Thrift it – Frames

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love a good thrifting treasure hunt.  Some of my favorite furniture pieces are thrifted finds.  But, and this may come as a surprise, I didn’t always love to shop at thrift stores.  Correction.  I misspoke, er miswrote.  I didn’t always love to shop for house stuff at thrift stores.  Since my teenage years I’ve enjoyed thrifting for clothes, purses (I LOVE vintage handbags), jewelry, etc., but home decor and furniture was not my thing until much later in life.

I don’t exactly know what inspired the shift, but one day while I was looking at vintage coats a lamp caught my attention and the rest, as they say, is history.  I was hooked.  Shopping antique malls, consignment stores and the Goodwill became a part of my regular browsing routine.  And over the years I’ve rescued furniture, lamps, art, mirrors, dishes, you name it.  I believe wholeheartedly that vintage treasures add style and soul to every space, no matter what your personal design style!  And the bonus is they’re often friendly to the ol’ budget.

But so many of my friends say, “I never know what to look for.”  They say they go to an antique mall or a consignment store and there is just so. much. stuff.  “It’s so hard to pick through to find anything good,”  they say.

And I get it.  Sometimes the diamond in the rough is under 20 layers of dust, depending on where you’re shopping. And the idea of thrifting becomes kind of like the idea of making a recipe you found on Pinterest.  Better in theory than in real life.  😉

So I thought it might be fun to start a series here on the blog this fall entitled – Thrift It!  Where I’ll basically give you a run down on what specific things to look out for.  It’ll kind of be like a road map to thrifting to inspire you to get back out there and find that vintage treasure!  Every week I’ll highlight a new category.  Sound good?!

Let’s Go!

Thrifting for Frames

It’s the first section of the store I hit at Goodwill every time!  Vintage frames are fairly easy to come by.  You just need to be able to overlook dust, possible dents and/or dings, and the art they come with.  Case in point, this vintage beauty I recently found at Goodwill for a whopping $4.99!  Now, while the frame is a little banged up, I actually really love this original art. But more often than not, especially at Goodwill, I’m in it only for the frame not the print/art piece.

In this case I just so happened to fall in love with both.  But for now, I want to separate these pieces.

The damage is easily “fixed” or should I say disguised with a little Rub ‘n Buff in gold leaf.  But for those of you who love a distressed look, a little white washing would give this frame a farmhouse-y look.  Or a high gloss spray paint would make it feel a little more modern.  Don’t shy away from ornate, even if you lean sleek and modern.  For $4.99 it’s worth a chance!  This frame can be re-imagined in so many different ways depending on the style you’re after.

Sure, even after the rub ‘n buff you can still see the damage, but it’s much less noticeable now.  And for me and my style, a little patina never hurt anybody.  😉  But keep in mind, sometimes you’ll run across vintage frames in pristine condition!  The point is, keep frames on your radar when you’re thrifting!

(Etsy printable art that I had printed on canvas.)

Mixing Old with New

I’ve always loved a good mix of styles.  Pairing old with new, modern with traditional, masculine with feminine, mixing in interiors makes things personal and interesting.  And when it comes to vintage frames, I especially love pairing them with more contemporary or modern art pieces.

(pendant)

Can you even see the damaged part of the frame now?

More Vintage Frame Ideas

Every frame doesn’t need a picture or piece of art.  Ornate frames are art in and of themselves. Here I dry brushed this frame with some white paint to hide the damage and highlight the details.

(bench)

A little twine taped to the back with packing tape and a couple of clips from drapery hooks plus a graphic print found on Etsy, and you have an interesting gallery wall display that’s easy to change seasonally or whenever the mood strikes.

(gold-lined lamp shade)

Thrifted Frames

There is just something about a vintage frame that makes any and every piece of art feel a little bit cooler.  At least I think so.  😉

So next time you venture into a Goodwill, consignment or thrift shop, be sure to hit up the art!  There’s sure to be a treasure in there somewhere!

Happy Thrifting!