The Thrill of the Hunt, "Consignment Shopping" At The Classic Attic

 On Saturday, I  popped into The Classic Attic  consignment shop to see what the latest offering were.   Their motto is "Antique Shop Quality, Consignment Store Prices".  The fun of consignment shopping for me is "the thrill of the hunt!"  You never know what will turn up!  One man's trash is definitely another man's treasure!  I was not disappointed!!  Boy,did I find some interesting pieces and great buys!  My head was spinning with ideas for all the things I found Ede Graves is the owner of this little hidden jewel located on the back side of Park Road Shopping Center located in Charlotte,NC.  Ede is a very personable lady and was quick to chat with me about her inventory.   She and I discussed the advantages of buying consigned pieces.  Did you know that 8.7 million tons of furniture and home furnishings are dumped into landfills each year?  So go green and buy consignment!!!  Not only is it good for our planet to be green  but you get name brand, good quality furniture at very reduced rates.  Some things are in mint condition and don't need any love at all.  Other times a little refinishing, paint job, new fabric is all a piece needs to go from drab to dynamic!

Here are some tips for consignment shopping:

1) Shop often, new things come in every day!

2) Don't think too long about an item or it will be gone!

You know the saying "you snooze you lose"

3) On the hunt for a certain piece?  Let the shop know what you are

 looking for, Ede has a wish book!

4) Good times to visit stores are before and after holidays and change

 of seasons, when people are hankering for a new look or spring/fall cleaning.

5) Look over items for damage.  Ask the shop owner if there are any issues

 with the piece, they typically know.

6) Know your stores policy for buying.  

7) Keep an open mind, think paint, repurpose, reupholster

8) Take a couple of laps around the store.  Often times you see new things

peeking out from  behind or beside, the item that caught your eye the first time.

9)  Take time to chat with the  shop owner and ask their input about items they find

 interesting or great buys.  They can typically tell you where something came from as well

10) When in doubt, measure!  Make sure what you are considering will fit the 

space you are looking to fill.  If you don't have a tape measure, typically the 

store will have one for you to borrow.  

Now onto what I found....

Art!

There is original art like this still life  in a  beautiful frame. So much prettier in

 person than here.  It's a rather large piece as well.  I would guess 16 x 20 or 20 x 24.

Not your style?  There are plenty of other pieces.  Like the frame and not the art, take

 them apart, this would make a great frame for a portrait and it was approx 235.00 

which is cheaper than having your portrait custom framed.  

Beds!

There are all kinds of headboards like this Julian Sleigh bed.  

A little paint and love would make these babies awesome!

More beds...

Hard to see in my photos, but the oriental designed king headboard in the back would be gorgeous lacquered with a cool fabric added in the insets or  cane & wicker king headboard in front of the oriental one, would be great painted a french grey with a little creamy accents on the cane.  Everyone of these beds are solid wood folks! 

Iron Beds...

This iron bed was sold but a real beauty.  It looks like a Corsican bed, which is high quality and  hand finished. 

 I think Ede told me the asking price was $375.00  Can you say steal?

Upholstered beds...

Who doesn't love pink and white toile in a child's room?  Here is it...

Painted beds...

Another beautiful bed, perfect for a little girl's room or a guest room.  

Drapery Panels!

They are the only consigner in Charlotte for drapery.  Here a beautiful pair of silk

stripe panels.  Lots of choices here folks! The back room is full!  If you are tired

 of your custom drapery and want something new, consider consigning them here.  

 I also like these apple green panels.  

Furniture!!

 Need a small, single chair for a bedroom?  Here's the perfect chair!

If you wanted color on this chair you could do what I saw at High Point 

Market and spatter paint with the color you  desire.  

 This great chair is also a high back swivel. Looks like a chair I recognize from Lee Furniture.

 If you are furnishing your son's apartment it is perfect as is but, if you want for yourself, get it upholstered.  For the $280 price tag, it is still a great deal even if you want to recover.   

The last time I priced swivels like this one, they retailed for $2500.00

Chests...

Handsome pair of Chinoiserie style bombay chest in mint condition!

Barstools...

Not everything is old or antique, here are a pair of Crate and Barrel Bar Stools

 in brown leather.  Someone must have changed their mind.  In mint condition!

Antiques...

If you like antique pieces or a mix of old and new, The Classic Attic has pieces like this adorable settee with hand carving.  I can picture this piece painted and distressed to make the

carving stand out more.  If red isn't your color, how cute would this look 

in Schumacher Betwixt in water and ivory

Hand painted pieces...

This chest was another great hand painted piece.  Could be the perfect

 chest in a bedroom.  The top was faux marbleized.  Beautiful piece!

Children's furniture...

I really wanted to buy this!  It is a child's victorian sofa.  I can imagine the frame painted a glossy white or hot pink and a cute, girly fabric added.  Would be perfect at the foot of a bed.  Ede mentioned also, what a great dog bed it would make!  At $175.  you can't lose.

Dining chairs...

I am still dreaming about these beautiful dining room chairs.  Only $400 for the four side chairs.  The pair of host and hostess chairs for $300.  Ede said she would give a better price if someone bought the set.  If the fabric works, they are ready to be added around your table, if not, this would be an easy recover. If they were for me or one of my clients I think I would choose one fabric for the back and another for the front.  Lets choose this Kelly Wearstler Fabric here!  These are very sexy chairs girls!

Desk..

 Not just any desk, a Maitland Smith desk

Darling Chairs...

I love this little chair.  Can you envision it with the wooden frame painted turquoise and upholstered in this fabric!  Perfect for a bedroom or that "one off" for a little cozy corner.

China, Crystal, & Silver!

There are all kinds of sets of china, dinnerware, even silver, crystal,

 and more...

Lighting!

yes of course there is lighting too...

Settees...

This velvet settee was a lovely piece.  What if we recovered this bad boy in

Schumacher Metropolian velvet reef here and added some great co-ordinating pillows.

Unusual Pieces!

Of course, I always gravitate to the wonky pieces like this Jacobean chair...

Ottomans...

Digging this leopard ottoman.  Forgot to ask the price....

Pairs of Club chairs...

Great pair of club chairs in a most benign fabric ever.  Would go with anything.  

Pop a killer fabric pillow

 in that sucker and you've got a player for sure!

Rugs!

Loving this dhurrie....

Framed Prints...

Need art, into the classics?  Here are your guys...at $45.00each...

Would look great in a man's study, library, hallway, bedroom, basically anywhere.  

I like pieces like these on either side of a mirror.

Mirrors!

Great Federal mirror for $235 (I think that's what it was?)

Pairs of Nightstands...

Would these french nightstands be awesome in cream or grey?

Dining Table and Chairs...

How great would these chairs be painted glossy apple green and seats

 covered in this fabric here?  Table and chair all for great price!

More chests...

Beautiful hardwood chest with lovely carved sides.  Imagine this piece painted

 creme and distressed or painted carribean blue for a beach house!

Occasional tables...

Or this pair of  parson's tables for $285.00.  One needed a stretcher replaced which

 could be easily done by anyone who does woodwork.  Painted a glossy white these

 would be very clean and chic.  The painting would accent the fretwork

 along the apron and legs.

Very palm beach!

Designer items...

Beautiful Gold leaf mirrors!  The owner paid 2700.00 for these and Classic Attic is asking $1200 for the pair!  These would be beautiful on either side of a fireplace in a dining room. 

Consoles....

Another steal at $750, just look at the inlay!

Collector's items...

These Hummel Dolls were beautiful.  They would make beautiful decorations for a baby shower and then used in the nursery.  Darling keepsakes! 

Ok, so we have discovered that I could go on and on so I'll call it quits before I lose you!

Did you have fun?  Did you get motivated?  Are you googling your locals consignment shops as soon as you finish reading this?  Sorry it got long!  I got excited!  Can you tell?

Hopefully, this gives you a little inspiration to go out and scour the consignment stores to see what you can find.    If you are in the Charlotte area please go by and check out

 The Classic Attic, tell Ede I sent you!

Remember you are only limited by your imagination!!!!

___________________

And now a for a brief advertisement for 

my latest passion!

Beds For Kids!

 I am working with called Beds For Kids.  Ede agreed to consider to donate any furniture that clients don't pick up at the end of their time in her shop to our cause!!!  Thank you Ede! You are so nice!!!!   If you arent familiar with Beds for Kids,  please read about it here!   Also, please join their FaceBook Page Here to get regular updates!  I'll post more about this later.  I am very excited about this!!!!  Brandon Holmes and Dan Fogarty have done a great job over at BFK!.  Check out their needs list here, or donate money!!!  We are looking for more designers to get involved as well!  You could be helping a family go from sleeping and sitting on the floor to have furniture.   Like their motto says "Every child deserves a bed"!

If you live in Charlotte, we are also looking for volunteers to give a little time each week.