I know you’re probably sick to death of reading about my $20 campaign dresser project, but that’s too bad because it continues to be part of my daily life. I’d already sanded and primed the dresser, (as well as removed the brass hardware and given myself carpal tunnel syndrome from all the polishing.)
But I didn’t have any paint yet.
My first choice for painting something is to dig through my basement stash, but I neither had anything bright and fun or austere and stately enough to pique my interest. So I looked up the location of the new Habitat for Humanity ReStore here in Portland and headed on over.
But not before snapping a selfie of myself in front of the store:
Yes I get stared at when I do things like take selfies in front of businesses; and no, I do not care.
I walked into the spaciously clean and bright store and was immediately confronted by this $2500 behemoth:
It’s the sexy monk of the antique furniture world.
However, I was there for paint, so I headed over to the paint section. Sadly, there’s much much less inventory than at their old store. I was tempted by this $1 can of light chartreuse paint:
I could totally see how great the dresser would look in this bright color, unfortunately it would grossly clash with our terra cotta colored bedroom. A Barnum & Bailey’s look if there ever was one, and clown bedroom is not the aesthetic I’m striving for.
I ended up buying this $2 jug of charcoal grey paint that was 4/4 full. (All paint is labeled this way, as the paint cans have already been used.)
Paint decision having been made, I decided to browse the store. Of course, I had to go play in the lighting department and imagine the great DIY opportunities.
I need you to imagine how awesome these groovy vintage rattan shades would look spray painted turquoise or apple green:
And this vintage wood and brass chandelier? It took every ounce of my self discipline to not bring it home. Do you see the leaf detail? I can totally envision it painted either a lovely creme color or some wonderfully saturated hue. And instead of glass shades, use small round bulbs.
Please, some Portlander, go buy this chandelier right now!
Speaking of stuff that I wanted to buy for my imaginary hipster apartment, I present to you this vintage sideboard:
Drool . . .
Luckily there was enough godawful stuff to temper my neediness. Hello . . . sloppily painted stool!
And this painting?
Too bad I already have a painting over my mantle of a women being born from a strawberry who is displaying her uneven man hands while looking off to the side.
Plus, it’s such a clichéd look.
Not everything at the Habitat ReStore is for those with funky taste though. Check out these gorgeous glass pendants, are they not what every stainless steel appliance and granite countertop kitchen is missing?
I did just buy the $2 paint and have already completed two coats, and it’s looking rather perfect. Even my husband, who thought we should just leave the dresser as-is, complimented me saying it looked “very modern.”
Just imagine how much he would have loved that painting.
Do you get your home maintenance supplies from alternative sources before hitting up Home Depot? Whether it’s putting the word out on Facebook, cruising the Restore or simply rethinking a project, used supplies will save you money and help the environment.
And what’s not to love about that?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Our ReStore is a bit of a drive from my house but I did get my dining room chandelier there. And I am headed back to look at lighting for a few other rooms. I also try to “shop my house” by switching items to different rooms and my husband always makes sure I check our leftover paint before I head out to get new. Did not know they sold paint at the ReStore!
I think that each Restore is going to be different.
It’s not just the hands…that whole mermaid looks like a man with boobs!
We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one. 😉
We are restoring an old stone farmhouse built in 1833 and have to buy EVERYTHING. Our goal is to buy nothing on the primary market, and if we have to, we strive to never pay full price. Example, today I bought all of my kitchen appliances at Lowes. I asked them to match the sale price from Home Depot and combine it with the Lowes promotion of offering a gift card with appliance purchase. They happily did. Plus we got my boyfriend’s military discount. Saved approx $850 on a $2000 purchase. We basically got our washer for free. No dryer for us, just a clothes line.
Way to work it!
My parents have one of those rattan light fixtures from the 70’s and we spray painted it white even back then. It hangs over our dining table on our glassed in porch. : )
HA!
We had those rattan lights, too!
Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for the tour. The Restore where I used to live did not have all the fun stuff like yours does. I have not found one where I live now, but being that I’m in South Florida now, I’m sure there will be some great stuff.
I am astounded, — ASTOUNDED I say! — that you didn’t think of your poor dear mother’s upcoming birthday when gazing upon that painting!
wow, I wonder if our local Restore will take partial cans of paint. would love to get rid of a few in more positive way than simply in the trash.
Our reStore does not take paint. I have several partial cans I have been trying to get rid of, I even went to our dump/recycling place on hazardous waste day and they don’t take latex paint. I may have to just let them dry up and throw in the trash.
I finally stopped in our local ReStore a few days ago. I’m looking for sturdy wood kitchen/dining room chairs. They had a set of 6 chairs and a table, and I asked if they would sell the chairs separate from the table. The lady said that they had just come in, as a set, and they were trying to sell them that way. The table did not “go” with the chairs, and would only seat 4 people, so she thinks that no one will buy the set. She wrote on the back of the price tag “lady wants just the chairs” and my phone number. I’m planning to stop in every week and keep trying to get those chairs!
They had a lot of interesting stuff there; much more than I thought. It was a lot of fun browsing, and very tempting to buy things just because everything was so cheap.
We live close to the Habitat fir Humanity ReStore. We’ve been a few times but haven’t ever found anything to take home.
I just recently finished painting our vanity in the bathroom. It is a very well build vanity but was sporting a lovely peach countertop. We did have a new countertop installed but we did the sanding and painting ourselves. It turned out really nice. Now we move onto the floor.
I kinda think the stool would look nice on a porch or in the yard with a big plant like a fern on it.
We painted our entire house with Home Depot oops paint. I found the most fun colors there! Most cans were marked $2. I did score one can of Behr paint for $5, that was the most expensive one. It’s a perfect resource if you are not looking for a particular color. Why would anyone pay full price for a can of paint when most of these never even left the store? Most of them were mixed and the customer changed their mind.
We painted our entire house with Home Depot oops paint. I found the most fun colors there! Most cans were marked $2. I did score one can of Behr paint for $5, that was the most expensive one. It’s a perfect resource if you are not looking for a particular color. Why would anyone pay full price for a can of paint when most of these never even left the store? Most of them were mixed and the customer changed their mind.
I’m a real fan of our ReStore store (near Mall 205)!
My big “find” there was their varied supply of ceramic tiles (small and large) and stone tiles (e.g., slate). I spent about $10 and bought an abundance of tiles (12 x 12) that I use in my garden for stepping stones. The slate ones are especially striking.
A smile comes to my face when I shop at ReStore as it is only about a block from the Mall 205 Home Depot…and the ReStore trip is always an adventure of discovery.
My friend says she stops at the ReStore before Home Depot always just in case what she needs is there. That is my new plan and I hope to convert my husband.
I think I need that painting in my life.
But…the painting! Would you have picked it up if it had been done on velvet?
Nope, not even on velvet. However, ya’ll now have the image for when you’re looking for you next tattoo! 😉
Nope, not even on velvet. However, ya’ll now have the image for when you’re looking for your next tattoo! 😉
Thank you! I didn’t even know about these stores and it turns out there is one not too far from me!!! The Goodwill type shops have been a bit light on the good stuff lately so I will love to explore a new shop!
The next time you go into Portland if they still have those rattan fixtures I will pay you to grab them for me. email me and we can work something out so you can add a bit to the college funds (price of fixtures, shipping and a “finders fee”?) I need a couple of new fixtures and those shades are perfect!
I love visiting different ReStores. Some have all building supplies, while others have everything a thrift store has (including clothing). They are always worth the trip because anything is possible and DIY could be found in anything. My best ReStore find was a swag light. Perfect condition and I love it so much. I have never found another like it. I am glad I took a chance and grabbed it.
The mermaid has man hands! (shades of Seinfeld)