Thrifty chic

Wary Meyers' Tossed and Found. Photo / Babiche Martens

Never is the saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure" truer than when it comes to fossicking around antique and collectible stores. From vintage teacups to original retro furniture to charming artwork, these stores deserve to be explored with time and patience. They are the places where you find those unique items which will work to bring individuality and creativity to your interior; the items with a story to them and which will feed your soul while inspiring conversation and curiosity from visitors.

Two people who are the masters of breathing new life into recycled products are Linda and John Meyers the authors of the new book Wary Meyer's Tossed & Found (Stewart Tabori & Chang: $49.95). Back in 2006 the pair were asked to write an article for Time Out New York magazine about refurbishing cast-off housewares from the streets of New York city. It proved so popular it became a regular column. In their book they show, with a little DIY, how easy it is to breathe new life into seemingly useless pieces of furniture or scrap.

If trawling the streets of Auckland looking for junk isn't quite your thing (although amazing finds can be made at local inorganic collections), you could always cheat and shop on Trade Me, but where's the fun in that? Instead why not pay a visit to Junk & Disorderly (49 Woodside Ave, Northcote, ph 09 480 901). Whether you're looking for a lounge suite or some retro collectable china - you'll find it here. Junk & Disorderly is an iconic store which has been around since 1992. It's super-popular with stylists and prop-buyers from the television and film industry and is the place to make some great Kiwiana finds.

The best thing about the antiques and collectibles shop Just Plane Interesting (99 Parrs Cross Road, Oratia ph 09 835 9799) is that it's constantly changing, and you can expect to find anything from a retro jukebox to a fur coat to a quirky Mickey Mouse collectible to an old school record. There's also a special Xena Warrior Princess display to explore when you've finished perusing the shelves.

Needless to say, the range is eclectic, and as well as selling a range of curios and furniture, owner Ray also runs a prop hire service. The original store (they opened a second one across the road a couple of years ago) is set in an old apple orchard, and is next door to a cafe, winery, craft store and a railway museum. And each Saturday morning there's a farmer's market, so you can buy some fresh fruit as well as a strange but wonderful antique.