My periodic Thrill of the Hunt blog post series, born ten years ago, is now becoming Thrifted vs. Styled! While my Thrill of the Hunt posts are some of my favorite, and most popular, blog posts over the years, I thought it was time to make a change -- one that would be more reflective of today's thrifting culture.  

The Thrifted vs. Styled posts will essentially be the same posts you've grown to know and love, just presented in a different format. So why not join me as I continue the awesome tradition of thrifting and sharing?

This post contains affiliate links. A purchase of any one of these items helps to support this blog and its creative efforts at no cost to you. To read more, please see my disclosure page.

It's one thing to see something in a thrift store or at an estate sale and know that you just have to have it. It's another thing to know what you're going to do with it that will make your life better and/or more beautiful. 

And at that I am an expert. 

I love to scour online shops and dream of owning their wares -- while at the same time figuring out how I can thrift similar things for less and/or even DIY my own. It's in my genes. But really, anyone can do it with a little vision and some advice from yours truly.

My inspiration for this project came from Antique Farmhouse: an ornate plate pedestal riser that I fell in love with. Well, two, actually. It comes in two sizes.

After seeing them on their website I happily remembered that I had scored an ornate pedestal base at a pop-up estate sale for $5.00 a few months ago. What are the odds?

I thought it could be used as ether a pedestal base or as a candle holder and/or plant holder. You can see the price tag: $5.00. 

I also knew I had some rustic wooden rounds that might just work as the top of the pedestal.

And while I had hoped to find one looking more like the inspirational wooden plate, I decided that I would go with what I had and forego spending time and money looking for something else. 

And once I added the blue and white cache pot filled with faux tulips I was sold. 

A velvet ribbon gathered loosely around the flowers never hurts. 

Since I never permanently attached the pedestal to the wood slice, I can change things up any time I want -- like turning the pedestal over and transforming it into a candle holder. (I filled it with a vintage bottle brush tree for Christmas.) 

Ironically, after styling the original photos, I found another (taller) ornate pedestal riser at Goodwill for $2.99! It too, can be used as a candle holder.

I then found a set of different wood rounds from Dollar Tree in my stash to use as matching toppers on the thrifted pedestal bases. 

Perfection! I'm super happy with how these copycat ornate plate pedestal risers turned out. I not only saved myself a boatload of money, I also have the satisfaction of knowing that I made them myself.

So what's my thrifting mantra? If you see something - do something! In other words, if you see a particular decor item or accessory that you love, keep it in mind as you're thrifting through estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets and barn sales. You. Will. Find. It. Or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof that you can incorporate into your own decor. Just have patience. Trust me. I know.