The Find: A Midwest Marvel

Bob Greenspan, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details shows off a charming example of his and his wife Amy's Midcentury home in Overland Park, Kansas.

Bob is one of the most talented photographers I've ever met. We shared a magical trip to California to document amazing homes that incorporate vintage and thrift for The Find. In fact, Bob shot a full one-third of the book, including Go-Go Jane Wiedlin's downtown LA loft and Kansas City's David Jimenez's 1906 Georgian Revival mansion.

Toward the end of our work in California, Bob started describing his home to me. He shared the story of how he came upon this 1957 A. Quincy Jones home, and then reached into his bag to produce a small book of photos filled with images of his Overland Park treasure. Not only did I want to work with Bob even more, but I also absolutely had to have his home featured in The Find.

Here's a cropped shot of Bob and Amy's dining room. In the center is an R-Way table they found in a local vintage shop, an old neon sign that lights up the corner, and a cheery set of lighting fixtures re-fashioned from their original purpose: illuminating the drive of an old drive-in movie theater.

For more bright examples of Bob Greenspan's gorgeous photography, pick up a copy of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Powell's.

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous

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Reuse & Repurpose: Take Me Out!

The warming spring weather has me thinking a lot about outdoor spaces, and living in a New York apartment without one must make me yearn for one even more.

As we train our eye to find unexpected uses for thrift store finds, we often fall upon a piece that we might never think of to use beyond its intended purpose. I have to admit, this fine, leather example of a wing chair that I found at Housing Works last week doesn't naturally appeal to me. It's coloring suggests an Old English study and it's dimensions, for me in my small space, would overtake any corner of my room and draw too much attention.

One of the things I learned from the amazing David Jimenez, whose 1906 Georgian Revival mansion is featured in my book The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details, is that indoor furniture, when welcomed with an open eye and treated with a creative mind, can go right out doors, 365 days of the year.

David told me the story of being attracted to an unmatched pair of winged chairs on one of his thrifting excursions, but with a few twists and turns, would suit his ultimate purpose. He unified them with white vinyl upholstery and added decorative nail heads -- and voilà! -- they lookabsolutely fresh and new. What's more, he put them out on his elegant portico, adding stately comfort and charm without worry. They are somewhat protected by the portico's roof, but any dust or grime is simply swiped away from the functional vinyl.

For more of David's awe-inspiring work, visit his website: http://www.djjimenez.com. Or to see David's feature in The Find, pick up a copy at Borders, Barnes & Noble,Amazon or Powell's.

Looking for a park bench -- not to buy -- but to lounge on!

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous.

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