Budget Decorator: 12 Vintage Finds to Take Home This Spring
Digging for treasures at a major flea market or antiques honest could be loads of fun, but it can also be just plain overwhelming. I know I get frustrated when, after hours of walking the grounds, I leave with nothing to show for it. The key to getting a fantastic day thrifting would be to come armed with a strategy. Keep dimensions of your area and a little tape measure on your bag; understand your own budget; bring money, a wagon or handcart (for hauling back your loot); also have a list of certain things to keep an eye out for.
One of the next 12 finds will be ideal for sprucing up your house for spring. Happy hunting!
Dreamy Whites
1. Milk bottle holders. These metallic carriers have been used to transfer glass bottles of milk to the door for home delivery. Use yours to corral vases for a centerpiece or bag bundles of flatware and napkins outside for an al fresco meal.
Julie Ranee Photography
2. Jadeite. The light mint green of jadeite glassware shouts spring. Jadeite was mass produced by glassware companies throughout the Depression as an inexpensive alternative to pricier dishes and kitchenware. Produced from the early 19th century through today, jadeite can vary widely in cost. Midcentury pieces from well-known makers like Fire King are most common and have the benefit of being heat resistant.
Theresa Fine
3. Quilts. Nothing says relaxation like a handmade quilt, worn soft in the time, draped over the mattress or a favorite armchair. Prices can vary wildly, from around $50 to thousands of dollars, depending on the quality of condition, artistry, color and work. More than providing heat, quilts bring a decorative element to any space, whether stacked high in a cabinet or displayed on a wall.
Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
4. Demijohns. These large glass vessels, often blue or greenish in color, were once used to transport oil, wine and other fluids. Use yours to exhibit gorgeous spring branches or simply to add a bit of color to a vacant corner.
Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home
5. Pressed flowers. Sure, you can press your own flowers and frame thembut there is something romantic about discovering pressed blossoms from the following time. Start looking for specimens with handwritten details imagining that the plant name or location of origin.
6. Vintage farm hints. Add a wee bit of the nation to your porch or shed with enchanting signage. There are numerous people painting signs to appear old, which is magical too — just make sure to ask that you understand what you are paying for.
Justine Hand
7. Farmhouse cabinets. Primitive wooden cabinets and pie safes add a hot, handmade touch to almost any room in the home. Use one to store linens in the dining area, arrange mail and clothes in the mudroom, or deliver additional storage to your kitchen.
Kelley & Company Home
8. Canisters, tins and storage jars. Glass jars with metal tops, colorful cookie and tea tins, and enamelware canisters all make excellent storage containers for pantry essentials. The bonus, of course, is they are quite enough to leave out on screen.
Kate Jackson Design
9. Wicker furniture. Lighten your living space or add new furnishings to your porch with vintage wicker chairs, love seats and tables. Be sure to thoroughly inspect (and sit in) furniture before buying to make sure it is in good condition, as older wicker can develop weak spots.
Kailey J. Flynn Photography
10. Vintage postcards. Fun, colorful and frequently cheap, vintage postcards are a great way to create an art wall on a very small budget. For the most visual impact, consider visiting a theme, such as beach towns, national parks or parks from a certain era.
Aiken House & Gardens
11. Metal furniture. Vintage café tables, chairs and chairs which have seen years of use develop a patina that only enriches their personality. Scoop some up to supply your garden, porch or patio. And what should you see something you love with a little too much patina? You can always revamp it with a coat of outside metallic paint, like Rust-Oleum — just make sure you talk the seller down a little for your trouble.
Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates
12. Urns, garden art and planters. An old kettle has a lot more personality, and frequently a more graceful silhouette, compared to same-old same-old pots stocked by the major home improvement stores. Stately urns, vintage terra-cotta baskets and jars, and handmade pottery can always be useful in the garden or in the home. Also keep an eye out for odd one-offs — castoff mirrors, metal trellises and figurines can take your garden from ho-hum to spectacular.
Tell us: Where do you want to go thrifting? Would you rather have antiques shops, antique shops, flea markets or markets? Share links to your places!