Reuse & Repurpose: Paper Pleasers

Sometimes the easiest and most dramatic impressions are made when they involve paper. Take, for instance these enchanting discs hovering in the windows of J. Crew on Fifth Avenue. They appear to be made from magazine pages or catalog circulars that were folded into circles and then suspended among mannequins showing off the latest styles. Throw in a spritz or two of this season's zesty orange, and you've got a recycled display prop that's 100 percent recyclable!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Find: Imperfectly Perfect

Photograph by Jim Franco for The Find

Sometimes when we resist the urge to over decorate we become more able to strike the perfect chord between welcoming and wonderment. In decoupage artist John Derian's Lower East Side walk-up, the eye is consistently treated to unusual objects gathered in an unfussy setting.

In this out-take from The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details, you can see how he paired favorite art pieces with flea market finds all in a variety of frames that just work together. They don't follow any set theme, and the somewhat random placement is appealing, yet balanced.  And the antique sofa is made even more cozy with a European feed sack pillow and a yellow throw that complement the spackle-splotched wall. When I asked John about the spots on the wall that hadn't been completely covered, he said he decided to leave them the way they are because he likes them that way.

And so do I!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: A Big Blow Out

How many times have you had your hair dryer burn out on you? When I had hair a while back, it seemed like I was tossing one every few months. Yes, it's hard to believer that I owned a head of super-curly, thick hair that I used to try with all my might to straighten out with the help of products and lots of hot air -- and maybe a curling wand. By the time  I hit 30, my hair had had quite enough of that nonsense and started fighting back...by falling out.

The other day I was reminded of all those hairdryers I choked when I looked in the window of the Revolver Salon in SoHo. Painted gold and transformed into a clever chandelier, these styling tools gained a whole new life as a glamorous piece of lighting.

Now can you imagine if you plugged all those devices in and turned them all on at once? You just might trip a fuse or get completely blown out the door!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: It's in the Cards!

A few days ago I shared with you several vintage Valentines that I was using as inspiration for this year's card making. After pondering the friendly messages, the colorful flowers and the array of timeless hearts, I began photocopying the designs onto a creamy paper stock.

Next, I carefully cut them out and admired them for a while. I was reminded of a Valentine's Day while I was in third grade. Each student was to transform a shoebox into a one-of-a-kind creation  in which to receive his or her valentines. I cut out small squares of white tissue paper and glued each one for a fluffy puff-ball of a Valentine's Day mailbox.

Now back to my cards: I didn't want to over-embellish them since their original forms are quite charming, but I also didn't want to send my friends a photocopy of a card I found at a yard sale. So for the sweet design of the cupid, I added a few sparkles of glitter on her wings and the ribbons.

Then I remembered a treasure trove of doilies I found at a garage sale one year. Now what could I do with those?

Why not cut out individual shapes for  a three-dimensional border on one of my designs? (That's what I did during Super Bowl! )

Here's the finished assortment. As you can see, they retain much  the flavor of the originals, but with an individualized twist that I definitely put my own heart into.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Object of My Desire: Snack Time!

When I'm rummaging through boxes at an estate sale or gazing over tables heaped with merchandise in somebody's yard, my eye is always magnetized to items that remind me of my childhood or my home town.  That's why I had to have these relics of the past bundled bundled with a bunch of promotional pencils and labeled $1. Guy's potato chips  are made by a snack food company of the same name that has been in business since 1938. And while I don't remember it selling nuts or "Cheez Stix," its slogan is forever embedded in my memory: "Don't Forget the GUY'S." 

And I haven't!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: Art of the Every-Day

When my friend Yukiko Koide brings her art from Tokyo to share with New York, I always know I'll discover works that inspire my own creativity, such as these wonders by Alison Foshee that transform every-day objects into fanciful pieces. After inspecting these cheerful, visual explosions, I realized that the floral display blossoms in a rainbow of pushpins and the orange wheels whirl with "thank you" labels.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous


The Elegant Thrifter

The Find: Child's Play

This bright, spring-like day in New York City made me think of this post from the past. Enjoy! 

If you're experiencing a gray, slushy day like the one in New York today, this cheery setting from The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details might brighten your day. Created by acclaimed wedding designer Michelle Rago and photographed by Jim Franco, this table stands out to me for the way Michelle used everyday, inexpensive objects to create a tabletop that is bright and sunny.

Even the lowly, deli-type carnation is glorified in a vessel of blue refrigerator glass resting under a sail of craft paper held high with a found-in-the-yard twig mast. The glasses are the kind that I find at garage sales for about $1 a set, or maybe a quarter apiece. And then the final touch comes with the cloth napkins -- hopefully ones you have on hand. Fold them into sailors hats and we're ready for smooth sailing!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thrifter