Last week, the Los Angeles Times featured a charming story about Los Angeles renters who transformed their Westwood condo into a stylish, deeply personal home almost entirely with secondhand finds, from flea markets to online resale treasures.
In the article, Tess van Hulsen and Andrew Chait share how furnishing their home without buying new allowed them to express their creativity, stretch their budget, and connect with the stories behind each piece. Their living room, filled with thrifted furniture and vintage accessories, reflects not just strong design instincts but a love for discovery, sustainability, and intention.
Savings and An Act of Kindness
Their strategy can also be a great way to help others. What stood out most to us was the role community-based thrift stores like The Council Shop played in their journey. One of the couple’s favorite finds, a rotating server, came from The Council Shop, NCJWLA’s nonprofit thrift store. Proceeds from every purchase directly fund NCJWLA programs that support women and families across Los Angeles.
“It’s dangerous living so close to the Council Shop,” Chait jokes in the LA Times, noting that the couple stops by every few weeks.
That lighthearted comment speaks to something much bigger. When Angelenos choose to shop at mission-driven thrift stores, their purchases do more than fill a home; they help fund real solutions to economic insecurity. At NCJWLA, revenue from The Council Shop supports programs that provide direct cash assistance, promote health equity, and build long-term financial stability for women and families throughout L.A.
At The Council Shop, every item on the floor, from vintage glassware to housewares and furniture, represents both a unique find and an opportunity to reinvest in our community. Through resale revenue, The Council Shop helps power NCJWLA’s work, creating pathways to opportunity for hundreds of women each year.
You Can Shop to Help Others, Too
The next time you’re out thrifting, whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind treasure like Tess and Andrew or simply shopping for everyday essentials, remember that you’re part of something bigger. Every gently loved item purchased at The Council Shop helps fund programs that strengthen families and advance economic justice right here in Los Angeles, like our Thriving in Place program, which helps West Hollywood residents stay rooted in their housing, rebuild stability, and truly thrive where they live. Visit The Council Shop near you, or shop online.
And thank you!
Read the full LA Times story: “Young couple decorate L.A. rental with thrifted secondhand home decor.”