I went to the ReStore Habitat for Humanity on Saturday to poke around and just get out of the house. A highlight (lowlight?): Looking at a stack of granite countertops that were on the floor tilted against some cabinets, I reached to move two of the pieces in the front to look behind them — and both big pieces crashed down on my toes. Irony: A granite countertop tried to kill me!
Fortunately, I pulled my foot back pretty fast so only a few outside toes — on my left foot — got smushed. Nothing’s broken, just very black and blue. I’m kind of a klutzy these days.
Photo dump, pretty much in order of my trip through the ReStore:
Above: Clay pipes, $5 each. Use these for plants!
House numbers.
A nice gray sink.
Lots of chrome bathrooms accessories.
Look everywhere: See that scalloped mirror?
Nice porcelain ceramic bathroom accessories. I almost bought these to sell online. But I put them back. I have no time or inclination to sell things online, who am I kidding?
Big ole three-section mirror in a wood frame.
Lots of twin- and full-sized beds. One day, “when I have nothing else to do”, I want to make a garden bench out of one of these.
Double robe hooks — these were nice. I also had these in hand to flip online. But I took them back; see above.
My favorite aisle: The hardward aisle!
Hammered copper hardware.
The stove.
Pretty dials.
Lovely bedroom furniture.
Sexy late 60s or 70s dining room set.
Me love black lacquer.
A mid mod piece!
Old Lane cedar chest with labels still on it — BUT, I told the ReStore staff that these had been recalled and are, I think, illegal to sell — children can get locked inside and suffocate!
IMPORTANT: See/CLICK >> this story for the news release about the recall of Lane and Virginia Maid chests — in this news release, the company and CPSC provide instructions what to do immediately and how to get new replacement latches for free. The ReStore team looked it up while I was there and said, “You’re right,” and pulled this chest from the floor.
UPDATE: A number of readers are leaving comments on how to handle this issue; I am not approving the comments because when it comes to SAFETY issues, I want readers to consult with properly licensed professionals how to handle. In this case: Read the original CPSC news release HERE for instructions what to do immediately and how to contact the company to get new replacement latches for free.
This style — Casbah — is very mainstream-popular today.
A big ole dresser. It weighed a gazillion pounds. I think it’s cool.
Okay, again not midcentury, but very pretty.
I like looking at the woodpile, too. I could make something cool with these maple posts, for sure!
Five cents each for the switchplate covers.
Oooooh, very nice: All-steel Handyman Miter Box and look at that wonderful orange paint!
What did I buy: Some swag lamp chain, $3… three New Old Stock electric plug switchplate covers, on special sale for five cents each!… $5 for dollhouse picket fences, stairways and bric brac… some glider thingies, $1, to go on the bottom of barstool legs… and some picture hanging hardware and L brackets @ $1. I love the ReStore!
tammyCA says
Your store has some really good stuff! Yeah, it is dangerous poking around ‘tho. I like the hardware section too.. collecting the brass house numbers for artwork and little things for dollhouse stuff.
The Atomic Fox says
Isn’t the ReStore just a treasure chest of MCM?
Cynthia says
Your ReStore is so well organized. The light wood bedroom furniture caught my eye because it’s similar to a dresser and chest I “inherited” in a 1962 house I bought. My pieces have the rounded drawer and door fronts but different configuration, same color wood. What style is that called? I plan to use the dresser as a TV console and the chest in a guest room.
Should I paint the pieces – was thinking of navy blue to set off the goldish hardware. Any thoughts?
Ree says
When the Habitat Store in my city opened several years ago, it was full of bathroom tubs, sinks & toilets in a rainbow of colors from the 50’s & 60’s. Now you can hardly find anything that is older than the 80’s, and hardly ever see anything other than white or beige. I don’t live in an area where mid mod is a big thing, so I’m thinking there are many houses that have been torn down and the supply has dried up for those of us who would like to have the older fixtures. Your pictures are great. I have a question about the stove – what brand was it?
David Crowe says
Most readers are more fortunate than we are in Rome GA. Our Habitat Store relocated to an inconvenient newer building with much less floor space and about a dozen parking spaces for customers. They have no room to process incoming donations. I used to stop at their in town location a few times each week and almost always buy something. Now it is not worth the effort to get to where they moved to look through their overpriced (did I mention their prices went WAY up?) small selection. Oh well, their loss.
Chad says
I went to my local ReStore to get rid of things and then came back with a dining room set. I already had one, but this one was a mid mod import from Denmark priced at $218. The idea of not buying it was upsetting me terribly.
Pictures here: https://chadscrookedhouse.wordpress.com/2016/11/27/a-large-decluttering-fail/
Margaret says
I feel your pain. No, really — I was attacked in my sleep by a replacment window. It smashed my knuckles in the dark over of night.
Pam Kueber says
Oh my!
Melinda says
Just got back from my weekly run through the ReStore. I’ve lost count of the number of great finds I’ve gotten there. My store has caught on to the popularity of midmod and begun to price accordingly. I won’t complain, because of the good work they do, but it has definitely cut down on the number of things I bring home.
Debbie in Portland says
I live in Portland, Oregon and we have ReStore, The Rebuilding Center, and the incredibly fabulous Hippo Hardware. I love shopping at all of them and it’s hard to run across a fabulous early 60’s find and then have to remind myself that my house is 1920’s with some 1940’s updates. If only I could afford several different homes, of several different vintages!
Sorry about the injured toes. Granite can NOT be trusted!
MARTHA says
Your so lucky, the store located here in Pasadena,Tx is more of a junk shop…garage sale rejects.