Big Thrift Energy: The Art and Thrill of Finding Vintage Treasures-Plus Tips for Making Old Feel New

by Virginia Chamlee

Overview

Learn to find affordable vintage home decor and how to style it in a modern home.

From a Goyard trunk worth upwards of $10,000 (scored for $90) to a floor-length vintage Christian Dior cape (a $10 Goodwill find), Virginia knows how to find deals.

Danielle from Apartment Therapy says "Virginia has total sage sister vibes, helping you score pieces for a song with tips that are so good, I kind of can't believe she's letting us in on these trade secrets.”

Picked as a “Best New Book” by People Magazine, Big Thrift Energy will teach you everything you need to know about shopping for affordable vintage home decor and styling it in a modern home. Antiquing can be intimidating: how do you know if a piece is worth salvaging? How do you navigate the piles of merchandise at a thrift store or estate sale? Part resource, part inspiration, Big Thrift Energy is a comprehensive guide that offers tips for thrifting that you never knew you needed: How to shop for the good stuff, how to upcycle and style vintage treasures in your home, and even advice for flipping your most-coveted items to turn a profit.

Big Thrift Energy will teach you:
• Where to shop for antique and vintage treasures you'll love
• The best things to buy used, and which items to pass on
• How to upcycle something old into something "you" and make it fit beautifully in your home
• How to tell when something is valuable, and tips for reselling it to make a profit

Author Virginia Chamlee has spent more than a decade collecting and selling vintage wares. Her home has been featured on Apartment Therapy and Design*Sponge and her original artwork is available via Chairish, Anthropologie, and Artfully Walls.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781950968619
Publisher:	Blue Star Press
Publication date:	07/26/2022
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	179,991
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Author Virginia Chamlee is a writer for People magazine who has spent more than a decade collecting and selling vintage wares. Her home has been featured on Apartment Therapy and Design*Sponge and her written work has been featured in Buzzfeed, Bustle, Byrdie, and other outlets. Her artwork is available via Chairish, Anthroplogie, and Artfully Walls.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Part I Know Before You Go 16

Define Your Style 18

Do Your Online Research 21

Design Styles Across the Eras 25

Be Prepared 29

Know Where to Shop 33

Get Out of Town 45

Best Flea Markets in the U.S 49

Part II How to Shop 52

Trendspotting 55

The Go-Tos 69

Material World 79

When to Just Say No 89

Labels to Look For 95

Part III How to Style 100

Think like a Designer 103

Basic Formula of Room Design 113

Tell Your Story 121

Living Large 131

Styling Tricks 139

The Arc of the Upgrade 149

My All-Time Favorite Finds 155

Part IV How to Sell 158

The Investment 161

Other Basics 162

Where to Sell 167

Conclusion 171

Resources 172

Editorial Reviews

05/16/2022

“Just like the early days of any good crush,” vintage shopping is “all about the chase,” writes People magazine contributor Chamlee in her jaunty debut. Focusing on home goods, Chamlee arms readers with what they need to score antique treasures. First there’s a “know before you go” section with tools to identify one’s sense of style, lists of flea markets across the U.S. and of vintage sites to check out online, and a quick historic overview of design styles. A “checkity checklist” of “things to have on your person at all times when vintage shopping” includes a tape measure, sold tags, and blankets or towels for wrapping fragile items. As for style, Chamlee urges making function a priority in any room, and choosing a mood to guide the look. Readers interested in turning a profit will find advice in a final section on selling. A list of Chamlee’s own vintage scores is impressive: she picked up a Goyard trunk worth $10,000 for $90, for example. The wealth of resources plus Chamlee’s friendly tone make this a handy one-stop-shop for new thrifters. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Virginia has total sage sister vibes, helping you score pieces for a song with tips that are so good, I kind of can't believe she's letting us in on these trade secrets. Vintage shopping can be super-tricky; it's hard to know where to start, how to scout things that look and feel like "you," and what to splurge or save on. With this beautiful and thoughtful book though, you'll feel like you have a field guide for furnishing your best home ever with pre-loved, storied stuff."
- Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy

"A list of Chamlee’s own vintage scores is impressive: she picked up a Goyard trunk worth $10,000 for $90, for example. The wealth of resources plus Chamlee’s friendly tone makes this a handy one-stop-shop for new thrifters."
- Publishers Weekly

"Virginia and I both agree that there’s enough thrifting to go around. As every vintage hunter knows, sharing thrifting tips can bring good shopping karma. I follow Virginia’s shopping escapades on instagram and even though I’m jealous of her one-of-a-kind scores; I love that I can bring a piece of them home in the form of her new book. Big Thrift Energy Is a great guide for experts and newbies alike."
-Max Humphrey, Designer, Author of Modern Americana, named one of Country Living’s 100 most creative people

"As an artist, writer, and true vintage fanatic, Virginia Chamlee has quite a few lessons to share about creating spaces you love. She’s sharing all of them in her new book, Big Thrift Energy, which offers tips for how to become a vintage pro and make pieces work with your personal aeshetic."
-Dennis Sarlo, Chairish.com

"Thrifting is an art, and those who accept its challenges are often rewarded with retro regalia, colorful home decor and, occasionally, fabulous one-of-a-kind finds. Of course, finding a valuable ancient artifact—or just a good deal—isn’t as easy as it sounds. Virginia Chamlee, a journalist, artist and avid thrifter, is here to help fledgling shoppers with her new book, Big Thrift Energy, a handy guide to shopping for affordable vintage home decor and styling it in a modern home."
-Chloe Nelson, Sarasota Magazine

“Lifelong collector and People writer Chamlee shares her tips on scoring the good stuff (and knowing it when you see it) at estate sales, antique stores and thrift shops. Let fab finds begin!”
-PEOPLE Magazine

"Virginia Chamlee is an avid collector and seller of vintage items. This book provides advice on how to find the best vintage pieces and how to upcycle old ones and give them new life."
-House Beautiful

"Virginia's book makes you want to stop what you're doing, jump in your car, and head to the nearest thrift store. Its beautiful imagery and detailed descriptions are incredibly motivating. We especially love all the tips and tricks she provided for styling your space!"
-Roxy Prima and Phoebe Cornog, authors of Wonder Walls and co-founders of Pandr Design Co.

From the Publisher