Goodwill and Craigslist

This remodel is all about sustainability, green, recycling, and low carbon footprint so I’m going to talk a little about 2 of my favorite resources: Goodwill and Craigslist.

Goodwill is a treasure that many people are not aware of. For those of us who do shop there regularly it is like an Easter egg hunt every time we visit. It isn’t always fruitful but if you have a good eye and are willing to put in a little time you can find a variety of items from furniture to home goods to clothing.

I shop mainly for furniture and housewares. If you are a lover of good vintage china you absolutely need to stop by. I am amazed by what fantastic (and expensive) china ends up there and you can pick up full sets at a fraction of the cost, and when I say “fraction,” I mean about 1/20th of what new china would cost. Nice glassware too.

Craigslist is also a great resource but be careful and beware of scams on Craigslist. Don’t ever wire money and don’t go to someone’s house alone; instead, suggest meeting at a public place. That being said, I don’t want to scare anyone off because you can really find bargains! This online shopping site may require some time (the search filters are not always “friendly”) but again, the payoff can be substantial.

Just today I found a cast iron porcelain sink that would easily retail for $300 or more for $50. The reason I prefer Craigslist to eBay is Craigslist is local, which keeps the carbon footprint down and I like doing business with real people right in my community as opposed to the dealers from all over the world that have taken over eBay. Don’t get me wrong, I do use eBay now and again but I never buy from dealers outside the country and I search for local deals first.

I will be posting all the items I have purchased from both these places as well as some antique shops and yard sales in the next month. Stay tuned.

Nancy Bradley photo

Nancy bradley

I consult, design, and remodel spaces that reflect the homeowner’s lifestyle and budget by getting the cost question out of the way and really listening to what my client wants and how much they have set aside for their project.