Want to find romantic decorating items, art and ideas without ever leaving the house? Want to read other resources on thrift store shopping or home renovation? Looking for links to major Blog Directories? Try the links below. (And remember, The Thrift Shop Romantic is not responsible for the content or maintenance of these other sites, and so-on and so-forth…Cheers.)

 

 

 

Replica Victorian and turn-of-the-century wallpapers. Choose from patterns and they’ll customize to size for your space. Appropriate mainly for formal restorations, but some absolutely beautiful patterns.

 

Online forum site dedicated to hip, quirky craft projects and crafting challenges. This is not your grandmother’s crafting site!

 

This is a Squidoo page I’ve developed featuring tips for finding and decorating with thrift store treasures. Any royalties from any sales as a result of the thrift and collecting-related Amazon.com books listed there are designated specificlly to go to the Salvation Army. This is a part of the BlogCatalog Bloggers Unite “Act of Kindness” event.

 

If you’re into historical accuracy, Design Toscano isn’t necessarily your best bet. But there are some fun Pre-Raphaelite, gothic, deco and nouveau-inspired items here, from lighting and wall hangings to furniture and art.

 

It’s not exactly a secret, is it, that Ebay’s a great place to shop for items online? But I figured I’d be remiss in not including it here. If I’m looking for a vintage or antique item that’s really specific, or I’m missing a piece of something in a set, Ebay has really come through for me. It’s also good to get a sense of what the going market price can be for certain items, beyond antique store mark-ups.

 

This online crafting site offers project ideas and a member forum.

 

You don’t have to be goth to appreciate the principles of inexpensive romantic decorating detailed in this site. In fact, go to the “Motifs” section, choose “Victorian” and you get a very nice summary of what can go into a Victorian-on-a-budget décor. Then check out the “Gothic Good Things” section for projects you can easily adapt if you like, so they’re less, er, gotheriffic.

 

Nice vintage-styled lace drapes, table runners, mantle scarves and more.

 

Lexington, Kentucky artist Patrick Lynch has an online gallery of Pre-Raphaelite-inspired and Victorian influenced paintings featuring vivid colors and wistful figures.

 

A chain of shops I had the luck of visiting in London, now in a catalog you can order from here in the States. This company has gift and décor items in categories from Medieval, Elizabethan, Tudor, Victorian, Edwardian and present day.

 

This online catalog offers period hardware and lighting in a wide selection-- and with excellent customer service, if you have any questions.

 

“The Oil Lamp Man” at Southern Oil Lamp and Supply has a great selection of glass replacement globe and Aladdin shades for oil-style lamps, plus vintage and Victorian style fabric shades and even some full lamps. They ship quickly and safely, too. My only recommendation is to be absolutely sure you know what color the shade is supposed to be if you plan to match it to a lamp base. Websites tend to distort colors a bit.

 

In addition to its national online thrift store directory, searchable by zipcode, there’s also an online forum for thrifting fans to discuss their finds, and a webzine-- The National Thrifter-- of thrifting articles.

 

It's rather a shame there is no ability to send the sense of smell through a computer screen. Because the homemade soaps and scents from this site really make you wish you could experience them online. Also available are soothing little pillows that owner "Gigi" calls "Billows." The online store's products represent a nice way to add an extra touch of caring to a gift basket.

 

I love this catalog. With its reproduction antiques, romantic gowns, unique cards and various sparkly things, this is one of those catalogs I tend to pour over to make sure I’ve seen everything. Something to note: many items are quite reasonably priced, while many seem to me to be just way out of budget, in spite of their beauty. Depends on priorities, really. But hey, enjoy.

 

 

 

Okay, so this is probably more about what not to do in terms of decorating-- or at least is a challenging exercise in trying to make virtually any thrift store purchase or roadside-find work with your decor. But it’s funny as heck, and speaking for myself, I know I’ve made a few painting class masterpieces that could definitely qualify as submissions here. You should see my “Navel Orange with Red Potato and Eggs Still Life in Monochrome.”  

 

Like the Museum of Bad Art, consider this site a preview of the unexpected sights of regular thrift-shopping. The good, the bad and the really-really-well-intentioned.

 

“Stitchy” will keep YOU in stitches as she gently pokes fun of the, er,  purls of bad stitchery projects. Ever consider knitting yourself a bathing suit? Ever wonder why macrame went out of fashion for the home? Who is that man wearing that crocheted catsuit? Find out here.

 

Making your own clothes is frugal and fun, right? Join the Threadbared hostesses as they take a tongue-and-cheek approach to the worst in retro pattern design.