Second-hand style: These homes have been decorated with pre-loved treasures

The owner of this charming cottage also runs an online vintage and antique store (@the.workers.cottage, a must visit!), so it’s no surprise that most of the interiors come from second-hand sources. Even the kitchen was thrifted — a pre-loved Shaker-style set found on Facebook Marketplace. Made from maple and MDF, the cabinetry was cleverly reconfigured to suit the new space.

Throughout the home, contemporary art sits alongside vintage and antique pieces, old cabinet knobs adorn new furniture, and vintage pendant lights hang gracefully from the ceiling. The result is a seamless blend of past and present.

“Homely” sums up the look and feel Danni Duncan and her husband Alex wanted to capture in their home. Danni shares her love for vintage finds on her Instagram account @our1960shomenz, and says that having vintage furniture and decor in the home gives it personality and character. “It makes a home unique and adds value to each piece. You’ve spent time looking for it; you haven’t gone out and bought it quickly; you’ve spent a lot of time going around different shops. As a result, you come to value your vintage find a lot.”

Determined to preserve their cottage’s historic charm, homeowners Lucy and Sebastian steered clear of decorating trends. Instead, they focused on a thoughtful, sympathetic restoration inspired by the home’s original features.

Lucy prioritised secondhand and period pieces whenever possible, sourcing furniture and decor that reflected the home’s era from Facebook Marketplace and local antique dealers. Committed to creating a sustainable, cottagecore home with a low environmental impact, she explains, “I look for classic pieces that won’t need to be replaced. If I can source something secondhand or use a family heirloom, I will always choose that over a trending item.”

This two-bedroom 1970s townhouse showcases a personality-packed makeover, thanks to a creative couple with a love of colour and a sharp eye for secondhand bargains. Content creator Rachel Soo Thow and her partner, Samuel Crabtree, share a passion for retro finds and thrifted treasures.

Where does one begin with their vast collection of pop art, collectibles, and quirky gems? “Ah, so many we love,” says Rachel. Among her favourites are a pair of green velvet and gold deco bar stools she discovered at a secondhand shop, and a Lipstick mirror by Roger Lecal, which she snapped up on Facebook Marketplace for just $20. Sam scored a Homer Simpson vintage cookie jar—with a talking head—at an op shop during a skateboarding trip. “The lid is broken, but it still talks,” he says, “and we’ll get around to supergluing it back together one day.”

The white walls, high ceilings, and wooden floors of this Napier home provide the perfect backdrop for the Claytons’ carefully curated collection of possessions—thrifted, gifted, or thoughtfully purchased over the years. Tiffany finds form an eclectic mix, mostly sourced from secondhand stores or Facebook Marketplace, often discovered on a whim when something captures her heart.

One of her favourite secondhand treasures is the striking marble coffee table in the lounge—a piece she nearly missed out on.

This home exudes a distinctly mid-century vibe, thanks to the couple’s art, furniture and other special items. “It’s eclectic, but with a theme,” explains the homeowners. “We have a lot of secondhand stuff.” The pale walls are the ideal backdrop for their treasures, many of which are in earthy tones.

An abandoned cottage in Dunedin became the perfect dream home for one family. Although the house was in rough shape, the new homeowners chose to carefully refresh—rather than replace—its historic features, preserving the cottage’s original charm.

Naturally, they furnished the space with antique homewares to match its character. When asked to describe their interior style, Bella laughs. “We both have strong opinions about aesthetics. Rory leans into the gothic and macabre, while I’m more ‘little old lady’ meets vintage clutter-core.”

They’ve sourced most of their decorative pieces from local op-shops and thrift stores, allowing the home to reflect the spirit and history of the surrounding community.

Sustainability runs through every corner of this home, and it’s clear the owners don’t just talk the eco talk, they live it. Homeowner Bronwen, a professional upholsterer who rescues furniture for a living, has filled the space with repurposed, pre-loved treasures.

She turned an old wool sorting table into the kitchen bench, transformed a vintage telephone into a key box, and repurposed a digger bucket as the outdoor fire pit. And that’s just the beginning.