Thrift Shopping Adventures: How to Spot Mid-Century & Minimalist Gems

Table 1

Now, that is cool! This reminds me of something very Restoration Hardware. This would be a complete DIY project, but it’s only $15.

Table 2

I really like this and might inquire about it. The details of this piece are very mid-century – a lot of walnut wood, the tone, the shape, and the low profile.

It's priced at $24.99, and though it would need sanding and re-staining, it's a steal.

Chairs

These chairs are kind of cool. I would redo them with linen fabric to give them a Restoration Hardware look.

You could even remove the legs to make them more streamlined. They have good bones, which is what I usually look for – a styling that's more modern, even if it's old.

Glass Pieces

I love visiting the glass section. I find a lot of vintage glass, mostly with beautiful etching. Like this one here, which was stunning.

I always check for nicks to ensure they're in perfect condition. This one was 99 cents.

I found three sparkling glasses that quickly went into my cart.

Then I came across this three-legged vase, very mid-century, for 99 cents.

Dishware

Moving my cart to the dishware section, I found plain glass plates that spoke to my minimalist taste.

They were 99 cents each. I didn’t need all 12, so I decided to pick up four for photography purposes.

Ceramics

Next, I visited my favorite section – ceramics and home decor.

I found a tree-like ceramic vase for $1.99, made of sturdy quality ceramic. This would be perfect for a small plant.

I also found a round genuine marble tray for $3.99, perfect for various uses around the house: displaying jewelry, placing soap dispensers in the bathroom or kitchen… so many ideas.

Lamps

In the lamp section, I found a black ceramic vase that reminded me of a West Elm piece.

It was $13.

Antique Mall

I also visited an antique mall and found a funky mid-century ceramic casserole dish, a hidden acrylic wine holder for $28, and a stunning decanter set for $35.

I nearly died in that store with the incredible finds. I went home and prepared a haul for you guys:

Mid-Century Lamp

The highlight was a mid-century lamp for $38. It's a piece of art that will find its home in some corner of my place.

Marble Salt and Pepper Shakers

I also found marble salt and pepper shakers for $18…

…a beautiful ribbed vase…

…and original wooden bowls made in Vermont (I had some similar ones already from Amazon).

Here are those glass plates that remind me of Lucite acrylic pieces from the 50s.

I don’t need another piece of pottery but I picked up this low-profile shallow dish marked "USA 619" for $4.99, which could be used to hold succulents, fruit, or other things.

Here is that trio of etched glasses I found, styled on my coffee table.

And here’s the three-footed vase styled as well.

In the previous few days, I found a spotted glazed vase for $3.99, a real ironstone bowl for $4.99, and a beautiful mid-century milk glass vase for $1.99. I also scored a unique pottery piece with intentional dents and a late 80s or early 90s lamp for $5.99.

Let me know what you think of these finds. What are your thrifting tips? Let me know in the comments below.