Whitney Houston. Melrose Place. Civil rights protests. Make no mistake -- the gays appreciate a comeback better than anyone else. Typically, though, the mentality of "what's old is new again" seems to stop just short of the Z Gallerie decorative wreath on our collective door front. We feel our house must look like a page ripped from a Design Within Reach catalogue (a.k.a. Design Out of Reach, our at least our reach), complete with new tables, chairs and sofas. While this aesthetic is no doubt pleasing it's neither personal, nor affordable. So look to the source: the majority of these designs are inspired by decades-old style. Instead of DWR, try shopping vintage.

We like Revival, located in Lincoln Heights (Google Map it) across from the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. Revival offers rare mid-century furniture finds that are well edited (better than Whitney's new album), in great shape (crack free!) and offered at reasonable, no-haggle prices (leave the million dollar bill at home). These rediscovered pieces will make your place unique, never to be confused with the cookie-cutter clutter of those Weho homes filled with matching everything. There is however, one downside of shopping one-of-kind, in that you need to buy it on the spot if you like it, because like the Melrose Place redo it's not going to stick around.

Revival
181 North Avenue 21
Los Angeles, CA 90031
323-222-6069
Thursday (best day) - Sunday