When Brittney Spence realized her Florida apartment felt boring and impersonal, she knew exactly who to call. Her older sister Kristin had been thrifting since college, transforming her own home with vintage finds and sharing the results on social media. Now Brittney wanted the same magic for her new space.
The challenge: Do it all for $350.
What followed was a three-weekend odyssey through seven Tampa-area thrift stores, with Kristin, 36, and Brittney, 33, hunting for everything from throw pillows to sofas. Kristin documented the journey on social media, where her videos of the transformation quickly went viral.
Kristin’s passion for thrifting began in college, when she furnished her entire home with secondhand items. Brittney, still in high school at the time, missed out on what she now calls her “best friend” sister’s early adventures. Over the next decade, Kristin’s eye for vintage pieces only sharpened, and she began sharing her finds online.
With Kristin working and raising two children, the sisters carved out just a few hours each weekend for their hunt. But the constraint proved clarifying. They settled on a design scheme Brittney loved, then shopped strategically.
The sisters found smaller touches first—pillows, throw blankets, art, glassware, books, lamps. Then came the bigger scores: a couch for $60, an ottoman for $15, a vintage piece of art for the same price.
Then with a little elbow grease, they up-cycled some of the items to really achieve the aesthetic.
When Kristin posted the final reveal on March 20, the apartment looked nothing like a budget project. The finished design drew an outpouring of praise online.
For Kristin, the project was about more than decorating. “In general, I just love time with my sister,” she said. “She’s my absolute best friend. She brightens up my day and makes me laugh constantly.”
The experience offered something else too: creative freedom. “This experience was so uplifting because my sister gave me full reign on decision-making, which I love,” Kristin said. “I didn’t need to justify my design choices or purchases. I didn’t have to convince her why I think a certain fabric or color would look great in her space—I just got to do, and she got to enjoy the final product.”
She laughed. “Plus, I got to spend her money and not mine!”
So did they manage to do it on budget? Incredibly, yes. The final tally: exactly $350 with discounts. But the result? A home that finally felt like one.
Watch the sister’s journey here:
