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Best Places For Stylish Used Furniture In The South Bay

We've all heard the tried-and-true saying, "One man's junk is another's treasure." That's no lie. See for yourself with a visit to an antique, thrift or consignment store. The word around town is that these stores may be your source for that perfect chair, couch, desk or something else you didn't even know you wanted. More than likely, you'll have to search through a lot of froggy stuff before you find the princely piece that'll make your day. But thrifting and antiquing is fun, and there is nothing like the joy of discovering something wonderful when you least expect it. Keep your expectations reasonable and your hopes high, be patient and you may just uncover the find of a lifetime. And certainly, you'll have fun on the hunt.

(credit: Home Consignment Center Facebook)

The Home Consignment Center
Los Altos
141 E. El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 264-1413
www.thehomeconsignmentcenter.com

The Home Consignment Centers are the "Cadillac" of used furniture stores, with a lot of options available in excellent condition. Sharp buyers know to check prices carefully. Sometimes there are real bargains, and other times the prices are comparable to new furniture. But with fresh shipments coming into the shop every day, there is always the possibility of finding something extraordinary.

(credit: antiquesunlimited.com)

Antiques Unlimited
1128 E. Camino Real
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 631-1600
www.antiquesunlimited.com

Antiques Unlimited is a collective of over 40 dealers. It sells not only furniture, but a wide variety of other antique collectibles including jewelry, china and art glass. Prices vary widely, but the astute shopper who does her research can find some fantastic bargains. This is a the sort of place that will appeal to serious collectors, as well as more casual buyers. Because of the huge variety, it is possible that an entire home could be furnished from this single source.

(credit: thebirdinthenest.com)

The Bird In The Nest
1568 Laurel St.
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 592-1983
www.thebirdinthenext.com

The Bird In The Nest is a specialty resale boutique for infants and small children. Although the store mostly provides clothing items, toys and other baby needs, it occasionally has nursery furniture as well. If young parents are looking to stock up for their first child, they will love The Bird In The Nest. Customers are enthusiastic about the high quality of the merchandise, the caring child-friendly atmosphere and the reasonable prices.

(credit: hagercollection.com)

Hager and Hager Quality Used Furniture and Fine Art
844 17th Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95602
(831) 464-1034
www.hagercollection.com

We are always ready to find a good excuse to visit Santa Cruz, the Bay Area's delightful "Surf City." If looking for furniture, Hager and Hager fits the bill. Hager and Hager is serious about recycling. It puts in the time and effort to restore its pieces with loving care. This shop has a special love for the Pacific Islands, and often has exceptional pieces made from rattan or teak. If your taste tends towards the exotic, an afternoon spent browsing these wares will be a special treat.

Related: San Francisco's Unique Furniture And Textiles

(credit: athertonantiques.com)

Atherton Antiques and Consignments
877 Santa Cruz Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 322-1600
www.athertonantiques.com

This beautiful store features antique furniture dating back to the 18th century, with modern pieces as well. This is a shop for serious decorators that features many high-end pieces. But don't despair if you are on a budget. Given the very large inventory, it is often possible to find something extraordinary for less than you might imagine.

Charles Kruger is well known in the Bay area as "The Storming Bohemian" ever since he entered the Bay Area cultural scene in the summer of 2009, attending 90 cultural events in 90 days and blogging about it. This project was successful enough to warrant a mention in The New York Times. His coverage of Bay area theatre can be found at Examiner.com.

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