Finding bargains for the home: They can be inexpensive and still perfect

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - If you have Champagne taste during these beer-budget times, no problem. There's plenty of chic home decor available for cheap prices.

Luckily, some places are a bargain bonanza. For example, the Kansas City, Mo., area's underground storage caves hold treasure troves of great furniture, some of which can be sold for less because the pieces are botched custom orders, overstock items or "scratch-and-dents."

Savvy shopper Beth Kapke has unearthed prime places to find these deals and steals.

"I will go anywhere," says Kapke, whose Independence, Mo., ranch home is a showplace of beautiful objects. "I can easily find expensive, stylish things. But I can always find something I like just as well for less."

At the top of Kapke's short list is Shocking Prices, a surplus store tucked into an Independence, Mo., strip center (see shopping guide). Dining sets, sectional sofas and four-poster beds are crammed next to racks of clothes, big-screen televisions and crystal chandeliers. Hidden gems on a recent excursion included a lamp with a red drum shade, a mirrored bar and Italian leather chairs.

For her home, Kapke recently found a large tufted, pleated ottoman for $150 at Shocking Prices. The piece is high quality with lined fabric and the mocha, rust orange and aqua-blue pattern matches all the way around. She's seen similar pieces for $500. There are no flaws, so Kapke figures someone custom ordered the piece and it came in the wrong material.

Kapke's daughter found a dining table at Shocking Prices and bargained for a lower price. Owner John Olivarez says his store _ like some other discount retailers _ will come down on prices, especially if more than one item is being purchased. Kapke isn't afraid to bargain but didn't with the ottoman because she thought the price was fair for the piece because it was flawless.

Kapke's home also includes damaged pieces. A metallic-finish credenza she paid $100 for has a hairline crack that runs along the top. An ebony-finish Drexel-Heritage buffet has a slightly fractured leg.

"Most of my furniture isn't perfect when you look up close," she says. "I know that distressed furniture bothers some people, but I don't mind it. I have grandchildren, and it's going to get beat up anyway."

Kapke credits her thrifty ways to her mother, who would haunt bargain stores while her friends shopped at ritzier places. Kapke's mother painted inexpensive home accessories to improve their appearance.

"She said if you have taste, you don't need money," Kapke says.

Marilyn Wear, owner of Shoestrings decorating service in Independence, Mo., has consulted with Kapke on her home and shares her philosophy.

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"I think all the little treasures are in bargain places," Wear says. "That's where homes get their personality and uniqueness."

Wear loves Hobby Lobby, Old Time Pottery, Decor and Co. and Mission Road Antique Mall for inexpensive home accents used in a minimalist high-impact way.

Laurie Bomba of Mission Hills, Kan., recently became a fan of Overstock.com. She bought a few place settings of her Christofle wedding china on eBay and saw they were packed with an Overstock label, which meant the seller made a significant profit. So Bomba went to Overstock.com and bought more of the china, available for one-sixth of the retail price.

So something that was once out of reach and an indulgence came into her home for the price of everyday dishes.

Since then Bomba has gone to Overstock for down pillows, which were also a good price: four for $69. Bomba also shops at T.J. Maxx and Tuesday Morning for serving platters for housewarming gifts and her own home.

Anita Sisk-Stone, owner of the Kansas City store From House to Home, which sells overstock and damaged furnishings, says customers sometimes question the value of items when they cost less.

"You should trust what you love no matter where you find it," she says. "And you should love everything in your home, even if your favorite piece was only $5."

SHOPPING GUIDE

These stores were the favorites of sources interviewed for this article:

BIG LOTS, various area locations, www.biglots.com Great for: Home accessories

OVERSTOCK.COM, 800-843-2446 Great for: Dishes, pillows and other household items

SALVATION ARMY FAMILY STORE, various area locations, www.salvationarmyusa.org Great for: Art and furniture

TUESDAY MORNING, various locations, www.tuesdaymorning.com

Great for: Area rugs, bed linens, serving platters and trays.

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© 2008, The Kansas City Star.