I’m an eternal, unapologetic optimist—annoyingly chipper, some might say. We’re back to share the cozy, slightly quirky haul we gathered on our end-of-winter thrift run in Rehoboth, where we set a $100 shopping budget. Since we were staying at John’s parents’ beach house for free (I have the best in-laws ever), allocating a hundred dollars to pick up light fixtures, wall decor, and a few other housey things felt just right to two cheapskates who had already saved triple that by avoiding hotel fees and driving to the beach in winter. These finds aren’t showstoppers yet, but we’ve got plans: paint, frame, hang, retrofit, and generally revive most of them. Here’s what we brought home.
1. You’ve already seen me clutching this $5 thrift store mirror with pure glee. I’m in love with it. The plan is to give it a major splash of color—still deciding which—and then find it a home somewhere in the house.
2 & 3. These orange horse-head bookends were $2.50 each. They’re loud and playful, but I’m tempted to spray them white or pick a bold color like navy or yellow. They’ll probably end up on the built-ins alongside my other ceramic animal friends.
4. I found this light fixture glowing in an antique shop booth and was instantly drawn to it. It was only $19. John was waiting in the car with our sleeping kiddo, so I took a leap of faith and grabbed it without fussing to show him first. Luckily he liked it. We’ll likely paint the brass cap and chain and are considering hanging it in the little sink alcove in our bedroom—though the final spot isn’t decided yet.
5. This $5 iron bee hook spoke to me the moment I saw it. Bees have a sweet significance in our relationship, so this felt right. I envision painting it glossy yellow and using it in the mudroom or laundry room as Burger’s leash hook.
6. I’ll probably paint this $7 wall-mountable iron horse white and hang him in our bright blue hall bathroom, using the ring in his mouth for a hand towel. It should add a little charm and function to the space.
7 & 8. Two wooden plaques were $3 each. John and I thought they might sit well above our bed, flanking our ram friend in the center. We’re undecided about painting them or leaving them natural, but they felt like quiet, useful finds.
9. This tiny wall-mountable gold duck—maybe a goose—was about three bucks and only around five inches wide. We agreed he needed to come home and meet his older duck brother. They might not hang together; this little one could find a spot among the frames in the hallway.
10. Earlier today I shared the $10 green luggage rack we picked up for the guest room. We may paint it and will definitely replace the missing strap. It’s a simple project that should make the guest room more welcoming.
11. Also shared this morning: an $18 paper lantern we plan to hang in the playroom paired with a $5 light kit. I’m fond of its heart details and think it’ll add a sweet, soft glow to the space.
12 (or 12–23 if you count each print separately). Possibly our favorite discovery was a vintage map calendar for $20. Our plan is to disassemble it, frame the individual prints, and hang them together somewhere—maybe the guest room, maybe the playroom, or possibly the frame-filled hallway we’ve been planning. Either way, it’s a treasure trove of small artworks.
All told, we spent $98—Delaware sales-tax-free shopping helped make that the final total. For fun math: the average cost per item comes to about $8 if you count the calendar as one thing, and roughly $4.26 if you treat each map print as a separate piece. Not bad for two light fixtures, a luggage rack, a mirror, bookends, and several pieces of wall decor—more if you include all the vintage maps. I’ll share photos and more details as we paint, frame, hang, and install each item. For now, it’s back to the guest room—there’s cleaning to do and paint swatches to consider.
Psst—We announced this week’s giveaway winners. Click to see if one of them is you.