Filed under: Your Home, Design, etc, News & Trends, Furniture
Tag sales haven't just moved online -- They've gone high-end.Think "tag sale" and the words normally conjure up the neighbor's garage and some busted-up wicker chaise in a jungle print. Not that those garage sale finds can't be fun. But the new wave of tag sales have not only moved online -- they're infinitely chic-er. And they come with a designer pedigree. Here's a rundown of the new tag sales:
A living room decorated by Tim Whealon, one of the designers whose pieces are available on Decorator Tag Sale. Photo: Tim Whealon
Sandra Oster's Decorator Tag Sale, which launched this April, is one of the newest to hit the scene. Expect to find cast-offs from pedigreed decorators, like a French Directoire white-painted chest of drawers or a David Hicks carpet. You might spot a lantern or mirror from one of Amanda Nisbet's oft-photographed interiors, or a wooden chair from Christopher Coleman's room at last year's Kips Bay Show House. (I did!) And don't let the brand-spanking-new-ness of the site fool you -- merchandise is updated regularly. Not bad for just a month-old site.
The Barnstable chair by Gérard is on my wish list. Photo: Offthefloornow
Likewise, Offthefloornow.com is the brainchild of Dessin Fournir Companies founder Kerry Joyce. Since last October, floor models and discontinued pieces from super high-end, trade-only lines like Rose Cumming fabric and Palmer Hargrave lighting have been selling for a fraction of their original cost. Things I never thought could be in my price range -- like a gorgeous Gerard bookcase that I've been coveting since my days as an editorial assistant -- are suddenly (somewhat) affordable. Major score. Plus, a portion of the proceeds go to charities like DIFFA.
Tastemaker Tag Sales from One Kings Lane
Peeking into a designer's backroom storage has always been a thrill for me, so it's no surprise I'm hooked on browsing through One Kings Lane's Tastemaker Tag Sales. Every Saturday morning (11 a.m. EST), a different designer's archives go up for grabs on the flash sale's site for three days. I missed a tufted leather chair from Nathan Turner's sale, and pretty much slept through Windsor Smith's last month, so come next Saturday, I'll come prepared -- agile fingers and credit card at the ready.
Now that the word is out, tag sales will never be the same -- happy shopping!