Old is Gold

Gerbrandt “GG” Grobler and Bettina Schneider’s mammoth renovation project came about quite unexpectedly. They were planning to go overseas for GG’s rugby career and had already sold everything they owned when a visa snag on Bettina’s side forced a change of plans. The couple bought an old, run-down Italian Villa with an additional dwelling unit, or cottage, to renovate and set down roots.

We are letting you in on some of Bettina’s very best advice for furnishing a home from scratch without breaking the bank. Spoiler alert: she furnished the entire two-bedroom cottage with quality vintage, antique and thrift pieces for just R15,000, including appliances, two beds, Persian rugs and furniture! Some of the items they sourced were still wrapped in plastic and under warranty. 

In this game, Bettina says that thrifting, antique stores, Facebook Marketplace, second-hand shops, charity shops, deceased estates, auctions and family heirlooms become your best friends. She has a list of about 10 spots between Durban, the Midlands, the Berg, and Ballito that she frequently visits, and is also constantly looking for new sources of hidden treasure.

Besides the terrifying cost of replacing everything they sold with new furniture, Bettina found that brand-new furniture these days just doesn’t hold up. “They are made from materials that don’t stand the test of time, and you end up spending more money replacing furniture further down the line. You really should get more for the money you are paying,” she said. 

She goes on to say that there is artisanship in the craftsmanship from the old days that you just don’t find in modern pieces. Sadly, with modern-day mass production and a profit-focused industry, that craftsmanship and skill will, over time, disappear forever. Bettina therefore insists on only buying pieces that can be held onto and passed on to the next generation or be resold at a valuable price. She clarifies the difference between antique items, which are older than 100 years, and vintage items, which are between 20 and 99 years old. 

How to find old gold

First, you need a keen buyer’s eye. That means doing your research and knowing the value of an item before you buy. Then you need to clearly imagine what the piece could be because thrift and antique stores can be a bit crowded and overwhelming. Next, you need to break the mould and find your individual style – Bettina calls it the art of finding something that resonates with you. She, however, avoids old furniture that has been painted due to the risk of lead in the paint or glaze. “A lot of people don’t know what they have because they are impatient and want to sell quickly. I’ve come across a lot of pre-Apartheid stuff from Europe that is worth far more than what they are going for.” 

When it comes to art, Bettina says that with the large number of migrants living in South Africa, she finds many old master paintings going for a steal. These, she said, could be kept or resold at a profit. Some of the best bargains she’s found include a 65-piece dining set for R1200 and two Italian leather couches, in perfect condition and valued at €5000 each, for just R6000. 

Simple conversation pieces add huge interest value to a house. She, for example, bought a stack of old National Geographic magazines and placed them in a refurbished old magazine holder. Lo and behold, when GG picked one up, he discovered an article about his dad in it.

Some of Bettina’s most valuable connections in the furniture thrifting game include a good reupholsterer, a few trusted courier guys and a Persian rug restorer. And as far as sniffing out social media scammers goes, she recommends seeing what else they are selling, how long the page has been active, getting a WhatsApp number and starting the conversation with voice notes. 

Instagram: @sanchez.gets.dirty