Proving yet again that I have an awesome ReStore Habitat for Humanity store in the next town over, Pittsfield, Mass., I went to prowl around and found it chock ablock with interesting stuff. Come shopping with me! 45 photos! Above: Beautiful detail from a big wood wall unit, notice the gilded inside back!
The whole unit. Remember the time I turned the top portion of one of these(ish) into a tiki bar — just $10 ?
Above: Jens Risom desk. A bit chippy. Already sold.
Above: A real hunka hunka industrial sewing machine from the longtime, now defunct Waverly fabric outlet in Adams. I had three sets of basement pinch pleats made there in the mid-00’s. Hey, maybe this was the machine that sewed them!
Nice wall to wall carpeting, bigggg pieces.
I already have two wagon wheel lights.
Longggggg coffee table. Like, 10′ long!
I love these old step-back cupboards!
The styling — 60s Provincial, I guess — of this pair of side tables is not my cup o’ tea, but I took a photo anyway to say: The basic design idea is soooo functional.
Long shot.
Now you see it…
Now you don’t!
Hmm.
One of my favorite spottings of the day — they reminded me of those Dutch lights I featured the other day. These are all Lightolier, and lighting was half off that day. So: $2.50 each.
Colonial hobnail lighting, me likey.
Oooooh, even more! That red toleware shade!
Buhahahaah, this is one of those swag lights from the 70s (I think) that took a WHOLE big lampshade.
Above: This is the only thing I bought. Nautical. For the Mahalo Lounge. I’ll probably just put an electric candle in it and position it somewhere for mood lighting. Oh. Guess what? My wallpaperer finally came up for air. She’s going to finish my ceiling — maybe next week! Woot! The project may get done after all!
Goodness, these are everywhere in old houses in Pittsfield. They are so sweet, and generally suit the architecture perfectly. There were four or six of these sconces. I don’t want to think about what replaced them.
I love mill finish aluminum.
The graphics!
Real copper finials on these andirons, do ya think?
Howdy hudee.
Old (I’m pretty sure) wire shelf. I was really tempted. But I stopped. Do. Not. Need. More. Stuff. To. Hold. My. Stuff.
Hunka hunka bathroom sink.
Blue lowboy.
Windows!
And more windows!
And more windows. Again. Wow. Combo storms and screens on the outside, make sure they were in there insulated and tight. And they would probably have lasted another 70 years.
Vintage exercise machine.
Lots and lots of beds.
Even green painted ones!
Bittersweet orange laminate. So gorgeous.
Orange painted steel or cast iron somethings.
From the black forest. This photo is out of order. How did it get here?
This was $100, that’s a good price for an Anderson window, I think.
Space heaters scare me because I’m always reading about how one just caused a house fire.
But the graphics are rockin’.
Oil can.
These musta come from the house with the windows and the sconces, don’t you think?
Time to pay up! Yes, even the cash register was for sale!
Cheap fun!
Rebecca says
Thanks for this ReStore tour. Maybe we should all send in interesting finds from our local ReStores…
I don’t find good lighting at the Beaverton ReStore. But, lots of interesting sinks and cabinetry.
The Portland ReBuilding Center gets vastly more interesting materials, but is difficult to access in a timely fashion for those of us outside Portland.
Lisa Compo says
That would be a fun story. We could send in sample pics of Re Stores from around the country. Some could be ordinary items, but some playful pics of the oddest thing we see there. Last time I went a radio station had donated a bunch of vinyl records, but it must have been a genre I wasn’t familiar with because I couldn’t identify one singer. I bought an album because it has a fantastic picture of RCA’s dog Knipper on the back.
At other thrifts Hubby and I play a game of..Hmm what’s this item? That might be a fun story too if Pam ever runs low on ideas one day. LOL
Robin, WA says
Oh my gosh, I’m totally jealous of your Restore. We have a local version called Builders Resupply. The back lot has a bunch of colored bathroom fixtures. I’ve been eyeing a yellow toilet for some time. It’s a Kohler and I’m not sure it will match my Crane sink, which is ivory. But I love going in there! If it wasn’t for my husband restraining me, I’d come out with a truckload of stuff every time.
Michele says
Boo – we don’t have one of these stores near me. (11771) Just call me “Junkperv”.
MARTHA says
I used one of those “exercise machines” when I would visit my grandmother each summer, lol. And I swear I read “oil can” in the Tin Man’s voice, hahaha
KStacey says
The Re-Stores in my area are nowhere near this big, and have mostly overstock of new items. So fun to see though!
Chase says
I love what your Re Store offers, and the prices!! The one near me is extremely pricey which is a little disheartening.
Erik in Minneapolis says
My 1953 house had Wright storm window adjusters. They were probably pretty common in the Twin Cities because they were manufactured in St. Paul Park, Minnesota.
When the storm was in the fully closed position, you would flip the adjuster up 180 degrees and the storm would be firmly locked in placed on the left and right side. They were much better than an hook and eyelet and kept the storm nice and snug on the sides.
If you wanted to have a little fresh air in the winter, you could push the storm out a little bit and it would stay in place.
Five years after I bought my house, I replaced all my storms and screens with Mon-Ray combination storms, a decision that I have come to regret. My old storms and screens made spring and fall window washing a breeze. What used to be an easy one-hour chore now takes four hours. The only advantage with the combination storms is that during the summer you can keep the storm in the closed position when running the a/c so there is some energy savings.
Wendellyn says
Hi,
I live in Indiana and have yet to find a Restore in my area. We tried Indianapolis, but there were in less than desired areas and therefore decided not to go. When my daughter says “Mom, that area is NOT safe”, she means it. I am still searching for a lavender bathroom sink. Sigh!!
Love your ReStore, store. Loved the pictures!!
Gretchen says
Try the ReStore in Greenwood on South 31, Wendellyn. Not a huge selection but they have not been open that long.
John says
Love the Harvest Gold sink and the hanging lamp with red toleware shade. I would’ve been tempted to buy them! Those iron “orange somethings” look frightfully like wild animal traps. I hope they’re not. I wish people would use more humane ways of chasing away unwanted wild critters.
Tracy says
The orange things look like pump jacks, used in scaffolding to move the platform you stand on move up or down wood uprights
Lynn says
You DO have a great ReStore! What a great amount all at one time.
The closest ReStore to me doesn’t have that much vintage at one time, but over time I’ve found some good stuff, like swag lights for my bathroom! Yesterday they had TWO blue toilets. Luckily, ReStores are all over Indiana so another one isn’t too far away. I’ve only been to Boston and Plymouth, but I do know just a small amount about your area because of The Patchwork Mysteries book series. Have you read it? It takes place in a town called Maple Hill (is that real?), but they are always going to Pittsfield and talk about the Berkshires. It sounds like it is very pretty there! In the books I’ve read in the series, they haven’t gone to the ReStore but they do all live in old houses!