“Books are a big big part of many of our designs and can really eat up a budget, so we are constantly on the lookout for great coffee table books at thrift stores,” says Mark Cutler of cutlerschulze, an interior design firm based in Los Angeles. Before you buy, unroll the fabric and give it a good look over to make sure the piece is in good condition (and that moths haven’t gotten to it), McGinness says. Often, you’ll spot identifiable fabrics from fabric houses like Scalamandré, Colefax and Fowler, Clarence House, Brunschwig & Fils, and Schumacher. Sometimes you’ll find a few yards, other times some pricey little scraps and these pieces can be perfect for a special pillow or ottoman. People tend to save leftover fabrics because they are expensive, but then end up eventually parting with them when they move or clean out their house, she says. Interesting fabric is a thrift shop staple, and you’ll often find extra yards of it folded up or still on a bolt, says Cape Cod, Massachusetts, interior designer Molly McGinness, the owner of Molly McGinness Interior Design. One more thing: Check for an etching that says “925,” “92.5,” or “SS” to confirm the piece is indeed sterling silver. To find high-dollar pieces, scout for designer brand names such as Buccellati, Whiting, Christofle, Sciarrotta and of course Tiffany & Co, Baran suggests. “One of the beautiful things about sterling silver is that it can be refined, retaining that existing shining beauty with a little polish if desired,” Baran says.
Her most recent thrifting haul included lots of sterling silver-a basket handmade in France, salad tongs with handmade wave handles, and Italian coasters with etchings. When you’re shopping for sterling silver look for intricate etchings or ornate details on handmade pieces, says interior designer Elisa Baran Trean of Elisa Baran, LLC. To find out if you’ve stumbled across a treasure, look for artists’ signatures, and then plug their names into The Marks Project to learn more about the makers. “While a lot of studio pottery is valuable mostly for its unique character, you could get lucky and land a vase that could fetch up to $10,000,” she says.
You can use a distinctive vessel as a sculptural piece on a bookshelf, a planter, or a pitcher, says Allison Garrison, principal designer with San Diego, California–based Allito Spaces. These one-of-a-kind items can bring a space to life. Studio pottery is produced by individuals-not mass-produced. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play Studio Pottery
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