10 Shopping Secrets From a Stylist
Since I’m a vintage girl (I was made in 1979 to be exact), I shop a lot at antique malls, flea markets and thrift stores. I’ve been doing it since I could shove my first silver-plated fiddleback spoon in my mouth, and I’m pretty sure my first word was “ironstone,” so the dos and don’ts of second-hand shopping are second nature to me. I know thrifting and flea-marketing can be overwhelming (and yes, there is a lot of crap out there) so I’ve come up with some tips (or shall I say secrets) that will help you get a vintage collected look, without all the junk.
1. Start early and shop BIG first. Don’t go into the stalls or booths unless a BIG piece of furniture grabs your eye. All the best furniture gets bought first, mainly by dealers/store owners, so if you take your time and meander slowly, all the best pieces at the best prices will have been snatched up. I literally race through, like a crazy person at 8am, because there is nothing worse (ok, there are probably worse things) than seeing the perfect dresser, finding out it was $40 but was just SOLD. Doh!
2. Think small SECOND. After you go around once, make your way back through to look for smalls (a generic word I use for anything, well, small), i.e. lamps, vases, objects, art, flatware, books, etc. These items are a bit more common, less desired and aren’t snatched up by dealers as fast. Etsy or eBay are also good sources because shipping is more affordable on smalls than furniture.
3. Focus. Focus. Focus. It will be physically impossible for you to look at every single thing at a flea market. Come with a short list of NEEDS and reference them constantly. Last weekend for instance, I went looking only for an iron candle chandelier, a floor lamp and wooded farm chairs. Of course I found other things, but those were the three things I NEEDED and I had to keep reminding myself of them, or else I would get caught up looking at the vintage measuring cups that somehow I have convinced myself will make my next baking party so much more fun. (Hey, Emily you don’t bake! Put the measuring cups down!) When I was shopping at the flea market for Ian I knew I needed maps, objects for the shelves, frames for artwork and barware, and that is what I looked for. Focus.
4. When it comes to “smalls” think “big.” As much as I love my miniature dollhouse fly swatter collection (It truly is amazing. They are these teeny wire sculptures that some lovely grandma rendered with such care and perfection for her granddaughter 60 years ago), in general I would recommend staying away from the bitsy-er things. Choose instead more substantial items that can be clustered with others or live on their own. If you already have a lot of bulbous-shaped objects for your display shelf, look for something cylindrical or low and wide. A contrast in shapes and scale will help with balance and will look intentional.
5. When thinking small, the trick is to displaying or framing them together. Many small things styled together can have the same impact as one large thing. Spreading out the collection will look cluttered and unintentional and then they become tchockes, which in many circles (especially with my husband) is a four-letter word. You don’t need to collect the world. Pick a few things you are always drawn to and make the best collection you can.
6. Color. Yes, you should keep your color palette in mind while shopping, but don’t worry about matching colors exactly. In my display shelf, I have a few tones of light blues, white, creams, woods and then, oops, look there’s a big pop of indigo up top. And I love it. It wasn’t intentional, but when I saw the vessel in that color for $10, I thought, “It’s in the same family. I can make it work.” Then I balanced it with a vintage Japanese plate leaning against the back on the bottom. Let your color story evolve as you collect your pieces and it will add character and interest to your home.
7. Anything can be art. Frame it or don’t. Yep, you heard me. It could be an old map, an old love letter, a silhouette, a collection of antique spoons, student artwork, industrial letters or stencils, even random portraits or vintage photographs of people you don’t know. Some people have problems with this last one, but I find other people’s lives and histories endlessly fascinating. I’m not talking weird glamour shots from the ’80s, I mean photos from the ’30s of a decked out family picnicking at the beach with an original Ford in the background or a late ’60s gathering of hippies at a party. You can find something interesting and provocative in moments from the past, even if it has nothing to do with your own.
8. Mix and match. The great thing about vintage is there is a reason it’s lasted so long – things are well-made and sturdy. But the drawback is that it’s harder to find sets of some things, for instance, barware. I was lucky enough to find six ’60s blue pop glasses for Ian’s bar, but I didn’t hesitate to mix it with the Moroccan tea glasses and bring back in a few of the FDR scotch glasses. As great as matching sets can be, nothing says a party like not caring about matching glassware.
9. As long as it holds water, it is a vase in my book. Jars are vases, teacups are vases, cafe au lait bowls can be vases. So when shopping at flea markets/thrift stores, look for anything that can hold even a flower or a fern leaf. I used vintage mason jars and pharmacy jars for Ian, and they worked with his antique feel, while having a simple silhouette. You don’t always have to have cut crystal to feel antique and old.
10. Anything can be reupholstered. Well, not a shoe or a tree, although I suppose it could be, but you know what I mean. The wingback I got for Ian was $50 and U.G.L.Y. But since it was so cheap and had great bones, shape and scale, I knew it was worth the investment to reupholster it for $350. Same with the bench in Ian’s bedroom, which was originally $70. It took two yards of fabric and a very quick reupholstering job of $100. Now, both pieces have so much more integrity and character than a new piece that would cost twice as much at a big box store.
Consider yourself 10 steps ahead of everyone else at the flea market or thrift store this weekend. For more design inspiration, check out my blog, The Brass Petal.
Emily, it was GREAT! I loved every minute of your show and can't wait to see more. I knew you will do good, but you did AWESOME!
)
And I love your tips, especially about shopping big first and keeping the focus on. duh!
I loved that you did the whole house and not just one room. I hate it when a design show focuses on only one room and the viewer (me!) is left to ponder, "hmmm, I wonder what the rest of the house looks like?",
"will the brand-spanking-newly-designed-room fit in with the rest of the house, or stick out like a sore thumb because it is so different?", "how does someone go about decorating a whole house so that it all feels cohesive?"…."I'm hungry, I wonder if I have enough time during the commercial break to make a grilled cheese sandwich?"
Anyway, congrats Emily! I can't wait to see more of you on HGTV!!!!
SOOOOO, loving the concept of the show…as well as Emily. The girl has got it! Finally, there is a much needed fresh perspective that is being represented through Emily and her show. Well done Em!
PLEASE GIVE HER SOME STYLE IN HER CLOTHING I cannot watch her in the dress and shoes she has on !!!!!! Also, she is going to need some dental work.
Your crazy. She is classic and ABSOLUTELY georgeous.
Obviously you need glasses!! She is a truely talented original.
You must be country KAAP because you are backwards. She looks great and even if you don't like her style who cares? Personal style adds character and charm. You probably have no personality and dress like someone tells you to. And please for the love of God don't write your name (or whatever it is) in all caps. It makes you seem illiterate. Emily is a fabulous designer and seems to have a great personality, which is more than I can say for you. RUDE!
I swear if this doesn't get picked up by HGTV, I will DIE. DIE!!! I love Emily's style oh so much. I can't wait to see more!
the layering idea was so fun! it was great to see it broken down where you could follow the design mix! so fun, awesome job girl!
Watching the show as I type . . . I wasn't a faithful Design Star watcher but I I LOVE this show, Emily, and her style! Can't wait to see what Emily brings us in te future!
You were my pick for Design Star and I just finished watching Secrets from a Stylist and was NOT disappointed! Bravo! Loved it. What a refreshing new approach. It was so helpful seeing your process from how you determined your client's style to how you shopped and all the tips. You gave lots of details and they were easy to understand and this is the first time I have watched a design show and totally felt like I learned something I could apply to my own home. You were so natural and fun to watch and your designs – every one of them – although personally I loved the first livingroom, the FDR chic, the best were great. The finished rooms were beautiful, livable and didn't shriek designer. I can hardly wait to see the next show.
I just watched the show. As a retired professor of performance, i.e. speech, theatre, and television performance, I would have given this show at the best a "C." She talks to fast and her comments about styles is verying confusing. Her delivery is stift and does not achieve an effective communication style. I do enjoy watching most of the show on this network but will not watch this again. Decorating the room one way and then changing it completely–who pays for all of this? Surely not the person who lives in this house. What a waste of money and bad style decisions.
I see you haven't lost your love for the dramatic!
I loved the show and LOVE that Emily comes across as very REAL . . . not playing a part. I will be watching every week she is on HGTV.
I noticed that she used a lot of the items from the first look of the living room throughout the four rooms for the final showing. I thought it was good to see how one can buy accessories that one loves and have it work in various rooms if the style is consistent. To me, that is not a complete waste of money.
I think for a first show it was good- I do hope with experience and some coaching her delivery will improve. David B was very rugged at first- I seem to remember HGTV worked with him before he aired his first show.
I'll watch it again.
A professor worth his salt wouldn't make so many basic spelling and grammar errors as were made in the post above.
The fact that you like the rest of what's on HGTV is telling. Many of the shows run at a snail's pace, with hosts talking as if they are working with children. This leads those of us with even basic design knowledge to lose interest (and most certainly to never, ever watch a repeat). The pace and style of this show keeps the viewer's interest and begs for another viewing. That's great of us, as HGTV is apt to rerun the show, and great of HGTV, which doesn't want to lose viewers.
Ron, are you retired or were you asked to leave? 'Cause I'm asking you now. Thanks.
As a retired editor, I ask you, PLEASE sir, learn to spell. How can you critique someone else when you don't even use the correct form of "too?" And, "comments is…. confusing?" Please.
Poseur.
For a retired professor, I find your comments less than professional. I find them ungrammatical and misspelled and insignificant.
Thanks for sharing, Ron.
my thoughts exactly!
Another hater. Not everyone, but obviously you, can jump right into television presenting and be perfect the first time. Give her a chance and I predict her show will be all polished like a piece of new silver! Her personality is real, not faked, and her tips are refreshingly easy to understand and apply. Of course, I wouldn't redo a room and then change it completely (which, by the way, she did not – just mixed it with a different style), but it was a very effective way to demonstrate how the finished room came about. Most of us have vintage or even old things in our homes and have no clue how to incorporate them. Bravo, Emily, for a lovely show and a superb start to a stellar television career!!!
I was going to add exactly what you have already posted.
I will not watch again.
For the first time since watching Design Star, I switched channels.
So many talented designers and they gave us a novice.
Really? Each thought is a new paragraph?! Learn how to write before you post a dumb comment like this. Clearly you have no taste. Go back to watching Gossip Girl, or whatever crap you are drawn to.
I have to agree with the waste regarding designing a room 3 times to get the right effect. I mean whatever happened to drawing? If you can't draw use some computer software? I guess she was trying to show us her process. ALL OF IT. Reminds me of people who put every detail of their life and decisions on FB or Twitter.
Ron, your comment "What a waste of money and bad style decisions" indicates that you missed the whole point of the show. Emily was teaching how to layer both big and small items in a room. All three versions were charming. My favorite was the vintage FDR because I like antiques.
I really enjoyed the show! What stood out to me, besides the recognition that most of us have more than one preferred style, is how good Emily is at teaching – she really has a knack for explaining her design approach. It's one of the few shows where I feel like I am learning valuable information that I can use. I hope HGTV keeps the show.