On Saturday, Jaithan and I decided to hit up the Salvation Army on 46th and 10th, just in case they had anything good. I like to make it a habit of going at least every few weeks. Their inventory's always changing, so you never know what you're going to find. Plus it's such a great cause too!
I like to start with the small stuff—tabletop. It's kind of an obsession of mine. I collect all sorts of things, like china, silver, glass and linens. Plus they make such great props for pictures, and as a style editor for Martha, they're perfect!
Check out this great red and white enamelware pot I found. Ebay has cute ones just like it! I just think it's so perfect for, say, a New England clam chowder. I'd do something simple—a table covered in newspaper, vintage red Bakelite like my Grandmother's and old canning jars for glasses like these, also from ebay. How fun is that?
Love this old aluminum stair strainer too, especially with a bunch of vintage corn-on-the-cob picks, all mixed and matched.
And as usual, it didn't take long before I had a whole pile of stuff going I just couldn't pass up!
Check out all that vintage Homer Laughlin dinerware I found! Love the oval plates. There was something like twelve of every size, together with two bowls and a bunch of other odd pieces. That old rectangular brazing pot I thought was great too, together with those bamboo trays. I can just see it all now—steamed clams in the brazing pot, lobsters in oval plates and bamboo trays, painted gray, with crisp white napkins and loaded with delicious drinks.
Over in furniture, I thought this china cabinet had great lines. The wood's definitely dated, but it's a great size with lots of potential. If it were up to me, I'd paint it a beautiful french gray on the outside, pale blue on the inside. Then I'd take out the glass and replace it with chicken wire, put in all glass shelves and swap out the hardware. How chic would that be to house all your servingware?
This piece I'd totally turn into a crafting table and work surface if I had the room. I'd paint it a high-gloss black and put down cutting mats on top. What a perfect place to store my stuff—paper, ribbon, tape, glue and glitter—all in one pretty place.
And speaking of pretty, this piece had a certain appeal too. The wood's not that good, but the carving is interesting, even a little exotic. Now it looks like someone put black glass in it at some point, so that would definitely have to go! To dress this one up, I'd paint the whole thing a pretty butter yellow on the outside, white on the inside. Then I'd swap out all that black glass for beautiful antique mirror. It would be such great storage for sweaters, not to mention a sophisticated spot to get dressed. And what about you? What would you do with it?
A little while later, I was checking out the chair section when…
SCORE! How cool are these four 1970s chrome chairs? I totally snagged these as soon as I saw them. You're going to gag when you see the Before & After on these, so stay tuned!
One more spin through the place because, like any flea market, tag sale or thrift shop, you never know what you missed!
And good thing too! I almost passed up this amazing 1950s sideboard that my friend Austin would die for! She's been looking for something inexpensive to hold all her servingware, and this piece would be perfect. Her taste is definitely eclectic—a great mix of new and old, modern and traditional—so I called her up and told her to hop in a cab right way. These things go fast, so there's no wasting time. If you like something and think it has potential, buy it!
While I waited for Austin to get there, I decided to check things out more closely. Can you believe it's Drexel? Talk about a find! Drexel (now Drexel Heritage) has been around for over a hundred years and is still one of the best names in the business. Well, you know what they say—one man's trash is another man's treasure, or in this case…
my friend Austin Fremont's! I knew she'd love it! It's totally her style—a little retro but still sophisticated. This one we're not going to paint because the wood's too good. We might do something cool and unexpected with the glass, just to make it her own, so you'll have to check back for all the details.
In the meantime, if you need a little sprucing up at your house but don't want to spend a lot of money, check out the Salvation Army! And if you do go, just remember to keep an open mind. Look past at what something is and imagine what it could be. With some creativity and a little elbow grease, you might even surprise yourself! Got any Salvation Army stories to share? Tell me about them.
Love your style and your generosity with your creative ideas. You are evidently one confident person, willing to share such insight and talent with the whole cyber community. I heard about you from Mary Kay Andrews’ Blog, and you are definitely a “great find.” Take care and stay great!
Sandra Chitty
Orlando, Florida
Ah, Mr. Ross thank you for finally posting the whereabouts of this glorious Salvation Army! I’ve been meaning to hit it up since you’ve posted about it a couple of times. I will definitely be visiting next weekend!
Merci beaucoup!
Wow! Eddie, another great post! I love thrift shops and we have several in my area which I frequent often…….I have really found some treasures. It is soooooooo exhilarating when you find something that is so unique and so useful too. Thanks for your great ideas that you share. Can’t wait to see the chair redos!! So much fun!
Great finds Eddie – I am looking forward to the before and afters!!
I ALWAYS find something at Salvation, Goodwill, Value Village and yard sales.
I bought an old “Marmelade” cupboard and painted it black – it serves as an armoire for my bedroom now and has a vintage birdhouse (it’s a church and it’s pink!) on top of it – the birdhouse adds height to the armoire. The birdhouse was purchased at “Of Things Past” a gorgeous consignment store here in Toronto – it was a steal!!
I am probably one of your older fans and my friends and I, both in Washington state and here in California have been doing the “Sally Anne”, (what we call it) thing for years. Now that we are all senior citizens and Tuesday is 50% off day for us, we call each other on Tuesday evening to see what we scored that day. I am sitting on a beautiful love seat/twin hide-a-bed that I needed here at the ole’ folks home. You have to down size in order to live comfortably in these senior dwellings.
I have a small armoire that I got for only $20. It’s ugly but I’m going to paint it and put anaglypta (sp?) paper in the recesses of the doors.
If you have any good storage ideas that you could share with all of us that would be great.
Pdot
Santa Rosa, CA
That one is pretty much the best SA in all of NYC. Great scores! Can’t wait to see the chairs redone. I have some burnt orange/cinnamon mohair that would look awesome on them.
oh wow that sideboard is sooo funky! You’re such a good friend scouting it out for her 🙂
The star strainer is so 4th of July…super fun!
Love it! I am sure your friend will be so happy with that 1950s piece. Where I live in Virginia, there is a great shop where I often find things, and the sales benefit the local animal shelter. I’m writing because I hope it’s OK for me to make a link to your blog in an entry later this week. You inspired me to arrange some flowers! Thanks for the blog–always so much fun to read.
Eddie, guess what? As I am between marketng positions I will 1st today send out more resumes and links to my art site. Then off to the see my latest art work on exhibit at The Art at the Center here in KC, and then the Goodwill Thrift store! I gave up bamboo trays exactly like those you found!! ( had not thought of painting them, love the gray idea or a black lacquer).
Excellent trasure hunting! And such wonderful finds too! Of course — I love the green-covered chairs that are sitting beside (to the right in the photo) the sleek ones that you found AND the china cabinet that is to the left of the VERY cool one that you found for your friend! LOL! And the is the true tale of treasure hunting — each person finds their own kind of treasure! LOL!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
Again you amaze me with all your wonderful finds. I love the sideboard. I’ve been looking for one I can put all my goodies in. You are a wonderful friend for sharing your goodies.
Just found your blog – love this post! I used to spend a lot of time going to stores like that and seeing what I could find. You have inspired me to try it again…thanks!
LOVE all of your homer laughlin tableware! what a graet find – cant wait to see the before and after of the chairs…the china cabinet…everything!
Oh, those chairs,I cannot wait to see the outcome. Love the “Sally Anne”reference.
I’m really interested to see how you restore the legs of those chairs. I have a pair of 60s chrome lamps that have a bit of wear on them and I still haven’t figured out a good restoration plan.
Oh, and I went to the St. Vinne’s DePaul this weekend and scored a couple of goodies! :o)
I have been making weekly trips to my salvation army, on the lookout for a sideboard…I always find something!! I LOVE your idea for the dressing cabinet and will have to start keeping my eyes open for that as well!
why is our local salvation army so skank?
Great finds!
great finds…. perhaps my best SA find a 6 foot long antique chestnut table and 6 matching rush seat chairs in great condition.. I climbed on top of it to hold it while I paid so no one else could get it.. and treasure it to this day
Thanks for reminding me about great thrift stores. While I didn’t find quite the selection you did I was able to pick up a vase for $.25 and lots of great ideas for future dinner parties. I’m loving your blog!!
Eddie, I am addicted to your blog now, after friends told me about you. love love love your ideas. my best find at SA is a very cool oil painting of a girl with hoop earrings in a kimona….bought it for $6.00 and everyone who sees it loves it. Keep up all the great ideas!!
I took a swing through on my way home and scored 3 wedgewood plates and a little sterling bowl. There’s a killer white media cabinet there with groovy chinoisserie trim.
My brothers and sisters and I all have SA/flea market-itis, so for Christmas ever year I get them all SA gift certificates. It’s a good cause and good shopping! Someone should get you one too, Eddie. Thanks for all the great ideas–which I steal!
Finally! Bountiful weekend!! I found some great things and am finding it easier having sort of figured out the style I’m looking for.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joerandazzo/2961201619/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2962044006_a8ee0e2159.jpg
Thanks for the inspiration and great photos!
Hi Eddie! I was there Saturday morning too!
I scored the cutest espresso/tea set as well as a great old children’s stories book. Love your finds, can’t wait to see the transformations.
Hi Eddie! I was there Saturday morning too!
I scored the cutest espresso/tea set as well as a great old children’s stories book. Love your finds, can’t wait to see the transformations.
Thrift stores make my day. I recently bought a house in Tucson Arizona and furnished it completely from the thrift stores there. The quality of goods and the prices were very good. For me going in a thrift store is a power trip. I can afford whatever I want to buy. The second turn on is the predatory one – I love the search.
I so enjoy your blog. Wish you were my neighbor in Bethesda Maryland, I know all the good places to so for inexpensive treasures.
OMG, those chairs!! You very lucky boy. Why don’t they have Salvation Army in Marrakech? Then again we do have the souks. Oh, I’ll just shut up.
Hey Eddie
I love it that your an avid goodwill fanatic like me………..you found some wonderful table top goodies……..Good Work!!
Congrats!!! I am your new fan from Brazil!!!I would love to shop with you someday!!!
Flavia Cavalcanti, Gainesville ,Florida.