Thrifted Treasure Series - Wood, Brass, and a Vintage Thermos
Thrift shopping is an excellent way to discover unique items that add character and individuality to your home. Each find tells a story and offers a chance to personalize your space with distinctive pieces that you won't find anywhere else.
In this post, I’ll show you how I styled some of my recent finds, including wood pieces, brass candleholders, a vintage thermos, and a three-headed alligator stand!
I will also share my favorite brass, silver, and wood cleaning/refreshing tips.
This month’s thrift finds seem to have a wood theme. That was not planned but I’m happy that they all play together nicely!
Follow along as we transform these thrifted treasures into stylish home decor, showcasing how each piece can be creatively integrated into your living spaces.
Carved Wood Stand
I found this carved wood piece at a charity shop. It was folded like this so I was not sure what it was.
Upon further examination I discovered it was a stand…
…with three heads and eyes! I loved the wood tones so it came home with me!
This stand could hold many different things and be functional in just about any room in your house.
I chose to style it for the kitchen. It is currently holding a bowl of eggs!
Silver and Wood Candleholders
It is amazing what a little bit of oil and polish does for vintage wood pieces!
I polished these candlesticks with Wright’s Silver Cream and refreshed the wood with food safe mineral oil. You can find both of these products on Amazon or at your local grocery store.
I paired the wood and silver candlesticks with a small round candleholder. They all have a mid-mod vibe.
They are styled with a woven mat and a stack of brown vintage books that complement the wood tones. The books add height, the mat adds texture and repeats the curved shape of the candleholders.
I placed fresh flowers in the round candleholder and added the wood stand to hold a small brass candleholder.
Wood Vessels
My eye has been drawn to interesting wood vessels recently. Some look like candleholders and others do not seem to have an obvious purpose.
I decided to use these two vessels for flowers. I found a glass container that fit inside each one.
They now hold water and I can use them as vases.
You could fill these wood vases with any variety of flowers depending on the season. I started with kale…because…we have a lot of kale…and it makes a great filler for flower arrangements.
Then I continued to add peach and purple flowers from the garden.
These arrangements could be added to a table scape, placed on your nightstand, or styled on a tray with books and vintage tea cups. The possibilities are endless!
Vintage Thermos
I found this red thermos at a garage sale for $5 and could not pass it up! I liked the color, design, and the height! So…I added it to my collection.
Thermoses make wonderful vases and add a casual outdoor vibe to any summer party. They can also be used to store art supplies or placed on your desk to hold pencils and other office necessities.
This one would also make a fun Christmas decoration in December!
Here are some more ideas for seasonal thermos styling.
Brass Candleholders
These candleholders were found at an estate sale and at a charity shop. The tall candleholder was covered in wax and needed a good cleaning.
I poured hot water over the areas with wax build-up. Hot water melts the wax and removes it from the brass. After the wax was removed I polished the brass with Bar Keepers Friend.
Before
After
The shorter candleholders had a nice patina on them so I did not polish them.
I styled the candleholders together and then added a stack of books, a ball of twine, a metal twine holder, a few vintage postcards, and some flowers.
Wood Napkin Rings
In addition to using napkin rings in the obvious way…you can also arrange them in an interesting way in your kitchen. Stack them for sculptural interest or place them in a pretty ceramic bowl.
Pair them with additional wood pieces and elements from nature to complement your arrangement.
Amber jars are also good companion pieces for wood.
Styling your home with thrifted treasures adds a unique touch and a welcoming atmosphere. Mix and match wood, brass, and silver pieces to let their individual charm stand out.
I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired with these thrift finds!
Let me know what thrift treasures you have found recently!
Ripple Cotton Napkins
$12.75