Champagne taste on a lemonade budget: How to thrift for your home in high style
Thrifting may be the latest trend in interiors, but it describes the age-old practice of buying other people's items for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Laurel Harry, who lives in Utah, USA, posts about thrifting on Instagram under 'The House that DIY Built'. Her talent is in finding interesting items and integrating them into a stylish interior.
'Are there a lot of thrift stores in Ireland?' she asks, when we talk on the phone. She has three thrift stores right by her house but also travels to out of the way places. 'The smaller and less popular the shops, the better things I find.'
Harry's favourite discoveries include a brass cactus, about 90cm tall. 'It was very cool looking and it lived in our house for a long time – maybe three years – and then I wanted to switch things up and I decided it was time to sell it. I took it to a holiday market at Christmas time, and someone bought it. I was a little sad but I'm not missing it.'
Thrifting has everything going for it – it's enjoyable, sustainable and cheap. It satisfies the urge for novelty in a non-wasteful way. Objects you're tired of, or that no longer match your decorative style, can go right back into the circular economy. The key is knowing when to let go.
'You get that high from the treasure hunting – but my house can't fill it all – now I have room to get more pieces!' Harry says.
Later, she sends me a link to an Instagram reel about the cactus. It shows her taking the cactus on a picnic, bringing it to the playground, and tucking it up in bed (all to the tune of You're My Best Friend by Queen). It's very funny but also makes an important point. Old pieces have personality. They become part of our story and we become part of theirs.
Several of Harry's posts address the interesting theme of making thrift store items less ugly. In this, she's naming the elephant in the room. Inexpensive second-hand items are often hideous. This is why I dislike the smug and often inaccurate term 'pre-loved'. If its former owners loved the thing so much, why did they give it away? Maybe they loathed it.
Like any skilled thrifter, Harry can see the potential in unprepossessing objects. 'I found a brass stand with an ugly crackled glass vase inset. I didn't like the glass – it looked so dated – but it was the simplest thing to reimagine it. I took the glass out and turned the brass piece into a planter. Now it's on my mantelpiece.'
Catherine Carton of Dainty Dress Diaries is a DIY enthusiast and dedicated thrifter. 'I purchased a sofa and a mattress,' she says. 'Everything else in my house is second hand. I paid €50 for my bedframe on Adverts. It was your typical orange pine, but I sanded it back and repainted it.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
Last weekend, she went to a car boot sale in Balbriggan. 'I heard you had to get there early so I arrived at 7am and it was really busy. That's when you get stuff cheapest.'
Thrifting is time consuming. A day spent in charity shops or car boot sales may yield nothing and there's no guarantee of success. This is why the best thrifters are those who enjoy the process. 'You have to love the thrill of the hunt,' Carton says. 'It's not as instant as going to Ikea. I enjoy a good rummage. That's the nosiness in me.'
Often, she finds herself confronted by an object that she'd like to learn more about: 'I'd always take a picture of it and do an image search on Google. It'll bring up images of that item that might be for sale elsewhere. It's a handy little hack to get a bit more info on an item and you can also find out if someone is over-charging.
"For example, I bought a random cat teapot at a market for 50 cents and discovered it was a Chinese Luck Cat teapot from the 1960s.'
To discover car boot sales, vintage fairs and markets in your area, she recommends Collect Ireland: 'It's a really useful resource!'
'I've always had an eye for turning the unloved into treasure,' says Sarah Twigg Doyle, an interior stylist and designer based in Bray, County Wicklow. 'And I hate the idea of furniture going to skips.'
While skip-diving was once a niche pursuit, she feels the tide is changing. 'Some of the older generation still like having everything new, but that's to do with history and not having had money in the past. The younger generation are ready to embrace thrifting. They're totally on the ball.'
Programmes like The Salvage Squad – a makeover series on Virgin Media Television – feed into the thrifting zeitgeist. Twigg Doyle works on the show as the stylist on reveal days and also behind the scenes. 'I'm buying and sourcing things for the show,' she says. 'It's all about having champagne taste and a lemonade budget!'
Her top tip is to carry a notebook and a measuring tape everywhere you go. If you're looking for something specific, it's prudent to be organised. People go wrong when they fall in love with something, buy it, and then find out it's not the correct size for the space.'
She also cautions against buying something just because it's cheap: 'Think about the quality of a piece. If it's a little bit broken, do you have the skill to fix it? Do you know someone who does? If it's a wooden piece, double check it's not been munched by our woodworm friends.' Twigg Doyle is not afraid of woodworm. 'I know it can be treated and I kind of like the holes, they add to the character of a piece.'
Her favourite finds include a mahogany cabinet, now in her sitting room. 'It was on a zero waste page on Facebook and absolutely free. It was a little bit damaged so I painted it in Annie Sloan's Olive, with gold detail on the scrolling, and sanded it back so it looks like it's always been there.'
Currently in pride of place on the cabinet, a stylish looking lamp once cost her €20 from Pete's Antiques.
'It had an awful shade and flower relief detailing. I'm sure it was someone's idea of beautiful… I used Polyfilla over the detailing to fill in the gaps, and a mixture of sand, bicarbonate of soda and paint to give the texture of rough plaster.' The shade is new and came from Distrikt by Mia in Wicklow. 'For an interior to be successful there has to be a balance – that friction of old and new together.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mum slammed after sharing hack for DIY alternative to a sandpit with fellow parents pointing out ‘dangerous' mistake
A MUM-OF-TWO has come under fire for her unique summer play set-up. The Instagrammer shared her hack for keeping her little ones entertained and her house tidy at the same time. Advertisement 2 Instagram user Katy Birkelbach showed her followers the switch up she made on her children's sandpit Credit: instagram Instagram user Katy Birkelbach amassed a whopping 15.3 million views for her She decided to substitue the sand to avoid her children trekking it through her home. And while she said her replacement is "so much better than sand", other parents were quick to point out a potential hazard. Katy showed her audience how she used corn kernels to fill the pit for her toddler son and baby daughter. Advertisement Read More On Parenting She showed footage of the children playing in the corn, with her son even using his toy trucks to scoop up the kernels. Instagram users voiced their concerns over the "dangerous" move in the comments section. "I worry about them putting the corn up their nose or in their ears," wrote one parent. "Also the choking hazard possibility has me so stressed," added another viewer. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive Exclusive "Huge chocking hazard! I've seen some really sad stories! Also attracts bees," pointed out a third person. "OMG, if the baby puts that in her mouth she's going to choke," agreed another follower. Mums issue stark warning about 'dark Peppa Pig' videos going viral on YouTube set out to target and terrify your kids "Bad bad idea, if the baby puts it in to the mouth she can choke. You must be more clever than this," said one parent. "Isn't that a major choking hazard? I prefer to take the sand over corn," commented another person. Advertisement One follower shared an additional way the corn could prove hazardour for children. "In the Balkans that was considered a punishment, kneeling on corn, hurts like hell," they said. Other viewers pointed out additional issues with the unique play set-up. How to survive six weeks of school summer holidays IF you are struggling with the six week summer holidays, you've come to the right place... BATTLING BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining there's nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: 'Don't feel you have to organise every second of the holidays. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun. 'Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play but you need to encourage kids to get used to not being told how to spend their time. 'Ride out the pleas of boredom. Counter it with comments such as, 'What do you think you could do?' and maybe have a list of 'I'm bored' activity ideas on the fridge.' SCREEN OVERLOAD: It's tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter but don't let them gawp their whole summer away in front of a screen. Liat says: 'It's unfair to expect older kids to power down but it's important to set some ground rules. 'Set family tech rules together. If you're often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Maybe tell the kids they aren't allowed any screen time until they've done set chores, some exercise, or a board game. 'Are there times when you'd like to ban screens completely? Perhaps during dinner or when they have friends over to visit. 'Tech is a battleground for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Stand firm and be prepared to be unpopular.' TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Do not feel guilty if you need a bit of downtime. Liat says: 'If you're juggling work and household tasks as well as occupying the kids, it's normal to start feeling overwhelmed or jaded and in need of some peace. 'If you can't afford or don't want to send your kids to all-day camps, look for free kids' workshops so you can get on with jobs or have a break for a couple of hours. 'Seeking a spell of quiet every now and then doesn't make you a bad parent — in fact it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.' SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules can go out the window during holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy children. Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of says: 'Children get grumpy, test boundaries and become challenging when routines are broken. 'Sticking to some kind of routine during the holidays is a good idea. 'We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal times and bed times are broken, it causes dips and peaks in mood. 'Holidays are about having fun but an early night once or twice a week will make everyone happier.' EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get out in the fresh air to tire them out — and make them healthier and happier. Dr Bugembe says: 'Sunshine also tops up vital vitamin D levels which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels run low in winter so let the kids stock up in warmer weather. 'Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to top up. Make sure they're wearing sun cream, get outside and have fun. 'Encourage them to try healthy habits such as cycling and walking. They'll hopefully get hooked and want to carry them on when the weather gets colder.' "I was just thinking the squirrels would go nutsss!" wrote one Instagram user. Advertisement "This is cute, but the rodents it would attract," said another concerned person. And another viewer simply pointed out how the corn would limi the fun of a sandpit. "'I don't want to build sandcastles anyway,' said no kid ever," they wrote. 2 Parents pointed out the potential choking hazard of the corn kernels for younger children Credit: instagram Advertisement
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘World's most beautiful footballer' strips down to bikini for beach keepie-uppies leaving fans in awe
ANA MARIA MARKOVIC has shown off her football skills with some beach keepie-uppies. Markovic, 25, has been 12 Ana Maria Markovic showed off her football skills on a beach with some keepie-uppies Credit: INSTAGRAM anamxrkovic 12 Markovic shared the beach video to her Instagram Credit: INSTAGRAM anamxrkovic 12 The Croatian has been dubbed the 'world's most beautiful footballer' Credit: Instagram @ana_maria_markovic 12 Markovic has over three million Instagram followers Credit: Instagram @anamxrkovic The Croatian forward shared the video with her THREE MILLION adoring followers, telling them that she "needs nothing else" but a football and the beach to be happy. Markovic is currently on the books at Portuguese top flight side Damaiense, who she joined after She has insisted that she has been able to "develop" as a player before mutually agreeing to end her contract with the club. On social media Markovic announced READ MORE IN FOOTBALL She wrote: "Sometimes things don't go as planned. After just half a season, I decided to leave SC Braga. "It was a short but intense journey with ups and downs, but one in which I was able to grow and develop a lot as a footballer. "The best part? Definitely my teammates. "Thank you for your support, team spirit, and all the great moments on and off the pitch – you are amazing! Most read in Football 12 Markovic plays her club football in Portugal Credit: Twitter / @ana_markovic7 12 She recently left Braga after the mutual decision to terminate her contract Credit: Instagram / @anamxrkovic 12 Markovic is always giving her fans a glimpse at her life off the pitch Credit: Instagram / @anamxrkovic "A big thank you to the club for their professionalism throughout my time here and to the fans, for the support. "The journey continues and I'm excited for what's next!" Away from club football she has represented the Croatian national team 20 times. While she has Her online presence has helped to open the door to incredible opportunities, 12 Markovic recently got the chance to work with Cristiano Ronaldo Credit: Instagram @anamxrkovic 12 She has represented Croatia at national level 20 times Credit: @anamxrkovic 12 She is always supporting her nation too Credit: @anamxrkovic 12 Markovic currently plays for Portuguese top flight side Damaiense Credit: Instagram / @anamxrkovic 12 She is busy away from the pitch too Credit: Instagram / @anamxrkovic
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Are you ready for Strictly?' – Snooker star Shaun Murphy shows off amazing dance moves while onboard a ‘wine train'
SHAUN MURPHY could be getting ready for Strictly Come Dancing after showing off his dance moves on board a wine train. The snooker star, 42, enjoyed a well-earned break following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Advertisement 2 Shaun Murphy showed off his dance moves on a wine train Credit: instagram @shaunmurphy147 2 The snooker ace enjoyed himself on holiday in America Credit: instagram @shaunmurphy147 Murphy earned £327,900 to rank ninth in the one-year World Snooker Tour list. He suffered a And then the Englishman lost 4-3 to Mark Williams in the Helsinki International Cup in May. Now Murphy is home after letting his hair down with a holiday in America. Advertisement READ MORE IN SNOOKER The Magician took to Instagram with a pair of posts from the trip. The first was a picture of Murphy smiling in a restaurant earlier in June. He captioned it: "Off season going well - not sure I'll remember how to play snooker at this rate." Then the next post from Friday showed Murphy dancing along to music while riding along the road - with a drink in hand. Advertisement Most read in Snooker Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He was decked out in a pink shirt, grey trousers and sunglasses as September by Earth, Wind & Fire pumped out of the speakers. Murphy wrote: "Just back from a two-week holiday in the States. Ronnie O'Sullivan is BACK with Strictly star Laila Rouass as they ditch Essex for shock new life abroad "I promise it wasn't all drinking and dancing. Advertisement "Looking forward to getting back on the baize!" And the brilliant video sparked plenty of reaction in the comments. BBC Sport's Jason Mohammad replied: "Scenes." Advertisement Another added: "Hate him or love him, but you cannot deny, he got the moves!!! Enjoy it!!!" A fourth typed: "I can't unsee this unfortunately." And a fifth quipped: "Are you ready for Strictly?" But upon his return home, Murphy did not have long to Advertisement The 2005 world champ took to Instagram again on Sunday afternoon with a photo of himself in action and wrote: "How is it time for the new season???? "Wuhan Qualifier, tomorrow 2.30pm (UK time)."
