Even the Plants Are Thrifted in This 80-Year-Old Rental Apartment

published Sep 12, 2024

Even the Plants Are Thrifted in This 80-Year-Old Rental Apartment

published Sep 12, 2024
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“I remember when I first moved to Charlotte, I would drive around some of the historic neighborhoods and was drawn to these brick ‘fourplex’ (or quadplex) apartment buildings. I always wanted to see inside one, and somehow I got lucky and stumbled upon my current apartment, which is in a fourplex built in the early 1940s,” begins Laura Yacoubian, who’s been sharing this 700-square-foot apartment with her cat, Snowbelle.

Credit: Laura Yacoubian
"I found my couch on Facebook Marketplace. It's pretty old and was made in North Carolina! My coffee table was an estate sale find, as were most of the decorative items in here. The rug was also from Facebook Marketplace. The dresser that I'm currently using as a TV stand has been with me for several years. I forgot where I originally found it!" Laura writes.

“I’ve loved collecting things secondhand since I was young. Aside from some cookware, all of my furniture, wall art, linens, trinkets, rugs, and even my plants have been found secondhand. I started going to thrift stores when I was very young, and around early middle school, I began to find furniture and wall art that I thought was cool. I would bring pieces back to my parents’ house. Thankfully, they were supportive of this, and I’ve never stopped!” writes Laura, who describes her current home’s style as “warm, unfussy, bright, Southwestern.”

Credit: Laura Yacoubian
"I found the two mid-century rocking chairs on Facebook Marketplace. I don't love the fabric so I need to reupholster them at some point, but it's a daunting task. The rug I actually got recently in New Hampshire; I was visiting my grandparents with my boyfriend, and we stuffed it in my suitcase," Laura describes. "The last thing I found for my apartment was a wooden cabinet with an ornate print on the front that I found at an estate sale."


Laura’s advice for finding incredible secondhand gems is threefold. She suggests waking up early to go to estate sales (“estatesales.net is where I find them”). And she has a unique approach to thrifting at stores. “In my experience, many thrift stores often feel picked over and make it impossible to find cool things. Try looking in sections at thrift stores that you wouldn’t normally hit first, like the linens and bedding racks and the books section.”

Credit: Laura Yacoubian
"One of Snowbelle's favorite nap spots is on the end of the bed on this green blanket I found at an estate sale. The rug I found on Facebook Marketplace, and the tiger tapestry is from a little vintage shop in Charlotte in my neighborhood called East 8th Vintage," Laura writes. "My nightstand is a mid-century modern side table made by Stanley Furniture that I found for $20 at a thrift store. I found the clam lamp years ago."

“Do not invest in a vintage rug that is not 100% wool,” she also advises. “Learn to spot the difference between handwoven vs. machine-woven! I love old rugs, but understanding the difference is something I’ve learned fairly recently.”

Thanks, Laura!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.