Our original family kitchen table disappeared within 30 minutes after my mother and I put it curbside with a “please take” sign, hoping it would be recycled to another friendly home.
Maybe more teenagers are sitting in those heavy chairs, eating at our table. Perhaps it’s in a family new to the United States. Regardless, instead of being in the dump, the old furniture probably is in a second life.
The idea of salvaging furniture is not new, but it is trendy and a lot of fun. When I look around my house, I see an eclectic gathering of pieces that represent places I have lived or visited. From a rosewood sofa table carved in Thailand and antique oil paintings from Ireland to a refinished vanity chair I found on the streets of Philadelphia. Each item has its own story of where it came from and how it landed in my home.
Dublin residents have many options to go green when it comes to passing on their household treasures. Call or email the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, (www.Furniturebankoh.org) whose motto is “Turning empty houses into homes.” Your gently used items can be picked up for free and placed in a needy family’s home within three days. From mattresses to microwaves, you can help preserve the environment by donating as an alternative to trashing.
Consignment is another option. Experienced Possessions (lisa.nightfyre.com) in Shawnee Hills is a comfortable place to start. Owner, Lisa Gilton, shopped at the Dublin Road store for 17 years before buying it in 2007. She offers bottled water to each of her customers in the summer and makes pots of coffee when the weather gets cold. “It’s like ‘Cheers’ in here,” says Gilton.
She describes her merchandise as part traditional, part contemporary, with things that are a little bit different. Gilton acquires most of the accessories and furniture from model homes and individuals who downsize. At Experienced Possessions, the consignor maintains ownership but gives the shop the right to price and sell items. There is a $10 fee to consign and prices are marked down every 30 days.
“I keep the prices reasonable so that the customer and the consignor are both winners,” says Gilton. Buyers range from recent college graduates to interior designers to upper income families. Dublin designer Kristi Grubbs, of KG Interiors (www.kginteriors.com), likes to take clients to Experienced Possessions when she’s looking for that one special piece. “You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home look great,” says Grubbs.
Ubberhaus (www.ubberhaus.com) is a second hand, high-end store started in 2007 by Once Upon a Child, Inc. Pre-loved furniture and décor from estate sales, auctions and individuals fills the Frantz Road storefront. Ubberhaus buys items directly from the seller, in effect holding all of the risk. Customers can take pieces to the store for approval and pricing, or email photos and details to Jim Swartz, the store manager. Visit their site for contact information at www.ubberhaus.com.
Their clientele covers all age groups and demographics, including many regulars and generational shoppers. “We had a mother and daughter searching for two matching chairs for weeks,” says Swartz. “Finally they bought two chairs, took a class at Fabric Farms, bought fabric and reupholstered the chairs themselves.”
Customers are responsible for transferring items to and from the shop, but Ubberhaus can recommend quality movers for larger pieces. Ask Rick Dye, vice president of Roush Hardware in Dublin. He bought an entire dining room suite including buffet, server, table and eight chairs for $1,200, which is a fraction of the original price. He also purchased two complete bedroom sets for $800. “The two mattresses I bought cost more than both rooms of furniture combined,” adds Dye.
Dublin resident, JoAnn Buck, makes new pillows for Ubberhaus and buys accessories like plates and crystal there as well. She suggests visiting the store two or three days per week if you are seriously searching for something because merchandise turns over very fast. “If it’s something that you can’t live without, buy it immediately before someone else does,” says Buck.
Business is booming at resale shops these days. In a mediocre economy, shoppers want to maximize their dollars and pay fair prices, so they are looking for deals without sacrificing quality. Dublin is truly is one of the best places to find amazing secondhand treasures. So show your green spirit and join in on this unique form of recycling – one that creates a new story each time one of these pieces passes from one family to another.
Colleen D'Angelo is a contributing writer for Dublin Life Magazine.