I went thrifting in what feels like the first time since hell froze over and was feeling a bit rusty after an extended break from being out on the streets patrolling for vintage goods. I spent most of the day trying to find a groove but only found jack squat while wadding through packed thrift stores listlessly and a bit distracted. I hit all the usual spots and nothing – not even interesting smalls. It was like a wasteland of overpriced crap out there.

On the way to hit the last store on my route, I spotted a sign for a new thrift store that ended up being tucked away in an industrial storage facility in a total no-mans land of warehouses and despair. I can not explain how nice it is to find somewhere new, somewhere fresh, somewhere very well priced. Inside was great – just that perfect mix of jumbled furniture, racks of clothes and strange electronics, disgruntled employees and that very distinct thrift store smell.

Smells like victory.

There is nothing like 50% off day, and nothing is as good as a comfy vintage chair that swivels and rocks and only costs $10.

I’m calling it “The Captain’s Chair” and The Captain approves.

Maya, of Maya’s fabulous east coast home, sent me some images to show off her freshly procured vintage Tomado-Holland wall shelf that she’s been hunting for, for what seems like forever. These Dutch manufactured cuties are usually made with wood or enamel shelves and have thin edged metal supports. They remind lots of folks of a similar modular shelving unit called the String System created by Swedish designer Nils Strinning. I absolutely go bonkers for String units which are still manufactured today, but can get very pricey.

Delicious stringy storage.

I have to admit that I was never a huge fan of the little Tomado shelves and might have argued their merits with Maya at length. Honestly, I probably didn’t really give them a chance…and now they’ve kind of grown on me. So, Maya is right – they are awesome. Both useful and cute they add a great bit of floating storage to all sorts of spaces. String or Tomado? Both please.

I’ve seen these little shelves pop up all over, but if you desperately need some Tomado I know Amsterdam Modern carries a variety and they can almost always be found on Ebay. Sometimes they show up in vintage stores and on occasion at flea markets. Keep your eyes peeled!

Maybe I picked up another burl wood table off of Craigslist. Maybe its a small one that is a perfect match of the other small burl table chilling in the bedroom. Maybe they are going to be nightstands, who knows! What of it?

Maybe I spent my only day off this week picking up said table from a lady on houseboat. Maybe because “Gary” sucks.

Yeah Gary. I’m giving it to you. HARD.

I’m not even sure how to start explaining this whole mess. Let us just say it is in progress and leave it at that.

Oh my.

I just checked and the last time I went thrifting was in May – and come on that didn’t even really count. I mean I went to one estate sale and one thrift store on the way home which is pretty much like not going at all, you know, like dog years are to human years – two months not thrifting is like two years to me. Damn you crazy day job schedule!

On the way home from a botched trip of fun I made The Boy stop at my favorite Salvation Army in hopes of beating some traffic. I blame him. He found this painting of Captain Seaman or whatnot and pointed it out to me. Even though a moratorium was placed on buying any new art, I just couldn’t resist.

Look at that wee little child molester mustache and the lazy eye. Classic.

In order to show off Captain Cool Guy’s installation here is a sneaky peek at how the master bedroom is shaping up. The new dresser is chillaxing, waiting for an oily rub down and the bed is in some desperate need of attention. Still have a lot to do, but hopefully it turns out all right.

Anyone have a source for a perfect light gray duvet? That is super affordable and awesomely simple. Speaking of, why are bed linens so fugly and expensive!?

I picked up a vintage Danish dresser off a lady out in the desert. It was weird. Craigslist is weird sometimes.

I drove a good two hours after work in about 120 degree heat to get to her place in Indio. When I got out to her dismal place the piece was WAY MORE damaged than her posting or pictures alluded to. Chips, missing veneer, scratches, water damaged – pretty much the gamut of shit that can go wrong with furniture. Originally I had talked her down to $100 via email when it was clear that the listing had been languishing on CL for some time, but when I arrived and saw what kind of shape the dresser was in I was like I will give you forty bucks and you should thank me.

We argued. She gave me a sob story about her divorce after 30 years and her ten kids. I sweated in the UNBEARABLE heat. She talked me up, I talked her down and finally we arrived at  a price under a $100 but over $40. Pretty much I didn’t want to have wasted my time driving all the way out there.

I’m going to fix it up as much as I can and have it live in the master bedroom. Since we got rid of almost everything in there at the big sale this is one of the first steps for the big redecoration of the master bedroom – yet again.

Hopefully by the end of summer we can pull it together. I’ve got some projects brewing…

Remember when I went all bonkers on that Craigslist guy and his stupid driftwood tables? Well, I’ve been on the hunt for some of those chunky organic looking burl wood root coffee tables for awhile now and finally scored. On Craigslist of course, different guy though.

We immediately had to take them outside for a good scrub down. Both were chock full of years of dust and dog hair, a snickers wrapper, push pins, and gum. Yuck.

BTW, these things weigh a fucking ton. I almost passed out trying to get it out of my car with The Boy, saw stars and everything, and skinned up my forearms pretty good. Great vintage always comes with pain! Speaking of pain, this Craigslist guys wife just kept yammering in my ear about kids clothes and her sister and their impending bankruptcy the entire time we were there, like one long LOUD ass run-on sentence. TMI bi-otch. I’ve had a run of a few pretty painful Craigslist visit lately, just another reminder of the crazies out and about in the Inland Empire.

It’s so hard to photograph these things. The den is like a vortex for bad photos since the space is awkwardly laid out and dim to boot. The weird curvy glass is reflecting all horrible and driving me bananas. I kind of want a square piece of glass for this thing and I’m thinking the cowhide rug is not working so well, plus I kind of am starting to hate those shelves. Now I gotta rethink this WHOLE room. Jesus Christ.

I liked the Eames elliptical table we had in the den before, but that thing is so goddamn low. How do people do it? I got tired of needing to crunch my whole body into a yoga ball every time I wanted to set down a drink.

When I talked to the Craigslist guy on the phone I originally asked just about the coffee table. He had it listed and languishing at $250 for a month. Of course I asked if he would be willing to negotiate on the price of the coffee table and he stated that he pretty much just wanted these beasts out of his house. We agreed to sell both tables to me for $100, even though I didn’t really have a place for or want the side table, but, I did take it off his hands in the end.

I stuck the side table in the pit that is our master bedroom to function as a temporary nightstand. We sold almost everything out of that bedroom and now need to redecorate, so you know that big plans are a-brewing! Too bad my sketch-up plan for it crashed and didn’t save and now I gotta start all over like a stupid jerk that doesn’t save a few hours worth of work…

OK. The kitchen chair issue got solved.

I procured these fine babies off the same stylish fellows who supplied the new kitchen light. Holla!

You guys spoke and I tried to listen. We are going to go ahead and do a big sale!

Mark your calendars, gas up your cars, put on clean underwear because we are having an all out ESTATE SALE at the Brick House. All of this and MORE will be available for your shopping pleasure on Saturday, June 12th from 9am till 4pm. 

Mod Orange Chaise, Eames Knock Off Lounger, 1960’s Mosaic Tile Coffee Table, Brass Laurel Lamp, Brown Saltman Hexagon Tables, Mod Table Pair, Rattan Hanging Egg Chair…

Yeah, you want this!

OMG. So much crap for your house!

Orange Eames Rocker, Lamps! Brown Saltman Hexagon Coffee Table, Monkey Pod Raw Edge Table, Black Krueger Metal Arm Chairs, Lane Side Table with Storage, Did I mention Danish modern LAMPS?

George Nelson Style Slat Bench! Holler.

Brown Jordan Faux Bamboo Patio Chairs, Freestanding Malm Fireplace

Check out that Fuzzy Bench.

Lamps!

Brass Faux Bamboo Bar Cart, Panton Flower Pot Lamp, Retractable Red Lamp, Big Ass Yellow Lamp

This AWESOME mid century sofa. New upholstery and barely used.

Plus there are tons of bric-a-brac including Studio Pottery, Dansk, Rosti, Art Glass, Blenko, Catherine Holm, Alexander Girard, Terrariums, Paintings, Needlepoint, Kilims, and so much MORE.

I got too much stuff, and it’s overwhelming to list it all online. I’m going crazy just trying to figure out what to do with all this crap it till Saturday.  Hopefully I can sell a lot of it at the sale and then Craigslist the rest of the bigger ticket items. If there is anything you desperately want RIGHT NOW, please email me at contact@the-brick-house.com and we can discuss. Sorry homies shipping is a-making me crazy! I know I suck!

When I went to go post the sale on Craigslist it reminded me not to worry too much…

Please come! I swear that it might be fun. Maybe there will be something delicious to drink and some music bumping to get the party started…

I picked up this set of modernist fireplace tools recently. I’ve been looking for a set like this for a long while (even though we haven’t ever used our fireplace) and it popped up unexpectedly when I got lost looking for a Salvation Army and ran into a freshly opened consignment shop called “Cottage Consignments”.

Yeah, I know. I didn’t have much hope.

True to form almost everything in the shop was dreadful…but…I’ve found that sometimes it’s good to get off the beaten path to hunt for a little gem amongst all the crap; and if the shop doesn’t specialize in that particular style you’re looking for – guess what – the pricing is WAY better.

On our little trip the Boy and I stopped in a little vintage/antique/junk shop. Of course I had to drag him in, but he did spot something…

“Hey, they have that ottoman from the living room outside.”

I was so excited! Franco Albini!!! Too bad it was in TERRIBLE condition, but for $3 I couldn’t resist. The bigger news is this: How well is The Boy progressing in vintage spotting?!? Very well. Now if I could only get him to enjoy thrifting…

The lady was all saucer eyes and disbelief when I bought it. “Well, it sure is rattan…”