A Piece of Work

Housing Works, a thrift store chain in New York City that's dedicated to a good cause, gives a shopper the works; but it delivers a piece-of-work to a savvy, vintage-seeking nut (like me).

Let me explain the logic. In a shopping adventure over the weekend at Manhattan's Upper East Side location, under clutter and sorting through indecipherable objects, a few, sparse gems were found.

If given the right amount of love, care, and repair, these items could be saved, like the white dresser below with bamboo trim retailing for $115. Add some high gloss paint and some new pulls from Restoration Hardware or Anthropologie to create a keeper.


Liven up this small wire-rimmed chair (below) for $65 with a coat of paint. See if your local fabric store sells scraps of fabric, which can cost a couple of dollars, and get a referral for a seamstress to make a pillow seat.

Sometimes silly tchothkes make the most clever gifts. This $3 plate (below) is priceless.
Click here to see Housing Works locations in the New York City area.