensive name brands. When you get used to paying $5 for jeans, it’s hard to swallow “normal” prices, especially for some of my favorite brands like Gap, Anne Taylor, and J. Crew.

Additionally, thrift stores are great for more than just clothes. I love looking for unique furniture and home goods amongst their shelves; it’s like a treasure hunt for diamonds in the rough. Not only are you getting a good price and a unique piece, but you’re saving something usable from the trash heap. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the saying goes.

Before Christmas, Jeff and I rearranged the living room and were searching for some new side tables and a coffee table to fit said new arrangement. We spent a Saturday afternoon looking for treasures at our three closest purveyors of thrifted goods. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the furniture we were looking for, but that doesn’t mean we came away empty handed.

Find #1:

This little mirror was just 5 bucks at the Salvation Army store. I gave it a fresh coat of white paint and now it hangs over our newly made over coat and shoe area in the living room.

Find #2:

These beauties were also just $5 (for both) at the Salvation Army store. And while they have an intended place, they still need a make over before being hung in their new home.

This is where you come in, dear readers. What color should I paint them? I want to hang them above the fireplace, flanking the clock.

At first I thought white, but I’m not sure that would work with the cream face of the clock. Cream seems too similar to the tan wall, but it might work. The wood is not nice enough to keep as is, plus this wall already has a lot of wood. FYI, we’re also considering painting the faux brick a stoney slate color. What do you think?


18 Responses
  1. Megan permalink
    February 22, 2011

    Grey. Especially if you are thinking about painting the masonry of your fireplace. Then accent with your candles. Maybe get your cream candles in there.

  2. February 22, 2011

    I’d say dark brown.

  3. February 22, 2011

    I’d say dark brown.

  4. Lynnette permalink
    February 22, 2011

    My vote is black. The clock has black hands and numbers, right? Black would also tie in your frames. It would be a bit bold, but then . . .

    • February 22, 2011

      Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Dark brown seemed like a compromise, less of a pop. But I like the dark tone idea.

  5. Lynnette permalink
    February 22, 2011

    My vote is black. The clock has black hands and numbers, right? Black would also tie in your frames. It would be a bit bold, but then . . .

    • February 22, 2011

      Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Dark brown seemed like a compromise, less of a pop. But I like the dark tone idea.

  6. Lisa permalink
    February 22, 2011

    Black would be a nice contrast.

  7. Mandy permalink
    February 22, 2011

    I’d go with black too. I think the will look nice! Good finds. I love thrifting and garage sales. I go every weekend in the summer!

  8. Mandy permalink
    February 22, 2011

    I’d go with black too. I think the will look nice! Good finds. I love thrifting and garage sales. I go every weekend in the summer!

  9. February 22, 2011

    I vote black as well.

  10. February 22, 2011

    I vote black as well.

  11. February 22, 2011

    i was gonna say black too… i love black wood… and you already have black in your frames and in the clock. 😉

  12. February 22, 2011

    i was gonna say black too… i love black wood… and you already have black in your frames and in the clock. 😉

  13. February 22, 2011

    I swear thrift store shopping is an art, of which I have no talent, I can never find anything good, poor poor me!

    Ps: I vote black.

  14. February 22, 2011

    I swear thrift store shopping is an art, of which I have no talent, I can never find anything good, poor poor me!

    Ps: I vote black.

  15. February 23, 2011

    I’d leave the sconces as they are and then tidy the wood up with Old English polish that has a light stain in it. Does wonders for wood. I, too, shop the thrift stores: Savers and Good Will are very popular in my town. ’bout half of my clothes come from these stores (mostly skirts and vests). Wonderful place to shop (and to contribute my own discards).

  16. February 23, 2011

    I’d leave the sconces as they are and then tidy the wood up with Old English polish that has a light stain in it. Does wonders for wood. I, too, shop the thrift stores: Savers and Good Will are very popular in my town. ’bout half of my clothes come from these stores (mostly skirts and vests). Wonderful place to shop (and to contribute my own discards).

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