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Young House Love » Road Trips & Travel » Shopping And Thrifting In Rehoboth Delaware

| By Sherry Petersik | February 17, 2011 | 217 Comments

Shopping And Thrifting In Rehoboth Delaware

Remember we mentioned on Monday that we were taking it easy and enjoying some family time? Well we were actually at the beach! We snuck away to John’s parents’ beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware for a nice long weekend of R&R (while the guest bedroom took care of itself- just kidding it was just as messy when we returned, darn). We had lots of fun going on long walks, eating seafood, getting our thrift on, and bringing Clara down to the beach on a particularly warm day (it was 65+ degrees on Monday!). So we thought we’d share some of our adventures with you guys. First, we hit up our favorite secondhand shop in Bethany, Beach Plum Antiques (also seen in this post of yore).

Beach Plum Antiques

A few things that caught my eye were these $10 woven lamps (I think I would have spray painted them bright canary yellow or emerald green to take them from beachy and rustic to bright and ca-razy).

Beach Plumlamps10

I also loved this huge woven ottoman.

Beach Plum Ottoman

Oh and this cute $20 bench reminded us of our $7 thrift store bench makeover a while back.

Beach Plum Bench20

This side table was just $5. I would have grabbed it and tossed a fiver at the owner had there been another one to match for our bedroom (or even one that looked mildly similar). But alas. There was just one.

Beach Plum 5

Here’s what I did grab after tossing a fiver at the owner. Yup, this geometric eight sided mirror was just five beans. Mine. I was so enamored I didn’t even remember to haggle him down to $4. Hah. Can’t wait to paint it something glossy and fun (lime? plum? I guess time will tell).

Beach Plum Mirror5

We also did a bit of non-thrift shopping along the boardwalk in Rehoboth.

Beach Pendantmap Place

At first glance this extra large calendar full of vintage map prints still seemed pricey at $20, but after flipping through it and adoring every page, we realized it was just $1.60 per print. And we can’t wait to frame them all and display them en masse. Seriously, there was a happy dance associated with this find. And it went on for hours.

Beach Vintge Maps

We I also skipped to the cash register with one of these adorable $18 paper lantern pendants for the playroom. We knew I probably could have picked up a white paper lantern for around $5 and attempted to DIY my own painted hearts, but we reasoned that eighteen bones wasn’t too bad for such a smile inducing lantern that would probably surpass anything crafty that I could attempt. Especially since Ikea sells light kits for $5, so we’ll end up with an entirely new playroom light fixture for just $24 total.

Playroom Pendant

Then it was back to the thrift stores & antique shops that abound. We stopped at this cute place called Millsboro Basaar Antiques…

Beach Horse Place

… where I found these two crazy ceramic horse book ends for $2.50 a pop. No doubt the price break was thanks to their zany orange and black glaze, but I’m thinking I might just spray paint these babies for a whole new look. Maybe white. Maybe something bolder like navy or yellow.

Beach Horse 5

This frog butler was just insane so I had to snap a pic. It reminded us of that funny Modern Family episode where Jay gets the life-sized dog butler and Gloria hates it.

Beach Frog Butler

This $15 guy was kinda fun, but I passed. Let’s just say John wasn’t as enamored as I was.

Beach Dragon15

Oh and this $22 stuffed bear head was wall-mountable. So funny! We briefly considered it for the playroom but decided it was better left behind for someone with a woodland themed nursery (like Clara’s boyfriend Will– although word on the street is that his nursery might have a new inspiration when he moves).

Beach Bear 22

Oh and this little $12 luggage rack was kinda perfect for the guest room makeover. So I snatched it up (and haggled them down to ten bones). We’re definitely planning to replace the ribbon that stretches across it, and the jury’s still out about the color, but it’s fun for now.

Beach Luggage Rack

We slipped through Goodwill, just for kicks, but didn’t leave with anything. We did see some cute things stuff though, like this $2 bowl, which would be sweet for storing jewelry (I picture stacks of bracelets) on a dresser.

Beach Goodwill2

The funny thing about this $1 find is that it’s the exact same glass container that we bought a while back and used to create our T-giving “Thanks” jar.

Beach Goodwill1

Here’s another $2 bowl that could look charming holding anything from keys to jewelry or even all those extra buttons you get with shirts and coats. You save them out of fear like I do, don’t you? What if you need them someday? I never seem to, but you never know…

Beach Goodwill 2

And here we are having some good old fashioned beach fun. First there’s beanarina and daddy looking pretty darn happy.

Beach Sand2

Next we have Clara showing off her two adorable front teeth. What an accomplishment! So proud.

Beach Sand1

Oh and here she is playing in the sand. Trepidatiously. But still sort of playing none the less.

Beach Sand

Good times! I’ll be back later with a breakdown of everything we actually bought home with us (we gave ourselves an $100 thrifting & shopping budget and we came home with 12 items – well, 23 if you count our calendar as 12 prints, since we’ll be framing ’em individually). Wahoo. More on that in a few hours…

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Filed Under: Road Trips & Travel

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Comments

  1. Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com says

    February 17, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Good finds! I never score when I go out thrifting … but I have little patience with that! :)

    Reply
  2. Amy A. says

    February 17, 2011 at 8:50 am

    Thanksfor the tips on all of the antique spots! My in-laws have a place in Bethany Beach and we always eat in Rehoboth, but rarely shop. That’s changing next time!

    Reply
  3. Kaitlyn says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:02 am

    I love the paper pendant! You made some great finds.

    Reply
  4. Diane says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Clara looks so funny with her feet in the sand… a friend of mine had a baby boy who really, really didn’t like to have his bare feet touch any new textures. Such as sand. Better that than my girls, who would actually try to eat sand. Yuck!

    Reply
  5. Andy says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:04 am

    I just had a flash of the guest bedroom becoming “The Map Room”. You could paint it elementary school wall-map land green or ocean blue or mountain tan.

    P.S. Was that your Katie Bower on Nate last week?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 9:08 am

      Yes! That’s my girl! How cute is her southern accent?!

      xo,
      s

    • hillary says

      February 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm

      That’s such a cute idea for a map room…I love it!

  6. Katie says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:09 am

    OK, this post has done it: I’m FINALLY inspired to get my thrift/antique shopping on! Clearly there is a whole world of amazing things out there just waiting for a home…thanks for this post, I love everything you scored (especially the horse head bookends!)

    Reply
  7. Future Mama says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:10 am

    What great finds! I LOVE the maps…going to look great!

    Much love,
    Future Mama
    http://expectingablessing.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  8. karen says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:10 am

    So fun! I am dying to go to the beach now!
    Beanarina is adorable!!

    Reply
  9. heather s. says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:12 am

    I have never seen a picture of a baby enjoying sand the first time they touch it so she’s not alone!

    Love the map calendar and I definitely would have grabbed that $5 side table. Can’t wait to see what else you brought home. (You might want to fix your last couple of sentences – you have a misspelling and missing parenthesis. Sorry, I’m in the middle of editing at work and your mistakes stood out to me.)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:27 am

      Thanks! Off to fix that!

      xo,
      s

  10. Emily K. says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:13 am

    Very cool … my family also has a house in Rehoboth so I’ve been going there since I was about Clara’s age. So many happy memories of swimming, sunning and maybe a little frog-bogging at Funland. I thought I knew Rehoboth inside and out, but I had no idea there were such great thrift finds to be found. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Keeley says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:15 am

    I live in Delaware and I was in Rehoboth last week! Great place, right?

    I’ve actually never been thrifting – maybe I’ll consider it.

    Reply
  12. Lindsey says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:16 am

    How funny, I am from John’s hometown and my parents also retired to Rehoboth. We LOVE our weekends there (and cooking in my parent’s awesome kitchen).

    I DO HOPE you have checked out Mod Cottage, a fantastic home decor shop on the main strip of Rehoboth (where you park; perpendicular to the ocean), on the left not far past the roundabout leading to the boardwalk. Their shop has a large black sign in a butter yellow building. It is owned by two dear, dear men Brad and Ed, who have become family friends.

    You will utterly drool over everything in their store. And be shore to talk to them, they’re great guys!!! Shore, indeed.

    Enjoy : D

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:27 am

      Oh yes, that place is amazing!

      xo,
      s

  13. carolinaheartstrings says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Now that is my kind of beach trip. Great pics of you and the bean in the sand!!!!

    Reply
  14. Cait @ Hernando House says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Glad you guys had fun!

    Love the luggagw rack, and those woven lamps&ottoman SO would have come home with me!

    Reply
  15. Alison says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Nice finds. Too bad those thrift stores are so far away – because I spy a table that I want! :-)

    Reply
  16. Lindsey says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:19 am

    P.S. Bella Luna is my FAVORITE stop. I get my Christmas cards there every year, and every possible occasion card on the back wall. It’s one of the most brilliant, whimsical shops!

    Reply
  17. Rebecca @ the lil house that could says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:20 am

    I love the heart latern!!! Totally worth the extra money!

    I also save those extra buttons. I have such a coloful collection now that I think I want to make a fun button covered picture frame or since I have a few years, a button covered mirror for my future kid’s room. I have so many pretty colors and sizes how could I just let them sit around!?

    Reply
  18. Jeanne says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Great finds! Your daughter is so adorable and she is so lucky to be growing up with both of you being able to work at home. She’s getting some great bonding and attachment. :-)

    Reply
  19. Krysta says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:21 am

    I love that woven ottoman! Totally would have snagged that. Clara is way too cute!!

    Reply
  20. danielle says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:21 am

    fun post – we vacation there every year so I might have to check out these places when we are down there!! good finds.

    Reply
  21. Jessica says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:21 am

    I love that you referenced Modern Family. Best show ever. Also, Clara’s stretchy star pants are adorable and so fashionable. I want them in adult size.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:25 am

      Haha me too! They’re from John’s mom!

      xo,
      s

  22. blog is the new black says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Her teeth are adorable!

    Reply
  23. Jenny @ Art, Wine and Design says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Great find on the mirror and the luggage rack! I can’t wait to see them recreated in your space.

    Reply
  24. Regina says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:22 am

    I like taking calendar pages and sticking them in frames also. It’s an easy way to get a theme going. I’ll also sometimes pick up old donated books with cool pictures at our library sale for a quarter and frame pages from them.
    It took some time to adjust to chopping up books, but the results are marvelous.

    Reply
  25. Kitty says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:22 am

    I have that same map calendar! I framed six of the maps and hung them on my dining room wall. Can’t wait to see how you do it (and how I should have done it)!

    Reply
  26. Sarah says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:26 am

    What great finds. I’m having thrift/antique store envy. We’re in a military town so there’s lots of used furniture left by soldiers on the move, but it’s primarily flimsy Walmart and Ikea stuff.

    Reply
  27. Mariela says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:26 am

    This is so cool. Now I really want to go on a weekend getaway and go thrifting. I love how you guys find such great finds for so little money! Its exactly what I’ll be doing when I’m a homeowner! Thank you for all the inspiration :-)

    Reply
  28. Amy says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Beach Plum is in Bethany, not Rehoboth (but I’m sure you just mistyped. And now I am going to go this weekend and buy those lamps.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:17 am

      Oops you’re right! Off to fix that!

      xo,
      s

  29. Kim says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:28 am

    I always love these Rehoboth-area vacation posts because it’s like a tour of my hometown! There actually used to be a HUGE Salvation Army in Rehoboth Beach across from the outlet center that has J.Crew, Gap, etc. It’s a liquor store now. I think it became too expensive to lease, so they had to give it up, but it was AMAZING. I spent many hours there after school digging around and finding all sorts of stuff. There’s also a great thrift store in Midway (behind the Jiffy Lube near the movie theater) called New Life. While you were in MIllsboro, did you check out Antique Alley (four huuuge floors!) just up the block? I love both the bazaar and Antique Alley and can (and have!) spent literally hours in both! If you missed it, swing by next time. Funny (creepy?) story: Millsboro Bazaar used to be a funeral home, and it’s where my great-grandfather was… uh, “prepared” and where they had his viewing. I was only a baby then so I don’t remember it, but it’s sort of a weird transition… funeral home… antique/vintage shop… Weeeeeiirdd!

    Reply
  30. Beth@Just{Heart}It says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:28 am

    Love the maps best, I think. Do you worry about buying things now that won’t fit into the house once you have a more concrete vision for each room?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:16 am

      We actually think we have a pretty good idea of what we’re trying to embrace for our new house (less beachy and safe, more bold and playful, jewel tone colors inspired by Sue The Napkin, etc). Which really comes in handy so we can veto things that won’t fit in (like the frog butler, hahahaha),

      xo,
      s

    • Beth@Just{Heart}It says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:33 am

      Haha! You named the napkin!!

  31. Morgan says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Both my dad and I have bought that exact map calendar over the years and framed them. I have as many as I could fit in my powder room, framed and space out across it like wallpaper. My dad has them in bits of two or three around the house. Cavallini also does lots of other cool calendars, and I have their fruit calendar prints in my dining room and some botanicals in the guest bath. They will look fantastic in your house! I will try to take a picture and e-mail it to you. BTW, I never noticed the UVA hat before. Go Wahoos! (I grew up in C’ville and am a ’94 UVA grad.)

    Reply
  32. MichelleG says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:29 am

    so happy you guys got your family-time on! and your thift finds are saweeeeet! i’m getting better at looking for form instead of color when it comes to thrifted furniture and decore… and i may or may not have gone through two+ cans of Rustoleum glossy white spray paint last summer, just sayin. :o)

    Reply
  33. Sophie says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:30 am

    I love everything from that first store! I’d love to have that woven ottoman in my living room.

    Reply
  34. Erika says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:30 am

    I love Rehoboth! I have a friend who let us use their beach house last year for a long weekend and it was the best most relaxing weekend. We cant wait to go again this year! Glad you guys had a nice relaxing time and found some great stuff!

    Reply
  35. Sarah @ The Strength of Faith says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:30 am

    Sherry, you should write a post on bargaining! I am TERRIBLE at it and you make it seem so easy …

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:12 am

      My secret phrase is this: “is that your best price?”

      Then just wait for them to come down. Usually works!

      xo,
      s

  36. Karen S. says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:30 am

    Those calendars are GREAT! I’ve saved mine from various years and although I haven’t framed any (!) I do love using them for decoupage/collage….the images are beautiful and the tone of the paper is really nice.

    Reply
  37. Sarah says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

    I definitely rotate around to the local Goodwills and Savers. But I’d love to find little Mom and Pop secondhand stores. I just don’t know how to do it. I’m from the suburbs of the Twin Cities and am now going to college in downtown Minneapolis. I’d love to find some second stores to add to my monthly thrifting rounds! Is there a tip you have to find some good secondhand stores?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:11 am

      We just drive around, ask shop keepers and locals, and even put things like “antique” or “thrift” into the map in our iPhone to see what pops up nearby. Google and The Yellow Pages work too. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • Susan says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:39 am

      I used to live in St Paul and it is crazy for yard sales starting Thursday and going all weekend. Drive Marshall and Grand and the stretches in between for good neighborhood sales. There is an antiques mall in there somewhere too. Maybe on Fairview.

    • Allison D says

      February 17, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      Sarah!
      I live in the Twin Cities! Check out Hunt & Gather! IT IS AMAZING!! It’s in south Mpls off of 50th and Xerxes.

      http://www.huntandgatherantiques.com/about.html

    • Jenni says

      February 17, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      Good idea! I moved to Mpls a few years ago-I’m not sure about ‘Mom and Pop’ stores (I do like Stillwater, although it’s a trek and the shops are more spendy-it’s fun to look around. Hudson, WI is supposed to have good stores as well). Have you been to the DT Salvation Army (by the Twins Stadium)? The entire basement is a Target As-Is store, full of clothes and things that Target was over stocked on or decided not to sell for some reason or another.

  38. Kim says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

    I love Rehoboth! I have been going every summer since I was born (I am now 24), but have never thought to go thrifting while there. That will change this summer :)

    Reply
  39. Lauren says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Great finds! I love the mirror and the horse bookends…excited to see you transform those! Also, Miss Clara looks sooo BIG in those pictures. She’s such a cutie!

    Reply
  40. mrsdevore says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:32 am

    WOW you found some great deals! I love a good day of thrifting. I’m especially jealous of those horse heads, I think they would be awesome painted navy!

    Reply
  41. Gillian @ Letters to Liney says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:33 am

    I love the horse head bookends despite the fact that it looks as if they had a nasty run-in with a 90s era spin art machine. I think painting them a bold color would be stunning. And I keep all my spare buttons too (organized by color, of course) because they come in handy for crafts and clothing repair.

    Reply
  42. Lindsay @ A Walk in the Closet says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:34 am

    Looks like you guys got a lot of finds for $100. Bravo! It’s funny because with a few dollars worth of spray paint and fabric, just two of those items would’ve added up to $100 in any decor boutique.

    Reply
  43. Bianca @ Walnut Avenue says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Seems like a perfect, and much deserved, getaway!! I wish I was there to snag that little bench – it is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. Poop. Now get crackin’ on that guest room! :)

    Reply
  44. karen @ our slo house says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:37 am

    I can’t thrift shop with my husband. He vetos every item! : (

    Now, since we’ve moved further south, down the CA coastline, I’m hoping to hit the Rose Bowl Flea Market one month. It’s been a dream of mine. Seriously.

    Reply
  45. Betsy Denning says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Dang, you guys are cuter than cute. Love Rehobeth, looks like you had a grand time.

    Reply
  46. Gen says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:41 am

    My favorite is the luggage rack! Would be great with a bold bright ribbon!

    Reply
  47. Lindsey says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Loving the new mirror – and Sherry’s jeans in that photo. Do tell where the cute jeans are from please!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:06 am

      They’re Gap long & lean. On clearance. Love that line, but it’s expensive at full price (so I wait for denim sales).

      xo,
      s

  48. CarrieK says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Yea! We rented a house in Dewey for a week in July… can’t wait to go and visit the thrift shops!

    Reply
  49. Relevant Notes says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:45 am

    You guys have such a knack for finding awesome stuff. I love the lamp for the playroom!

    And yes, of course I save all of the buttons that I get extra with clothes. I don’t think I’ve ever actually needed to replace one, but the idea of needed one I threw out is scaaaary!

    Reply
  50. Stacey says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Now I REALLY want to ditch work tomorrow (it’s supposed to be 65+) and head to Rehoboth! We vacation in Fenwick Island every summer and always venture up to Rehoboth to hit the boardwalk, shops and restaurants (Go Fish is the SHIZ, if you like Brit pub fare and we love the ice cream place w/ all the crazy flavors). Next time we’re down that way, I’m definitely going to hit up Beach Plum. I’ve always wanted to check it out, but I never make the time.

    Reply
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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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