I Brake for Yard Sales: And Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, Auctions, and the Occasional Dumpster Kindle Edition

I thought this was a book that gave you ideas and tips on the best way to refinish/repurposes items. But its just a book on how this woman goes around buying things and paying a professional to refinish the items for her. I refinish things because i don't have much money and it's relaxing. I don't have the money to go and drop off these items off with a professional and let him do the work for me and than call it my own. Sure she did one or two simple things but for the most part she paid people to do the dirty work and than put it in her book saying look at my masterpiece. I will say some of the tips on manners during estate sales and actions i liked but the description was misleading.

I love Lara Spencer and her show - Flea Market Flip. If you like flea markets and repurposing your finds, making them into fascinating decorator or utilitarian pieces, you will love this book. It has many examples of Lara's finds and great photos of her with these inspiring objects, including many in her own home.

I thought the book was going to detail how to go to garage sales and flea markets and look for a bargain you could buy and refurbish or find that diamond in the rough. After the first 10 pages, I realized it was a "coffee table" book just showing pictures of unique items she bought or items that she refurbished which didn't show "Before" pictures. Thought my wife might like it, she didn't. Got rid of it!

I could hardly wait to get this book in my hands and once I did I couldn't put it down. I saw the last few minutes of her recent appearance on Rachel Ray where she talked about her design skills and this book. I absolutely love doing what she does in this book. it was great hearing her tips and ideas and suggestions about how to do it better. Most of what I do is for personal use but to do it for someone else would just be too fun. My degree in Interior Design is helpful in knowing furniture designs and designers. She points out why this is important. Another tip would be to find a good upholsterer in my area or to learn how to do some of it myself. I would love to go shopping her and use her budget. She also has some great websites in the book. If you love the thrill of the hunt and finding treasures that will feed your soul this would be a great book for you to read. Enjoy!

Having completed a course in Interior Design - the last class was 'Going Green' - Knowing the class was coming up I had over the previous summer gone 'tag saleing' and had picked up a coupe of very good finds. However, I so wish I had purchased this book prior to both the class and my tag sale /yard sale experiences.Ms. Spencers 'eye' for great re-do's and repurposing was exemplified with this wonderful book.BOttom line: This book should be in every young aspiring interior designers possession as well as young adults starting out or any person looking to decorate with pizzaz and style with limited funds.Highly recommended!

Most books about using "junk" or used furniture end up with rooms that honestly look like thrift shops. Not what some of us are looking for. Lara takes that kind of thing and uses it to create upscale homes using talent and imagination. SO impressed with her success at that. Just the vision of a beautiful chair upholstered in vinyl was worth the cost of the book for me. Opened the imagination. She used a shower curtain to upholster dining seats - a perfect idea for a family with young kids AND it looked sharp. I enjoyed this and it will be staying in my library!

This book caught my eye because I love to go to thrift shops, estate sales, garage sales and have been known to pick something off from the curb that someone is throwing out. I have to admit I didn't like Lara Spencer (hated when they used to give a rundown of how much her outfit cost on The Insider) but I have really come to like her. I don't think I learned anything new, but it definitely inspired me. Just today I went to a Goodwill store and bought a 4 panel peacock lacquered picture, and as I was deciding whether or not to purchase it, I was thinking of Lara's words saying that if you really like something, just buy it. I bought it, and am going to hang it in my dining room (btw it cost $49). This book has sooo gotten my creative side flowing again...definitely worth buying!!!!

I'll purchase anything by Lara Spencer because, as far as I'm concerned, she's so informative about refurishing just about anything, and her books are photographed so beautifully that you can clearly see what what item she's purchased and how it turned out. This book was full of information on where to look for treasures, listed state by state, as well as online Sellers. Loved the book!

I enjoyed this - the author's pleasure saling is very evident and she does some great things with what she buys, so lots of great eye candy. Doesn't get 5 stars simply because she spends quite a bit getting professionals doing her things up so her style if quite hard to emulate, but it's a fun read.

Loved the commentary and pics were bright and beautiful.

introductory levelNo deep knowledge provided

Lara sends you on a great journey. She also teaches you about what to look for a flea markets, estate sales, auctions, etc...I recommend this book to anyone who loves flea marketing.

Loved this book. Lara is super creative and the suggestions she makes are amazing. I but lots of this kind of book and I would say this is the best I have ever run across.