Boston - February 04, 2005

Booty Call

Garage Sale

You are no criminal. You’ve never scalped Red Sox tickets. You dutifully obey Newbury’s two-hour parking limits. But Holy Hooligan, Batman, every time you see Aunt Milly’s heirloom gilded mirror, you feel the urge to pilfer.

You and Milly were never that close anyway. And that mirror sure would look great in your foyer.

Stop right there. Time to trot over to Garage Sale, a high-end consignment store for the home. From paintings to chandeliers, the shop gets stock from the area’s affluent residents looking to lose their loot. You’re as likely to find an Empire sofa once owned by artist WinslowHomer as you are a bèrgere chair or a David Yurman bracelet, all for 50 to 90 percent off retail. It’s all a steal — but a legal one.

So you can keep those sticky fingers where they belong: on Milly’s honey-baked ham.

Garage Sale, 55 Waltham Street, at Washington Street, South End (617-482-7044).