Second Hands Austin
There’s something special about furniture that’s lived a life before it lands in your space — and no one understands that better than Ashlyn Bodin, the vintage curator behind Second Hands Austin. Known for sourcing bold, soulful mid-century pieces, Ashlyn blends a love for design history with an eye for what still feels fresh today.
Whether you’re a fellow design lover or a small business supporter, we hope this peek behind the curtain inspires you as much as it inspired us.
Q: How did you get into selling vintage?
"Everything happened very organically. I always knew I wanted to have my own small business but didn’t know what direction I wanted to go. I have a degree in Advertising which led me to my previous job as a Marketing Director of a local sustainable fashion brand. In that role, I learned a ton about fast fashion and consumerism which ignited a desire to be a more conscious consumer myself. This is when I got serious about shopping second hand and inevitably, my love for vintage grew.
Clothing, home decor and furniture all seemed to be of higher quality than what’s made today. The styles were less trendy and more timeless. This was all very enticing to me as I developed my personal style, especially since longevity of materials was becoming more important to me.
When I left my previous position as Marketing Director, I considered going back to school to get my degree in Interior Design. This was always a dream of mine. But that was going to be expensive so I wanted to try my own thing first. By this point, I had been experimenting with vintage furniture in my own space for a while. I knew what I liked and had developed my personal style enough to start curating pieces to sell. So I took the plunge. I started an Instagram account from scratch and have organically built my following for the past 2 years. It’s been incredible.
I have learned SO much about running a small business on my own. It’s not easy. Sometimes I work 7 days a week but it’s worth it because I’m doing something I truly love. I’m surrounded by beautiful furniture every day. I get to be creative and curate pieces based on my own personal taste. I’m doing something that aligns with my ethical beliefs. And I’ve connected with the coolest people along the way. Seriously a dream."
Q: What’s been your most exciting or unexpected vintage find?
"This is tough because I get excited about all of the pieces I sell. But there is one piece I will always regret selling. It’s a cherry red metal and glass coffee table. It’s the perfect pop of red, has a nice low profile and curved feet. There’s no maker's mark and I’ve never found anything similar online. It’s possible that it was handmade. You can find it pinned at the top of my IG page."
Q: Any tips for someone new to shopping vintage?
"If you’re new to vintage but want to incorporate more vintage in your space, pick a few key items to splurge on but don’t feel like everything needs to be a splurge. In a living room, it could be a cool wall unit or credenza for your TV. Then you can go more understated with a coffee table, side tables and chairs."
It’s more about how you mix and style your pieces and less about each piece being a crazy vintage find.
Q: What’s one thing you wish more people knew about vintage?
"This is obvious to my followers/demographic but not so obvious to others. When you fill your space with old things, it creates such a warm and inviting vibe that can't be replicated with modern, fast furniture. There’s an awful trend happening where old, charming homes are being gutted and turned into gray soulless prisons. Old original hardwood floors are replaced with ashy gray laminate. Doors with stained glass windows are replaced with builder-grade doors from Home Depot. And all of this is done under the guise of upgrades and improvements. I think some people have the same idea about old furniture."
They think new is synonymous with improvement which isn’t the case. I wish more people valued the preservation and reuse of old things not only because it’s better for the Earth, but from a design standpoint it's better for the overall energy of a space.
Q: How do you recommend styling vintage pieces in a modern home?
"Assuming there is a lot of gray, I recommend bringing in warm wood tones and staying away from black and white laminate furniture. I like to mix wood tones but the key is to make sure they all compliment each other. Bring in some color too. I love a pop of color in an art piece, a textile, or a statement furniture piece. And rugs. Lots of rugs! "
Q: What’s your dream vintage find—something you’re always on the lookout for?
"I honestly don’t have one. I’m always thrilled to discover something that I never knew existed. There are plenty of iconic vintage pieces everyone has seen on Pinterest or 1st Dibs. But I’m more intrigued by cool pieces I find that I’ve never seen before. "
Q: What’s next for Second Hands Austin? Any fun projects or events coming up?
"I’m hoping to offer styling services with a focus on vintage/second hand materials. I’ve helped several friends already which has been integral to learning how to structure and price this kind of thing. Design is a true passion of mine so it’s important for me to incorporate that into my offerings when the time is right."
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