the low down on green living
January 1st, 2008
Vintage & Used Furniture: Find Green Gold
One of the most environmentally smart things you can do is reuse, reuse, reuse…and furniture is a great product that can be used by multiple generations. At our house, we are huge fans of used– or as the fashion media likes to call it “vintage”– home furnishings. We bought our dining room set used and always get compliments. We have two used chairs, many lamps, a bench, a desk and some side tables. Used/vintage furniture adds warmth, history and serious eco-savvy to any home. Who knew our grandmothers were eco-pioneers when they used to go antique-ing??
So I thought it a blog piece on where to find used furniture across the country might be useful. If used furniture is just not your thang, please read our earlier post on sustainable new furniture options.
First stop, Craigslist and eBay. You can find A-M-A-Z-I-N-G furniture on both sites. Here at Low Impact Living, we got our office desks, chairs and conference table from Craigslist and a used furniture store here in LA for the whopping sum total of $1500. Is that not such a steal? We felt like eco-bandits.
Used Furniture Outlets in Los Angeles
There is a very well-known and loved company in LA called Wertz Brothers. They have two huge locations– one in Santa Monica and one in West LA. Each building holds more furniture than you can fathom. (That’s a row of chests in the photo.) There are Victorian antiques, mid-century pieces and items from two years ago. I have personally bought many items from this place and the deals are not to be believed. If you have not been, please go. It will convert you to used furniture forever!
Another great place in LA is Casa Victoria. They offer useful and quirky home furnishings at very affordable prices. You’ll find both real quality Deco antiques as well as funky “conversation pieces” from the ’70s. They have two locations– one in Silverlake and one in Little Ethiopia on Fairfax.
If you’re up for funkier finds, go give a look-see at Nick Metropolis on La Brea. Between old store signs and the occasional stuffed life-size Fred Flintstone, you’ll also find very good home furniture. Looking for a leopard-print sofa? This is the place. It’s just a hoot to check it all out– you won’t regret the trip. (There are several other good antique stores on that same stretch of La Brea, so cruise around and see it all.)
San Francisco
Retro@Home is a fabulous resource in the Bay Area. Store owner Val Ibardolasa opened Retro@Home in April of 2000. Her showroom features “mini-vignettes” of furniture coupled with accessories to help customers visualize a mid-century modern environment. Every item at Retro@Home has been personally selected by Val with special attention given to condition and good design. Val also offers interior design services and can help you make custom furniture with sustainable, non-toxic materials if you’re interested. Stop in and see her and the wonderful furniture at Retro@Home!
If you’re looking for a more eclectic mix of furniture and “good ole stuff”, you might try going to Moving Sale in the Soma area. They have “Everything you could possibly need, piled from floor to ceiling– literally!” It sounds like bargain-diggers paradise to me.
New York
One place I am dying to visit is Secondhand Rose in Tribeca. This place looks like a trip– they are brimming over with Asian antique, vintage wallpaper and even a collection of original vintage linoleum! Browse through their intriguing website and you’re sure to want to go check it out in person. (That’s the store pictured at right.)
Las Venus specializes in “20th Century Pop Culture.” They have three locations around New York and they carry a wide selection of mid-century furniture, lighting and accessories. As they say, “Life is short. Good style is forever.” Tres chic, tres sustainable.
If you are looking for any 20th Century modern office furniture (and some of it could be used beyond an office), then you must visit Two Jakes in Brooklyn. They have over 10,000 square feet of inventory and they always have amazing furniture from Steelcase, Herman Miller, Knoll and many other well-known modern design leaders. It’s an excellent outlet, and they won a Best of New York award in 2007 from New York Magazine.
Chicago
In Chicago there are several good outlets for various budget levels. At the high end of the scale there is Modern Times, which features gorgeous vintage modernist furniture, light fixtures, jewelry and more. You’ll find some very unique, artistic pieces here. They are only open on the weekend and by appointment, so be sure to call.
Night and Day Vintageis another wonderful store in Chicago. Whether you are looking for a vintage ball gown or some older furniture, this is the place for you. They have Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Tiki Room (love that!) and other styles of furniture. This store looks like a ton of fun (shown at left)– go in and check it out.
George Lowellis another store you might wish to visit. Designer and owner George Lowell Arduser offers vintage, antique, one-of-a-kind items here at his well-laid-out store. He showcases a mix of eras and styles. Chairs, tables, and chests share the small storefront space, but it is easy and pleasant to browse the assortment.
Do you have a vintage/used furniture store in your town that you love? Please write a note about it in the comments section!
Comments
Evan Gould
January 4th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Great article! 75% of the furniture in my home came from Wertz Bros. It really is a good resource for used furniture. Recycling great furniture is cooler than buying new.
Rob Johnson
January 8th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Great article, but I wish you guys would expand your boundries a bit. There are other areas in the nation besides LA, San Fran and Chicago. Of course every major city has the Salvation Army and goodwill.
Rob Johnson
January 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Great article, but I wish you guys would expand your boundries a bit. There are other areas in the nation besides LA, San Fran,Chicago and NY. Of course every major city has the Salvation Army and goodwill.
Life Less Plastic
January 17th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Cute! I’m live in Chicago so I am definitely going to check these stores out. Thanks!
Anna Hackman
January 20th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Great article. I am a used furntiure junkie because I can’t stand the smell of new furniture. What about garage sales???? I bought 2 chairs and painting for pennies. The hunt is so much fun. What about antiques as well. Love 1930s and 1940s furniture.
Also, there is a new site called www.furniturefindex.com which was started by a decorator for people to sell there once loved possessions. She also has overstocked showroom furniture as well. Check it out.
I love ebay and craig’s list but am going to check out Two Jakes in brooklyn.
Anna www.green-talk.com
Kim
January 28th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I live in Michigan and Los Angeles
While LA has a many great stores, I have found that Michigan has a few gems.
One of my favorite is the Habitat for Humanity “Restore it” stores like this one:
http://www.h4h.org/restore.html - take a look.
Most communities have a HFH - Restore it
Ann Arbor has :
SECOND TIME AROUND
Sheila Tuckett
February 13th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Its about time someone started a blog on the obvious!!!vintage furniture and collectibles is the way to go GREEN. In the nation’s capital, Washington DC, in the center of hip Georgetown, locals, diplomats and students crowd into a tiny rowhouse named appropriately, LIVING ROOMS. Here they shop for vintage furniture and original art to decorate pricey condos, consulates and student rentals. Living Rooms also has a nice selection of estate and costume jewelry along with suprisingly nice silverware. The owner, a savvy British lady does a brilliant job of recycling local Washingtonians discarded furnishings making these semi-antiques affordable and available for the next generation of capital dwellers.
Check it out at 3231 P St in Georgetown. Call ahead 202-333-3340.
Pauline
February 17th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I’m guessing that by the time we’ve gotten the used furniture, most of the off-gassing from whatever toxic materials were used would have already happened, right? While I LOVE the idea of recycling furniture, I also worry about those chemicals. Thoughts?
Jessica Jensen
February 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Yes your exactly right about the off-gas issue….the majority of older, used furniture will have already off-gassed. Yet another benefit of vintage furnishings!
Nancy Kolger
February 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I have many allergies and going green means no dust, mold, mites, etc. for me. I am a little concerned about used furniture and have been trying to locate more wooden type yet that is comfortable to sit or lay on. Any suggestions????
Kristin
March 20th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Thank you! I have been an antique ‘freak’ since I was 16 years old! My family has always had antiques that have been passed down through the family or bargain shopped for at auctions and yard sales. I’ve just always thought it was made better than the new stuff and never really thought about the ‘green factor’.
Craigslist has become a great tool for me! My family also has a ‘right of 1st refusal’ if any of us wants to get rid of furniture. It’s been great for all of us as we move to different homes or have lifestyle changes. Or, if we just get bored with our decor!
Donna
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I sympathise with the allergies issue. I have a double whammy, chemically sensitive and allergic to mold! Actually chemically sensitive because I’m allergic to mold, the aftereffects of a bad exposure which is taking awhile to wear off. Anyway yes, most older furniture has outgassed, which is great, but then sometimes it does have other problems. There are some stores I just can’t go in to look around because there are mildewed clothes or magazines and/or “air fresheners” to cover up the smell of the mildewed clothes and magazines! Some tips on minimizing allergy issues, and also not bringing home clothes moths or other problems… Metal, plastic, solid wood well varnished, things with simple lines all much less likely to harbor problems.. It pays to be cautious with wicker, paper, paper mache, and of course cushions, uphoistery etc. If you really like the thing see if you can wash it without ruining it, or maybe replace the cloth, like you can make a new seat cushion for a dining chair. Bit more difficult if its an upholstered wing back! If possible isolate the new thing when you first get it home so if there is a problem it doesn’t spread to the rest of your stuff. Maybe wipe it down with hot soapy water or vinegar, or a mild bleach solution. I really like to set things out in the sun for awhile. Sunshine is an excellent mold killer and general disinfectant and sometimes helps with clothes moths, which prefer darkness -although it doesn’t help with eggs. Also talk to the vendor and find out about return policies, if I get it home and find out I really can’t live with it am I going to be stuck?
Jon Koch
March 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Generations is a great store located in Cedarburg, WI. About 65% of what they sell is used furniture, accessories, lighting, flooring and artwork. The other 35% is new and they are designers, so they offer window treatments, fabric, reupholstery and design services. The store layout is well done and you can kind of get a taste from their website.
Green Your Decor - Your guide to stylish, eco-friendly decor!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[…] One great way to ensure that your home decorating is green and environmentally friendly is very simple: use vintage furniture. This tip was inspired in part by the Low Impact Living blog. […]
Jennae Petersen
April 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Great post! This inspired me to tell readers at my blog the same thing. It’s amazing what used products you can find if you are just willing to look. Most of the furniture my husband and I owned for our first several years of marriage were hand-me-downs or came from consignment or thrift stores. And all of it was in great shape and of pretty good quality.
Thankfully, noone in my household has allergies, so we didn’t have to worry about that. And also thankfully, we didn’t have mold or any other problems relating to poor care of the furniture by previous owners.
Visit www.greenyourdecor.com for green home decorating products and tips!
lisa
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I looooove “vintage” furniture. We are completely furnishing our new off-grid home this way!
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