issue feature Live
Well
(for less) 

GREAT Living/Home(for less)
Southeastern Salvage
Whether you need building supplies or furniture and decorative accessories, Southeastern Salvage in Irondale is a must stop shop. They have it all—tile, kitchen sinks, framed mirrors, outdoor teak furniture, lighting and even an occasional wagon wheel coffee table. Because they buy close-outs and liquidations, you get great prices on many one-of-a-kind items, and they’re open seven days a week. southeasternsalvage.com

Dumpster Dive
In our planning meeting, I hesitatingly mentioned dumpster diving as a budget friendly “shopping” option. In response, I got an immediate list of items—deck furniture, a giant mirror, a pair of wingback chairs and even silk drapes, pricey house plants and a col lection of majorette trophies—that folks have found when neighbors clean-out or move-out. In my neighborhood, Tuesday is what I call big garbage day when the extra truck comes around for the things that won’t fit in a garbage bag. Pay attention on your weekly big garbage day and see what treasures you may find for free.

Thrift Stores
While most of us donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, the Jimmy Hale Mission or the Habitat Outlet Store, you might not think of shopping through the furniture section. But open any do-it-yourself type magazine, and you’ll see tons of ideas-such as turning a $10 thrift store coffee table into the coolest piece of furniture in your living room.

Streetwise Consignment
If you’re furnishing a lake house or have kids heading off to college, stop by Streetwise Consignment in Cahaba Heights. Located on Dolly Ridge Road, the yard is filled with outdoor furniture while the interiors overflow with furniture and accessories—you won’t find fine antiques but Streetwise fills the niche for unique, yet moderately priced furnishings. Best of all, after an item has been in the shop for 90 days it’s marked down half-price.

Discount Appliances
Visit Lewie’s Appliance for revamped washers, dryers, stoves refrigerators and freezers. Each appliance is rebuilt and reconditioned and sold for next to nothing—washing machines start as low as $100, and service and delivery options are available. For new appliances head to Mazer Discount Home Centers and look for the yellow “scratch and dent” tags. Some dings and dents aren’t readily noticeable, and you’ll get a great discount—75 percent off normal retail price even on top-of-the-line items such as the G.E. Monogram series. The Mazer website promises, “When you buy from Mazer, you are buying at wholesale or below every day!”

Discount Dishes
Having a party and need a few extra plates, bowls or napkins? BB’s China & Glassware on First Avenue North has a vast selection of factory seconds and overrun restaurant-grade china. They’ve got Fiestaware in every color of the rainbow and broken Fiestaware sold by the scoop if you’ve got an art project in mind. Shelves are filled with white china in a plethora of patterns and table cloths and napkins in a wide selection of colors and sizes. Also search the specialty section—I was tempted to buy IHOP and U.S. Navy Department china on my last visit.

Half-price framing
Framing gets expensive in a hurry, so a deal is always worth the wait. Check hobbylobby.com for the list of Alabama stores with 50 percent off custom framing services. We’ve found that almost every other week, the 50 percent off discount is offered in our area.

Cheap trees
You won’t be able to use this info for six or seven months, but the deal is so unbelievable we had to put it on our list. Marvin’s Building Materials and Home Center (in Pelham but moving to Calera by next Christmas) sells most of their six-to-eight-foot Christmas trees for just $18.99. Douglass firs are the most expensive at $27!

Budget Fabric
Decorators and seamstresses know that the drive to B&B Fabric Outlet in Oneonta is worth the trip. Rolls of fabric are stacked from floor to ceiling. They also have a large selection of trims. If you’ve got a specific need in mind, call before you go. Because it’s an outlet, they have limited amounts of some items. 205-274-2219

Remnant Stone
For smaller projects requiring materials such as granite or marble, remnants are a cost-effective solution. Birmingham MarbleWorks has a front porch full of remnants from other projects—many starting around $39 per square foot. Custom orders require you to pay for an entire slab of stone and the labor necessary to deal with it. With remnants, you only pay for the stone you need and the labor required for the single project. Call 444-9666.

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January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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