mid-century MODERN LOVE

I am not a good thrifter. I come from the school of ‘why pay less?’ You are getting to know me well enough to not doubt the truth of this, I’m sure. I haven’t minded paying for convenience and someone else’s efforts in the past. But my commitment to doing as much of this work with as minimal of investment as possible has started to change my ways.

Inspired by this post from the oft-mentioned Young House Love, I decided to try my hand at this yard-garage-thrift sale shopping thing. I coveted these incredible mid-century chairs they found and decided to give it a go myself.

Slightly intimidated by the idea of thrifting, I thought that the All-Island Garage Sale might be the spark I needed. I planned my Saturday morning around it, only to discover it was actually on Sunday morning! Not to be deterred, I dragged Hailey and Hannah with me to the Mercer Island Thrift Store. Believe it or not, I have never been there before.  Maeve and Ainsley love it and have found all kinds of toys there that they most likely did not need, but loved nonetheless. I am not sure with whom these visits happened, but they did. (Mother of the year, right here.) While I didn’t find anything on this trip, I see the potential and will be going back.

We definitely did better at the Bellevue Goodwill store on Northrup. First, we found a lime green chair that Hannah and Hailey fell madly in love with.  They wheeled around the store on it until they convinced me to buy it for them. It matches perfectly with the linens in their room, is a perfect mid-century groovy green and at $5, how could I say no?

However, I did say no to this perfect example of mid-century family life: the electric organ. This one was exactly like the one I played on as a child, my mind full of fantasies that my obnoxious sounds were Bach sonatas. It was only $99 but I knew coming home with it might mean I sleep on the sofa for the night.

But wait.  Hold the phone. As we were just about to check out, I look to my left and holy cow…the jackpot! A lovely example of mid-century furniture in the form of a golden-wheat colored armchair circa 1960-ish. I went to it. I sat in it. I loved it. At first sight. Just like meeting my husband. When you know, you know. Just like a good melon. And what sealed the deal…$39.99. I think I heard singing.

The new throne definitely needs cleaning and (someday soon) re-upholstering. But I love the lines and the style. Right now, it fits right in pretty well with the cottage-y furniture and the traditional Oriental rug. I have visions of a dark gray wool and darkly stained legs. I have no idea what that will cost, but I am pretty sure it’s a lot less than the velvet slip-covered one I purchased new at Pottery Barn. I would be interested if anyone knows someone who does excellent re-upholstery in the area and what something like that costs.

Inspired by my find, I did make it to the All-Island Garage sale Sunday morning, but it definitely fell short of my beginner’s luck yesterday when I hit the holy mid-century grail. It makes me want to sell all the Pottery Barn furniture and thrift shop away!

Tags: goodwill, Mercer Island, mid-century furniture, mid-century modern, thrift store, thrifting