~
Secondhand shopping guide
~Finder’s Fi
Instead of busily tracking down your next vintage purchase,
see what happens when you let things find you
TextbyFionaRalph. Illustration by Eve Kennedy.Photography byAlice Veysey.AHEAD
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sually in this column I write
about actively hunting
out secondhand items by
visiting vintage shops and
searching online. But I’m
also open to things finding
me. Some of the best finds have come that
way, from street-side furniture (free to a good
home) to hand-me-downs from friends and
items spotted while idly window shopping.
Once people know you like to reuse
things, they often offer you their cast-offs.
I’ve received some wonderful homeware and
artworks this way. Obviously you don’t have
to take everything offered, but often friends,
colleagues and family members will know
your style, and give you things you’ll like.
I’ve got a whole gallery wall of gifted art
in my hallway from a friend who needed
to declutter, a comfy couch passed on by
family, and a sideboard full of inherited cups
and saucers. I like the idea of keeping a
reminder of these special people at home.
Similarly, family heirlooms can be some
of the most meaningful ‘finds’. An inherited
object may not be in your usual style, but the
sentimental value renders it worth keeping.
By incorporating just a small number of
heirloomsintoyourdecor,youwon’tneed
toworryaboutyourhousebecomingtoo
clutteredorold-fashioned-looking.(Noteto
self:declutterhouse!)
AucklandCouncilrecentlychangedits
inorganicrubbishcollectionfroma curbside
pick-uptoa bookingsystem.Althoughthe
oldformatsawthestreetsbecomea mess
of brokenobjects,theywerealsoa finder’s
feast.WhenI livedonWaihekeIsland,almost
everysecondhousetosseda perfectlygood
barbecueout,andwehadourpickof the
bunch– wejusthadtogetourprizehome,
wheelingit downa steepislandpathand
backupthehilltoourhouse(nobigdeal).
AlthoughI missthetreasurehunting,I do
supportthenewcollectionformat– it’slesshazardous, less wasteful, and items are more
effectively repurposed as they are donated to
recycling centres and charities.
It’s not just inanimate objects that find you,
though. While filming a Finder’s Fi segment
for TV show The Project last year, to promote
Buy Nothing New Month, the host asked
what my best secondhand find had been.
Without thinking, I said, “My cat.” I quickly
added a more practical answer: my wedding
dress, which was $50 on Trade Me. The cat
comment was edited out, but it was true.
As my husband is allergic to cats, we
were not in the market for one. But, as pets
often do, Bruce chose us. This unremarkable-
looking neighbourhood cat, who had a lot oflove to give and no one to love him, showed
us that gems can be found in the most
unlikely places.
Houses can find you, too. We didn’t have
to search for our current home; it appeared
at the perfect time, suggested by a family
member. Jobs: ditto. Those things you don’t
go looking for can turn out to be some of
the best, and sometimes when you stop
searching, everything falls into place. You
just have to be open to the unexpected. •116 | yhg