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?

Weather Dominates Florida Trip - Marco Island

Photo of Marco Island beaches - Marco Island, Florida (from tourism website -  NOT our photo)!

My husband and I left last Tuesday for a short anniversary trip to Marco Island, Florida - about as far south as you can reasonably drive from Atlanta (almost 11 hours). For those paying any attention, Tuesday was the day of the snow-meltdown in Atlanta - major gridlock and stories of endurance and courage. We were leaving as the weather forecasters were announcing the snowfall totals could reach 2-3 inches - not much my most standards - but combined with the way-below freezing temperatures and lack of ice/snow treatment and removal equipment, a major inconvenience at best and, at worst, what the city actually experienced.

While escaping this terrible situation, we were not spared weather woes. Marco Island is a beautiful island - from their website:

Nestled on Florida’s west coast and adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico is Marco Island, Florida. As the largest barrier island comprising what is known as southwest Florida’s “Ten Thousand Islands,” Marco Island is known for its mangroves and close proximity to the Everglades, its beautiful, pristine beaches, fine dining, outdoor recreational activities, and tropical climate. link

We stayed at the Boathouse Inn - located at the northern tip of the island knows as Old Marco Island. It was highly rated on TripAdvisor and the most reasonable place we could find for four days. It was also right on the water - which we love! The Inn is really a well maintained old-time type "motel" with rooms on the first and second levels. The rooms had no views other than the ones at the end which overlooked the bay. It did have a great dock and pool area and appeared to be a very prolific fishing spot since we did see a number of fisherman actually catching fish right out by the dock.

Our weather was not great and just kept getting worse - a lot of cold rain (heard from several locals that this was the first occasion they had to turn on their furnaces).  We hated missing all the things we had planned - a eco-tour through the Everglades, a sunset cruise on the Gulf, wandering the beaches, etc. etc.

while dodging rain-drops, we did stop by this great little consignment shop on the main drag. 

We did enjoy being in this part of the Island and found nice restaurants and shops in walking distance.

We were disappointed by the weather and once we heard that the roads in Atlanta had finally cleared, actually returned a day early - just as they were predicting sunshine over the next several days and a return to the normal 80 degree days. We will definitely have to go back!

Shopping for a Console Table - City Antiques in Roswell

  

City Antiques and Consignment in Roswell, Georgia

I am shopping for a table commonly called a "console table" for my renovated lower level.  I looked up the word to see what it really meant and find it's often misused.

console table

   [kon-sohl]  Show IPA 

noun

1.

a table supported by consoles or brackets fixed to a wall.

2.

a table, often with bracketlike legs, designed to fit against a wall. source

The kind I am looking for is narrow and, yes, placed against a wall.  It will not be attached via brackets and I'm not necessarily looking for bracketlike legs.  Tables labeled as console tables on Craigslist and other web sources only seem to have the "against the wall" part of the definition in common - many have extensive cabinetry and other utilitarian details.

For my console table, I need it to function as a "buffet table" against a wall not far from seating area. I have purchased (on Craigslist) three round counter height (30") stools that I want to place under the table so they will be out of the way when not needed.  I need a table 60" wide and would prefer 14-16" deep so it doesn't extend too far into the space.  The mirror I just finished and wrote about here link to my blog entry will be centered over the table.

Today,  I visited a great antique and consignment market in Roswell (a suburb of Atlanta) called City Antiques (link to website).  I have been here before but today I had a purpose in mind.

This shop is well organized and managed and the displays are artfully done.

I found only two "console table" options that might work but they weren't what I was looking for.

This "barn table" was attractive and might have worked for the space.  It is a little more primitive than I want and also a little too wide.  I thought it was an interesting piece.

This set actually represents what I am looking for and includes the two counter height stools.  The table is also a little deeper than I need and not as wide.  

Sweet picture on way out!

I enjoyed my visit to City Antiques and I'm sure I will be back.  I did not, however, find that elusive console table and will have to continue my search!

Gentle Weekend Ramblings

My broken foot in special shoe

Almost exactly one week ago, I broke my right foot in two places (aka Jones Fracture) when attending a great Beatles music concert (Magical Mystery Tour) at a local venue - Verizon Theatre in Alpharetta, Georgia.  In walking (and talking) along the gravel walkway from the parking lot to the theatre, I tripped and fell (actually sprawled) almost scraping my face in the dirt.  My foot had twisted inwardly and seemed OK for about another 200 feet until I noticed it started to throb slightly and was swollen.  I took off my shoes and walked the balance of the way in greater comfort.  Our friends secured a big bag of ice and I propped my feet up for over two hours watching the show and feeling that all was good!  We also alerted some officials at the venue hoping to make the trip back to the car easier by getting permission to bring the car closer or securing a ride in one of their "handicapped" golf carts to the lot.  I thought all this was not necessary until I tried to put weight on the foot and found it really hurt!  I did get a wheelchair ride up to the golf cart stand and a ride to our car.

The next morning, I was seen by my Kaiser Permanente (highly recommended HMO) after-hours clinic doctor and given the awful news that the foot was broken and I would need to see a specialist to be fitted with a "boot".   Long story a little shorter - I did not need a boot but a special shoe and I was told that I could walk wherever I wanted to as long as it was comfortable and I was not placing too much strain on the broken foot.  Given the alternatives (e.g, heavy cumbersome boot, caste, surgery), I was ecstatic!

I was totally bored most of the week and decided to ease into some minor activities over the weekend.  On Friday, I drove for the first time and found that the shoe did not impede my driving although continuous pressure on the foot did result in some aches so I decided I better not overdo it.  I visited two  estate sales and a consignment shop.

This sale in Brookhaven had a lot of nice items at great prices - mostly accessories.

I thought long and hard about buying the top horizontal pictures for my "under renovation" basement.  They were really long and narrow and thought would work well in the space and the price was $50 for both - a very good price.

I really liked the shape and construction features of this little loveseat (one of a pair) priced at $125 each.  I left a bid for $150 (did not get)!!  I am hesitant to pickup to too many of this size pieces because of storage requirements - both at my upholsterer and in my home.  These were not badly priced but I thought my bid was closer to the mark.

I found that my willingness to buy was really impacted by my limitations in getting around and my concern about having to navigate with items in my hands - I was really relying on bannisters and the ability to catch myself if I felt even slightly off-balance.  I SHOULD have bought the two horizontal studies above and a $15 oversized blue and white vase that I know I could have used somewhere.  My friend Ouida and I went back to this sale on Saturday and found it had closed early.  The prices were that good!

Example of sale that I just couldn't make.  The location was good but everything was accessible through the basement which involved a steep decline to the back of the house and then another 14 steps (I was told) back up the house entrance.  I gave up halfway down.

I stopped by a favorite shop - Southern Comfort Consignments in Dunwoody - to look around for several items I need for our "new basement"  (still under renovation).  One is a set of two or three barstools although I am focusing on backless ones.  Some options here but I'm not quite ready to buy yet and these were not FABULOUS prices.

Nice displays at Southern Comfort Consignments.

On Saturday morning, my regular Saturday-morning colleague and I went out for a few hours but did not find anything worth mentioning or photographing.

In the afternoon, my husband accompanied me to the Pottery Barn Outlet Store in Dawsonville, Georgia (part of huge, very crowded outdoor mall area).  I am looking for a 8X10 rug for our renovated basement.  The new floor is a dark walnut stained engineered hardwood and I have selected a few pieces of furniture (from my own Wydeven Designs collection - see link)_ to use so it is time to start looking.  I found this one below that would work with some but not all the pieces.  I did like it however and the price was discounted about 45% from regular Pottery Barn prices.

I  really liked this wool rug but wasn't sure about the light colored (tones of goldish taupe - see below) upholstered pieces I plan to use with it.  The built-in cabinetry in the room (as well as doors) are a charcoal grey so that would work well.

So, those are my gentle outings for the weekend - perhaps a movie and more Olympic watching this afternoon.

A Visit to Queen of Hearts - More ASCP Adventures!

Some of you may remember my earlier frustrations trying to find local sources (aka stocklisters) of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) - it was not easy!  I eventually found the vendor at Scott's Antique Market and have been buying most of my supplies at the monthly sales.  Recently, I was told that a vendor at Queen of Hearts Antique and Interiors in Alpharetta (another Atlanta suburb) carried the paints so I needed no further excuse to plan a trip.  Even thought this mall/shop is less than 15-20 miles from my home, I had never visited it and today was my first exposure to the space.

First impressions were great!  The shops are located in a very nice strip-mall on a well traveled street.  The  interior has 100's of booths - well organized, clean and well-lit.  There were a number of people working the space, supporting all the individual sellers, and they were without exception very helpful and clearly wanted this to be an experience that would cause us to return.  

Here is a description of the visit in photos - I will definitely return!

The staging of most of the booths was well done and attractive!

We found the ASCP Vendor - link to website and I purchased a can of "CoCo" - a brownish tint.  The price was over $39.00 (quart) including tax.  I have found that there are NO DEALS to be had on the paints!

I found lots of ASCP Inspiration - love that rustic lantern!

Several booths featured transferware almost exclusively - a massive collection in various colors.  I have a lot of blue and white myself but this was quite impressive!

This booth featured wonderful glassworks - some very Lloyd Wright and some very Tiffany! 

Lovely blue and white display - I may have to ASCP (I now use the paint as a verb) one of my too-brown display cases!

This shop would be great for my daughter who is always enhancing her daughters rooms with personalized art and whimsical colors!

This whole booth used these colors and tones - loved the composition!

Tempted by this great mirror - only $88 - I did't think that was too bad.  I may go back if I can figure out where to place it!

Photographer/Author in back of lovely vignette!!!

So true!!

Southern Comforts Consignment Shop in Dunwoody

Southern Comforts Consignment Shop in Dunwoody!

I live in an area of greater Atlanta that is called Peachtree Corners (there are a LOT of jokes about how many "Peachtrees" there are in the area - dozens/hundreds of streets and many neighborhoods).  There has been for many years a Peachtree City south of town.  Peachtree Corners just went through an incorporation process and is a "new city".   Nearby is another newer city called Dunwoody where we lived for part of our 25 years in the area.   One of my favorite consignment shops is in Dunwoody - called Southern Comforts link to website and is located no more than several blocks from my first house in the area.  I often stop in to look for great deals and must admit that while their prices are pretty good, they are not quite low enough for me to buy and refurbish.  I have bought a few things over the years and just enjoy the shop with its elegant staging and interesting items for sale.

Here are some highlights from today's stop!

These chairs have great bones and are definitely worth redoing - I will watch the prices to see if they get within my range.  Southern Comfort does reduce 10% after first month, 20% after second, and 30% after third. 

My favorite style chairs - all would be great refurbished!

I'm looking for an outdoor bench for my garden to replace a wooden one that is just about totally broken down by years of weathering.  I love the shape of this and it is surprisingly sturdy! 

I fell in love with this great table/sideboard - but, alas, have no place for it! 

This great panted piece was priced at $295 - I didn't think that was too bad!

Another great cupboard! 

This black-stained armoire would accommodate a pretty good size TV.

I like this simple glass and iron table and am looking for one for my den.  It's however a little big for my space .  Priced at $195, I thought it was within range of being a decent price!

I loved the multi-hued finish on this piece!

I didn't buy anything but saw enough interesting items to come back again (and again, and again)!!