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March 5, 2008
Where to find cheap antiques?
Hello Brownstoners,
I've just moved into a new apartment in Clinton Hill and would like to decorate with some inexpensive used furniture. I need some larger items--a dining room table, desk, and perhaps a tv stand, and want to spend around a hundred dollars total. I'm inot really looking to invest in long-time furniture, so quality isn't a big issue. I'm more interested in finding cute, unique looking pieces, 50's, 60's or earlier, real wood, that require little to no rehabbing. Suggestions? Thoughts?
Thanks for your help!
z
Comments
I think you will have to spend more money for a wood dining room table from the 50s-60s that needs no rehab.
That said, the cheapest furniture in NYC is to be found on Craigslist.
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:44 PM
I used to work in Queens and spent many hours in antique shops there.
I suggest many of the shops on Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills and the "Old and New Shop" on Myrtle Ave.in Glendale.
I've also found good stuff at the Brooklyn Salvation Army warehouse on Quiincy and Downing, in Clinton Hill.
Furniture refinishing isn't all that difficult.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 5, 2008 4:58 PM
suggestions? Yeah, I suggest you get real. Why don't you start walking the nabe on trash night and see if someone has thrown out a "real wood" door you can prop up on some saw horses to use as a desk and dining table. The saw horses will probably cost about $100.
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:59 PM
wow, thats real big of you, 4:59. im just as rude and cynical as the next commenter, but damn. if we can't turn to message boards for wishful advice, where can we go?
Posted by: washingtonavvia215 at March 5, 2008 5:06 PM
Doubt if you'll find at the prices you wish, but Craigs list and Ebay are my suggestions. Search Ebay by item and distance. GOOD LUCK
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:12 PM
Do you have a car/van? Because it will be difficult to find these items in Brooklyn. The only way, as others have suggested is to go the Craigslist or dumpster diving route. And yes, it IS possible, but it's time consuming and you have to be quick. (Quicker than me, because I'm always out there looking)
If you do have access to a vehicle...this is the guy, on Long Island:
http://reclaimedhome.com/2007/10/08/salvage-long-island/
I can also give you the # of a guy upstate, but I don't want to post it w/o his permission. He just works out of his house.
Posted by: rh at March 5, 2008 5:24 PM
There's a place now in Bushwick, that used to be on Driggs -- they have a warehouse full of junk....and sometimes some real gems. I bought a great 60s walnut table with 4 matching chairs, leaf, and china cabinet for $500. There was some damage because they had tape all over it, but a little elbow grease and the set it gorgeous.
I don't know that it has a name but it's on Starr St, I think between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas or the next one. Be prepared that it's totally unorganized and they do nothing to show off that they have anything of value (our table/chair we barely visible on top of cages).
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:31 PM
You can get some interesting things at theGood Will on LIviingston St. I like it a lot better than the Sal Arm on Downing. The store is dark and pretty dirty. That said, I have found some cool items there. Good Will is better in my opinion. good luck!
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:33 PM
I've actually had better luck on eBay than I have on Craiglist. If you do the eBay Advanced Search, scroll down and you'll see you can search for items located within a certain mileage from your zip code. I have found most of the vintage and mid-century stuff is in the Antiques: Furniture category even if they aren't antiques. But you can experiment with categories to find what you want. To pick up the furniture, look on Craigslist for names/numbers of guys with vans who could do a local delivery for you for $50. Or if the seller can deliver it for a little extra money that's always best. Like there is one seller located in Williamsburg called Modavenue (user name on eBay) who has some cheap stuff. Lately they've been pricing things higher. Be a bit careful with them because there's always some damage they never describe.
Also there is an antique furniture store on 5th Ave in South Slope like around 12th Street that sometimes has good prices on things but it's hit or miss. Some good prices some too high. I picked up an amazing teak mid-century credenza for $200 and that was quite the buy because similar ones sell in chic mid-century stores for a couple thousand.
Good luck! Enjoy your apartment.
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:38 PM
"To pick up the furniture, look on Craigslist for names/numbers of guys with vans who could do a local delivery for you for $50."
that's half this persons budget.
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:58 PM
PS, I'm back. I just remembered a beautiful antique dresser I saw on Hancock Street in Bed Stuy when I was walking my dogs last week. I didn't want to lose my parking spot, so I didn't go back for it. :( But I just wanted to add that I always see things around Bed Stuy on garbage day. Perhaps 4:59 will be purchasing some of these items from me at the Brooklyn Flea.
Posted by: rh at March 5, 2008 6:22 PM
Go to Craigs list free stuff...it is really cool. All you need to do is pick the stuff up. If you don't get all you want you can splurge on the other stuff you didn't get free. Have fun!
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 8:01 PM
Oh I missed that about the total budget. Do try the Craigslist free stuff like 8:01 suggests. But you'll still have to figure out a way to get it back to your apartment. Sometimes people want things out of their house enough they'll deliver them to you if you'll do the unloading and carrying into your place yourself.
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 8:21 PM
test
Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 9:32 PM
Check out this
It only picks out craigslist listings with pictures.
http://newyork.listpic.com/sale%2Ffurniture/
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 8:05 AM
you guys have been so helpful! thanks!
Posted by: washingtonavvia215 at March 6, 2008 9:42 AM
Agreed about CL free listings.
In most cases, you will need to pick it up though, but keep searching and write to the seller quickly and tell them you will pick it up ASAP, since these things go quickly.
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:20 AM
try frreecycle.org
Posted by: Ysabelle at March 6, 2008 2:18 PM
it's in queens but build it green has tons of great stuff. get a friend to drive you, or rent a van for $100.
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 3:13 PM
Eventually, the name of the place that 5:31 is thinking about will come to me, but in the mean time: they advertise in the Brooklyn Downtown Star weekly newspaper (comes out on Thursdays) and best of all, the ad is a coupon for some percent off. It's hit or miss, but you can find some bargains. When I lived in Williamsburg, I'd drop in a few times a month for a quick tour. Was there so often, I call it Stanley's, cause that is the proprietor. I think it's called Green something.
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 7:39 PM
it's called Greenvillage
you should also not leave out the flea market - what's left of it in Chelsea - the Garage. Even tho some prices are high, there are dealers who come in from upstate with furniture that they don't want to haul back. Maybe the new Brookyn Flea Market will turn out to be a good source for furniture.
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 8:37 PM
Picking up free stuff from the curb is great, until you find out it's got bedbugs.
Spray the heck out of it before you bring it inside your apartment especially at the joints & cracks. Use unscented Raid Ant killer with permethrin-related ingredients to kill bugs and their eggs. Spray it again after two weeks.
There are bedbug infestations EVERYWHERE in New York. No one's going to post a "BEWARE OF BEDBUGS" sign on the curb outside their $2.5 million dollar brownstone.
Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 10:31 PM
To follow on the bed bug warning...I know from experience that Raid does not kill bed bugs. 91% isopropyl alcohol does (though it may damage the item). Plus, no spray will kill eggs if they are there. Be cautious, since this is an expensive problem to deal with!
Posted by: guest at March 7, 2008 3:44 PM
I have spent thousands of dollars trying eradicate bedbugs in a rental brownstone I own and we still have them. You want to save money by buying "used" furniture? There is a bedbug EPIDEMIC in the city right now. You will regret it for the rest of your life.
Posted by: guest at March 7, 2008 7:12 PM
Query from one who has picked up used furniture from curb, craiglist, etc., but who has always avoided anthing that wasn't made from solid material (no beds, couches, upholstered stuff) due to the general ick factor:
Do bedbugs come in wood pieces (like chests of drawers)? OR do they only infest bed-like soft items?
Posted by: guest at March 7, 2008 7:59 PM
Wait until April 6th and come on down to Brooklyn Flea. I'm sure there will be plenty of affordable used furniture there.
Posted by: guest at March 7, 2008 10:48 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/realestate/15cov.html
It's an older article but a good one about bedbugs. Sprays won't kill bedbugs but if you can't resist a piece, I heard heat may kill the bugs/larvae. Wrap any item with black plastic and let it bake in the sun for a long, long time. Bedbugs can live in anything organic i.e. WOOD. So, if you see something free on the street just be careful. My friend picked up a wood headboard a couple years ago and couldn't figure out where the bites were coming from until she realized the bugs were living in the headboard.
For the amount of time, money and embarrassment bedbugs can cause, used furniture just ain't worth it to me anymore,
Posted by: guest at March 8, 2008 1:39 AM
This won't apply to the OP who can't afford doing re-upholstery work, but if you're buying vintage or antique upholstered furniture you're going to have it recovered and the stuffing replaced. I do this. Never a problem ever with bedbugs.
You can spend thousands on new furniture and it's still not the quality of a vintage piece constructed with a solid, old-growth, hardwood frame. It doesn't even have to be that old. Even pieces from the 60's and 70's are more solidly constructed than now. My friend reupholsters furniture and she says she has clients bringing in very expensive furniture all the time, and when my friend rips off the upholstery and the stuffing the frame is shitty. Pardon my French. But we're talking flimsy cheap pine frame underneath.
Posted by: guest at March 9, 2008 6:37 PM
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