Introduction Secondhand means more than just acquiring something that was once used by someone else. For me, secondhand has become my way of life and how I approach any interior design project. There''s a quiet kind of magic in designing a home piece by piece that allows you to be slow and intentional about the design choices you make, since everything you need isn''t always right at your fingertips. Growing up with a mother who had a great eye for design and a love for antiques opened my eyes at a young age to the world of interior design. Being a natural-born creative, it was only fitting to be in a career that allowed me to consistently utilize my creativity. After earning my BFA in interior design, I went on to work at commercial and residential design firms and always had the latest design trends and top manufacturers and brands at my fingertips. But I soon realized there was a huge gap in the market that wasn''t being talked about: the average consumer could not afford most of the brands or custom pieces, and I was a firsthand example of that. My husband and I were newlyweds just starting out, both coming from living with our parents, so when it was time to move into the home we purchased, all that went through my mind was, "How will I ever have the home I want with the budget that we have?" It was then that I thought, There has to be another way to decorate other than buying from retail stores.

I will never forget being married for less than a month, living in our home for less than a week, with the only piece of furniture we had being a mattress. But one day as I was driving past a local church, I saw a big banner that read "Rummage Sale" and pulled right in. I walked out having spent one hundred dollars, but I had to make multiple trips home with my finds. I managed to score a coffee table, accent chairs, lamps, and--one of my most prized possessions to date--a large antique oil painting I paid only ten dollars for. After shopping at the rummage sale, I was determined to keep the momentum going with furnishing secondhand after seeing how much I was able to get for so little. During this time I launched my own design studio and online vintage shop called Paige Kontrafouris Home & Interiors. Rooted in my design philosophy is my passion for antiques and the unique stories they hold, and my signature style is heavily influenced by classic French European design. Each space I design is layered with vintage and antique pieces, and I strongly believe you can have a well-designed room on any budget by utilizing the magic of shopping secondhand, as it opens the doors to pieces that one''s budget may not typically allow for.

To grow my design business, I started sharing my home design journey on social media and quickly realized how real the gap I felt in the design industry really was. There were only a few stores that were considered "budget-friendly," but that came with a downside; items had poor manufacturing quality, and everyone had homes that looked almost the same. My way of designing a home secondhand and executing DIY-friendly projects that didn''t sacrifice on style or quality resonated with my audience, and the rest was history. Over the years, I''ve coined myself the Secondhand Decorator on social media by sharing my love of shopping places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, vintage/antique shops, garage sales, and more. My audience was amazed I could find custom designer furniture, quality upholstery, wall covering, lighting brands, and more all at a fraction of retail price, because people were so used to secondhand meaning someone''s used stuff that didn''t hold much value. Designing a home by shopping secondhand isn''t just about decorating on a budget; it''s about designing and curating a home that tells your unique story. This book is for those who love the thrill of the hunt and want to learn how to create cohesive design plans that use items sourced from unconventional places yet feel professionally styled. Whether you''re trying to fill your first home or apartment, downsizing, or simply want to bring more character into your space, this book will help you design a home that''s uniquely yours.

This book will guide you through color theory, pattern mixing, and furniture styles while giving you an understanding of space planning and scale. It will teach you practical tips for styling with real-life examples and how to source the best designer quality pieces, and it will prove to you that a thoughtfully curated home isn''t about how much you spend--it''s about how well you plan and design it.