"I find things that I could use in the yard or garden at antique malls and antique fairs; I'm kind of addicted to it," he adds. "I enjoy how surprising it is. That would be the moment when you would pause and realize, "Wow, I never thought about using it outside."
As someone who also enjoys vintage items, I can relate to Costantini's excitement. Finding something useful rather than quirky may still be exciting. My spouse discovered a set of patio furniture on Facebook Marketplace a few summers ago. It cost about $80 and featured a tiny glass table, four seats, and a shaded umbrella.
Whether you're searching for commonplace or unique things for your outdoor area, acquiring secondhand goods might help you cut costs and lessen your environmental impact. Instead of relying just on what's currently in stores, you could discover unusual pieces that fit your own style. In the summer, when many folks organize yard sales or leave items curbside for donation, it's a terrific time to pick stuff up. Your selection will be much greater if you broaden your search to include products that weren't specifically made for outdoor use.
After taking part in the yearly West Seattle Garden Tour, Costantini developed an interest in scouring. "I observed numerous individuals who had embraced items for their use in the garden," he remarks. "I started doing it because that kind of inspired me."
Since then, he has amassed an astonishing collection of items, some of which were not initially meant for lawn décor. For example, two antique vehicle pieces hung on the wall honor his passion for automobiles. He thinks this little clay temple was originally intended to be used inside a fish tank, and it sits in a flower pot. He has a metal wall sculpture of a small, vintage store from the 1960s hanging on another wall. Even though he can't remember where he obtained each thing specifically, he keeps an eye out. He enjoys browsing at the SoDo vintage mall, Lander Street Vintage. He monitors Georgetown's District Auction for more upscale goods. In 2022, his pastime completed a circle.
Over the years, writer and retired professor Arlene Plevin has accumulated vintage furniture and beautiful trinkets for her garden. Cat sculptures made of ceramic sit amid the flowers, and flower teapots tucked within flower pots. It's possible that you won't see them until you've been snooping around and looking through the leaves. She said, "I like to layer things, both plants and objects."
You might be surprised to learn that chairs and tables aren't often utilized in her garden. A few of them are hidden in the shrubs and are used as plant supports or decorations. Placed against a fence is a sophisticated white bed frame. She says, "A lot of people like to use old beds." They're even used as trellises by some.
There are plenty of local sites to search for used products. Plevin gets her stuff via roadside handouts, Facebook Marketplace, her neighborhood Nextdoor network, yard sales, and pals. Second Use, which has stores in Tacoma and Seattle, offers a large range of products, such as decoration and outdoor furniture, in addition to basic building supplies. The majority are pre-owned, while some are company surplus products. The website of the business lists its inventory, which is updated many times a day. A section titled "Garden Party" has an assortment of planters, sculptures, rain chains, bed frames, benches, and chairs, among other items. You should constantly refresh the page to seize the finest deals before someone else does.
A great place to find treasures is Goodwill, especially if you go early in the morning before the crowds arrive. There are several interesting areas on Craigslist that are worth looking over, like the free, furniture, garage sale, antiques, and farm+garden sections. Alternatively, you may do targeted searches using phrases like patio chairs, bistro sets, lawn furniture, or picnic tables, which often yield hundreds of results. Craigslist is also frequently used by people to promote garage sales they want to have. OfferUp is another online marketplace where you may get excellent deals on pre-owned things, but you might need to drive a little distance to pick them up. Lawn and garden supplies have their own division inside the home and garden area.
When choosing outdoor furniture, bear in mind that you can always paint it if the color doesn't appeal to you. Plevin, for instance, gave the red chair she discovered a vivid purple paint job. It is technically possible to use any type of wood furniture outside, but to keep it weatherproof, you might wish to paint it with an outdoor sealer. According to Tim Moshier, the president and CEO of the landscape architectural firm Cambium, some timbers age exceptionally well, such teak and redwood.
Moshier has added random items to many of his clients' yards. Once, his crew made a gate out of salvaged components from a boat. You can choose to apply protective enamel to metal things or let them rust, which is a look some people purposefully create. Moshier offers taking the metal object to an auto repair shop to see if they can paint it a color or give it a clear coat as an additional alternative.
The most important things while searching for secondhand goods are perseverance and patience. It can take many trips to a store or daily online checks to see what new items have been added. It will probably take longer than simply placing a fresh order, but the quest itself is enjoyable if you're not in a hurry.
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