A Closer Look: The Secondhand Stories Behind This Room
Last week, I shared some of my favorite vintage finds and curated vignettes from my home. But today, I want to zoom in on one particular space and break down all the secondhand treasures and DIY projects hidden within it.
Let’s talk about this gallery wall.
When you walk into my house, you step directly into the living room—no grand entryway, no charming foyer. Just an open view straight through to the dining room. Since there’s nothing else to catch the eye, I knew that the back wall of the dining room needed to work. I wanted it to make a statement, to set the tone for the rest of the home. But there was one small problem:
I was renting.
At the time, I wasn’t about to pour a fortune into something that might have to be undone later (little did I know I’d end up buying the place). So I needed a solution that was affordable, temporary, and impactful. A gallery wall seemed like the perfect answer.
The Hunt for the Perfect Anchor Piece
To really make the space feel grounded, I needed an anchor—something functional and substantial to balance the art. A buffet was the obvious choice, offering storage for all the entertaining essentials that wouldn’t fit in my kitchen. But finding one that was affordable, beautiful, and the right size? That was proving to be impossible.
So, I turned to my favorite treasure trove: Facebook Marketplace.
I spent weeks scouring listings with no luck. Finally, I looped in my parents and asked them to keep an eye out, hoping an extra set of eyes (or two) would increase my chances. And sure enough, my dad came through—sort of.
One day, he texted me saying he had already bought something. Without even showing me first.
What he found was a pretty horrendous dresser and chest of drawers combo, both for $75. When he finally sent me a picture, Billy and I had major doubts—we couldn’t quite see the vision yet. But we loaded up the truck anyway, crossed our fingers, and went to pick it up.
The moment I saw the dresser in person, it clicked.
Sure, it was rough. It needed work—a lot of work. But with some sanding, fresh paint, new hardware, and a little bit of elbow grease, it transformed into one of the most complimented pieces in my home.
The dresser when we first got it home. Peek the matching chest of drawers in the background!
The dresser post-makeover! With a second project going on in the background!
We made-over this dresser a few years ago, but stay tuned on the blog for future in-depth and how-to posts for more DIYs to come!
Piecing Together the Rest of the Space
With the dresser in place, the fun part began—the treasure hunt. Over the next few months, I scouted thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales for the perfect mix of vintage and secondhand finds.
📸 I printed off a few family photos and even framed a picture I had taken on my phone.
🎨 I painted the walls and trim to give the space a fresh, cohesive feel.
But my absolute favorite piece?
The antique surveyor’s tripod that someone else DIYed into a floor lamp. It’s unexpected, full of character, and adds the perfect vintage-industrial touch to the space.
All thrifted items are circled. You can only see a small glimpse of it here, but there is a thrifted Bentwood rocking chair in the corner of this room that I love! We had one when I was little and I got all of the feels when I saw this one, I had to get it!
Your Turn!
Now that you’ve had a peek behind the scenes of my gallery wall, I’d love to hear from you!
What’s your favorite secondhand or thrifted find? Do you have any vintage treasures that have a special story behind them? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear all about them!
