Photo courtesy Dial M for Modern
Chicagoans know how to decorate stylishly, what to look for,
and why this is oh-so-fabulous for sustainability
Popping into flea markets or vintage furniture stores on weekends is great fun for many. Perusing vintage handmade quilts and glassware, Luxo lamps and hand-turned chairs, retro clocks and old paintings. Something catches your fancy, it’s the right price, and you scoop up your treasure. At home you regale guests with the thrill of the hunt and vague facts on the item’s provenance.
But lately, especially among millennials and Gen Z-ers, thrifting is about more. It’s about sustainability, minimalism, and simplicity. We simply produce too much stuff. And when something gets shabby or tiresome, it gets pitched. Unless someone rescues what’s sturdy or worthwhile from the dumpster, there’s an 80% chance it will end up in a landfill.
“Estate sales, vintage shops, and online marketplaces are filled with high quality pieces for a fraction of the price. And, these pieces often have incredible character you can’t find in a new purchase,” interior designer Kirsten Flynn wrote in her Sustainable Home blog. “And remember, you can easily update these heirloom pieces for a fraction of the cost of purchasing new high-quality furniture. So focus on sturdy construction and great shapes, knowing the upholstery and finishes can be updated to your taste.”
Clockwise from top left: Mid-century modern teak Danish-style reclining chair by Guy Rodgers from Chairish. A vignette by Chicago designer Brianne Bishop centers on a copper and brass scuttle with lion’s head accents, sourced from Randolph Street Market. Danish brutalist chair from the 1960s plus vintage ‘70s Danish sofa from South Loop Loft. 1950s giltwood sunburst mirror from Chairish. A mid-century modern teak tambour sideboard and colorful art are part of the wares at Dial M for Modern. Spotted at Randolph Street Market, vintage kilims and dhurries, some with typically Navajo motifs, are especially popular today. Vintage furniture at South Loop Loft is curated into attractive vignettes. Danish 1970s pottery pendant light from Chairish. Antique c. 1890s French Louis XV–style carved walnut mirrored armoire was part of the inventory at Warehouse 55. Modern finds from South Loop Loft look straight out of a high-end design magazine. Chicago interior designer Donna Mondi styled the top of an elegant custom KOKET bureau with a bronze from Randolph Street Market. Vintage ’60s Palm Beach–style, hand-painted secretary—only from Chairish.
Recycle, reuse, repurpose: That’s big business
The market for resale (previously owned) home goods is predicted to grow 29% and reach $422 billion by 2027, according to the the 2022 Home Furnishings Resale Report from Chairish, a popular online retailer of vintage home decor. “The environmental benefits of re-commerce are undeniable,” said Gregg Brockway, Chairish CEO and Cofounder, in the report.
Goodwill, a nonprofit with thousands of thrift stores nationwide, is perhaps the cradle of eclectic: providing generations with mix-and-match, vintage decor. From the website: “When it comes to clothing, electronics, and other home goods, it takes a lot of water and energy to make these items. When you thrift something, you are not directly supporting the demand for new things to be made. This has a positive impact, since resources and energy were already used to create that item.”
Beyond saving raw materials and manufacturing and shipping waste, buying furniture locally also reduces the household’s environmental impact. “Not shipping things helps the carbon footprint,” said Sally Schwartz, cofounder of the popular Randolph Street Market in Chicago.
Kyla Herbes in her dining room, where she combined traditional and modern style. The print, from Picasso’s Blue Period, is the only non-original art in her home. The china cabinet once belonged to her great-great-grandmother.
A ’50s Carrara-topped painted table with fluted legs from Facebook Marketplace is paired with Pierre Cardin mid-century brass chairs from Etsy. Blue-green performance fabric Ultrasuede replaced pink taffeta upholstery on dining chairs, a more practical choice.
A “skinny” kitchen makeover features modern brass stools with canted frames (Scout Design Studio). For contrast, Herbes favored a vintage door with etched glass from Facebook Marketplace for the entry into her pantry.
The all-black art by Kelly Caldwell is textured, featuring separate squares, some crinkled, with glossy and matte finishes. (The Saarinen-style table is an inexpensive-but-sturdy Target find).
Media drive demand
Schwartz has watched her audience get younger—and more intentional. Part of the recent explosion of interest in vintage home decor is social media and influencers. They have driven the desire for one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, and heritage furniture—pieces that have backstories.
“They don’t want Pottery Barn [or mass market],” said Schwartz. “A lot of people [on Instagram] are raving about where they found something. They’re really into the story. They want something noone else has.”
A growing appreciation for craft is emerging at international shows like Maison&Objet and Shoppe Object, a New York exposition held twice a year that also expanded to the High Point furniture market in North Carolina.
In addition, popular TV shows feed trends. Western is having a moment because of Yellowstone, or Mad Men’s mid-century modern.
Resale also has been discovered by niche audiences, like those hooked on granny chic. “Young people have great relationships with their grandparents,” said Schwartz. “The previous generation would [scoff], ‘Oh, this stuff’s old.’ But [this audience] likes the little tea sets. The tea cart. The moments. They make an experience out of it.”
As interest in used and vintage home décor has grown, so have the resources. In Chicago, there are scores of shops, and more in the suburbs. Besides nonprofits like Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity’s Restore, and Brown Elephant (which benefits Howard Brown affordable healthcare for LGBTQ community), flea markets and auction houses like Freeman’s/Hindman, Doyle, Heritage, and Rivich draw crowds. Online shopping includes Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and Mercari.
Looking for a bargain? There’s craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor (a neighborhood site where items sometimes are offered for free). At the higher end, there’s 1stDibs and Chairish.
Thrifting is my jam!
For Kyla Herbes, whose Instagram and blog, House of Hipsters, has more than 124,000 followers, the whole thing is second nature. “Thrifting is my jam!” said the self-taught interior designer.
She got an early start when she was about 7 years old, visiting Wisconsin auctions with her dad. Herbes’ mom worked as a seamstress for an interior design company, so she and her sister grew up around wallpaper samples and bolts of fabric.
“I was an artsy kid. I wanted to find my own style. We went to St. Vincent de Paul [thrift stores]. I thought, This place smells like my grandma, but it’s cool. Everything from clothes to furniture. It’s been in my blood ever since.”
The House of Hipsters blog was born while she was on maternity leave with her second child. “I was bored out of my mind. At home watching HGTV, Secrets from a Stylist.” She identified with its quirkiness, mixing vintage with contemporary.
Herbes lives in a 1986-built home on a leafy street in Barrington, IL, with her husband and children. Traditional outside, the layered interiors are more modern and certainly eclectic! Bargains and some splurges coexist.
It’s a living lab, where she continues to swap vintage furniture in and out. Rooms might get a refresh: wall color, wall covering, or reupholstery. She undertook a kitchen renovation and rethinking of the dated brick fireplace in her living room. Art is a constant; never prints, with one exception.
Consequently, Herbes an acknowledged expert and often consulted on the best places to thrift furniture and vintage home decor.
Some of her favorite Chicagoland furniture thrift stores
- Dial M for Modern From classic Milo Baughman chairs to ’70s funk. A place to find mid-century modern.
- Redefined Décor A curated mix of antiques, vintage décor, and fine art. One-of-a-kind showstoppers, where local interior designers shop.
- Broadway Antiques Market (a.k.a. BAM) Lots of stuff in nooks, glass cases, multiple dealers.
- South Loop Loft The place for statement vintage. Not cheap, but design-y and chic, high-quality, with droolworthy vignettes out of a magazine.
- Randoph Street Market A beloved open-air venue in downtown Chicago for 20 years, weekends in May and September. Food trucks, live music, fresh roast coffee, and mimosas are a bonus to the experience.
- Elkorn Antique Flea Market It’s in Wisconsin four times a year, but Chicago dealers travel north to shop more than 500 dealers.
The curvy, striped Gaetano Pesce is a budget-friendly knockoff of a $7,000 B&B Italia UP chair. The vintage furnishings include a curved vintage Drexel Heritage sofa nicknamed “the croissant” and Milo Baughman brass étagère (South Loop Loft). The striking gramophone art is made of linen.
In the powder room, Herbes displays a small collection of vintage brass trophies. The bold wallpaper backdrop is called Party Animal, from House of Hackney. It’s not a remnant, but at least the company focuses on sustainability.
How to shop vintage home decor and furniture
A lot has changed since Herbes first started thrifting. Especially since the pandemic.
“As people started to remodel, they discovered a myriad of online sources. Some decided it was a quick way to make a buck, flipping what they bought.” She explained that this has been problematic, because it helps drive up prices across the board.
Collectibles, of course, always are at a premium. And designer furnishings will command lofty prices: Milo Baughman, Knoll, Eames, art deco masters like Jean-Michel Frank, and Italian glass like Venini.
House of Hipster top tips for thrifting:
In the primary bedroom, a Global Views embossed metal chest (repurposed) anchors a cozy corner. The tassel-shaped lamp is from the ’70s or ’80s. A silk velvet floral embossed pillow by Anke Dreschel was a splurge.
House of Hipster top tips for thrifting:
- If you’re going to shop for something specific, be prepared. Measure your space. Measure your car. Bring a tape measure.
- Keep a flashlight handy. Some places are dimly lit, and some have basements.
- Always wear old clothes (and, of course, comfy shoes). No fancy purses or jewelry. Nothing flashy. “I wear a grubby baseball cap,” said Herbes. “This is especially important if you’re negotiating.”
- About that. At swap meets or flea markets, you can talk down prices. Don’t try bargaining at a fancier, more curated shop. “When I had a shop [a short-lived vintage furniture store], people would come in and offer 50% of the price. They’d ask how much I would take. I’d tell them the price tag.”
- That said, bundling is not frowned upon. If you’re buying two or three items, dealers might be willing to make a deal, especially if you pay cash, Zelle, or Venmo.
- Leave the Amex card at home. The percentage charged to dealers is higher than other cards.
- Look for marks on furniture—inside drawers or on the base of ceramics.
- For vintage, check for dovetails or dowels on wood furniture. No glue or staples. Hex screws are a red flag.
- Make sure drawers open smoothly. Test out chairs and sofas. If they haven’t been reupholstered, they may need it. Be prepared for the cost (which has gone up), plus the cost of materials. Herbes recommends smelling cushions for signs of pets, smoke, or mold.
- Keep a moving app (like Dolly) on your phone—for those larger pieces you can’t resist.
- With art, buy what you like! You can’t go wrong, as long as you have a place for it.
Yes, there’s the thrill of the hunt. Recently, a woman thrifted a painting for $9.99. Turns out, it was a 1947 signed and titled painting by American abstract expressionist John Ferren. Its value, $15,000 to $20,000. And her kids thought it was ugly!
Then there’s the pride in saving something special from the landfill. It could be unique to your home, with the potential to spark a conversation. And buying one less mass-produced, cheap piece of furniture saves resources and reduces pollution from manufacturing and transportation.
Herbes found the channeled velvet sofa at a Jayson Home warehouse sale. The cocktail table is from an estate sale, and a pair of vintage arched cabinets (Facebook Marketplace) are from Hickory Chair Furniture.
A Gus* Modern tufted sofa (Facebook Marketplace) looks chic with a ram’s head coffee table (craigslist) and a small horn table (Randolph Street Market). The painting: a $25 steal, attributed to Gino Hollander.