Neighborhood Sale in Druid Hills

Signage at Druid Hills Neighborhood Sale

It was a "touch and go" day here in the Atlanta area on Saturday. It looked like it would rain but the weather forecasters were saying there was less than 10% before evening so my husband and I traveled to the Druid Hills area for their neighborhood sale which was advertised as "Rain or Shine" anyway. Druid Hills is a loosely defined area in the city of Atlanta.

Druid Hills is a community which includes both a census-designated place (CDP) in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, as well as a neighborhood of the city of Atlanta. The CDP's population was 14,568 at the 2010 census.[3] The CDP contains the main campus of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Atlanta-city section of Druid Hills is one of Atlanta's most affluent neighborhoods with a median household income in excess of $238,500. link 

I have been somewhat remiss with my photo-taking lately and this sale was no exception. The area has many historic homes/mansions and it is lovely.  As we emerged to tackle some of the sales, I commented that we could now be living in this area if our own real estate purchasing plan had been slightly different when we arrived in the city over 25 years ago. We had initially put in an offer for a town house in the area which was beautiful and offered us affordable city living but changed our mind as we panicked about the lack of yard and car space. So, instead, we settled in a larger home on a real lot north of the city and, two houses later, we remain in that part of town.

Loved the roosters! 

Look closely at the chair - interesting!

Well, we didn't buy anything but enjoyed visiting the neighborhood. I had picked up a lovely Sheraton styled settee on the way so felt the whole trip was more than worthwhile!

Great Sources for Refurbish-able Furniture

As a continuation of my tenth anniversary postings, I thought I'd summarize the sources of my great refurbish-able upholstered furniture.

Regardless of source, it is important to remember the quality criterion to ensure that the high cost of refurbishing is worth the expense.

• Look for pieces with high-end USA labels - e.g., Hickory Chair, Henredon, Southwood, Baker, Kargas, Sam Moore. Most of these (not all) are still made in the USA. Many great older labels are out-of-business and/or have been bought out and integrated into larger companies. Also, many companies used to make better USA-produced furniture but are no longer as well-made (Thomasville comes to mind). 
• Absent labels, look for signs of good foundation construction. One of the best signs is the presence of hand-tied eight-way coil springs which look like large round coils and operate independently to stabilize the foundation. 
• Look for woodwork that is sturdy and does not have evidence of breakage or water/insect damage.

I love looking for and finding these great pieces and am not easily discouraged. For example, I probably buy less than 40% of the craigslist items that I actually go out and look at. Even after asking a lot of questions, it is still necessary to see and feel the product to make sure that it is worth redoing.  

Here are my primary sources!  As I've said over and over - anyone, can do this. It is not only environmentally responsible but can be fun and rewarding!

This is probably my least favorite source. Prices tend to be high and I so much want to be the one to find the pieces and not buy them from someone else (at a higher price than they paid, naturally) who found them first. I only buy at my cheapskate price point and most things I see come no-where near that point. 

Craigslist is a great source but requires due diligence (you have to look a lot to be the first one to spot a good deal), getting a lot of questions answered upfront before heading out to see the pieces, and, time/mileage to get out to all the locations. Again, finding the right piece at the right price point for me is critical. 

Estate sales are fun but the prices are usually pretty high. They are generally run by professionals who know the prices they should be getting and are trying to get something for themselves on top. Not a lot of deals to be had but I still manage to get some - often on low-ball bids.

Garage sales are generally the best places for deals - people just want to get rid of their excess stuff! 

I have gotten some pretty good deals at the local Goodwill Stores particularly on Senior Citizen Tuesdays (25% off ).

So, here are my sources!  Do you have any to add?

A Week of Buying Adventures!

This has been a busy week of buying "refurbish-able" upholstered furniture. We are getting close to a two-week vacation out of the country, so I am feeling particularly compelled to get out there and check out as many bargains as I can. Sales have also been robust (for my world), so there is even some money and, more importantly, room for more pieces.

The week started with a phone call from one of my favorite vendors, Vicki, who had a nice sale over the last weekend. I had found a set of great Kindel (perfect condition) dining/accent chairs that were priced pretty high. I had left a bid for 1/3rd the price thinking that was the end of it so was surprised to get a call from Vicki saying that the bid was accepted. I picked up the chairs on Monday afternoon and listed them "as is" on eBay. They are currently under bid with lots of viewers. So, it looks like this was a good investment.

I had been corresponding with a couple living on Lake Lanier (North Georgia) in a city called Flowery Branch. They live on a houseboat and were selling a set of Norwalk accent chairs. I liked the look and have had good luck with Norwalk which is a good to very good brand. The styling is generally very good. So, I drove out there on Tuesday to look at (and buy) the chairs which I plan to reupholster in a great Robert Allen "Beacon Hill" velvet on linen fabric to coordinate with the black woodwork,

The trip was not that long and the visit to the marina where the couple is living was charming - photo of chair below.  I did actually go to Marietta the same afternoon to see (and not buy) a set of club chairs and ottoman - the quality was just not good enough.

The "weekend" estate sales often start as early as Thursday, and I checked out sales Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This was a nice sale and well orchestrated - something that I have learned to appreciate over the years. This is a neighborhood about six miles from my home.

There were definitely interesting things for sale but the prices were a little high. I left two bids - one on the French style chair and another on the set of club chairs (Drexel Heritage) with ottoman. I haven't heard back so think I didn't get either one. 

This was one of Vicki's sales - it was being held in the garage and lower level of this fabulous house. i did pick up the Southwood Martha Washington chairs (plan to redo in a wonderful green and cream zebra stripe). I also left a bid for two wingback chairs and an ottoman and think I didn't get those.

Line of people waiting to get into Dan Carithers home for the estate (moving sale).

On Saturday, we (now traveling with my faithful companion, Ouida), we really struck out - not much to see and most of the sales were Friday/Saturday meaning that all the good stuff was long gone. We did attend an estate sale at the home of nationally-renowned Atlanta-based interior designer Dan Carithers Link to article bout Dan. I attended his design shop closing about two years ago and bought some wonderful fabrics at great prices. His home was actually somewhat modest but very interesting - although everything was pretty pricey. I was told that he is in poor health and was moving.

On Saturday afternoon, I got a phone call from an estate sale I had attended on Thursday and left some bids). I ended up getting three pieces (two of which are photographed below) for 75% off of the price they had been asking. Not a bad deal!

The chair in the middle is one of two that I got in Flowery Branch - see houseboat sale above.

So, pretty good for the week. I even stopped by a local thrift shop that is run by volunteers and benefits pet shelters and pet placement. I have never bought here but I do check and it is a good cause. I bought two 1950-60's era "junior barrister" chairs that have split leather and solid woodwork - I plan to redo both the wood and the fabric but haven't decided what to use yet.

I got tired just writing this posting!

Before and After - My Own Parade

The thrill I get from transforming old and/or dated upholstered furniture that has good bones and potential (and often saves it from the trash heap) is the reason I do what I do - it certainly isn't a great way to earn a lot of money! I also hope that I can inspire others to do the same. Instead of buying new (often/usually inferior quality) furniture, invest your time in finding and refurbishing heirloom quality pieces - just make sure the quality of construction is there. That includes primarily woodwork and frames that are in good shape and well-constructed foundations in seating platforms (hand-tied 8-way coil springs are the best).

In the name of giving away all of my secrets, here are some recent "before and after" photos with original source information. It's not magic but it does take time and effort - maybe there is a little magic involved!

This great chair (sold) came from one of my favorite estate sale sellers - Vicki - and was reupholstered in a great ikat gold/yellow print. 

This chair was one of two bought from someone on Craigslist - this one was not even listed. I asked if she had any more and here it was and well-constructed too! The fabric is a heavy woven cotton-combination and the woodwork was refinished with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in off-white. I only redid the legs because the original finish was badly chipped. 

This set of club chairs (with matching ottomans on casters) was being sold at a garage sale for a song - they were manufactured by Century Furniture (great construction). I had them reupholstered in a cream damask and they are now sold.

This chaise lounge (hidden amongst a lot of junk) came from the same garage sale as the chairs above and was better constructed than the average chaise with the hand-tied coil springs in the foundation.  It is already living in Florida! 

I love the nice lines on this Italian-made French style chair. The woodwork was in perfect condition and I had a small piece of wonderful cream-on-cream crewel (very high end - costly) available. The chair was bought at an estate sale. 

This chair  which may in fact be a real antique but I had no way of verifying was listed on craigslist and I bought it as well as the striped blue chair above. It was upholstered in a gold damask - slightly formal - and has sold. It is on its way to Asheville, NC. 

There were two of these chairs covered in different fabrics in different rooms at an estate sale. The prices were over a $100 apart which I pointed out to the seller. He sold them to me for the lower of the two prices. The woodwork was in rough condition but I might have redone it anyway since I wanted a painted finish. 

This set of slipper chairs was purchased at another one of Vicki's estate sales - the bones were great but the old fabric was very poorly applied. This new fabric is a pale taupe and cream combination woven - very neutral in appearance.

This lovely vintage settee was purchased at a neighborhood garage sale - the kind that you walk from home to home checking out the goods. The original fabric was actually a mohair (very costly) velvet but just not in great shape. The new fabric is another velvet - this time in pale green.

This little settee was purchased during one of my monthly visits to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta. It had painted legs but the finish was not in great shape. I refinished in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in graphite (grey-black) and matched it with a great linen fabric. It is living comfortably in Virginia.

I loved this style of small settee which would be wonderful at the end of a bed or in a narrow hallway. It was in very good condition when bought at an estate sale - just needing a fresher fabric. 

This set of settees (bought from a Craigslist add) has been one of this year's favorite transformations. Initially, I was doing the set with this treatment and fabric for an intended buyer in California. She got cold feet and changed her mind but both sold the first week listed. I could have sold a dozen of these. 

These chairs were purchased from the same home as the settees above and have been refinished in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (chateau grey with old white combo) and new Chelsea Linen Fabric.

Well, that was fun for me - I hope you enjoyed the parade and feel inspired to try some of these ideas!

Weekend Estate and Garage Sales - Oh So Tempting!

I usually only travel to far-out locations on Thursdays as was the case with this Marietta sale. The sale was well organized which I like. The French style cane chairs were very nice ($225 each) but not reasonable enough for me to buy and this sale was too far out for me to return or leave a bid. I did like the wooden horse - my dad used to carve horses like this as a hobby and I have one of his horses in my home.

Several of you have told me you like to see how my weekend(s) of sales go (living vicariously in some cases) - so here is a posting about this weekend's sales. Of course, my weekend starts as early as Thursday - quite a few of the estate sale organizers offer a "preview" day on Thursday. It is usually best to be there early and on the first day. You can always return later to see if that favorite piece is still available and for a better price or, in most cases, leave a bid for the amount you are willing to pay. I seldom return later unless it is convenient (e.g., in the Buckhead or Brookhaven areas which are my favorite haunts all days of the long selling weekend) or if there is something my Saturday sales partner, Ouida, might like since she is currently redecorating her living room.

Another Thursday sale although this one was a little closer to my house. I would have bid on three pieces shown here (chaise at $199, chair at $120 and settee at $150) but have so much inventory that these just did not tempt me enough.

I am still experiencing inventory and storage challenges, so have determined not to buy something to refurbish/sell unless I just can't walk away from it. There were nice pieces I would have considered at some of these sales - at least at a reduced price from asking - but they didn't excite me enough to add to my stock.

One of the Friday sales was on Riverview Drive in Buckhead in the lower level. There were several nice looking chairs but not at a price I was willing to pay. 

OK - now I am in trouble. This FABULOUS HOUSE on Tuxedo Road near Chastain Park in Buckhead was the locaiton of a sale in the four-car garage area. The owner and her decorator were handling the sale which had some very nice pieces that were being discarded because they did not fit into the decor of the new home. One of those items was this wonderful linen velvet bergere chair and a half in great condition. The owner told me she had had it redone by an exclusive shop in Buckhead less than a year earlier and placed it in a hallway - not really used.  I got it for a good price and am selling "as is".  Actually, it fits beautifully in my (red Chinese rug) living room - it may be hard to let go!

The location of this Saturday sale was the most exciting part. It is a horse farm that had been occupied by the current family for over 30 years in the heart of Buckhead. I cannot imagine how much this land is worth. The contents were old and tired and we thought the family may have been hoarders. 

One of our favorite sales was this artists. She is moving onto other artistic endeavors and is selling most of her stock at 10-20%  or less from previous prices. Ouida bought Isadora Duncan - a recycled sweater "creature" and I bought some jewelry. I would have liked to buy more of her charming creations for my granddaughters but they have so much stuff already, I just wasn't sure after carrying around several including the black and white guy in the top row and the orange bow-tied guy at the bottom. I know I will regret not buying some of these items.

This was another well organized sale. I was weak by this time and couldn't resist buying the two ottomans at the bottom for $45. I plan to redo wooden legs and replace fabric. I like them well enough that I would love to add to my lower level furnishings but I think I may be overdoing that already.

It was a great weekend for sales - looking forward to next weekend although the 4th of July will probably result in fewer sales!

Weekend Estate and Garage Sales Adventures and Buys

The housing market is really heating up in Atlanta and lot of the sales, like this one in nearby Sandy Springs, are moving sales. This house had some wonderful items and I was tempted by the love seat (they wanted $200 so I would definitely have had to bargain - most I would have paid is $100). I am, however, suffering from too much inventory, slow sales and limited storage space. A larger piece like a love seat just doesn't fit into my current plans.

The weather was great in the greater Atlanta area for garage and estate sale shopping so I headed out Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings with lots of destinations. The trick, as any experienced "saler" knows, is to be the first at the best sales. Since there are usually quite a few and I check out a fairly large geographic area, this is definitely a hit or miss proposition. I am also working under a self-imposed "do not overbuy" requirement since my storage spaces are bursting at the seams.

I found interesting sales on all three days but Saturday was definitely the best. With my regular Saturday partner Ouida along, we found some wonderful sales and each of us bought some items we love.

This Dunwoody sale (another moving sale) was limited but had some decently priced pieces that would have been great for someone starting out.

This sale in a large golf-course community on the river, was held in a huge house with four stories of stuff. The house itself and the grounds were the most interesting elements of the sale - not that much tempting inside.

The moving sale at this beautiful home was the only one I remembered to photograph on Saturday (I easily get distracted). I bought the great oil (24X48) and Ouida bought two lovely lamps for her living room which she is furnishing almost exclusively with our estate and garage sale finds! 

OK - I didn't totally walk away from all potential purchases. I bought this set on Thursday for $135 for the pair. They are heavy and solidly made. I will be redoing the woodwork (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) and haven't yet decided on fabric - either a blue and yellow toile or blue and white woven check - what would YOU recommend???

Well, I do love a good weekend of sales and this one was great! Now I need to head into my workroom (aka garage) to get this and other furniture ready for reupholstering. My husband would like to get his car back in the garage!

Weekend Sales and Inventory Control

It is tricky for me to retain a balance between inventory (both before and after refurbishing) and sales. I want to have enough on hand for potential customers to see a range of options in colors, styles and price-points. I want them not just to visit my on-line stores (mostly eBay and Etsy these days) but come back often for new and exciting offerings. With that in mind, I am almost always searching out great "before" pieces and the weekend estate and garage sales in the greater Atlanta area are amongst my best sources. Storage is a problem - I have limited home storage and my great upholsterers (the fabulous Lees at Sun's Upholstery in Norcross) very generously allow me to store both my before and some of my after pieces at their shop. Sometimes, however, it gets overly crowded and that is currently the case.

Given all of my misgivings about my inventory and space problems, however, I still went out on Friday and Saturday for the sales and found three nice pieces to buy!  I just can't stop myself!

This sale (in high-end Buckhead part of the city) was being held by a group of friends who put together quite an array of items for sale creating a real festival market atmosphere!

Just sine of the items for sale at the sale - tempting, tempting!

This company had two nice sales going this weekend and I visited both. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately given my inventory situation), their prices are always very high and they are not negotiable enough to make it worth my while even leaving a bid. The company has warehouse space and they bring unsold items there and, therefore, do not seem to have the incentive to reduce the items enough to move them out. I would have liked all of the items shown here but the settee was $1100 and the pink chair $495 - about 80% more than I want to spent!

These three pieces are well constructed and will look amazing redone. The wingback is a Hickory Chair - can't buy a better piece than that!

Back in the Swing of Things - 2013 Estate Sale-ing!

This was the first weekend of 2013 and I was dying to get back out to do my normal long weekend (including Friday) garage and estate sale shopping. I was, of course, most interested in finding heirloom quality upholstered furniture in need (desperate need - preferably) of refurbishing - for a good price.  I checked various estate sale listings (craigslist, local papers, estate sale listings - link to local estate sales)  and found that there was not much going on this weekend. BUT, there were some intriguing sales listed so I dressed warmly and headed out.

On Friday, I stopped at two Buckhead (la-ti-dah section of the City of Atlanta) estate sales and they were different as night and day.  Here, in pictures, are the highlights of the

This sale was in a great part of the city and the long line (at 11:00) reinforced both the address and the scarcity of sales this weekend.  I recognized quite a few "regulars" including a long-known couple that I run into often at these sales.  Fortunately, the weather was warm(ish) and bright and sunny and the camaraderie was great.

While standing in fine and ogling the lovely gardens at this estate, I used the Hipstamatic Ap to take some "saturated" photos.  

My photos do not do the interior justice.  This was a wonderful house and very expansive. The prices for everything that I might be interested in were too high - with the exception of the slipper chair on the upper right. It was priced at $50 and if there had been a pair, I might have purchased these.

This second sale was down a LONG dirt driveway - an older property in a very high-end neighborhood. Many of the items were outside but there were quite a few interior pieces as well. Most things were in pretty bad shape and not that interesting. 

The prices on these were pretty good but nothing captured my interest. 

This sale did have some interesting "stuff" that someone might be able to use - just not me!

On Saturday, my friend Ouida joined me for more sales but I failed to get photos of the only one that had anything to offer.  I purchased a set of Charles Steward club chairs (great North Carolina manufacturer - no longer in business) for $30 each - I snatched them up and dropped them off immediately at my upholsterers shop.

We stopped by Dave Robinson Antiques on Miami Circle in Buckhead to pick up an interesting set of compact settees that I had purchase before Christmas but had not yet picked up.  Dave sold me a set of four French-style chairs as well as a wingback and Martha Washington chair before I got out with the settees.  Sometimes it just pays to go directly to the other "pickers".  All in all - a great day to be out!

I did manage to pick up great pieces at really low prices and can't wait to see how they look once redone.  The process of refurbishing nice furniture is truly magical.