Shopping Around: Local Love & Fab Finds at Potato Barn

Over the weekend, I headed out for two days of sourcing finds at thrift shops, discount home stores and local shops for the office makeover. I already had done some online searching for prices, but even some places who had a lower price, would have a $55 shipping charge which to me is just throwing money away. That $55 could be used to buy a lamp. The main item I was looking for was a pair of dining room chairs - preferably with oval backs. Traditional in their style, you'd think that might be easy to find at a thrift store, and also a popular trend you'd think stores like Homegoods or even Ross would carry -- but no. I did spot a pair in TJMaxx, but they weren't the right finish (white-washed) or fabric (zebra print). I even contacted the owner at Sweet Salvage to see if any of their vendors had oval back chairs, but at this time they didn't. Come Saturday evening, I felt a little discouraged but tried one last local shop called Potato Barn.

Ding-Ding! Jackpot!

The Potato Barn is a family owned and operated home furnishings store in Arizona, established in 2002. Their showrooms (located in Gilbert and Scottsdale) are filled with unique home furnishings, featuring many one of a kind pieces imported from all over the world. The Potato Barn has everything to furnish your entire home, with a large selection of sofas, sectionals, chairs, entertainment centers, dining room tables, buffets, cabinets, dressers, headboards, accent tables and accessories such as lamps, pillows and candle holders. They carry an assortment of a wide variety of styles from olde world and rustic to shabby chic and even a few modern pieces.  Within their eclectic mix, they specialize in heavily distressed finishes and reclaimed woods.

 The least expense oval back dining chairs online are at Home Decorators (also linked to Home Depot + Amazon). They sell at $169 each PLUS $55 to ship and do not come in grey. A last resort is Target where they have a pair for $199 and free ship, but again, not available in grey. These local finds have more character. And the added bonus of a Parisian feel, which I discovered is my clients favorite place.

Since moving here, I had only gone into the store one other time, and thought they might be too rustic for what I was looking for -- but I actually spotted the mother load of oval back chairs, in a variety of finishes AND on sale! I may need to "tweak" the styling of my project just a little bit, but that's where being flexible in designing a space comes into play. When you find the style & price you're searching for, you think "how can I make this work in the space?"  

 

Chairs by Steven Shell.

Originally, I was thinking the chair frame would be black and the fabric in print. The chairs I found are more solid - with only a slight herringbone print and the wood finish comes natural, distressed black or a milky white with grey finish - which I am actually leaning more towards. Considering the chairs I found online were priced at $449 each (high), $600 for a pair (medium) and $169 each (low) PLUS shipping & tax - these local finds are only $95 to $125 each and no shipping expense. The two options to look into to 'tweak' their look is either to have them re-upholstered (which since their new I'd rather not do) OR just have nail trim added to them (which I think that's where I'm headed).

 

So comfortable and the crushed velvet texture 

can work well to layer the greys in the space.

The store also had a really good selection of that one special chair for the doctor to use during a counseling session. At first, we were going to keep her existing chair - just update the finish and re-upholster it, but then I found a new chair at Pier 1 in a cool print (center pic below). I snapped a picture of it to share (she liked it) and suggested she go give it a comfort test since it was nearby. I gave it a comfort test on Saturday, but to me it felt too firm. While at the Potato Barn, I found some other options - much more comfortable, styles that would work with the space, and one chair in particular that was lower priced (AND more comfortable) than the Pier 1 chair.

ABOVE: Chairs at Pier One

BELOW: Chairs at Potato Barn

Love the more traditional & tailored looks!

The Potato Barn showrooms are only open Wednesday thru Saturday from 10-6. Considering I popped in there at 5:30 Saturday, that's a good thing. It means the chairs will still be in the store Wednesday for me to meet my client there: she can give the chairs a comfort test and we can make the final selections for her office makeover.

P O T A T O  B A R N - G I L B E R T

4900 S. Power Road

(on the NW corner of Power & Ray - just off the 202)

480-279-5500

P O T A T O  B A R N - S C O T T S D A L E
9190 E. Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale 85250

(off the 101 freeway & Indian Bend Rd. in The Pavilions)

480-745-3240

 Tip when shopping here: Bring your tape-measure, snap pictures and bring other room samples with you because unlike specialty chain stores, you can't do returns.

Other finds spotted while at Potato Barn - Gilbert, AZ...

 

 

 

 

 

(I literally laughed out loud in the store when I saw this!)

While out and about I saw so many wonderful finds - from new items at Ikea to Spring assortments at Homegoods,, a new store that opened here called DownEast Home, thrift finds at Goodwill and another (new to me) thrift shop I found nearby... plus a few other local stores I pulled into to check out. I want to share them all, but doing one post would be too long.  So this week (may need to be this month!) I want to do a series of posts focused on "Shopping Around". It's easy to have an unlimited expense account or larger budget to work with, but trying to pull together a comfortable + stylish space on a budget ($5000 or under) can be challenging -- but it CAN be done, if you know where to shop, what to look for or just hire me to do it FOR you!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

SWEET SALVAGE VINTAGE - OCTOBER'S FRENCH MARKET

The New Times here in Phoenix recently released its list for "Best Of 2012" - And I'm thrilled to see the monthly vintage shop - Sweet Salvage - made the list! The New Times said, "Every month, we strive to make a little more room in our apartment in hopes of squeezing in a new vintage find from Sweet Salvage. The décor shop opens its doors every third Thursday through Sunday with a new theme and fresh merchandise. To its sprawling Seventh Avenue space, shoppers flock to find globes, signage lettering, metal lockers, and large pieces like reupholstered couches and chairs, tables, desks, and, well, just about anything else you might desire. Items fly fast, so be sure to get to the store as early as possible if you want first dibs on the decorative wares." And that is the truth! 

A wonderful mix and merge of vintage fashion and decor...

I've been touring (and doing a little shopping) at this monthly vintage pop-up market since July. I've gone on various days during the four days it's open. Last time (in September) I had gone on opening day in the morning and it was as c-r-a-z-y as Black Friday!! This month, I went around 5ish on a Friday, and it was not only quiet, but so spacious; they appeared to have been wiped out (in a GOOD way!!) See last month's theme: Wicked Faire - all Halloween and Fall inspired... Next month's theme reminds me of my Holiday Home from 2010: (See Simple Comfort & Joy ) - probably because it will be called "Comfort and Joy!" Here is my tour of the October French Market theme at Sweet Salvage...

 Chipppy and milk finished furnishings plus menswear inspired finds from bow-ties to ticking stripe chairs...

 

Glamorous finds in noir and a unique chandy in a bird cage display... 

Plus two black glass goblets I HAD to have :) 

 

 

Lots of lovely grey linen pieces...

Gorgeous shades of deep greens on glazed amphora vessels, old books, a velvet slipper chair and a fabulous chippy finish on a buffet...

 

Sweet Salvage

4648 N. 7th Ave.

Phoenix, AZ

602-279-2996 

Congrats to the team at Sweet Salvage!

Looking forward to the November months install:

Comfort & Joy.

Thanks for stopping by!

AROUND TOWN: SWEET SALVAGE AUGUST EVENT

Over the weekend, I ventured back to Sweet Salvage to see this months event: "Let Them Eat Cake!" Sweet Salvage is a unique home furnishings + gifts shop: it's only open 4 days monthly, and by having a limited opening, Sweet Salvage can offer their customers a fresh "theme" of merchandise each month. Yes, big-box retailers often re-set their stores monthly, but they are open all the days in between and sometimes, that can just give a shop-worn appearance to the store. This limited opening helps to create hype and excitement - something for us locals to look forward to and enjoy. Sweet Salvage engages people on their Facebook page to name the theme, and then they create the curated vignettes for it. For example, this months theme was "Let Them Eat Cake!" - a theme set with romance &  sweets to celebrate their one year since opening.  I did inquire about helping to set the store events, but I was told their 'vignettes are created by the designers & dealers of Sweet Salvage.'  

 

 The building at one time was actually an auto body shop. Be sure to read the Story of Sweet Salvage on their blog, plus visit them to see the slides from the previous curated shops. Although they had opened on Thursday (with a much larger inventory + crowd!!), here are some details from my tour on Saturday...

 

Sweets!!

 

Stylish studs!

 

GREAT on trend trunks!

 

LOVED this red dress!

 

Although I don't live with this style in my own home, I still very much appreciate the style + the stories behind the style. Sarah had spoken with the SteamPunk dealer and learned about the ways the merge & upcycle old pieces into new furnishings. I did actually pick up a vintage level... that reminded me of my dad :) 

(I just need to take a picture of it in sunlight to post)

 

SWEET SALVAGE LOCATION:

4648 N 7th Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85013

602 - 279 - 2996

email: info@sweetsalvage.net

website: http://www.sweetsalvage.net

 

The next Sweet Salvage event is on

 Thursday - September 20 thru Sunday - September 23

 

Also on Saturday, I had also met up Sarah at Sweet Salvage (she is one of the girls I met to go thrifting with a two weeks ago.) I'm currently organizing another meet-up (on September 20), but I'd like for even more local thrift & vintage enthusiasts to join me, Sarah and Lisa. Back in Florida, I use to do a regular post called "Thrifty Thursday", and I want to carry over that theme to a Third Thursday Thrift & Meet Up. Since Sweet Salvage also launches their shop on the third Thursday each month, I think this could be a great place for us all to meet up at & check out... Then do what me and Sarah did Saturday: Check out other local vintage or thrift shops in the area.

 

 

 

To take the meet up a step further, I'm creating a Group Pinboard for us to share our finds, plus tweet those finds as (hashtag) #FridayFinds. Since we all also have our own social networks, it can be another way for others outside our area to also join in on Twitter or the group Pinboard. For example, Kate of Dabble In Chic will be visiting Arizona in October and we're going thrifting, but she can also share her finds from her local area in North Carolina when she gets back. It's just another way we can all connect & share ideas plus creative points of view of this thrift & vintage movement.

 

If you too are ever visiting the Phoenix area (or already live here) and you'd like to meet up, just let me know at nyclqd@yahoo.com.

 

Thanks for stopping by!