S@H: Tell us, how did your own love affair with all things old begin?
MRC: I'm from Virginia, the eldest of nine children. We grew up in a beautifully restored barn. When I was 16, that house burned to the ground. Everything was lost (except our lives, thankfully), including family heirlooms, photos and books read to us time and time again. I learned an important lesson about which material possessions meant the most to me. When we started over, we didn't buy brand-new stuff. My parents went out and found antiques to replace old family pieces. We had a doormat that said: "A well-kept home is the sign of a misspent life." I guess you could say collecting and treasuring things from the past was a family value. Junking was just natural. There's something so exciting about the jumble, the chaos of a secondhand shop.
S@H: How do you possibly find the hidden treasures in all that chaos?
MRC: When you're just getting started, it really helps to pick a theme and begin a collection. For example, I like things that can hang on a wall because I've run out of room everywhere else in my house! After years, you develop an eye, an instinct for what will be a great addition to your home. Some people are drawn to vintage toys, or plates or items for the kitchen. I love thrift-shop art; you can often find gems in ugly frames. And by the way, don't ever be put off by a shabby frame; often a dealer is charging more money for the frame than the picture, so I always ask if I can just buy the art.
S@H: When is junk just, well, junk?
MRC: I always tell people to be careful when buying lamps or anything electrical -- too many things can go wrong. Double-check old upholstered chairs, too; it may turn out you've bought more than you bargained for. For instance, if the springs need replacing and the fabric is rotten and decayed, that $5 chair may end up costing you $300. If you really love it, maybe it's worth that much money. But if you don't, then it's worthless -- and that's not junk, that's garbage.
More for less
How can you get the most out of a thrift-store spree? Mary Randolph Carter shares these four handy tips.
1 Be prepared, like a good girl or boy scout. Think ahead. Are you looking for a bedside table for the guest room or Easter costumes for the kids? "Make a list so you can stay on track and not get overwhelmed," says Carter. "Your list is your compass in the wilderness."
2 Trust your instincts. "Good junk is linked to good memories, so if you find yourself saying, 'Oh that reminds me of the time...' chances are you're onto a good thing."
3 Case the joint. Do a walk-through, making mental notes about what items strike your fancy and what ones you feel you can pass on.
4 Haggle -- it's part of the sport. "I always ask the proprietor if I can start a pile. Then, when I'm ready to cash out, I start negotiating."
Photography by Mary Randolph Carter from For the Love of Old (Rizzoli, 2006 )
Read more in Decorating & Design and Inside Design
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