Occasion: A lazy Saturday morning and an itch for thrifting.
Location: Around Richmond, hitting six favorite thrift stores with my husband and our toddler (Burger stayed home to nap).
We love a good secondhand hunt, so we set out for some window shopping and treasure seeking. Our first stop was Love of Jesus on Midlothian, a great place to find larger furnishings. Like any thrift store, it’s hit-or-miss, but when it’s a hit, it’s worth it. We’ve even scored pieces here that we transformed for projects before—a $15 desk and a $10 headboard among them.
We’re on the lookout for a buffet, sideboard, or dresser to convert into a media cabinet. These long, low cabinets had great storage—six drawers each—and were just $30. They were a little lower than we wanted, but still a lovely deal. Hope someone snapped them up.
John spotted a bright yellow piece that caught his eye. At first he thought it might be a cute table or island, then joked it looked like an OBGYN table. The color was fun though—great for inspiration or a bold makeover.
This $5 chair clearly needed some love, but I could already picture it refinished in a rich stain or painted navy or emerald green and paired with a crisp white parson’s desk. It would be adorable with a little TLC.
John also admired an old orange hardcover map book. It looked well-loved but didn’t smell musty, so it would have been a great addition to a coffee table, bookcase, or even framed as wall art. It was under a dollar—now I wish we’d grabbed it.
These lockers would be perfect in a mudroom or playroom. They were inexpensive, and if gray isn’t your color you can always spray them glossy white, bright yellow, or any color that fits your space.
Next we visited Family Thrift on Midlothian, right near Love of Jesus. This was my first time there and the prices were excellent. A set of six chairs was $75—about $12.50 each—and they’d be easy to repaint and reupholster. I loved their lines; they had a bit of an art-nouveau feel.
They also had cheeky vintage tennis glasses for 45 cents each—adorable, even if I don’t play tennis (and don’t own a retro headband).
We then stopped by the Salvation Army Family Store on Midlothian. I liked a $49 cabinet there—the handles gave it a vintage, logo-like look—but we weren’t hunting for something like that, so we left it for someone else.
A wooden rocker, marked down to around $25, caught my eye. Its lines reminded me of classic Jenny Lind furniture—perfect for a nursery painted in soft white, celery, aqua, or pale yellow.
We also encountered a mannequin dressed in a striking outfit. John had actually photographed the same mannequin on a previous visit. It’s funny that the outfit hadn’t sold—maybe it’s waiting for the right home.
On the Northside near The Diamond we visited Diversity Thrift. I bought a doily stretcher for $4—an unusual and charming piece that works beautifully as wall decor. I’ll share a clearer photo once it’s hanging in the house.
I also liked a sofa with character; the upholstery wasn’t my taste, but a stylist could refresh it with bold pillows or a glossy paint on the wooden frame. There was a small needlepoint scene for about ten dollars that felt charming and would look lovely in a grouped wall display.
I also grabbed a faux-wicker yellow-and-white tray that was half off—only a dollar. It will be sweet in the guest room with a pitcher of water, a couple of books, and a bowl of candy.
As for Clara, she was our enthusiastic thrifting companion. When she sees something she likes she goes “oooh” and then “ahhhh!”
At Pass It On in the Lakeside Towne Shops near Lewis Ginter I fell for a set of pieces that were lovely but a bit out of my price range—around $100+ for the lot. They deserved a good home though.
Consignment Connection on Lakeside was next. Clara had fallen asleep in her car seat, so John stayed with her while I quickly browsed. A gorgeous table I admired was already sold, but it was easy to picture it in a sunroom with a crisp white base.
I did buy a whimsical globe for Clara for $19. It was a colorful white globe perched on a whale base—one of Clara’s favorite animals after a whale-watching trip. It was a bit pricey for a globe, but it felt meant to be.
When she woke up and saw it in the backseat she was thrilled. Even the checkout clerk was delighted it was getting adopted. It felt like the perfect find.
And so ends our thrift adventure. Here’s where the little whale globe landed:
For now he’s hanging out on the console table in our hallway filled with frames, though things often move around. I’ll share photos of the rest of our thrifted finds once they find their permanent spots—the doily stretcher, the yellow tray, and a small table we picked up at Love of Jesus that deserves its own post. Have you been thrifting lately? Found any gems—or a surprisingly cheerful yellow OBGYN table?
Psst—If you’re in a thrifty mood, check out more of our past secondhand shopping trips for inspiration.