Have a drink at UT student Jamie Vessell's house, and you're likely to note the scenes of Pittsford surrounding your glass.  You might ask about the town's location, but Vessell doesn't know, and she'd like to keep it that way. The mystery is part of the glasses' charm.

Vessell bought the entire set of glasses at her favorite Goodwill Industries resale shop, where she delights in finding unusual and affordable items for her apartment.  This enthusiasm for thrift store shopping has enabled Vessell to create a unique home on a student budget.

But Vessell is not alone. Student decorating often incorporates hand-me-down or thrift store furniture, and even street curb finds.  Yet, with the Green movement in full swing, this recycled décor is looking less like scavenging and more like environmental responsibility.   

Students were recently applauded for decorating with reused items in the New York Times. They were also credited for their willingness to tote furniture from the garbage, when their older counterparts were often too embarrassed to do so.  

The limited budgets of most students encourage ingenuity, and often students use items in different ways than they were intended, according to the Times. Vessell is a perfect example of this adaptability. She added space in her small bathroom by using her great-grandmother's plant stand as a table.  The narrow base and tall height enabled it to fit into the tiny area between her toilet and sink.  

Like many students, Vessell inherited some furniture from family members. But she made the pieces hers by mixing them with vintage pieces and accessories she has bought at Goodwill. Her decorating scheme was determined by a $30, gold-vinyl dinette set she found there.  

"That mustard color is so awesome that I had to," she said. "Then it turned out that every time I went to Goodwill I'd find something in that yellow." Among her finds was a large yellow upholstered armchair she bought for $15. "I got it on half-price day, but still!" she said.

But Vessell stressed the importance of working with the space you have. Her casual style and '70s color palette works well with her older apartment's wood cabinets and trim.

"My friends say it reminds them of That '70s Show," she said

Part of this vintage charm comes from Vessell's use of old family furniture like the bookshelf that her father made in shop class. Other sentimental pieces come from her great-grandmother, who died when Vessell was a freshman in high school. She specifically left certain furniture to Vessell.

"I'd go to her house and sit in that chair and watch TV," Vessell explained. "I'd prop my feet up on and play on the stool."

She also softened her futon couch by combining a knit afghan and pillow she found at Goodwill with her great-grandmother's pillows.

Vessell says the secret to making her eclectic mix work is her unifying color scheme. 

"As long as you have a central theme in mind when you go out, things will just pop out at you," she said. "Like the mustard in that chair and the artwork. It all just fell into place."

Using thrift store finds has enabled Vessell to infuse the space with her personality, and her friends agree that her home perfectly reflects who she is. 

"When they come in they always say, 'This is so Jamie. It's just so you,'" Vessell said.

The result of her thrifty decorating is a warm home that reflects Vessell's personal style. 

"Friends always say how comfortable it is, and that's really what I want -- for people to come over and feel comfortable," she said.