A voyeuristic adventure

Yes, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. And yes, it’s irresistible fun peeking into other people’s accumulations of junk. Not one to resist, Littlefield rented a truck, filled a sack with $1 bills, and traveled the country to gather valuable information and artifacts from those who no longer want what they have.

His new coffee table is a 1904 crate purchased for $5. It’s ideal for the silver-topped glasses and pitcher he found in Florida. If you want high-end glass, Tiffany lamps and sterling silver, he counsels, Florida’s ritzy coastal areas are the spots to shop. They’re filled with downsizers whose trinkets need new homes.

He also introduces you to folks like the Zaborski brothers of Kingston, N.Y. They buy entire garage-sale lots, often suctioning up tremendous valuables along with life’s detritus. Unfortunately, the brothers don’t speak to each other, possibly the result of a tiff over toy trains.

Littleton tells how to organize a garage sale, how to shop at one, when to buy something you absolutely do not need. His tips on decorating, collectibles and garage-sale geography are great for those who want to broaden their reach.

-- Bettijane Levine