Four Furniture Resale Stores That Make "Old" Stylish

If you don’t mind giving up to the gods of chance and serendipity, secondhand furniture can offer interesting surprises, high quality, and reasonable prices.

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Miriam Switching Post 

Relocated to a spacious new storefront in Hanley Industrial Court, Miriam is probably the best place in town to pick up high-quality, solidly built wooden furniture for next to nothing. One particularly stunning piece we saw: an inlaid Art Deco armoire, standing a good 18 feet high, for only $485. A 19th-century secretary was priced at $285. (Also written on the tag: “If only this desk could talk!”) And a cross-stitch sampler from 1895 was priced for under $100. There’s also lots of reasonably priced crystal and china (we saw white-and-gold Limoges), prints and original art, vintage books, and porcelain collectibles. 292 Hanley Industrial, 314-646-7737, miriamswitchingpost.org.

The Refind Room 

It’s not all that hard to find decent secondhand antiques, but if you’re looking for true contemporary or Midcentury Modern, it seems like it’s either priced for a Sotheby’s catalog or ratty enough to be dropped off at Goodwill. The Refind Room, however, will restore any Modernist’s faith in humanity. Recent inventory included a sleek oval Lane table, a Noguchi-inspired glass cocktail table, and a set of cool vintage Lucite folding chairs made in Italy, only $75 each—the real thing, but for IKEA prices. 2525 S. Brentwood, 314-962-7666, therefindroom.com.

The Green Goose 

When we visited the Webster Groves location, one of the most expensive objects was a furnished Victorian dollhouse priced  at $500—a bit more than many of the gorgeous antique china cabinets we saw. The shop’s furniture, which includes antique and contemporary sofas, dining room sets, and armoires, is thoughtfully placed throughout the showroom, which smells deliciously like vanilla and hazelnut. Maison Blanche vintage furniture paint is also sold here. 1267 S. Laclede Station , 314-961-4444, greengoose.com.

Second Sitting Consignments 

Most of the pieces here are contemporary—we spotted a white linen Minimalist couch, a cream-colored leather sectional, and a stripped-down take on harp-backed dining room chairs. But surprises abound, too, such as an antique black lacquered Chinese cabinet priced under $1,000. 14081 Manchester, 636-527-4747, secondsitting.com.

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