Hunting for Unicorns
HOW ONE DESIGNER FURNISHES HER HOME WITH THRIFTED TREASURES
Written by MELISSA JACKSON | Photographed by SARA MOORE
Of all her thrifted finds, Hillary Keene is most delighted by her “unicorn chairs” that provide the palette for the family’s shared space.
In the 1948 cottage home of Hillary Keene, old and new mingle.
Art deco and mid-century modern converse, and brass animals flirt with chinoiserie porcelain, while contemporary botanical and floral art weave together a cozy, curated environment built almost entirely from thrift store adventures.
Keene, a senior design lead for Chick-fil-A, holds a bachelor's degree in interior design from Georgia Southern. Her domestic interior work gives her joy, she says, so much joy, in fact, that she routinely visits Goodwill stores to scour the aisles for discarded treasures. Her Instagram feed dispenses leads on young artists and vintage furniture sources, and neighbors delight in her facility for transforming interiors without breaking the bank.
Keene's thrifting prowess is best illustrated by what she calls her "unicorns" – a pair of matching chairs upholstered in a traditional ikat pattern with pops of green, blue and coral. She found them on Facebook Marketplace and immediately recognized quality craftsmanship.
"Anytime I can see the lines match up across the upholstery, I know this is good stuff," she says.
The chairs’ cheerful colors established her design direction and palette for her home. She snagged both for an astonishing $250 total. "These are $3,500 chairs," she marvels.
When friends envy her luck, Keene reminds them that it’s a numbers game. Every find represents dozens of hours of hunting for the perfect treasure in a sea of discards. That time investment means strategic, frequent visits to her favorite haunts, according to the designer. As a full-time executive and mother of two young children, she has perfected the art of efficient treasure hunting.
"I am a relentless shopper at Goodwill; I probably go two to three times a week," she says. "I usually go when I'm out running errands; I could spend hours in there. I will go when I know I only have 15 minutes, and I'll do quick ins and outs."
Those brief but regular visits, typically in the morning when inventory is freshest, have yielded lampshades, oyster plates and countless other finds that make her home feel uniquely hers.
"I find so much joy when I find treasures," she reflects. "It just makes my home cozy, which is really important to us."
Foregoing expensive wallpaper, Keene handpainted the walls of her hall bathroom.
Keene's approach isn't simply about hunting bargains. It's guided by design principles adapted to her stage of life.
"Think about the way you live your life, where you are in your season of life," she advises. "Right now, I'm not spending a lot of money on upholstery because my kids are young. I spend most of my money on things like case goods – tables, even lighting – things that kids can't touch but that can make a big impact."
Her philosophy centers on investing in timeless foundational pieces while keeping accessories flexible and affordable.
"Anchor in more timeless pieces and then accessorize with the trendy pieces," she recommends. "That's just a better way to spend your money."
Design philosophy:
• Establish a color theme based on a favorite find.
• Mix new and old in a balanced way.
• Mix styles and eras, mid-century, traditional, deco, etc.
• Design for your life stage. With young kids, skip expensive upholstery.
• Invest in case goods, like tables, lighting, things kids and pets can't damage.
• Anchor with timeless pieces.
• Consider investing in impact items, like curtains, lighting fixtures, art.
• Don't over-negotiate. Most antique dealers have already done the hard work of sourcing. Respect their labor.
Creative approaches:
• Strip thrifted frames and add different art (she used wallpaper samples).
• Look for quality indicators (upholstery lines matching, construction quality).
• Pepper in trendy accessories that can be easily updated as preferences evolve.
Regular haunts:
Facebook Marketplace
Goodwill
(The best time is mornings, 9:30 to 10 a.m.)
228 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan
3121 Highway 34 East, Newnan
Estate sales(especially Reynolds Estate sales)
Griffin House
390 Jackson Street, Suite D, Newnan
Visit the monthly Griffin House Bizarre Weekends
Gillyweed
21 West Court Square, Newnan
(for curated vintage finds and furniture)
Circa Antiques Marketplace
865 Senoia Road, Tyrone
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
216 Bullsboro Drive, Suite B-1, Newnan
Instagram
(for finding emerging artists and antique dealers)
Light hues and framed prints enhance the dresser arrangement in this bedroom.
