Sustainably Sourcing Furniture and Decor – the San Rafael Home Project
Designing a home is about understanding the homeowner’s space and needs while sourcing pieces that are functional and following their aesthetic. For me, however, sourcing furniture and decor responsibly and sustainably is paramount. And there is nothing better when the client has the same penchant for vintage deals.
I started with a list of priority items, but I was also on the lookout for fun items that fit the style we were going for.
Although not done, by the time I left, we had made some significant progress. Here are my favorite goodies we sourced.
Antique storage bench
I always start my treasure hunt with Facebook Marketplace. It is easy to use whether you are shopping or selling, and this is why it has the most items to look through. Even before I arrived to California, I changed my location on the platform to San Rafael. With less than two weeks on site, I knew I needed to hit the ground running. After all, we had the whole house to furnish as my client moved from a studio and had a lot of spaces to fill.
And I am so glad I did start early, as I am sure we would have missed this amazing piece. I knew it belonged in our little tree house the moment I saw it. This storage bench is the embodiment of the style we were going for. It is antique, organically shaped with beautifully carved details. Dark wood with some wear just gives this beauty more character. Although I wasn’t sure where it would go, it is so versatile that I knew we wouldn’t have any issues finding a spot for it.
At first, we had it in the living room as a side table. Then for a few days, I had it set up in the dining room as a bar station. Right now it is in the entry way greeting everyone at the door. And I am sure it is bound to keep moving around the house. At the moment, I am happy that it is the first thing people see when they visit. It serves as a little preview of this fantastic San Rafael home.
We had to have it and at $150 it was a steal.
Just look at those carvings!
Thinking about our goal of sourcing furniture and decor items sustainably, this bench was probably the one that really needed saving. Don’t get me wrong, it is in great shape and it is beautiful. However, it is an antique and a home with active kids and rambunctious pets, could have meant doom for it.
West Elm Dining Table
Fist of all – how amazing is this view!!! We knew we’d bringing in decor pieces to emphasize the gorgeous nature right outside. Round table is what we settled on immediately. We concluded it would be the easiest to maneuver around with the path from the kitchen cutting through the dining space.
We lucked out with this MCM-style West Elm table while scouring OfferUp. The moment I saw it, I knew we had found a perfect compromise between what my client needed and wanted. It has modern lines, dark wood and a glass table top that reflects the beauty outside. And at 42″ inches in diameter, it is the right size for the dining room.
After a little bit of bargaining, we got it for $150. Not too shabby! And we kept our goal of sustainably sourcing furniture and decor for the San Rafael home.
Although I don’t think I can guarantee this kind of deal for anyone else, this table is still available for purchase at West Elm.
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To stay on point with natural elements, we brought in a round 6-foot bleached jute rug from Wayfair and forest green velvet dining chairs from World Market.
Z Gallerie Vessel
During one of our many treasure hunting outings, I suggested we stop by a local thrift store. We perused aisles of china and glassware until this magnificent vessel caught our eye. At about two feet this glass vase was impressive and just what we needed. The shape is classic and the color went with our overall color scheme. It was just meant to be.
To my surprise, I discovered a Z Gallerie tag with a listing price close to $100 mark. We got it for a quarter of that and couldn’t wait to shuffle it around the house.
This is your reminder not to skip your local thrift store when sustainably sourcing decor and furniture. There are treasures to be found.
Easel
In one of our many home design conversations, my friend/client mentioned that he would really like an old easel he can utilize as a mount for a projector screen. And universe must have been listening!
On our way home from a nearby nursery, I spotted a sign for an estate sale and we feverishly made a U-turn and walked into a house I will likely never forget. The home was filled with curiosities and special surprises. And I couldn’t have imagined how beautiful this experience would be.
Nothing baby-like in a baby grand
We were greeted by a Baby Grand piano in the front room. The way afternoon Sun backlit the instrument was pure magic. I guess pianos really played a big role in this whole San Rafael trip, as I chalk painted one at the house I was working on.
A childhood memory
Looking around the backyard, I recognized a tree I had not seen since I was a kid playing in my grandma’s yard – a quince! Quince or Dunja (pronounced Dunya), is such an important fruit in Serbian culture. We use it to make preserves, compote and even brandy. It is also very hardy and fragrant and often placed on top of dressers and wardrobes to deodorize rooms. I am pretty sure it’s probably one of the most sung about fruits in the Balkan region. We like our produce, what can I say!
The lady holding the sale was so surprised I knew what the tree was. After I explained my connection to it, she insisted we take the last piece hanging in the tree. She explained that her mom had passed away and they were clearing her house for sale. They had already picked all the fruit they needed and this tiny quince was the last one on the branch. I’d like to believe that it made her happy to gift us this golden nugget. That in a way she was letting us take a piece of her own memories, because she knew we would appreciate it as much as she did.
Works of an artist
Then she led us through the house and we marveled at all the artwork on the walls. We quickly found out that her mother painted most of them. I felt so privileged to peek into a true artist studio with masterpieces in various stages of the creative process.
Special (universe) delivery
While I was carefully perusing through the watercolors on the table in the framing room, my friend was in the atelier internally jumping for joy. He found this artist’s easel in the corner – and the rest is history!
We brought it home and lightly dusted it. We wanted to preserve every single brush stroke that had slipped off the canvas and left a mark.
In all of this treasure hunting, we were elated to not only preserve history, but give these items a new chapter of their story, as well as reuse amazing items instead of purchasing new ones.
