Good design is rarely about reinventing the wheel. It’s about having a point of view—and knowing exactly when to break the rules.
Enter: Devin Kirk.
If you’ve spent any time online drooling over beautifully layered, impossibly livable rooms, you already know his work through Jayson Home, the Chicago-based brand that somehow manages to feel classic, collected, and cool without tipping into precious or predictable. It’s the kind of design that looks at once sophisticated and whimsical (my favorite kind, as we all know).
Jayson is one of my favorite sites to peruse for furniture, decor and a truly stellar selection of lighting. I love that Devin — who is Jayson’s chief creative officer and travels the globe to procure pieces for both himself and the brand — routinely sources vintage, making his home look seamless and intentional.
some of my favorite vintage pieces available now via Jayson Home: Italian brass chandelier, antique wood hat molds, antique silver mirror, painting, apothecary bottle
Being that he is such a vintage collector, I had to ask Devin about the best thing he ever thrifted. I’m thrilled to have him tell the story.
“I think the best thing I ever thrifted is the first thing I ever thrifted — this cool globe lamp I bought when I was 12.
I was at a garage sale with my mom — a frequent occurrence — but this was the first thing I remember buying for myself. I’m pretty sure I paid a quarter. It was missing a piece that attached the globe to the base. It still is. I could tell the guy selling it wasn’t going to miss it, and he probably cut me a deal since I was a kid. I had a vision that it would look way better in my room than it did on that table.
I really don’t know anything about it. I think it’s Mexican? From the ‘60s or ‘70s? I’m realizing now it was maybe only 20 years old when I bought it in 1991... 35 years ago.
I will definitely have it until it’s a certified antique. It has moved from my teenage bedroom to my dorm room to my first apartment and everywhere I’ve lived ever since. It’s appeared in Elle Decor and House Beautiful — it’s come a long way from that garage sale.
I love the sphere shape, breaking up all the books on a bookshelf. I love the warm glow it casts. (It’s one of eight lamps in my living room... I’m all about lots of lamps with low wattage.) I love the bits of worn color.
But best of all, I love that it always reminds me of that kid who saw beauty in something cast off by someone else and gave it a new life.”
Huge thank you to Devin for sharing this gorgeous story. View more stories of the best thrift finds ever, here.
DECOR I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW
My cowgirl print on Artfully Walls looks mighty good with the red frame, no?
I just ordered this $300 light fixture and it looks far more expensive than it actually is.
Oh, I love stories like that! Well done on developing an eye for beauty and quality and quirky things young, Devin! That is a lovely globe and does look Mexican.
Virginia, thank you for bring us these inspirations! That light fixture is amazing, and I love the red frame! Must not show the tennis bookends to my husband, lol (he loves tennis).
Thank you both! Fabulous article!
Love this story. That ability to spot something overlooked and trust your eye… that’s the same muscle great operators use in business. Starts young, sharpens over time :)