Vintage is Just a Cool Word for Old
I read somewhere that vintage these days can mean "anything that was purchased less than 24 hours ago, is dirty and worn, or looks like it might be old if you don't know anything about history and squint really hard". Designing a space with a vintage (aka old) piece can be challenging, but what a difference it makes to add something with a little history. Most of us have painted a table or chair, but if DIY isn't for you, there are tons of great resources out there to score some great vintage pieces without having to lift a paintbrush. CHAIRISH is my newest go to place for everything vintage. Their web site is super easy to navigate and the photo quality is excellent. I actually had the pleasure of meeting the owners at the Design Bloggers Conference in Atlanta earlier this year. They sell everything from accessories, to lighting to furniture. Here's one of my favorite finds they are currently selling...
ETSY has been a favorite place of mine for many years. I've bought things for clients, party supplies and gifts on this site. As it's grown, it does take a little longer to find something specific, but don't give up. There are some great pieces waiting for you there...
EBAY has been the world's shopping place for a long time and there are still some unique vendors there selling one of a kind pieces. Just be careful and only buy from reputable dealers. Read the reviews and descriptions very carefully. I was recently searching for a unique lamp for Wes' bedroom and ran across this. Not for me, but loved it for a little boy's room and it's only $20.00!
Finally, you can search locally for those great vintage pieces. Thrift shops, antique stores, garage sales and CRAIGSLIST are treasure troves for that special piece. Another word of advice is don't ever meet someone alone, especially at their home. Find a public place or take someone with you. I was lucky enough to find an old desk for Wes' room last summer on Craigslist and had my faux painter do a metallic finish on it for me. It turned out great and I promise to share photos once I finish his room - before he goes to college! Here is a vintage patio set I recently found on Craigslist...
I'm going to leave you with one last photo as proof that a vintage piece can make a difference in a space. My client found this light, while shopping antique stores on vacation, and it added so much character to her bathroom. You can see more vintage finds we used at Summer Duck on a previous blog post.
Thanks for Reading,
Jennifer