Thrifting Diaries – Downton Abbey Like Estate Sale!
I felt like Lady Mary when I passed through the doors of this estate and scored some great finds for my Thrifting Diaries February edition. The main reason I went was to see inside this fantastic 7,000 square Downton Abbey like estate sale filled with woodwork, mantels, stained glass, beams, lighting and more all imported from Europe. So fill your fine bone china teacup and put your pinky in the air because you’re not going to want to miss this home and my finds.
Would you miss this sale? The owner is an interior designer and the house was chock full of amazing stuff! My estate sale shopping partner in crime and I drove over an hour and boy was it worth it.
I could tell from the online photos that this was going to be the sale of the year (or dare I say century)! Usually, when I attend an estate sale this amazing, there is a line of people wrapped around the block. I was shocked to discover that when we got there a half an hour early and added our names to the list, we were numbers 11 and 12!
I felt like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep as I raced through the house but instead of tossing frozen turkeys into a cart, I was on the hunt for vintage red metal numbers that I saw when I was perusing the online photos. Within a minute, I spotted them … in another man’s hands! Heartbroken, I bravely shopped on as I cried on the inside.
About 20 minutes later, my friend spotted the numbers cast aside and as I went to grab them, an obnoxious man jumped in between me and my hearts desired numbers and said they were his and he had “made a pile”! I didn’t want to go all Snooki on him so I let it go but was fuming inside because any estate sale maven worth their salt knows you NEVER PUT YOUR FINDS DOWN IF YOU DON’T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO SCOOP THEM UP!
As I wandered around the house, I spotted so much great stuff but because I’m trying to be more conscious of what I bring into my house, I reigned myself in from grabbing everything.
As you know, I’m in the process of purging my basement and could probably hold my own estate sale!
Click here to take my Hoarders Basement Tour
Some of these photos of the interior of the house are from Zillow. During the sale, the house looked very different and was overflowing with stuff. Every square inch of floor and table space was filled with things for sale.
Click Here to Take My Video Tour of this House
You’re not going to believe this but the house was built in 2008! Many of the intricate details including woodwork, mantels, floors, windows and more were imported from Europe.
Here’s my haul and yes, I did get those numbers after all (they are reversible with different numbers on the backs)! Turns out the guy who wanted them did not like the price so he loudly announced he would come back the next day (because everyone knows that the last day of sales is when prices are slashed). I was not going to let those numbers slip through my fingers again but I also didn’t want to pay the high asking price so I nicely asked the owner of the estate sale company if she would accept my lower offer. I think because there were so few people there, she accepted!
I don’t know what makes me happier … getting the numbers or the fact that the jerk didn’t get his grubby little hands on them!
Read My Estate Sale Shopping Secrets Here
I can never resist a big chunk of coral (and especially love this blue piece) and the finals will be perfect on my front porch. I’ve always got room for more baskets to store my overflowing collection of pillows and throws!
My friend got a huge piece of art, a side table and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember because I was so excited about those red numbers that I couldn’t see straight!
Moral of this estate sale story is to always be nice like Mr. Bates and not a screw like Mr. Barrow if you want to score big.
Would love to know what you paid for your treasures! Did you call him a screw? Love it and will use it!
I kept my comments to myself because a girl needs to behave herself at an estate sale! I paid $25 for each number, $10 for basket, $8 for coral and $40 for both finials.
LOL….Too fumy….I love those numbers too! Can’t believe that house is a recent build!
What a fun estate sale! I’m glad you got the numbers.
It was fate!
My heart was beating fast just thinking about this estate sale! I love estate saling(?)!
Love the finials. I would have been racing to those before you 🙂
Looks like we can never go to the same estate sale then Sarah!!!
This was truly a great adventure, what a beautiful place to roam through. Looks like you did very well, not too much but just what you needed.
I had to hold myself back Marlene!
I love estate sales too and yes, never set your stuff down. Every sale I’ve been to always has a well supervised designated area for items you are going to buy. He probably didn’t want to commit but I would have loved seeing his face when he realized “his” stuff was gone LOL!
Yes, they have a spot for stuff you’re going to buy near the check out area but I guess he could not be bothered to trudge over there! “His” stuff is gone … I have it now (insert evil laugh)!!!
This was a fun post, Kelly. Glad you got your numbers!
Thanks Shawn – it was such a fun day!
You got some great finds, but I am especially happy that you got your numbers.
Me too Lisa! I’ve been on the hunt for numbers like that for ages!
Love this post! You got great deals. Can’t wait to see what you do with the numbers. Finials were a steal too!
I’m so happy there was a low turnout Krystal!
Check your spelling. Do other people agree the tone of this writer is rather self important…
Oh Christopher – you are the perfect example of a screw! I think everyone can agree that you are a sad, pathetic individual. I’ll check my spelling if you check your manners.
just a little funny, my husband who in his younger days was quite large probably the size of one of those huge football players, we used to go to estate sales all the time to find stuff for our antique shop sometimes we would get to the sale just in time to be first in front of about 10 or 15 people in back of us we could over hear all their plans about what they wanted and of course we knew what we wanted so when they opened the door my hubby would make sure I got thru and he would pretend to stumble while all the people in back of him would be trying to push thru him while getting so mad, I would just have to chuckle at my loving hubby for helping me get my great finds, and boy did we get some angry looks!
Where was your husband when I needed him Linda?! Maybe I need to hire a burly guy to be my estate sale escort!
Omg!!! Wish I was with you gals! Great finds and the numbers are perfect for Christmas!!! I can’t wait to see how you use them!
The more the merrier at an estate sale … unless you try to grab the stuff I want. Then it’s every man for themselves!!!
I’m in! Lol 😜