Ask A Sacramento Expert: Shopping For Home Decor On A Budget
Ruins
108 Church St.
Roseville CA, 95678
(916) 462-7765
www.kimtemple.com
Date: Opening Aug. 2014
Kim Temple has been crafting what she terms as gypsy chic art by restoring and re-purposing forgotten furniture and the like into unforgettable home decor. She's been so successful with her curbside treasures and thrift store finds that she finally decided to open Ruins, a store featuring all things re-purposed. In her words, "People lay down their lives to preserve and redeem the things that matter to them. In a small way, that's what we at Ruins do. We remake those tired old tables, armoirs and chairs into something new. We find the beauty in the eyesores and, with paint, light and love, we release them back into the world with new dignity. We are, none of us, perfect. We are all just in some stage…of beginning."
2300 Front St.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 600-9770
www.sacantiquefaire.com
Every second Saturday of the month, antique vendors from all over meet to sell their wares in the shade of the Front Street bridge. Temple says the Sacramento Antique Fair is such a great repository for treasures that her store, Ruins, will host a party bus from Roseville to the Fair each month. This way patrons can go together and get advice on what to pick out. At the street fair, shoppers have a unique opportunity to haggle for lower prices among a mix of artisans and junkers. Temple suggests to keep an eye out for wood and dovetail construction.
590 G St.
Lincoln, CA 95648
(916) 645-3778
www.thesaltminelincoln.com
"They negotiate. You make a pile then make an offer," Temple says. Thrift stores are great places to find charming pieces at low prices so money can be spent on making them unique and extraordinary. She also says dumpster diving and street corner finds are her dirty little secret. If you'd rather stay indoors, The Salt Mine (run by Vine Life Ministries, Inc., a California nonprofit public benefit charity improving the lives of the young people and their families) offers clean and lightly used clothes, furniture, home decor and numerous pieces that can help with home improvement projects.
3667 Taylor Road
Loomis, CA 95650
(916) 660-1440
www.facebook.com/shoptrulyrandom
Truly Random is both a thrift store and consignment store offering the typical "junk" and real antiques. It's a mishmash of styles and in Temple's words, "a cute little place to find just the right thing." When changing up the look of your home, remember that the little touches often make the biggest impact. Sure, refinishing that bureau will make it stand out, but what will you set on top to make it sing. It's worth taking a look at Truly Random to see if the baubles calling your name are hiding there.
819 N. 10th St.
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 440-1215
www.shfh.org
Home improvement takes more than just new stuff. No matter how modest the change, things like tools, art supplies, nails, etc. will be required. Shopping at mega home-improvement stores adds up to big money rather quickly. Temple says that for cheap craft supplies and other miscellany, check out ReStore. If you don't use all of your supplies, you can donate them back and help Habitat for Humanity build a home twice. ReStores are all around the Sacramento area, so check the website for the one closest to you.
236 Harding Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 786-2777
www.antiquetrove.com
Temple claims not to like antique stores as much as thrift stores but admits they can be useful for certain types of finds, like cool vintage glass or decor. Pieces at antique stores are end products that accent room restorations. Antique Trove offers "a world of treasure from across the globe," or in other words, a wide selection of antiques from all over. A huge space offering "40,000 square feet of unique vignettes with over 250 distinctive shop owners," it will take a whole day just to discover what's available. With so much selection, the right piece at the right price is bound to be there.
