This Designer Furnished His Entire Living Room for Less Than $2K

Justice Quinn, an interior designer, successfully furnished his entire living room for under $2,000, a remarkable feat considering current furniture prices. This was achieved after he and his wife moved from a large ranch home to a 1,300-square-foot builder-grade house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Quinn leveraged Facebook Marketplace, a platform he has used for six to seven years, as his primary resource to adhere to a strict budget. His expertise in identifying high-quality vintage pieces on a budget was a crucial factor in this accomplishment. Quinn refined his eye for value by exploring estate sales and researching the origins and dating of furniture he acquired. The living room transformation is notable for not relying on discarded items from moving sales. Quinn acquired many pieces from Facebook Marketplace at what he describes as "ridiculous prices." For instance, he purchased a leather Maralunga two-seater sofa by Vico Magistretti for less than $500, a piece that could typically sell for over $4,000 on other secondhand platforms. This highlights his ability to find significant deals. Key design decisions included updating the room's surfaces. Initially, Quinn planned to plaster only the fireplace to modernize the house. However, a friend from Organic Finishes, Shawn, suggested plastering the entire room, which significantly transformed the space. Additionally, an existing wood beam with an unsightly stain was repainted with Benjamin Moore's White Dove, softening the room's aesthetic. All builder-grade light fixtures, including an outdated early-2000s model, were replaced. Quinn found a large chandelier from a Catholic church in Wichita, Kansas, for approximately $100 and had it custom-painted, turning it into a unique focal point. Quinn's approach to furnishing his home involved a gradual collection process. The living room furniture comprised pieces he had accumulated over several years that did not end up in client projects. This allowed him to furnish their new smaller home immediately upon moving. He applies a similar philosophy to his client work, where clients seeking vintage and curated aesthetics understand that this approach requires more time. He dedicates roughly half his time to sourcing items from estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, and private sellers, and the other half to collaborating with local dealers and makers. He notes that working with local craftsmen often leads to quicker turnaround times than traditional big-box stores. A central tenet of Quinn's sourcing strategy is trusting his instincts rather than solely focusing on designer names. He recounts purchasing an early 20th-century antique cabinet with intricate hand-etched details and Jean Prouvé-style taper legs for just $10, which he considers his favorite piece. He advises others to buy what appeals to them visually, and if the quality is evident, then to research its history. His philosophy prioritizes an item's intrinsic appeal and quality over its brand or designer. When negotiating on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Quinn employs a unique strategy: offering to pay more than the asking price for exceptional items. He did this for the chocolate leather Vico Magistretti sofa, recognizing its rarity in the Midwest. He explains that a brief, appreciative message highlighting his profession and admiration for the item, coupled with a willingness to pay slightly extra, often yields positive results. He believes that by investing in pieces that are initially unappealing but have potential, he can restore them through upholstery, fabric changes, or minor repairs, bringing them back to life. He attributes his continued success in finding remarkable furniture to this unconventional approach, viewing the extra payment as an investment that somehow comes back to him. #InteriorDesign #BudgetDecorating #FacebookMarketplace #VintageFurniture #HomeRenovation #DIY #Thrifting #DesignTips #AffordableStyle #InteriorDesign #BudgetDecorating #FacebookMarketplace #VintageFurniture #HomeRenovation #DIY #Thrifting #DesignTips #AffordableStyle