Thrifting Changed My Family Room…..A New Level of Awesome-Sauce

I’m going to start making these thrifting posts a little thing, how about a regular series? (Check out a few other thrifting posts here, here) I am a big believer in finding seriously cool pieces for little money to help you create that one of a kind unique space.  Case in point, read on!

My friends, I’ve done it again.  I’ll give you a quick little backstory…..The family room.

The hardest working space in our house second only to the kitchen. (Which is to the bottom left of this pic) I’ve dreamed of a sectional in here for quite some time and while there are loads of options, me being me, I had to go for something major.

It had to have some angles or curves, it had to give us the option of laying out chaise-style, it had to be seriously sexy to the eyes while being seriously comfy to the butts.

That is a TALL order I have learned.  I seriously need to just start designing furniture to save all of our pocketbooks!  Anyway, I have been searching the likes of Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, Ebay, 1st Dibs and Chairish on the reg.

This kind of thing doesn’t show up often and when it does, holy cannoli can you say go for broke? I mean literally broke.  We’re talking upwards of $5-$30k….for a sectional sofa. Yikes!  Even if I had a spare $5-30k laying around I couldn’t spend it on a sofa, and some of them are gorgeous I’ll give you that.

I have 4 kids and 4 dogs so an expensive piece of furniture like that would give me horrendous hives from the sheer terror of anyone touching it let alone eating on it, sitting on it, slobbering on it or breathing on it.

So it’s been quite a hunt of a couple of years.  I had all but given up hope, and did a quick check on those sites a couple of times a week.  Just on the off chance, you never know.

Badda bam!  Just over a week ago (a Friday night to be exact) I was doing my quick search for vintage sectionals.  Up pops this really terrible Craigslist photo with what appeared to be an interesting sectional. I showed my hubs and he actually liked it!

Crappy CL pic from the consignment store ad

Given our schedule we couldn’t make it down to Denver for 3 days.  I figured it would be sold by then so we called and asked if we could buy it over the phone.

That’s right!  I bought it…over the phone…from a consignment store….sight unseen…..butt untouched.  It was a risk but I had to go for it.  I thought at worst I could have it re-upholstered and still be well under what a new sofa would cost.

I should note that the lady on the phone said it was in really good shape and didn’t mention any weird smells.  I crossed every finger and toe she had good eyesight and a keen sense of smell.

So we load up the truck, pick up a Uhaul trailer and off we went.  It was in a pile in their storage area.  We loaded it without actually seeing it there either.

Our first glimpse of it in real life.

Turns out it was pretty damn fantastic!  No smells of any kind.  The upholstery was in incredibly good condition, just a couple of dirty spots and dust. (We took all the cushions outside for a good smack to get the dust out as much as possible) It doesn’t look like it was used much!

It’s a vintage Erwin Lambeth 5 piece sectional from the 80’s and it came from a house/estate in Vail. The store I bought it from is a company that tries to keep the clearing out of homes/estates green by going and loading everything up and out for the owner.  They then sell what can be sold in their furniture store, donate other items and then toss what can’t be salvaged.  Super cool!

I found these 2 pink lamps there too.

I had to have these.  It turns out they came from the same estate as the sectional.  Of course they did, heart eyes.

So the building of the family room around this ginormous hunk of furniture love began.  I’m not gonna lie, it was a bit of a challenge.  I’ve always stayed with a comfort zone of solid colored furniture pieces and then wild and crazy for the rugs, pillows, etc.  This was quite the opposite.

Close up of the upholstery so you can see the colors.  Pink, black, creamish and a mustard meets orange color.

 I spent the better part of 4 days playing with every rug in the house.  Then swapping out my several hundred pillows to see what looked the best.  You can imagine the enthusiasm of my son helping me. Teen plus helping mom move furniture equals “ugh, again?” Hey that’s what happens when you live with me what can I say, hehe.  Anyway, it’s a fine line between wanting the sofa to be the star but still employing some color and interest to compliment it.  I finally landed on this sitch.

I stole the pink Beni M’ririt from my office, the black and white underneath is from my spring ORC space.  The pink was too small on it’s own and the black and white was the right size but way too busy.  So of course I layered them! (see my tips on layering here)

The coffee table.  This was a contentious find.  I actually picked this up at a local thrift for the rock bottom price of $6.  I shared it in my IG stories and the poll overwhelmingly hated it.  Being the rebel I am I brought it home anyway and it ended up sitting in the garage for a few months.  I thought about using it in the ORC basement space but it wasn’t the right size with the sectional.  Everyone in the house wanted me to re-donate it UNTIL we put together this sectional.  Now my widely hated 80’s glass topped brass trimmed $6 coffee table is much loved.

Just goes to show you, always go with your gut.  A piece will find it’s way to the perfect spot at the right time.  And I take immense satisfaction from the fact that my entire family gave me such grief but I was right.

The far right side (right corner of pic) got a refresh too.

I had to introduce a bit more color cause, it’s me.  So I draped a kantha quilt over the one corner!

Here’s that right corner from the pic above.  I stole the black cabinet from my office (see it here) with a couple of cute pink lamps and a flea market find mirror made with vintage costume jewelry!

The shapes on the cabinet and the brass legs are a modern feel contrasting the vintage black pattern and brass coffee table while still feeling seamless.

You can’t beat that reflection.

We just put a screw in the wall between the windows and left it far enough out to attach the mirror wire.  This way even if the cabinet is bumped it won’t fall over!

How about a back view?

Erwin is just as pretty from behind.  Yikes, that sounded kind of weird.

The fireplace got a couple of minor swap outs…

A new piece of original art, (thrifted), I put my peacock screen on the frame of the doors and moved a couple of plants over.

There she be!  The new mac daddy, say hello to my little friend, take me home to mama sectional.  The first piece of furniture the ENTIRE family unanimously agrees on.

It’s comfy, it’s pretty, it’s vintage, and it fits this space like a glove.  I have to say my years’ long journey for the perfect sectional has come to a close.  Until I come up with another scheme that is! ; )

Would you ever buy a vintage piece of furniture sight unseen?  Have you found a killer piece for a steal?

I always love to hear from you so hit me up in the comments!

And don’t forget to hit up the subscribe box for more from little ole me.

XXXX&OOOO

 

vintage, erwin lambeth, sectional, family room, home, design, interior, decor, beni rug, thrifted, thrifting

 

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18 Comments
  • Linda
    June 18, 2019

    Similar story to yours, had been looking for either a chartreuse green or bright navy velvet sofa for like 2 years. Yes navy sofas came up but they wanted too much for what they where. Then one day I opened Craigslist and my green sofa was there for $125.00. NINE feet of custom down sofa. I called and bought it and sent my husband to pick it up a couple of days later. Did not lay eyes on it till I got home from work that night. I love it! It is in good shape with no funny smells.

    • Tina Bousu
      June 18, 2019

      Yay Linda!! That’s so exciting and what a find, enjoy that epic piece!

  • Tiffany
    June 18, 2019

    I can not get over this sectional 🙂 I’m loving all over it from the east coast! lol!!! I think my entire home is full of thrifty steals. I mean we’re saving tons of money and doing our part for the environment too…….I call that winning in a major way. Oh by the way, can I buy your sectional? hahahahahha! I already know the answer to that one! Keep me posted if you do a fun series of thrifted finds!

    • Tina Bousu
      June 18, 2019

      Yas! Tiffany you know what’s up! I seriously am so addicted to thrifting. The thrill of the hunt, finding that diamond (sometimes in the rough), saving money AND helping the environment (all things I am passionate about BTW). And if I ever am willing to let Erwin go, you’ll be the first one I DM! xxx

  • Jillian Conley
    June 18, 2019

    I have a high back armchair in shades of green velvet I got at our local goodwill for $20. Rare find – I don’t live near many super cool thrift shops here in NW Ohio that offer much worthwhile. Something like this sectional though, would be worth a trip a little further from home. I admire your fearlessness with this one… now my biggest question is where did that fabulous pink settee go?!

    • Tina Bousu
      June 19, 2019

      Hi Jillian! Ooo a green velvet armchair, it sounds amazing. The pink settee is still here, I have it in the schoolroom for right now. Hopefully it will make an appearance soon! xoxo

  • Dianne
    June 18, 2019

    wow!!!! fabulous buy!!!! You are a brave brave lady (and brava that your hubs and kids are so on board with your decorating fun)! I love watching you change/transform your home with incredible joyful creativity!!!

    • Tina Bousu
      June 19, 2019

      Hi Dianne! Thank you so much! After so many years of living with me they don’t even question it anymore. It’s more like “mom’s changing things again” or my hubs “I’m sure it’ll come together” with a questioning look on his face. haha Thank you so much for following along Dianne!

  • Ellen | Ask Away Blog
    June 19, 2019

    WOW! Who would have imagined it would look so bad ass!

    • Tina Bousu
      June 19, 2019

      Ellen! Thank you so very much! And it definitely exceeded my expectations, thank heavens the lady had good eyesight and a keen sense of smell. xoxo

  • Jamala
    June 19, 2019

    You rocked this find!!! Excellent new look for your family room!! The entire space is fit for family lounging and enjoyment. The return of the 80’s.. yaaaaay

    • Tina Bousu
      June 19, 2019

      Hi Jamala! Thank you so much! This one gave me a run for my money in terms of styling, I do like a challenge though. And woohoo for the 80’s! My hubs is an 80’s kid through and through and this is by far his favorite living room setup EVER!

  • Judith Braggs
    June 23, 2023

    Love love it before and after, I love thrifting!

    • Tina Bousu
      June 27, 2023

      Hi Judith, thank you! Here here for us thrifting lovers!

  • Tracy
    December 25, 2023

    I know it’s been more than 4 years since you posted this, but I just came across it and had to smile…right around the time you were welcoming Erwin, we also ended up redecorating our living room around a very bold and unique sofa that I got for a song. We found it on Facebook Marketplace. It was in like-new condition, and only $75. It was also chartreuse. Bright chartreuse. Never in a million years did I think I would buy a sofa that color, but it just spoke to me. I sent my Venmo payment without ever seeing it in person, because we live in Charleston, SC and the sellers lived in Hilton Head…so technically, the sofa was $75 + the cost of the gas for a 3 hour road trip.

    My style is quite bohemian, so I already had plenty of brightly colored decorating accessories. But unfortunately, many of them were just TOO bright with our new bold sofa…we needed some more muted items to tone it down a bit. I also discovered that most of my yellow and/or green accessories clashed with chartreuse. My favorite throw pillow covers that I had proudly made myself out of an old Moroccan trellis throw rug went from a charming, sunny gold color to looking like old cloudy urine. The binding on our large seagrass rug seemed to change from khaki to a moldy gray shade. I ended up stenciling a boho border on the binding (which looked great, but took forever on a 9 x 12 rug) and breaking it up by layering a couple smaller, busier rugs over it. I painted baskets and pots for our many plants to compliment our new color scheme. I went nuts scouring the web for new throw pillows before finally coming across a few at flea markets, and a delightful vintage bedspread at our local Goodwill that I used to make covers for several more.
    There were many times that I wondered why I hadn’t purchased one of the 500 gray or beige sofas available on FB Marketplace…but now I love the look we created and the only time I think about the brightness of our sofa is on the rare occasion that someone new comes into our home and I see their eyes widen slightly when they walk into the living room, lol. I love your look as well…the doors around your fireplace have me drooling, and I am itching to start buying up costume jewelry pieces from our local thrift stores so I can make my own mirror frame!

    • Tina Bousu
      January 17, 2024

      Hi Tracy! That’s so fantastic, I LOVE hearing how one special piece led to a new vision for your space. It always ends up happening that way doesn’t it? And chartreuse is one of my favorite accent colors, I can only dream of how much fun it would be to do a whole space around one. Thank you so much for sharing and that one chartreuse sofa is worth 10,000 gray/beige ❤️

  • Cindy
    February 8, 2024

    Jaw dropped for this sofa. Need details. Will dream about this.

    • Tina Bousu
      February 28, 2024

      Hi Cindy! This was such a crazy cool piece and I adored it so much. I ended up sending it off to Canada where it lives in a beautiful home with a huge family room. I still think about it sometimes