Thrifting Isn’t Luck — It’s an Eye
It’s about vision — the ability to see past dust, poor lighting, or someone else’s styling and recognize a piece with real presence.

Here’s the approach.

Look for weight, not trend.
Solid wood. Honest materials. Strong construction.
If a piece has physical and visual weight, it will hold the room long after trends fade.

Study the lines.
Ignore the color, the fabric, the finish. Look at the silhouette first.
Clean lines and balanced curves are usually worth saving.

Check the patina.
Not artificially distressed — simply worn in the right places.
Age brings a depth newer pieces rarely replicate.

Open every drawer.
Run your hand along the interior. Look underneath.
Dovetail joints, smooth movement, solid backing — quality reveals itself quickly when you know where to look.

Think beyond the current state.
Hardware can be replaced. Wood can be refinished. Seats can be recovered.
Proportion, however, is non-negotiable. Start there.

Buy with restraint.
Low price alone isn’t a reason to bring something home.
Edit as you go.

Mix eras.
A vintage piece gives a newer room gravity.
Something modern prevents an older space from feeling locked in time.
The tension is what makes a room interesting.

Leave good pieces behind.
Not everything needs to be yours.
Discipline sharpens your eye far more than impulse ever will.

A good home rarely comes together all at once.
It’s assembled — patiently — by an eye that knows what to wait for.