Back in my starving waitress days, I used to venture out to thrift stores quite frequently. Society has since taken my thrifting to the next level entirely. Today’s hunters include a creative group of individuals who are able to take the remnants of the remnants and re-purpose them into something new. Having just returned from the Dallas Home & Gift Market, I couldn’t miss that this kind of creative re-purposing is a recurring theme. Here, some of the notable products and installations that stood out as I walked the show.
Although budgetary constraints inspire many individuals to get creative, salvaging what is useable on a damaged item is motivated by more than budget. There is a lot of history in decor and architectural elements, and it’s nice to see it preserved. I thought the pencil mirror (above) was an extremely witty take on the sunburst, and a great way to work with irreparable damage.
This vignette caught my eye because the chairs reminded me of similar ones I’ve recently been coveting at a retailer who shall remain nameless. (Hint: Sounds a lot like Zanthropologie). What I have failed to adequately capture here is the interesting floor lamp propped up between the chairs: The base is layered with drilled pieces of silver, footed dishes, goblets and other found elements. The installation had an intentional industrial vibe but I could easily see the lamp or the chairs paired with a variety of other decor styles as a conversation piece. This booth was managed by a small group of very talented friends who embody the spirit of this post and were really just a pleasure to meet. (A shout of thanks to Gloria & Kelley.) The chairs are by Regina Lorraine and the lamp, Lisa Johnson.
What I loved about this display was the transparency of the chicken wire and the texture of the broken spoons. These are charms of some kind, and, while not specifically to my taste, the idea seemed like a good one. It’s a classic rule of displaying collections that grouping them gives maximum impact and drama, and I thought this vignette was a great example of that.
Here is my token antler photo. (I’m going to see how many photos of antlers I can squeeze into these posts by year-end.) This one is particularly awesome because it has crystals AND antlers. Utterly boss.
It was the door that drew me into this last booth and I was glad to find it. Here are the masters of re-purposing the rejected. Dwell with Dignity is a non-profit group of interior designers and volunteers who create fabulous spaces for recently homeless or poverty-stricken families. Thrift Studio is their pop up shop and makes a couple of appearances in the Dallas area throughout the year. The general public is welcome to come and shop the donated goods, but it is also worth making a trip to the shop just to see what kind of beauty can be created out of what is discarded. Local designers and business partners craft amazing installations for customers to browse. Check out some of the vignettes from the spring shop; they blow my apartment out of the water.
Want more home decorating ideas? Get some tips from our interior design blog experts, Coco + Kelley.
