Everything is Illuminated....

The subtle curves, the hard edges, cool metals, soft fabric, luminous glass... and then, you add light... and the fixture.. and the room are transformed.

Usually estate sales are to clear out everything not tied down... but sometimes you just have to ask... and bring a screwdriver ;)  I haven't been so lucky as to get someone to let me whip out the screwdriver just yet, but I know someday they will... and I'll be ready... in the meantime, I've captured some treasure at the latest house in photo form.  And they're inspiring.

This house was built in ~1955 and was, like our ~1951 house, actually lovingly maintained... ie barely touched.  All... and I do mean all... of the light fixtures were original to the house.  These guys were the cream of the crop.  Double stacked circline fluorescent in the kitchen... like a chrome and fluorescent layer cake!

The two bowl lights: the pink was in one bedroom upstairs, the dove blue in the opposite bedroom I loved how they had designs on both sides of the glass to give even more depth.  And I just love the shape of the pink one.  I get  home and find the IKEA catalog waiting for me and what do I see?  I know that lamp!  Now we all can have one...

What we did come home with will be the subject of many future posts to be sure... also original to the house, but underappreciated, as I fear these light fixtures will be... I just hope the future owners will be kind enough to rehome them so they can live out another happy 50 years.

Seek and ye shall find....

This whole pile for $10!  and a surprise on top :)

I know I can find it cheaper... I can find a better, cooler, funkier one than that... I can rescue something and give it new life... I can find a truly unique treasure...

...if I just keep looking.

Not to say we shouldn't appreciate what we have, make due, reduce, reuse, recycle, etc... but the thrill of the hunt is great.  Especially when you add a dash of creativity to the mix.  As long as I can remember, we always went out garage-saleing, auctioning, and/or antiquing most weekends.  You never knew what diamond in the rough would be waiting for you.  Perhaps a new-to-you toy.  A $500 antique in the $5 box lot.  Some vintage fabric.  A cool old book.  Treasure.  Cheap treasure :)

Maybe (okay, yeah, definitely) it's a bit OCD, but it's also a thrifty way to get stuff you need and be entertained along the way.  Stepping back in time at an estate sale into a turquoise tiled kitchen full of chrome... Listening to the call of a good auctioneer who can roll on, keep the bidding going and joke at the same time.... A living room with a wall (and I do mean a full wall) of martini glasses straight out of Mad Men... Finding dodads and gadgets to do things you never thought you needed a specific tool for... it's fun. 

So yes, ultimately this blog is about creating, but sometimes you need raw materials to work with.  And the sourcing doesn't have to always be work. So next time you need something or need some laughs, try out an estate sale, go to the thrift store... generally think outside the (big)box.  And I'll be sharing some of the stuff we see and find... some of which will just have to come home with us. :)