Shopping for Vintage Pieces
When I mention antiquing, what goes through your mind? Do you imagine Great Grandmother’s doilies? Relics from trends gone wrong? Maybe a collection of creepy dolls. Yes, I consistently see all of that. You have to be willing to sort through a myriad of interesting and extremely weird items but the gems that you discover are well worth the time and effort. Some of you are obsessed with antiques and you know just what I’m talking about. I have a few friends who are the real experts on this topic and it’s such an education every time I shop with them!
I’m a firm believer that every home needs some pieces from the past. Whether the style is Mid-Century Mod, Scandinavian, French Country… if you furnish and decorate with only newly fabricated items, there’s a very good chance that it won’t quite feel like “home.” At the same time, if everything is old then it can surely feel outdated. A touch of the old mixed in with the new creates a beautiful and comforting balance.
Tennessee has so many great antique stores. One of the largest and most popular is Nashville’s GasLamp Antiques (and GasLamp Too). The following finds were discovered there in a two-hour slow stroll down the aisles.
This chest (above) would be gorgeous in an entryway, a guest room or in a dining room storing linens, silver and dishware. Good antique stores have wood furniture with incredible quality and craftsmanship. Even if there’s a nick or a scratch here and there, the level of style, beauty and character that vintage furniture provides is, in my opinion, head and shoulders above many newly manufactured pieces.
Sometimes you can find solid furniture that’s priced miraculously low. Other times you might stare at the tag for a while, deciding whether or not to take out a home loan for the one-of-a-kind 19th century masterpiece. Sadly, my answer to that is always no but in the right home, for the right person with the right budget, that baby is going to sing.
A China hutch with a timeless, distinguished detail on the glass doors – yes, please. You might be surprised that I wouldn’t necessarily choose a traditional home for this cabinet. I actually think it would provide just the right amount of warmth and texture in a more contemporary home with all white walls.
As for décor, choosing the right pottery with a good amount of patina is a win every time. It can be paired with pretty much anything, in any room and it adds a natural elegance to every design style.
A collection of aged books with neutral bindings is perfect for dressing up a shelf or tabletop and they’re sure to add a bit of sophistication as well. All the better if the subject matter is something unique. I found a book from 1947 titled Elements of Rural Sociology, printed upside-down mind you. The initial draw was purely aesthetic but then that was overshadowed by the appeal of its maps, statistics and commentary on a piece of our nation’s history.
Colorful, ornate lamps and stoneware are stunning with the right backdrop. I would replace the lamp shade with something smaller and creamier, and I think it would look perfect on the chest at the start of this post. I can see it paired with a small vase of white hydrangeas, in front of a deep navy wall with just the right framed artwork. The iconic blue and white porcelain (above, right) goes back centuries as a design staple. It will always remind me of my own grandma’s collection, accompanied by a few little Dutch klompen, so it warms my heart just as much as it pleases my eye.
Finally, antique shops are often the best places to find unique carvings and artifacts. These make a bold statement while having an understated elegance. If you can use objects from your own travels as décor that’s wonderful, but it’s also fun to find something with an unknown history and give it a new place to dwell.
Thanks for reading! I hope your next antique hunt is a successful one. If you’re planning a project or decorating a home in middle TN and would like some design guidance, please reach out! I’d be honored to serve you.
