Treasure Hunting in The Hamptons

I always look forward to a little thrifting when I'm on vacation.

Thrifting in The Hamptons was not what I expected!

I mean come on... look at this place!

It was more like going to an estate sale in a gorgeous home!

We happened to hit ARF the week after their huge fundraiser benefiting the animals and they still had the following amazing offerings!

Check out these donations!

(On a return visit they had Madeline Weinrib pillows on the daybed!)

I was completely smitten with this piece and could not get it off my mind the entire trip!

Definitely my favorite piece!

I was fantasizing about decorating a house in The Hamptons with thrift store finds :)

Sigh!

I did find a few small treasures in the basement I managed to sneak into my luggage.

LVIS

Ladies Village Improvement Society

East Hampton

 Bargain Box Thrift Shop

I didn't get many photos here but trust me it was just as amazing as ARF and had an incredible book section, designer clothes galore, a bargain basement and then this furniture barn that I discovered on a subsequent visit!

I was intrigued by this solid brass frame with original built in picture light.

Fresh Air Home

Fresh Air Home is a summer camp in Southampton for physically challenged children ages 7 -18.

The weekend we were there was the Annual Decorators - Designers - Dealers Sale and Auction Benefit Gala.

The morning after the Live and Silent Auction Event they open up the house at 11:00 am and pretty much everything is spoken for by 11:05 because they practically give the remaining items away

It was exciting to be there and experience this highly anticipated event or shall I say "sport" that local Hamptonians wait for all year!

A few spoils to tuck into my luggage as a reminder of my time here.

Southampton Animal Shelter Thrift Shop

I made a quick pit stop here on our first day.

And then saw that there was going to be a rummage sale at the First Presbyterian Church in Southampton on Fri. evening.

I couldn't make it because we were in East Hampton waiting for our son to arrive on the train from Manhattan.

 While looking for a few garage sales we came across this neat shop and a warehouse full of treasures tucked behind it

where I spied this amazing...

DESK!

We did end up going to several great garage sales in Sag Harbor, Southampton and Montauk.

(Some John Robshaw pillow shams,and an Ikat pillow found at an estate sale in tony Southampton plus a coconut cupcake from Lunch)

At this sale in Montauk we met a wonderful Irish family from Staten Island who have been summering here since the 1960's.

They were a family of firemen, policemen and teachers whose parents bought property and built a home here when it was still relatively undiscovered. In fact they told me that their aunt sold her waterfront property 2 years ago for $15 Million and that it was back on the market for $25 Million!

They took us a tour of Montauk pointing out some famous neighbor's digs like Anthony Bourdain and locales from the Showtime series, The Affair, before dropping us off at the Lighthouse where we were the last to go up and check out the spectacular views of Montauk or as its called, 

"The End."

Favorite Sag Harbor Shop

BLOOM

 Where Gwyneth, Ina, and Martha Shop!

"A focus on highly regarded handmade treasures has made it a destination for design and decor."

The owner, Mona Nerenberg, believes in letting craftsmanship speak for itself.

"I don't have a concept, I just buy what I like."

She explains her philosophy in a few words,  
"I carry things that are my point of view."

Everything about Bloom feels peaceful and serene.

The decor is clean and pared down, from the white clapboard exterior and shutters to the interior white walls and natural sisal rugs.

The elegance of its simplicity allows visitors to notice the actual form and craftsmanship of the items for sale.

The only burst of color stems from green plants in vases, which succeed in emphasizing that nature and beauty go hand-in-hand.

In addition to antiques, Bloom offers stylish glasses from Belgium, France, and Sweden, attractive Spanish fruit-picking baskets, pitchers, hurricane lamps, and refined white serving pieces.

Several years ago, she took over the neighboring carriage house to showcase a collection of Astier de Villatte.

 

She carries the lines Sobre, Simple and Rien which are streamlined and pure.

The cupboards against the wall are filled with various samples, and in the center of the room, an unpretentious dinner table is set with their plates and cups.

Ina Garten - the Barefoot Contessa - has repeatedly gushed about Bloom in the press and in her books, hailing it as "one of my favorite stores in the Hamptons."

  

Martha Stewart cited it as "a really beautiful shop filled with old and new."

Gwyneth Paltrow's website, Goop, selected it as a "Best of..." in The Hamptons.

And House Beautiful crowned Nerenberg 

"a New York style maker."

I concur!

It was a treat to visit this beautiful shop on a quiet stretch of Madison Street.

*Text from here