Habitat for Humanity General Store - Treasure Trove for the Bargain Remodeler!

I am always on the hunt for a bargain source of supplies for remodeling and interior decorating. There is something about a store full of odds and ends that just thrills me to no end! Maybe it's the hunt for some really cool item to spice up our home's decor or a really great bargain on materials to replace the "builder's special" cabinets, lighting, and other generic features of our house. Little by little, I plan to turn this place into my own unique paradise! And there's no place better to start on that quest than the Habitat for Humanity General Store in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Actually, everyone can shop at the Habitat for Humanity Stores, because there are ReStores located throughout the U.S. and Canada and some have websites from which you can order whatever strikes your fancy! See http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx to check it out!

Aptly named "ReStores", these stores offer surplus and used building materials, often donated by area construction companies and other businesses, as well as thrift-store type items of all sorts. By shopping at a ReStore you're helping the environment by reusing materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill and you're contributing to the profits which are used to build Habitat for Humanity homes in the community. Can't beat that so get out there and shop!

Here is some of what my local store has to offer: lighting fixtures of all sorts, a good selection of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, patio furniture, plumbing supplies, windows, doors, furniture, and all sorts of thrift-store items such as books, toys, clothing, pots, pans, and electronics. There are even a few antiques to be found! So what did I buy? I have been searching high and low for a way to organize my kids' toys and other items in their playroom. I found two gorgeous maple kitchen cabinets at the ReStore, bought a large piece of wood at the local home store, spaced the cabinets a few feet apart and put the wood on top as a desk top. The result is a fantastic way to store stuff - pullout shelves, wood drawers, awesome quality cabinets - with an inexpensive top that I just let the kids "decorate" as they wish while they are drawing and painting.

Each maple cabinet cost $99 - I found similar cabinets priced at $175 + at the local home stores - and that was without pullout shelves and the antiqued finish. I also purchased three smaller cabinets, all maple, one with beautiful rope molding, for $35 each! A neighbor scored some high-end bath fixtures and lights at the Newport News, Virginia, ReStore for next to nothing. Are you getting ready to remodel a bathroom or kitchen? Check out what you can find at your local ReStore before taking another step!

Sure, not all of the items at these stores are new, as some are donated used or come from demolition sites, but, if you do a little searching, you'll find some really great supplies for your home remodeling project. And remember, that the profits go to providing homes for those in need. Everybody wins when you shop at a ReStore.

Check out the ReStore websites too! Here are a few bargains I found today on various ReStore sites around the U.S.:

New Kohler Jacuzzi Tub for $600
Wall-to-wall carpeting at $5 per yard
New steel exterior doors for $40
All sorts of gorgeous cabinet knobs and pulls from 99 cents to $1.99

Good luck, bargain hunters and remodelers! Take a trip to your local ReStore - you won't be disappointed!

Here are the details for the local Virginia Beach, VA store

Address: 955 Providence Square Shopping Center
Phone: (757) 474-0069
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9AM to 6PM