Shopping for the new house

I am a flea market junkie.   

It's eco because you're buying old things and reusing them in your house.

It's economical, because you can score some serious deals.

And it's just plain fun because it's really the thrill of the hunt: you either score or go home empty-handed.

At the Golden Nugget flea market in New Jersey, I stopped by one weekend morning and found this heavy mirror with a stripped wood frame around it.   The dealer explained I could probably restore it with stain and paint... but I loved the raw, stripped nature of the wood.  And the age on the mirror was real, not faux, which added to the charm.    And for just $10, it was mine.    Seriously... $10!    A reproduction in a store would easily cost ten times that cost!

Speaking of stores though....I stopped by the Crate and Barrel store for a peek and found this wicker stool to my liking.   Lately, I've been more and more attracted to this style of design.   I don't know what the style is called, but I've been calling it "Truth in Materials."   Wood in its raw form... metal unvarnished...wicker as wicker. 

The stool looks delicate, but it's all wire reinforced.  So, you can easily put your feet up and use it as a foot rest.    The price wasn't bad--$189---but after paying just $10 for a gorgeous mirror, I passed. 

I bet I'll find a better one at the flea market next Sunday....

Comments

[The Shopping Sherpa]

I think you're looking for the phrase "wabi sabi" to describe the stool. IKEA had a similar one a couple of years ago...

[denise f in c'ville, va]

i have loved my ikea wicker footstool/ottoman for years. i think it was $20 and has cute, stubby, wooden legs -- not quite as cool looking as pb's -- but pretty and super strong/functional.

happy day,
denise

[TCH]

You really have an eye for things. I bet your house will definitely look gorgeous when you have fully furnished it.

[Sarah]

Not to play the devil's advocate or anything (although I do like causing trouble :), doesn't wire reinforcement violate the truth of the material? If the structure isn't inherent, the material just becomes a facade...