Since we have a place in Florida to furnish, I have been thinking a lot about decorating. While I have a certain style (colonial, timeless, less is more, well constructed, traditional), down south I plan on going in an entirely different direction (well, not losing well constructed). This is a beach condo, and I plan on embracing that! I want color, color and more color! But while the products I buy can be inexpensive, I don’t want “cheap” things.
I once wrote a post, many many years ago, on Coupons, Deals and More about how different Hubby and I are in the quality vs quantity regard. Hubby would buy 10 pair of $10 pants even if it meant tossing all of them in the trash at the end of the season, and I would rather purchase one pair of well made $100 pants (that made me look at least 10# lighter) that I could wear for 10 years. Hubby’s motto is “the cheaper the better”, my motto is “I don’t ever want to replace that”… and sometimes, having those two mottoes mesh is very difficult.
The same goes for our home decor. I’d rather pay for a well made piece, and have it F-O-R-E-V-E-R! than redecorate every few years with IKEA. Even Sonny-boy learned that lesson without my having to say a word. He’s a little too large to do a flop-down on anything other than well made furniture. Hubby? He loves, loves, loves IKEA.
Now, since this is a second place and not our primary residence, as well as a beach condo, in addition to color I want functional, comfortable goods. I had considered taking a ride to North Carolina Hubby and I did that before we were married and got a fabulous deal on our Hancock and Moore family room sofa, chair and ottoman. I know we will take a ride to Orlando’s Cort Furniture Outlet, and shop St Augustine’s many antique stores. I will be a sport too, and attend a few auctions if Hubby asks. But there are certain things I want to bring down with us including: dishes, silverware, some pots and pans, towels, bedding and lighting.
Lately, lighting has been on my radar. I’ve wanted a particular lamp for our living room, and have looked at least a few times a month for a while now. I managed to grab the one above for a great price and went over to Shades Unlimited to buy a shade. There were several looks I liked, but I decided on a tall slim look because this was going on a corner secretary. I wouldn’t mind finding a few more of this lamp, especially for the fleabay price I paid, but I doubt that will ever happen!
While looking for a living room lamp for our house, I’ve started to look for table lamps for the condo. We don’t need to bring down all the table lamps with us for all the rooms, but I would like to have our living room and bedroom lamps purchased and ready for use when we head down to Florida. I told Hubby we are attaching that roof top carrier he bought last year to fit all this stuff! Either that, or we will be taking the truck.
I have a preferred table-lamp-look and have been haunting eBay for deals for the Florida condo, especially on Stiffel or Baldwin lighting … the vintage stuff. They always made great pieces many moons ago, and if they need work they can be rewired before we head down south. Unless…do you know of any lighting companies that turned out great lighting pieces? Or any that are currently making great pieces today?
So that is my story – I’ve been looking for vintage lighting fixtures on eBay! How about you? What do you buy on eBay?
Barb says
We buy lots of things on eBay. My husband collects model cars and builds them, so that is a good source. I have bought Vera Bradley purses on eBay and currently we are waiting for delivery of a new pond pump. We check there for a lot of things before buying, but we also use it as a source for price checking before we buy locally.
Ann says
Barb do you have a good Craigslist? We really don’t – it is good for real estate, rentals and cars, but not “stuff”. I envy people who can check out Craigslist for good “stuff” and pick-up locally.
Ann
Barb says
We don’t use Craigslist at all. Hubby is very set in his ways and I can’t get him to change how he shops online. As for me, I just go to the online stores that I am interested in.
Barbee says
Totally off topic:
That is a very attractive looking table display. Very classy.
Ann says
Thanks!
Ann
KimH says
I agree.. very nice table & lamp..
I cant help you on lighting.. Im less than clueless about it..
M’honey & I both like ebay and he buys printing presses & any & all equipment associated with it, hes bought a couple cars, and various odd & end guy things..
I tend to buy books, plant starts (garlic, wild leeks), Food Saver Bags & rolls, & coupons every once in a blue moon..
Ann says
Thanks Kim!
Ann
Candie says
Ann, I don’t know if this will help but have you looked on CraigsList. As I mentioned before I have two friends that have bought almost all their furniture from North Carolina Hand Made Furniture Makers. They were looking for a farmhouse dining set and looked for 9 months on CraigsList. They finally found it, the person wanted $2,000 for it and the manufacturer was Drexel Heritage. They contacted the person and offered less, she refused, 2 months later, still on CraigsList. This was in perfect condition not even 1 year old. They contacted her again and she said no to their offer, guess what, the woman called them back and took $1,000 for a $5,000 table. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, of course you need Hulk Hogan to move it. You can find the bargains but sometimes you have to wait months. They got an antique double teachers desk, selling at $1,295. Again the person did not want to sell it but they made an offer and 3 months later she called them back, they looked at it and offered her $600. It is worth $2,000. I am now looking for my dining table and couch, and if you search all the main cities and put in by owner and the brand you want you will be surprised at what you find. My friends said to look for a formal dining room set and a formal living room set because people hardly use these as opposed to a couch and dining room table.
As for Ebay I have bought arts and crafts, a purse and a few other miscellaneous things. I agree with you, you get what you pay for, you buy cheap it doesn’t last. I have a blouse that was over $250 but Neiman’s had it on sale for $60, I bought it, it is over 10 years old and with dry cleaning it looks and feels brand new.
Candie
Ann says
I commented above that we have a lousy local Craigslist for furniture, Candie. Our Craigslist seems to be all about houses and rentals and even jobs, but little good “stuff”.
Ann
KimH says
Aol must have decided it likes you today… your reply notifications are coming to my New Mail instead of my Junk Mail folder.. at least for this post & how does your garden grow.. so weird.
I’ve never been a fan of Craigslist either & could never find what I was looking for until last week. I wanted to buy used canning jars and after searching in 3 different catagories, I found some.. went out & picked them up the next day. I did have to do different category searches to find them though..
Ann says
YAY! Aol likes me! 😀
Ann
Marie says
Nothing to do with eBay but as a fellow Western New Yorker I have a FANTASTIC little antique shop to share with you. I do not know the name of it or their hours (I’ve shopped on Sat. morning/afternoon) but its located on Seneca Street across from 84 Lumber (6061 Seneca St) in Elma. They have so many treasures you can hardly walk plus they set up a tent outside full of furniture. Their prices are really good too!! I highly recommend checking them out.
Ann says
Thanks Marie!!! I will definitely make a trip. Thanks
Ann