Young House Love

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A Day Of Thrifting

Occasion: The thrifting bug struck on a lazy Saturday morning

Location: All over Richmond to six of my favorite thrift stores with the hubby and toddler in tow (Burger very smartly stayed home to nap)

You know we love a good thrift-fest (like these thrifty adventures of yore), so let’s go secondhand window shopping, shall we? First we went to Love of Jesus (on Midlothian for any locals who are wondering), which is an awesome place for larger furnishings. Of course like most thrift stores it’s hit or miss, but when you hit, it’s a good time. We actually got a lot of pieces that we transformed for our book here (like a $15 desk and a $10 headboard). Fun, fun, fun.

Love Of Jesus Sign

We’ve mentioned that we’re in the market for some sort of buffet/sideboard/dresser to convert into a media cabinet for the living room, and these long low cabinets were cool, but a bit too low for our liking. At $30 a pop (for six awesome drawers of storage) I thought they were a pretty great deal though. Hope someone snagged them!

Low Console

John found this and it took him a little while to figure out what it was. At first he was all “ooh look at this cool bright yellow table or island- wait a minute, is this one of those… OBGYN things?” But the color was fun! Maybe just for inspiration…

Yellow Ob Table

This old $5 chair looked like it could use some love. But picture it refinished in a rich stain color or painted navy or emerald green at a crisp white parson’s desk. Could be cute…

Little Chair

John loved this old orange hardcover book. You know the guy loves his maps. And as “well loved” as it looks in this picture, it actually didn’t smell musty or feel sticky or anything, so it totally could have been a cool find for a bookcase or coffee table – or even for wall art if you framed a bunch of old covers. I think it was under a buck. Now I wish we had taken it home.

Orange Book

These lockers would be awesome in a mudroom or playroom. I forget the exact price, but they were cheap. And if gray’s not your color you could always spray them glossy white, happy yellow, bright red – anything really.

Lockers

Then we headed over to Family Thrift on Midlothian near Love of Jesus. This was the first time I checked it out and the prices were awesome. This entire set of six chairs was $75. That’s $12.50 a chair! And they’d be so easy to paint and reupholster. I liked their lines too. Sort of art-nouveau-ish.

Six Chairs Eventy Five Bucks

They also had these cheeky tennis glasses for 45 cents each that I thought were adorable. If only I played tennis. And had a cool headband like that.

Tennis Cups

 Then it was over to the Salvation Army Family Store on Midlothian.

Salvation Army Sign

I thought this $49 cabinet was awesome (don’t the handles looked like the Apartment Therapy logo?) but we aren’t currently on the hunt for anything like that, so I passed him up.

49 Dollar Chest

This wooden rocker was sweet, and marked down to $25 I think. It reminds me of a Jenny Lind crib, so I’m picturing it in a nursery painted in a soft color like white, celery, aqua, or yellow.

Rocker

And then there was this sexiness (I didn’t even know that John had instagramed this exact same mannequin a few weeks back when he was in there snooping around). We’re meant to be. And oddly enough, no one has bought the outfit in all that time. Strange…

Sexiness

Then it was off to Diversity Thrift on the Northside near The Diamond. This doily stretcher (no idea what that is, other than guessing it’s how people make or stretch doilies?!) was $4. I think it makes such a fun and interesting piece of wall decor to lean or hang. I totally got it. Sorry for the blurry picture, I owe you a crisp one of it hanging or leaning somewhere in our house when I find the perfect spot…

Doily Stretcher Five Bucks

I also thought this sofa was pretty, even though the upholstery wasn’t my style. I can totally see someone like Emily Henderson working it out and making it look super fresh with turquoise pillows or even a coat of glossy navy paint on the wood parts.

Sofablue

There was also this little (needlepoint?) scene that was actually really charming. I think it was ten bucks. I know you might think I’m crazy, but just imagine it hanging in a collection on a wall like this one in Will’s room. Could be cute, right?

Knitted Art Thrift

Oh and there was this faux-wicker yellow and white tray (the design was printed on it, so it wasn’t bumpy or anything). That section was 50% off, so the $2 sticker is wrong-o and it was actually just a buck. I grabbed it. Could be cute in the guest room with a pitcher of water, some books, and a bowl of candy.

Yellow Tray

Oh and I mentioned that Clara was with us, so you might wonder how she likes a weekend thrift-fest. Well, let’s ask her. Clara, what do you do when you see something you love? Her answer? I go “oooh” and then I go “ahhhh!”

Clarathrifting

Next we swung by Pass It On in the Lakeside Towne Shops near Lewis Ginter, where I fell in love with these guys. They were still a bit too pricey for me (since I’d want to buy the whole set, and I think they were around $100+ total) but how awesome are they? I’m sure someone will give them a loving home.

Trunks

Then it was over to Consignment Connection, also on Lakeside. Clara usually comes into stores and pokes around with us, but this store is waaay too full of breakables and she had actually fallen asleep in her car seat, which was perfect since John could stay in the car with her while I ran in to see what I found.

Consignment Conection

This gorgeous table was already sold but I loved it. Picture it in a sunroom with the base painted a crisp white color. She was a beaut.

Thrift Table

And I actually bought this guy for $19 for Clara. Definitely steep for a globe, but it was a white globe with a ton of bright colors (which I’ve never seen before) and it was BEING HELD UP BY A WHALE. Which just happens to be one of Clara’s favorite animals since our trip to Hawaii where we went on a whale watching boat. So I just couldn’t leave without it.

Whale Globe

When she woke up from her nap and saw it sitting next to her in the backseat she was elated. And the checkout guy said he was so glad someone was getting it because he was in love with it and couldn’t wait for it to get “adopted.” Haha. It was meant to be.

And so ends our little thrifty adventure. Wait, first I’ll show you where our little whale globe landed:

Globe Hallway

Yup, he’s hanging out on the console table in our hallway full of frames. But things tend to move, so he might not be there for long…

I’ll have to share photos of the rest of our thrifted booty in our house whenever they find a place to live (like the doily stretcher and the yellow tray). We also got a small table at Love of Jesus thrift, but I took so many photos of it that I decided he deserved his own little post this afternoon (complete with my cleaning/restoring ritual for old musty wood). In the meantime, have you guys been thrifting? Find anything good? Have you ever seen such a happy yellow OBGYN table? I’m telling you, that doc must have been whistling while he or she worked.

Psst- Still in a thrifty mood? Here are a bunch of our other secondhand shopping trips. Whee.

Comments

  1. Caitlin says

    Clara’s reaction to the things she liked = priceless!

    I have a cousin who is 2-3 years younger than me, and was always said the darndest things when we were growing up. One Fourth of July, when he was around 5-6, we were watching the fireworks, and teaching him how you were supposed to go “oooh” and “ahhh”. He decided that wasn’t enough for him, so he would go “oooh, ahhh, CHEEE!”. We still use that expression to this day!

    Reply

  2. Amanda says

    It’s looks like you all made some great finds. I’ve collected about 10 globes from thrift stores over the past few months (to go on top of my kitchen cabinets), but none with a whale base. So jealous.

    My sister and I are heading down your way from Maryland in a few weeks for the Color Run. My mom has decided to tag along just so we could make a weekend of thrifting in the area. We are so excited!

    Reply

  3. Vivian says

    Funny, I went thrifting yesterday too! I FINALLY found the perfect chair for my living room … right fabric, right size, with a matching ottoman. I almost fainted when I walked in the store and saw it! Made my son sit in it til I walked the rest of the store, then I paid for it as quick as I could! Will be picking that beauty up today! LOVE it when patience pays off!

    Reply

  4. Jes says

    Awesome! It looks like I have some stops to make on my drive home to DC from vacation in VA Beach in a few weeks. Good thing I’m coming back on a Monday, not a Sunday.

    Reply

  5. Nora Rose says

    Ugh I drive by two thriftstores in my town regularly (SVP and Salvation Army) but they always want $100+ (and sometimes $500+!) for crappy particle board furniture. I got so discouraged last summer (tried different days, waiting a few weeks, etc) that I’ve stopped going. :( I need to find a good furniture one!!

    Reply

  6. Laura says

    Have you hit the “Love of Jesus Thrift-ique” on Lauderdale? I go by that on the way to my mom’s now, and just have to stop in, I love the name so much! (more clothes, but some larger “boutique” stuff from the other LOJ stores I’m told!)
    And if I had two hours to drive there and back, I’d own tthat $49 cabinet! Ugh…love that! White paint with some bright colored drawers….ugh….love…

    Reply

  7. Maureen says

    I keep telling my husband I want to move to Richmond because of all of these cool places you have near you. You guys are livin’ the life! :)

    I LOVE those white chairs. Crazy beautiful.

    Reply

  8. Allison says

    I love, love, love everything! Go back and get some of the chairs! Would the set of 6 that you found look good in your dining area?? I think that they’d look great with your built in shelves. I love the sweet globe–so amazing. Why would someone get rid of that? :)

    Reply

  9. Emma says

    Score! Love the globe! I love thrifting – the best way to get interesting things (for cheap!). I bet that yellow examination table (sans stirrups) would look cool repurposed as a center island for a kitchen or something. Looking forward to hearing about your table :)

    Reply

  10. Danielle says

    Just a little FYI, since I’m a knitter… when one knits or crochets lace (ie. a doily, shawl, scarf) it doesn’t look its best once it is finished, and has to be blocked (handwashed and and stretched to the intended size) so that the lace pattern will stand out. See all of the pins that are in this to get an idea of how to stretch a doily: http://skytoucher.com/glyndab/?page_id=50

    Your stretching board is pretty flipping sweet!

    Reply

  13. Lyn says

    I totally read this: “..picture it refinished in a rich stain color or painted navy or emerald green at a crisp white parson’s desk.” as

    “crisp white PERSON’S desk” lmao.

    Reply

  14. Anika says

    I LOVE these types of posts – they are some of my favorite. I also really love that globe; the whale is beautiful and I actually think the wood tones makes it look a bit more sophisticated as opposed to it being painted.

    Thanks for sharing the awesome and crazy finds with us!! (poor John – what an insane find!)

    Reply

  15. Stacy says

    Ha I did my Saturday of thrifting this weekend here in RVa. Picked up a cute 60s boho style wicker/rattan side table at Habitat ReStore (they were using it as an umbrella holder so no one noticed it was actually a side table). And I have my eyes on a vintage in need of recovered cushions outdoor sectional at Love of Jesus. I have to wait till I move next week to get it as I have no where to store it but man oh man I hope it’s still there then as it has all the makings of funky cool deck seating.

    RVa really has some of the best thrift and consignment stores of anywhere I’ve ever lived.

    Reply

  16. Anne says

    We are staying in a family member’s old house and have those exact same chairs (the white dining room ones, set of 6) sitting in our dining room. They’re in much rougher shape, but I keep imagining that with some good TLC, they’d be much nicer. Hmmmmm . . . .

    Reply

  18. Sheryl says

    Whale globe: SO AWESOME I can hardly stand that it isn’t mine, and the fact that you got it and loved it makes you even more awesome to me now. I used to work with whale researchers and do whale rescue, and that is a humpback whale, my very favourite species. If you EVER get tired of that treasure (which you never will, because it’s AWESOME), I’ll be perpetually longing for it up here in Canada. Sigh.

    Reply

  20. Nora says

    Omg…now I totally picture my doctor skipping into the room wearing one of those mining hats with a light and carrying a pick ax…all while whistling that whistle while you work song. Bad, bad, bad. Ha!

    Reply

  22. Jessica says

    I just saw an OBGYN table on Craigslist this week. I couldn’t believe it! It wasn’t a fun, bright yellow like the one you saw, so it might not sell anytime soon…haha!

    Reply

  23. Erin says

    That whale globe is AMAZING!!! TOTALLY worth the 19 bucks. It looks AWESOME by all your frames! But I have a feeling it’s going to look awesome regardless of where you put it! So cool! What a find!

    Reply

  24. Regan says

    We are looking for the same thing, media stand/cabinet, and I know I’m going to be jealous of whatever you find since we are looking at the same places.

    Reply

  27. Monica says

    When you do your post regarding cleaning up old wooden furniture, would you also give some tips about how to remove old shelf-paper? I rescued an old cupboard from our basement and hauled it from Kentucky to North Carolina when we moved. It’s super cool, but the tacky adhesive backed plastic shelf paper has to go.

    Reply

  28. maribel says

    just curious is there a method to your madness of things traveling around your home…How do you decide what and when things take a trip..do you have items that have permanent residence?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think every once in a while I just get excited to switch things up on flat surfaces like tables and mantels and do the same with pillows. Nerdy but fun, haha.

      xo,
      s

  30. Ashley @ 7th House says

    Have you guys been to Cold Harbor Antique Mall? They have some really great furniture pieces but mainly lots and lots of interesting vintage accessories at really good prices. I go there often and every time, it seems like they have totally new stuff. Another place you MUST check out on that side of town is Governor’s Antiques. It’s crazy huge and slam packed with everything from massive estate furniture, old marque signs, salvaged wood/mantles/doors to vintage gas pumps. The prices are on the high side, but it’s still a rather interesting place to check out.

    Reply

  31. Jen says

    We also had that same needlepoint hanging in our house in Connecticut growing up! My mom had made it at some point in the 80’s a I believe! I did a double take on the picture while reading this post.

    Reply

  32. Jane H. says

    I live in the UK and just moved to Leamington Spa. Their charity shops are incredible – last week I got vintage milk bottles (£2.50 each), brass candlesticks (£5 for 2) and dolphin-riding-crest-of-a-wave bookends (£10 each, they’re brass, really heavy). I’ll be spray painting the candlesticks & bookends very soon (thanks for your tutorials, they’re great!) Today I found a globe which lights up inside, with sculpted little mountain ranges on it’s surface for £3 (three pounds!!) and a solid wood table and four chairs for £50 including delivery! There’s a tiny chunk missing out of Alaska on the globe, but I think I can retouch it. No retouching needed on the table – the chairs basically came free with it as they don’t have fire retardant tags. Awesome day of thrifting!
    Love your blog – you guys are very inspirational. Keep at it & happy further thrifting adventures!
    Jane x

    Reply

  34. Diane says

    The “needlepoint” picture is actually crewel. It was a popular embroidery-like needlecraft using wool yarn in the 70’s. A lot of the themes featured plants and animals. It should make a comeback in about 10 years. Invest now! I just made a gallery wall of 60’s paint by numbers.

    Reply

  35. Koliti says

    Thanks for the thrifty excursion – checking out the unique finds is always fun. You found some good bounty!

    The title/wording on the orange-covered book seemed to echo what you guys do…”our world and ourselves” and “our neighbors near and far” = your blog. And “carpenter” = John just built a deck.

    Unfortunately, that leopard oufit is so totally something my mother wore in the 70’s – my eyes were traumatized on a daily basis while growing up! Thanks for that memory – HA!

    If you realy like those 6 chairs – how about if you found 2 other chairs to coordinate with them – they would be the “host & hostess” chairs.

    A recent find of mine is a teal blue glass pedestal bowl – way too small for a fruit bowl – I like how you put some succulents in a glass – maybe it could hold a little succulent garden…

    Reply

  36. Ally says

    For the ‘Love of Jesus’…the Petersiks have quite the knack for zeroing right in on maxi-pad furniture! :)

    Not only does this thrift store have a gyno table, it appears there’s a hospital stretcher right next to it? What deep dark secrets are the citizens of Richmond keeping…*cue the scary music* :)

    Out of curiosity, how much did they want for the stirrup table? Hmmm…Jboom does want to tidy up his workshop…think of what a novelty that table would be for holding all your various nuts & bolts? :)

    Clara’s globe is emblazoned with the official TLC logo…wonder if it was a prop? :)

    xox

    Reply

  37. Shauna says

    True story, I used to work at a Goodwill and I convinced my manager to let me do more attractive window displays, to replace the whack-a-doo stuff (a la your mannequin) they usually had. She said corporate preferred the brightly colored “interesting” stuff because it “drew people in.” Sure! Most people want leopard jumpsuits and not brand new GAP shirts, right???

    Reply

  38. Julie (from Pocketful of Joules) says

    I would be super freaked out if I was over someone’s house and they had an old GYN table. Of course, I’d be MORE freaked out if I went to a GYN appointment and they had that old table in there… YIKES!

    Love the post. Now I want to go thrift storing! =)

    Reply

  39. how2home says

    Wish there are really cheap thrift stores like this in Toronto….we have pretty good ones but the prices sometimes are really expensive. LOVE the lockers…..totally would buy that for a future mud room, like you said with a bright yellow color, that will be awesome! We transformed a useless corner in our bedroom into a mini mud room (how2home.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/how-to-mini-mud-room/), hope you like it as much as we do :)

    Reply

  40. Jen@The Decor Scene says

    Wow you guys always find some really good stuff. I’ve been to a few stores on Long Island and I never find anything or they are asking WAY too much. Do you guys know of any good thrift stores on Long Island or near the New York area?

    Reply

  41. Tardevil says

    Those pictures of Clara reminded me of my 2 yr old this past weekend. I finally got to the Sleepy Poet (with her) in South Charlotte, and while she was good in there, she said, “Let’s get out of here, I hate this place.” Of course, if it’s not “Toy-get”, she doesn’t want to shop there. LOVE the whale globe. I would like to wake up from a nap to find that, too! BTW, we were in Richmond in March for the Jefferson Cup soccer tourney, and passed the Love of Jesus thrift store. The name just makes me chuckle a little.

    Reply

  43. Lauracinindy says

    Couldn’t John build up the base of the cool cabinet for your tv… Similar to what you did for your office cabs?

    Reply

  44. Mindy says

    Thanks for the run down on thrifting in RIC! I’m moving back in a few months and will need to furnish my entire apartment. I love shopping on Lakeside, but didn’t know about the others in Midlothian. Thanks!!

    Reply

  45. Lisa in Seattle says

    Your thrift stores are amazing! I never see anything that good here. The rocker is so cute – very Jenny Lind indeed.

    I got down to the animal needlepoint and you have to picture me standing up and yelling “NOOOOOO! Go back and get it for meeeee!!!” while trying to stuff a $10 bill into my computer monitor.

    Reply

  46. Annelise in Edmonds says

    I can’t wait to see what you do with the doily stretcher! I inherited an old vintage one from my grandmother and I don’t plan on using it for it’s purpose, as I never make doilies and my knitting projects are too big for the board! Perhaps hanging it in a sewing or craft room would be a good place…or if you get the pins for it (for stretching the doily to shape), you could hang light-weight trinkets from the pins for an eclectic look!

    Reply

  47. Angie says

    LOVE the globe! I’ve been on a hunt for one for my son, but haven’t had any luck yet. I did score an awesome stool to be used to hold items my husband uses as target practice (shooting and guns are his hobby), an awesome old table with a wood top and metal legs that are on wheels! One wheel is missing, so I’m working on that. AND, a cheapo frame that I painted antique bronze and painted the glass with chalkboard paint. It’s still in the garage drying actually. I love thrifting!

    Reply

  48. Debi says

    My stomach hurts from wanting one of those low 6 drawer chests – and for $30!!! Perfect for a media cabinet or guest room storage (I wonder if they are from a hotel – they often have the low ones like that with a TV on one end and room for luggage on the other – at least at the flea bag places we stay!). Please go back and get one! :)

    Reply

  49. Julia says

    Ok, is it totally wrong of me that I am sort of in love with the OBGYN table, and I can totally imagine it (minus the stirrups, of course!) as some sort of industrial-chic console table.

    Reply

  50. LMG says

    LMAO…normally I love everything you post, but frankly that needlepoint looks like a riverbed threw up a all its wildlife. :)

    Reply

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