For those who aren’t familiar (I wasn’t five years ago), OBX stands for the Outer Banks. It’s actually where John first took me for our one-year dating anniversary—cue the collective aww. Since we mentioned some details of our recent Outer Banks trip earlier today, we wanted to share the house- and thrift-related finds from that visit. One of our favorite travel pastimes is hunting for thrift stores, so I searched “thrift” on my phone and it led us to Hotline Thrift in Kitty Hawk. It’s a big pink shop you can’t miss.
There we found two chunky pedestal bases for $40 (both) along with a large tabletop. Not a bad deal if you take them home and make two pedestal tables like we did years ago for our old sunroom. You could paint the bases any color—glossy white, moody gray, chippy turquoise, or bright yellow—and top them with one of Lowe’s ready-made 36″ tabletops (around $40). All told, each finished table would run roughly $65. It’s an easy weekend project and a fun way to score unique pieces on a budget.
We also spotted a cute desk lamp for just $4. With a quick spray paint update—bright red, charcoal, or a playful lime green—it could easily pass for a Pottery Barn-style find.
There was an incredible Paris map that I would have bought if it hadn’t been priced at $200. The thrift staff clearly knew its value—understandably so, since it was impressive. Still, it was neat to see high-value items tucked among everyday finds.
Then I spotted a relic from the past: an Alf tray for $4. How did I leave without it? I half expected to bring it home as a gag gift for my brother. Alf always cracks me up.
There was also a furry lamp that looked like it might be musty—definitely one of those items that once felt stylish and now feels like a time capsule. Strange how trends evolve.
We wandered over to Hotline Thrift Too, their sister store in Nags Head, and found a charming fish tin for $4. I could picture it spray painted turquoise or poppy orange and hung above a kitchen sink. I may have a spray paint problem—right up there with my pillow problem. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
The pièce de résistance was an item so baffling it made me laugh: an oversized hairy nutcracker bear standing over two feet tall. I stood there transfixed, trying to decipher its meaning. Still haven’t figured it out—just a delightful head-scratcher.
In Nags Head we also stopped at Meme’s Antique Mall. The first thing I noticed was a set of teal-and-red glasses—such a chic color combo, reminiscent of old Domino magazine spreads. They were $16 for the set of about ten, which felt like a steal.
Clara fell for a $25 framed print of two kissing giraffes. She knows “kiss” and “giraffe” (the latter comes out adorably as “gee!”), so it was an instant winner for her.
An industrial white stool was $29—perfect for a minimalist bathroom or a clean-lined vanity where you sit to do your makeup each morning.
I spotted a vintage troll doll for $25 and had a mini meltdown. I owned dozens as a kid; at $25 each my childhood collection would have been worth a fortune. Who knew?
A whale weathervane was priced at $295. It made me wonder if a similar look could be DIYed using an old plank and a jigsaw, then mounted to a more affordable weather vane base.
Next door to a thrift shop we popped into Daniel’s Homeport in Kitty Hawk. It wasn’t a thrift store per se, but it had some cool pieces that were worth a look.
One standout was a painterly floral print with a frame for $62:
There was also a geometric picture frame for $40 that I think could be replicated with a stencil or careful hand-painting.
A honeycomb wine rack stopped me in my tracks—we love bees—and while it was $40 we passed, I still remember it fondly.
An octagonal mirror caught my eye as a piece that could be reproduced at home using trim and a round mirror for a rustic, charming effect.
I was strangely taken with an octopus pillow for $37—call it a nostalgic moment—and thought it would be a fun accent.
There were also bold hook-and-loop pillows at $50 each. Beautiful and graphic, but a bit pricey for my thrift-hunting budget—still, I could picture them in a trendy LA apartment.
We also ducked into Kellogg Supply Company near our rental and stumbled upon a hilarious version of Monopoly that made Burger very happy.
Surprisingly, we left with almost nothing (aside from a postcard we send ourselves as part of our trip tradition). My ten-year-old niece Olivia and I each bought $2 friendship bracelets—BFFs for life, at least until the glue gives out.
Do you like to go house- or thrift-shopping on vacation? Is there ever room in the car for more? (Ours was pretty packed.) Were you a troll-doll collector as a tween? Did you name them and line them in the window until their hair faded on one side? No? Just me then.