Looking for a Deal? Try Window Shopping.

Each week, a designer searches Weschler's treasures and creates a gem. Josepha B. Faley designed the display above. (By Kevin Allen)

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Another reason, besides bargains, to check out the legendary Tuesday household auctions at Weschler's Auctioneers and Appraisers in Penn Quarter is a summer gig called Designer's Best Bids. Each week through Sept. 2, a local decorator (find the list at http://www.weschlers.com) will survey the inventory of curiosities, accessories and solid used furniture that has been brought in for the weekly sale and create a stylish vignette in one of Weschler's windows at 909 E St. NW. The window will be composed the Thursday before each Tuesday auction.

Bethesda designer Josepha B. Faley recently spent three hours sorting and arranging. "I scanned everything looking for something with good lines to build on," she said. She found some Asian screens and a pale green camelback sofa and went from there. "It's a good creative challenge," she said. Weschler's is hoping to attract new customers to the Tuesday auctions, which feature a treasure hunt of castoff furnishings at affordable prices. Examples of typical sales: sofas from $150 to $250, four-poster beds from $300 to $500 and framed mirrors from $100 to $200.

Jura Koncius