Create a curated, homey cottage aesthetic (on a budget) using unique thrifted treasures that are meaningful and beautiful to you. Grab those quarters and hit the junkin’ trail!

Happy late July friends! It’s hard to believe how fast summer has flown by. I have spent nearly every day on some kind of project indoors and out, trying to get settled in after the massive move of last year. To make sure I didn’t overwork myself and to get a little “me” time in, I have hit the junkin’ trail a lot this summer (my favorite thrift shops, consigment shops, yard sales and estate sales) a few times a week and on the weekends. I found a few things here and there, but it wasn’t until this weekend that I really hit the junkin’ jackpot! Let’s take a look at what I found this weekend and some of my other favorite thrifted treasures of summer!

Ralph Lauren Blue and White Lamp a.k.a “The Junkin’ Find of the Summer”

On Saturday I scored this gorgeous Ralph Lauren lamp at yard sale for only $20.00!!! I didn’t even try to negotiate the price. It was exactly the style and size of lamp I wanted for my kitchen counter.

Last week when I was taking pictures for my post on decorating with baskets, I started thinking that I should replace the current white Ralph Lauren lamp on the kitchen counter with some kind of blue and white Chinioserie lamp, since the white base gets lost against the white woodwork and walls. I knew chinoiserie lamps can be pricey, but I have seen some more affordable ones at Home Goods so I figured I would just keep my eyes open when shopping there.

Less than a week later, and I have a beautiful chinoiserie lamp sitting on my counter! I think it was a steal at twenty dollars! This is why (at nearly fifty years old with achey joints) I roll out of bed bright and early on Saturday mornings to go thrifting my friends! I just might have to come straight home and make a cup of tea, prop up my feet, put on a heating pad and stare at all my new thrifted treasures for the rest of the evening as a consequence!

Yard sales this summer have had really slim pickins’ and several Saturday mornings I spent driving around town just ended being wastes of time and gas. However, this weekend I really hit a great sale where I found the lamp for $20,  blue transferware plate for $1, little blue transferware bowl $1, brass plate stand for .25, and hurricane candle glass cover for .50. Not pictured are two beautiful Christmas pillows (nearly new, I think they came from Home Goods) purchased for only fifty cents each, two glass vases for .50 each, another smaller hurricane glass candle cover. 50 and a three ring hole punch I will use in my classroom for my students’ sheet music for only a dime!  This sale had some “old school” yard sale prices!

I also found this marble slab at an estate sale for $10. I had been looking for some kind of cutting board or tray just like this to use in the serving section of my china cabinet built in but this size of cutting board is typically fifty dollars or more.

The marble slab remnant fit perfectly, and was just what I was looking for, down to the colors. The center orchid arrangement was also thrifted earlier this summer (just the flowers.)

I gave this thrifted orchid arrangement an upgrade by placing it in a French style urn that I shabbied up a bit. I plan to share a post on the urn and flower arrangement makeover soon.

Here’s how I styled some of my recent finds together. 

I filled the small transferware bowl with lavender buds, and place a sweet thrifted blue bird is nesting on top.I love the Ralph Lauren lamp, but tiny thrifted treasures such as this little bowl and blue bird also bring my such joy.

Additional Favorite Summer Thrifted Treasures

I have been looking all summer for old oil paintings, landscapes, still lifes and vintage prints but they have been very hard to come by. I scored this pretty artwork for $2 at an antiques shop. It’s not a real painting but it is still vintage and creates the same vintage art vibe I am loving right now.

I love how placing all of these random vintage finds together creates a beautiful “collected over time” aesthetic. Using thrifted treasures in this way is how I have always decorated and how I created my own unique style.

I shared about my two recently thrifted faux preserved boxwood topiaries on the farm table in my Cheerful VintageBlue Transferware and Lemons Summer Tablescape post.

The two shabby-French style metal candlesticks on the table are also summer junkin’ finds along with a few more blue and white transferware plates that I was needed to set a table for six.

I found a group of six hand painted Delft style tiles at a thrift shop in Hyde Park New York in late spring when visiting our son at college. I wasn’t sure what to do with them at first, but I am currentlyliking them repurposed as pretty coasters on the summer table.

Well that’s a wrap for now! I do have a few more summer finds that I will reveal when the sunroom and bathroom posts go live. It has taken a while for me to decorate this new house, but with some of these thrifted treasures it is starting to come together. I have to remind myself that it takes time to make a house a home!

Have you scored any great thrifted treasures lately? I love hearing from you! 
Thanks for visiting!

Amber