First off, hats off to Habitat for Humanity ReStores. If you ever need anything that goes in a house and don't mind a little wear, stop in one of these stores (they're everywhere: I had no idea). While you're at it, throw a few things in your car to donate while you're there.
I have been to about six salvage warehouses in the last week. If you see me coming with a tape measure, lock your door because if anything you own fits, I'll unscrew it and throw it in my truck. I still have a few things I'm tracking down.
One of this week's missions was a big sink that will look nice on the main floor of the shop. Both the sink and its most awesome base (below) came from separate Craigslist listings. A little customizing by my contractor and some touchup refinishing by me next week and the sink & base will be perfect. I also hunted down some great display tables for the shop and a very odd surprise for later.
Still to find: Some cheap, great light fixtures, a table/thing for the coffee pot, and two little round cafe tables. And whatever else shows up that begs to be a part of the space. A lot of the time I just walk around these stores with an open mind and let that great thing find me. The challenge is finding both the size AND the style that works. Oh, and the price. It would be quite easy to go buy these things new, but, uh, that's not really an option. It's like great wine: You can get it for a hundred bucks a bottle, but that's not an option. Nor is drinking crummy wine.
It's more work, but I have to admit, I have always thoroughly enjoyed a good bout of dumpster diving. Again, watch out for me and my tape measure this month.
Little weird drawers became little great doors. AND we saved the hole we cut for the sink for a solid maple cutting board.
What the hell? Only five dollars a window! Who can pass that up? (I spent more on the paint stripper than the windows, haha. The painted writing said, "Barber Shop" on one window and "Walk-ins Welcome" on the other.)
Hey... those openings look about the same size as those five-dollar windows.