FINE FIND Chicago designer Lauren Svenstrup chatted up the seller of the green marble table, above, leading to her also nabbing the Venini Prism Chandelier, valued at thousands of dollars, for $100.
Photo: Ryan McDonald
Venini Prism Chandelier, $3,800, 1stdibs
RESELLER SITES like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have long held a reputation for being only slightly more curated than the curb. But now that quarantined homeowners have had time to spring-clean all summer, “online marketplaces are brimming with rare vintage and quality contemporary décor,” said Chicago designer Lauren Svenstrup, of Studio Sven. Take the Milo Baughman-style vintage sofa she found on Facebook Marketplace for $120. Or the $1,000 Moroso YY Chair Brooklyn architect Tal Schori snagged from Craigslist for $200. Here, tips on finding your own high-end deals.
Search Broadly, Then Sift
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Sellers who list a designer piece by its correct name are wise to its value. A search for “De Sede snake sectional,” say, might not pull in listings that simply call it a sofa or couch, said Ms. Svenstrup. “The vaguer the description, the better deal you will get, because they clearly do not know what they have.” Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors in Los Angeles, who found an oak campaign chest for $250, always uses a broad search term, such as “dresser,” and “then I sit down to the tedious task of going listing by listing.” Alternatively, said Ms. Svenstrup, look for materials you like. “I searched ‘brass’ one day and found a stunning antique brass fireplace surround.”
Time Your Quest
More posts about high-end pieces appear on the weekend—“when people have time to clean out a home or garage and post online,” said American Society of Interior Designers chair-elect Kerrie Kelly—but weekends are often too competitive to yield the best deals. “Sunday evenings are when the bidding gets hottest,” explained London designer Nicky Dobree. You’ll frequently find the best bargains midweek, especially before lunchtime. (Note that while eBay sellers exploit bidding deadlines, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace sellers accept bids randomly.) Be diligent. Said New York designer Rudy Saunders of Dorothy Draper & Company, “I am on resale sites daily.” Just filter your search by “newly added,” he said.
Make Nice With the Seller
“Be polite in your negotiated bid,” said Ms. Kelly. Los Angeles designer John McClain, who nabbed a 1970s console table for $40, personalizes the transaction: “Let them know the piece is going to a good home.”
Be Ready to Act Fast
You’ll reduce shipping costs by searching for pieces you can pick up yourself. But better deals can be had with larger pieces that intimidate other would-be buyers. Ms. Downing Pickens’s strategy: “Have a mover you can call in a jiffy.” Uber-like services such as Dolly connect you with drivers who retrieve and deliver small loads in their own van or truck, for far less than moving companies charge.
School Yourself
Marika Meyer, a designer in Bethesda, Md., points out that you’ll be better able to assess a piece’s value if you stick to a category you know. Otherwise, educate yourself before you bid: Sites like 1stdibs, Chairish and Live Auctioneers can provide links to other listings across the web. Not everyone will find a green marble table for $800 like Ms. Svenstrup did (1stdibs lists a near-identical one for $8,200). But saving money on prestige items isn’t the only reward. There’s also “the pride you take in finding and curating your own collection,” Ms. Svenstrup said.
MORE SCORES / Designers share the treasures they’ve unearthed on peer-to-peer resale sights
“I found this gorgeously simple and graceful 1970’s waterfall console table on Craigslist,” said Los Angeles-based designer John McClain. “My steal of a price? $40. The owner had no idea it was a great vintage find.” Compare, at right: 1970s Waterfall Sofa Table on Chairish $1,050
“I found a vintage Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin chair and ottoman on eBay for $600,” said Allison Babcock, an interior designer in Sag Harbor, N.Y. “The chair fit perfectly in my daughter’s bedroom, and I’m storing the ottoman for future use since the set is much more valuable than the individual pieces.” Compare, at right: Milo Baughman Large Swivel Lounge Chair on 1stdibs $4,200
“My greatest find was a fabulous burlwood Milo Baughman dining table I got off eBay for $990,” said New York Designer David Scott. “It had two matching leaves and was just the right size and vintage for my New York City apartment.” Compare, at right: Signed Milo Baughman Burl Wood Dining Table with Two Leaves on 1stdibs, $17,000
“My best find to date was an oak campaign chest I got from Craigslist for $250,” said Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors in Los Angeles. “The chest was the perfect addition to our bedroom, and the price was incredible. Its previous owner really didn’t know what they had.” Compare, at left: Mid-Century Modern Baker Campaign Style 7-Drawer Bleached Mahogany Dresser on Chairish, $2,100
The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.
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