Like many of my friends, I try to buy (almost) everything second-hand. The benefits — reusing! recycling! saving lots of dollars! — are huge, but a pretty serious amount of patience is required. Usually. Every once in a while, you can go from inspiration to acquisition in no time at all…

For years I've been meaning to build a room divider between my studio apartment kitchen and the half of the kitchen posing as my bedroom. I've finally gotten serious about it, and have been hitting all my favorite thrift stores and fabric stores in an attempt to find something pale and sheer. I was thinking a cream gauze or linen that would create a barrier but still let light through.

But then last night I saw this dramatic grey velvet curtain/water-heater-hider on Design*Sponge and that was it. Grey velvet or nothing! I was hoping to find a paler grey, and a restrained sort of velvet — nothing too plush.

This morning I walked into Thrift Town, and there it was, a long, dove-grey curtain. The fact that it's already hemmed and finished is a lifesaver, since I neither sew nor own a sewing machinge… not really sure what my plan was there! I believe the velvet at the fabric store was at least $10/yard, and velvet curtains like these from Urban Outfitters cost $48. I paid $2.99.

Any similar tales of high-speed thrifting glory?

Image: Grey Velvet by Tess Wilson
Image: Room Divider by Jen Altman on Design*Sponge

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