Thrift With Me: What I Look for to Find High-End Decor

So I thought it would be fun to take you thrifting with me today and show you how I look at things when I'm searching for pieces. What catches my eye, what I end up leaving behind, and how I'm already picturing things styled before they even come home. Because once you start noticing certain details, it gets a lot easier to spot the good pieces. Sometimes it's the shape, the texture, or just how something's made. Those little things that make it feel more special. Now grab your coffee, get comfy, and let's dive in. This one I spotted from aisles away. You see, vintage oval frames are actually pretty hard to come by. So when you see one, it's usually worth taking a closer look. Right away, I could see the old glue where the picture was. And when I flipped it over, you could really see its age just by the way it was put together. Those are the kind of details I always pay attention to. And for $1.99, it went straight into my cart. When I got home, I gave it a good clean with some furniture oil and decided to keep things simple. I styled it with a few of my mom's and grandmother's brooches and it ended up feeling pretty special. And this tapered candle holder had such a nice rustic feel to it. It really reminded me of something you'd see at Pottery Barn. Pieces like these are pretty easy to work into different spaces, but I didn't have a need for it so I left it behind. This is one of those pieces that really makes you stop for a second. The shape, especially the x-base, feels very McGee and Co. And at first glance, it definitely reads high-end. But when I looked underneath, it was actually from Target, part of the Studio McGee line, which honestly makes sense. And it's something I could have easily reupholstered. But I had to remind myself what I actually needed for that space. And I really wanted something with storage. So even though it was a great piece and a good price, it just didn't make sense for me to bring it home. And I always have to stop and admire cottagecore pieces and see where they are made. There is something about picking them up and turning them over. A lot of them have that older European feel to them. And even if I don't have a place for them right now, I still like to take a second and consider them. Because you never know when an idea will strike. Another cute find was this vintage Avon Mallard trinket dish for $4. I could just picture it on a stack of books next to a candle holding matches. It's those small charming details that make a space feel curated. At the same thrift store, I came across this woven lampshade, brand new, in the packaging for $2. And honestly, I needed it. I had a lamp at home that didn't have a shade. So this one just made sense and was such a great deal. And this wooden salad bowl was another one I almost brought home. I love the scalloped detail. And honestly, after watching the footage back, I kind of wish I'd have picked it up. But I have so many wooden bowls already, so it stayed. It's one of those pieces that can look completely different with the right styling. I also picked up a few pieces for future projects and videos. So you'll probably be seeing these again soon. This is something I've never done before. I actually grabbed a mystery bag for $5.99. Because one of the pieces really caught my eye. But I wasn't expecting much from this. And I'll show you exactly what's in it when I get home. Next, I spotted a couple of pieces that just screamed gift potential. This heavy silver bread basket for $10 would be perfect for packaging a Mother's Day gift, a plant, or even used as a small tabletop display. And the vintage picnic basket for $6.99. I could immediately picture tucking in two bottles of champagne, some melamine plates, and a little charcuterie for a beautiful gift setup. I love finding pieces that conserve both function and style. It's those small touches that make giving feel thoughtful and elevated. Then I brought home this little mom and baby elephant statue for $3. It had a couple of chips and cracks, but I just couldn't resist it. When the trunk is up, it's supposed to represent good luck, prosperity, and positive energy. And it felt like a piece worth rescuing. At home, I gave it a quick clean and sprayed it first with some gold metallic paint and then a dusting of champagne bronze to tone down the color. Something as small as this can instantly add character and personality to a shelf or a tabletop. It's proof that thoughtful touches don't have to be complicated. And I always love taking a little time for the fabric sections. Blankets, scarves, tablecloths, and even little pillow vines. And these gauze type scarves are one of my favorite tricks. They can be used anywhere you need to add a little softness. My favorite way to style them is as a runner on a table with lots of candles to make the perfect tablescape. And this was another one I kept thinking about. It was $1.99 and looked like it might be silver plated. And I was playing with it in store. You could pair it with a tray, a crystal plate, a small bowl, and create such a curated look. Pieces like this are so versatile, but there was only one. And if there had been two, I definitely would have brought them home. I also came across this IKEA wine rack and I've been seeing people use these as towel holders lately, which is such a smart way to repurpose something simple. And this wicker file basket came home with me. It's so sturdy and substantial for the price. I love the color and the flat top makes it really functional for storage or even styling. When I got it home, I gave it a couple of dunks and some hot water and some dish soap and disinfectant and left it dry on my washer. It's one of those pieces I can't wait to use. And then I found this piece that I genuinely could not figure out. I've looked it up and I still don't know exactly what it is. It could be decorative. It could be functional. I feel like it could hold papers, pictures, and maybe even be styled with a towel. But I'm curious, what do you think? Does anyone know what this is? Then there was this fun little vintage gold lamé clutch. Pieces like this are so easy to style and are an unexpected surprise when displayed on a vanity or a dresser, a hook, or even just propped up on a small easel next to a tray of perfumes. Then this teal glass picture really stood out to me. It's actually from Pier 1 and it has that heavier cut glass feel that instantly makes it seem like a little more substantial. I didn't need it, but I could already picture it styled with tulips for spring or Easter or even used as part of a gift, just adding fresh flowers and giving it as a vase. It's one of those pretty pieces that feels special but is still really functional. And this wooden men's jewelry box was only a dollar, so I couldn't pass it up. It has that simple solid feel and I love that it has a clear front. It would be really pretty styled with something inside or even hung on the wall as a small shadow box. This next one really caught my eye and it's one of those pieces that might not stand out at first. I wouldn't use it as a purse though. I think it would look beautiful styled on a peg rail with some real touch tulips. It's one of those pieces that can add a lot of texture to a space. And I just want to take a You see, thrift stores are such a good place to find little craft items for your stash, especially when they're only a couple of dollars. And this grapevine garland, for example, could make a beautiful spring wreath. I didn't pick it up though since I already have my spring wreath. I also always look at easels when I see them, but this one was a little too bent and wobbly. And that's one of those things where it's better to leave it than try to make it work. I finally went through the mystery bag when I got home and honestly at first I wasn't that impressed. The piece that had caught my eye, this vintage lipstick holder, was actually missing a stone. So I wasn't expecting much. But then I started looking things up and some of the religious pieces were going for around $10 to $25 each and there were quite a few of those in the bag. This little piece here is actually hand-carved soapstone and I found similar ones selling anywhere from $50 to $95. So for $5.99 it ended up being worth around $130, which definitely made me want to go back and check the rest of them. I hope you enjoyed thrifting with me. Thanks so much for watching and I'll see you next Saturday.