Guest Curation: Thrifting and Refurbishing with Erin Harman

“As life evolves, so does a home,”  said Erin Harman, our guest curator of this week’s Collected Perspectives. As an empty nester with three grown children, Erin believes life is always evolving. This is why she named her Instagram handle @erin.evolving –  “I like to update, renovate, decorate and improve my home to complement my empty-nest lifestyle. Many of my DIY projects involve re-imagining items that I already have to make them current and give them new life.” While new things are sometimes what she’d like for her home, Erin always tries to find a creative way to use the things she has before buying new stuff.

One of Erin’s recent projects is redecorating her dining room with almost every item thrifted.  We had a chance to chat about her favorite makeover when it comes to that project. Not only that, Erin also shared her tips to master decorating with the color green that she loves and the things she absolutely can't miss out on when browsing estate sales and auctions. Let’s check it out.

AN: What got you interested in secondhand, vintage and antique items?

Erin: My paternal grandparents passed away when my husband and I were newlyweds. I was very close to my grandmother who made canned goods and jellies and kept them in an old cupboard that was stored in the basement. Nobody else wanted the cupboard when the house was sold, so I claimed it. I had it painted green (no surprise) and have used it in my home ever since. I don’t think it was as fashionable at that time to use secondhand or thrifted items in your home. But I was hooked on vintage pieces–they’re unique and they have a story, which I love. 

My mother also had a big influence on my love for thrifting. She has beautiful collections and she can spot the best finds. I think thrifting and buying second hand is the perfect way to collect your own style. I like to sprinkle in some new and trendy pieces, but I don’t want my house to look like everybody else’s.

AN: When you’re shopping secondhand, what are some things you always look for?

Erin: I have a small teapot collection, and I’m always on the lookout for more. I recently thrifted several copper tea kettles, and they always catch my eye. I’m a big tea drinker! Recently, I’ve been searching for vintage art. I found two landscapes that are part of a gallery wall in my living room. I also love side tables and I’m a sucker for anything that is faux bamboo.

AN: One of your passions is reinventing vintage items. What is your favorite project to date?

 Erin: I’m not sure if 1990s counts as vintage, but my favorite makeover project is my dining room chandelier. It had dated, frosted globes, but I loved the lines of the chandelier. I did some research, and with my handy husband’s help, we replaced the large sockets with candelabra sized ones. I painted the covers black, and it looks current, but not trendy.

I also updated a pair of buffet lamps to reside on my newly thrifted antique buffet. They were $16 for the pair, and I upcycled them with some paint and Rub ‘n Buff. They’re perfect in my dining room.

I really enjoy breathing new life into dated items to extend their use!

AN: Green seems to be a favorite color of yours. What’s the secret to incorporating a color into your home that you love, without it looking too uniform? 

Erin: I see the green in my house as a neutral pallet that I can build on. It provides a nice flow without completely dominating every space.

One wall and my kitchen cabinets are painted green, but the other walls are beige or off-white. Green is introduced in these rooms in fabrics and accessories. Shades of blue, brown and even purple make their way into my decor. If every wall were painted green, or if I only used green accessories, it would lack dimension and interest.
I do try to stick to colors that are in the same family of green, but I vary the intensity. I use a lot of sage green with blue undertones.

Mixing textures keeps a room from looking too uniform. I love to use wood, pottery and different textured fabrics in my décor.

Erin’s AuctionNinja Picks

1. Antique Cast Iron Urn with Ribbed Decoration (McInnis Auctioneers & Estate Sales)

2. Pair of Candlestick Lamps (Colorful Colorado Estate Sales)

3. Beautiful Wicker Vase and 3 Beautiful LED Branches Lights ( Treasure Chest Estate Sales)

4. T.M. Laguet, Signed French 1969 Oil on Canvas, Forest Landscape in Autumn (Black Rock Galleries)

5. Pair of Faux Bamboo English Side Chairs (Clearing House Estate Sales)

6. Small Antique Side Table (Best Treasures)

Other Picks Not to Miss:

1. A Classical Silver and Brass Tone Metal Coffee Table with Oval Glass Top (Clearing House Estate Sales)

2. Fancy Gold French-style Mirror (Stephen P Cyr Auction Company)

Written by:

AuctionNinja Staff

February 9, 2022     Updated 03:06 PM

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