A Louis Vuitton Damier print bag, currently being auctioned for Housing Works. Current bid: $241

The influx of new merchandise is endless and the selection, divine. If you have the time to sort through everything it’s almost impossible to leave empty-handed.

The majority of the clothing is $10 or less and we’ve seen some great pieces from H&M, the Gap and Lord & Taylor – not to mention the higher end brands like Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent that often make their way to the shop. You can sometimes luck up on eBay or at your run of the mill thrift store, but where else are you going to find a $28 Burberry sport coat in mint condition? No, we didn’t miss any zeros there.

Chatting with one of the chain’s coordinators who runs the shop on 90th street and 2nd avenue, we learned that items donated are sometimes rare and invaluable (think antique, genuine ivory elephant tusks), and the window displays are where the bid-only items are displayed. Window shopping and see something you like? Log on to shophousingworks.com to bid on your item of choice for a steal of a price.

If you haven’t had a chance to peruse the shelves yet, now is the time. The annual Fall Preview Sale is kicking off September 8th at the Chelsea store, and rolls on to each of the store’s New York locations through the 30th. {The Cut} ShopHousingWorks.com gets its own day on September 15th, so those outside of New York can still get in on the action.

Thrift shopping can be an adventure of its own and knowing it helps benefit a worthy cause makes the experience that much richer. Take a look for yourself and see just how awesome Housing Works is. Happy Hunting!

Counter clockwise:

Mini Sheepskin Cape Footstool
$805.80

An antique footstool covered with dark gold top fabric and a vintage luxury dark gold sheepskin mini cape. The stool has brass stud work and part sheepskin trim.

The Original Corset Chair
$3,223.21

The chair is done in a dusky pink and chocolate brown palette with a fully boned Victorian style corset back and mini cushion. The fabric is vintage damask with double sided velvet ribbon.

The Bow Dining Chair
$805.80

Influenced by an underwear set, this antique dining chair has a soft peach damask fabric top cover with broderie anglaise and large black satin bow.

Man’s Jacket Chair
$2,417.41

It has a vintage Heals frame and an integral vintage man’s leather jacket. Brass stud work and iPod earphones hang from the pocket.

The Woolcoat Chair
$2,417.41

Combining textures and techniques in wool, this modern (recycled) piece is covered with luxury wool flannel by Abraham Moon and has a section of a man’s wool overcoat. The coat has been given the look of morphing into the chair itself by use of the traditional technique of dry felting with merino wool. The overcoat also has a wool fringe trim.

Available through Etsy or SarahLouiseDix.co.uk

Before you roll your eyes,  we wouldn’t be too quick to judge – Ashley Olsen claims that it’s not about the celebrity status or the limelight. Ashley Olsen says the twins have tried to “downplay their status” from the start of critically lauded label, the Row.{the Cut}

It goes without saying that this isn’t the norm from a celebrity, but it seems authentic. Even though the furniture will probably fall into the category of too-trendy-for-your-wallet, the focus on design and undeniable brand strategies that have won a loyal following from an audience well outside of the Olsen twins’ demographic give us hope for the product.

What exactly would the offerings look like? Well, it’s pure concept at this point, but perhaps their (never lived in) penthouse gives a few indications. Their 6,000 square foot Manhattan apartment (pictured above) features lots of modern furniture and decor with clean lines and fluid shapes. And if you want to grab the apartment that comes with the furniture, it’s down from its original $12 million listing to the bargain price of $8.5 million.

The transition to a “lifestyle brand” comes on the heels of a recently announced premium denim line for Elizabeth and James, and the lower priced Olsenboye line that has featured collaborations with Steve Madden. They still have a few years to go, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Olsens at the helm of a style empire in the same category as brands like Ralph Lauren and Armani in a decade or two.

We like the idea of a mix of lifestyle elements (in case you couldn’t tell), and looking at the mega-brands in fashion that mix has been a key part of growth. Good thinking, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Blanket, €75 ($108); Garland, €25($36); Stools, €65 ($93)

Dutch “handy woman” and writer of the blog Wood & Wool Stool, Ingrid Jansen has been creating her own brand of stools since 2008 – and they’re definitely in a class of their own.

Made from wool and reclaimed wood, each stool is unique  – but you can choose the colors and patterns you prefer.

Stool, €65 ($93); Pillow, €65 - €75 ($93-$108)

And while we adore her signature stools, that’s not all the talented Ms. Jansen makes. For sale on her web site are pillows, clothes hangers, blankets, garlands, picture frames, and even wooden Christmas Trees!

But all the creations of this Dutch crocheter extraordinaire have one thing in common. Vibrant, fabulous color.

Any of Jansen’s products would be sure to bring some instant happiness to your home – and who couldn’t use some more happy in their lives?

Read More {Wood & Wool Stool Store}

Read More {Wood & Wool Stool Blog}

Read More {SFGirlByTheBay}

Recently featured by the blog 2Modern Design Talk and chosen as one of the 100 “most important young designers from around the world” by &fork, Nada se leva is an exciting design team that creates fresh, interesting, and down right beautiful furniture that reimagines and transforms the fussy, ostentatious furniture of centuries gone by.

A perfect example of their design aesthetic? Take the understated elegance of this bench, inspired by the decadent Alhambra of Granada.

 

 

And…could that be the Nesso mushroom lamp we spy in their new collection???

Read the full story {Design*Sponge}