A few weekends ago, Ken and I took a break from decorating the new dining room to explore a few of our favorite local antique stores. There are still plenty of empty areas we’d love to fill in our home, and rather than buy new, we’re always fans of purchasing something with a bit of history.
Although we ultimately came home empty-handed, there were quite a few stunners we stumbled upon:
I may not know how to sew, but I can dream, yes?
Art is always a need in our home, and I’m continually switching out new pieces that rest on our art shelf. I fell hard for these vintage ads for dress patterns and sleeve detailing.
Oh, I would love to name each of these folks. I see a Harry and an Evelyn!
Along the same vein, antiqued photographs make for a really interesting collection in any space. I’ve always loved the idea of displaying photos of people I’ve never met. Call me crazy, but it’s a small reminder that even though our world is big, we’re sort of all connected in some small way.
Game time!
On a more functional note, antique games always make me smile. In this case, a wooden croquet set caught our eye not only for the perfectly aged condition of the game, but also for the rustic wooden box it came in. Two cool finds in one!
I feel like I need a child just so I can justify purchasing this toy.
Vintage typewriters are everywhere, but I’ve never seen a kid’s tin version in such a vibrant color as this one. Wouldn’t it be a lovely addition to a children’s room?
Ken is the chef in our home. What do you say, dear?
I’m no chef, but I’m always hearing they don’t make cast-iron pans quite like they used to. Regardless of the quality, we both loved the idea of displaying a large collection of vintage pans on a bare kitchen wall. The differing shapes and sizes make for such a fun statement.
Feel like clearing your head? Oh, I love a good pun.
This one’s a bit nutty, but I fell hard for this clear glass head. I’m a sucker for all sorts of busts, and I love the idea of displaying glass baubles inside this one during the holidays. Even Ken (being the Christmas elf he is) had a hard time leaving it behind.
Still regretting not snagging this pretty pillow.
And, of course, the one that got away: a re-purposed cushion from an old rice sack. I kept envisioning the pattern in our master suite, but the $50 price tag steered us away. Perhaps a textile DIY is in our future?
So there we go — a trip through our favorite antique stores!
What fun finds have you scored lately? Or is there a gem you’re still regretting leaving behind?
Tell me in the comments below.
I regret not bidding at auction on a set of antique walnut splat back dining chairs with the original needlepoint seats, something like these. They wound up going for $20 apiece. That was about 15 years ago and obviously I can't forget them.
Then, I would have put them with a table of similar style; now I'd put them with a zinc-topped modern farm table.
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The mark up from thrift store to antique store doesn't usually fit my budget. The convenience of not having to sift through a bunch of junk is a plus, though.
I'm a sucker for antique art and prints. My biggest 'I can't believe I didn't buy that' item was an ornate oval frame. It didn't fit our decor, but it was long gone when I thought to use it as a seasonal frame for a Halloween print I have.
Sigh.
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OMG your finds sound wonderful! Here's hoping we stumble upon something even better… someday!
Oh…we just threw out one of those glass heads! The old owners of our new house left it behind and although I wanted to keep it, it creeped my husband out a bit too much. We found it in a secret room (a hidden wine cellar) that we didnt even know was there when we bought the place. We opened it up and there was this head, sitting on its own on the floor, in amongst the empty wine racks. Come to think of it, that is kind of creepy.
A great recent find was a series of crystal decanters that a friend was collecting to use as centrepieces for her wedding. Wandered into our local antique store and found a whole shelf of them for $5 each! Bargain!
I was at a wedding this past summer and her colors were aqua and white. She had an old aqua typewriter, stunning, at her sign in table for guests. The color was PERFECT. I love going into older neighborhoods garage sale for great inexpensive finds. The antique stores have recognized that collectors are no longer looking for just vintage, but design accents, so I noticed over the years prices have increased. I love the cute little blue boots on the shelf below the croquet set. Great finds.
[...] Design for Mankind: Let’s Go Antiquing! [...]
Oh wow! @Marika – so jealous, but yes – I totally don't blame your husband for thinking it was creepy. (It is. Ha.)
@Elizabeth – I love typewriters as sign-in stations! Great idea!
I would guess that a Heritage camel-back sofa for $40.00 and a Bernhart break front for $200.00 would be some of my better finds. I have a 3' x 8' circa1700 piece of stained glass (three distinct pictures) I found for a couple of hundred dollars and a matching pair of Thomasville lounge chairs for $32.00 (pair)
Richard
My best find was also one I missed – it was in 1999 and we were temporarily livng in Pennsylvania. Since it was temporary, we only had 1 vehicle and I took my husband to work every day. I'd usually check the Salvation Army store every other day just to see what they had. On one of my "checking" days I found a cherry dining room set (table, 8 chairs, hutch and buffet!!!) they had gotten in and sold the day before for $300!!! I'm heartbroken to this day!
My most recent Thrift shop find was a pair of Cambridge pink glass candlesticks. Got them at the local G.W. Store for $10.00 (I didn’t know what they were so I almost passed) I researched and found a pair had just sold on the internet for $495.00. I love junking!!!
I've found lots of great items at thrift stores – my favorites are St. Vincent DePaul and Habitat for Humanity. My favorite things are dishes, glassware, art glass and vintage ash trays (and I'm a nonsmoker). Have a suggestion about the rice sack – you may want to try an ethnic restaurant that buys large quanties of rice. They may sell you an empty bag and you can make your own pillow. A few years ago, I bought several burlap coffee bags from a local roaster – cost almost nothing.
GREAT FIND: Vintage Irish porcelain basket (small) for $12.00, later appraised for up to $300.00.
Vintage (1920's) nine cameo bracelet for $Euro. Don't care about current
value….. I LOVE it!
GREAT LOSS: A Herman Miller / Eames replica (???) chair in / tan (leather / faux). By the time I'd
justified the purchase to myself, it was gone and I was left wondering?
I saw a metal silver frame that I just loved, and even though the flower print looked strange, it was only $3.00 so I bought it. When I decided to empty the frame, I looked at an embossed signature and then turned on the back and there was an ink signature with the name A. Koetsier and the date, and it said it was an original radiograph of a daisy. I looked it up online and found an e-mail address for him, and found that he has such lovely work and sold this one at a craft fair somewhere in Florida and I happened to be the lucky thrift shop finder. He said they sell for $200.00. I saw a print the other day in Hobby Lobby and it was $17.00. It was of a single tulip, as I remember. I love the picture and can't do without it now!
signed and numbered original framed with papers wren paintings at goodwill store priceless!!!!!! gave $10.00 for them. Linda
I was at a restore and found a side board with great lines. Very well made with classic square feet and dove tailed drawers. The finish was scarey though. My friend wondered why I would even look at that. I talked them down to $70 and took it home. I sanded the top( which is about 2 inches thick) and found a beautiful reddish wood(possibly cherry) which I finished to a soft sheen and painted the rest black. While visiting, my friend asked whatever happened to that piece I had bought from the restore. I told her she was standing next to it. She couldn't believe it as it really stands out as one of a kind now!
I found a waterfall buffet for $45. Of course, that was around 8 years ago, but still…I am still in awe that I debated the purchase! We use it for storage in our living room- beautiful, dark cherry wood. Got it at Vincent DePaul. One of the best though has to be an old television cabinet. Dark wood as well, some scratches but who cares- paid a whole $2 for it at a yard sale. It is in my dining room, used for storage and as a side serving table.
I found a charming wall clock that strikes on the hour and half hour . Its the type of clock that looks like an antique with a glass door that you have to open to wind it up; with a beautiful pendulum Its large enough that it makes a real statement on the wall. It is just beautiful but it doesn't keep perfect time. It loses a few minutes everyday. But for someone that is never on time anyway, it suits me just fine. Oh, I forgot to mention this…….I got it for $5.00 at a huge yard sale.
This past weekend my husband and I attended an auction and I picked up a settee from about 1940s, for $30. I can’t wait to have it upholstered.
I rarely shop retail. Thrift store prices are too good! I've found a few very elegant, fully-lined cocktail dresses. The last dress I bought was only $2.00 and I always receive compliments about it.
I purchased a couch for one dollar at an estate auction. It looks brand new and it is also a sleeper sofa to boot!
Every thing I own comes from thrift stores, yards sales, hand me downs. I remembered owning one of those kid typewritters. I have so many finds I'm not sure what my fave is. I paid $3 for a lazy boy rocker recliner that I like cause it still rocks when it is reclined. Hung watering cans of all sizes on all the curtain rods for toppers above the mini blinds. Have a tractor seat welded to a manuer spreader chain and a disc.
My favorite find was in a $3.00 bag of jewelry. It was a Gold Chain that has has a pair of retro looking eyeglasses hanging on it. The place where then lens would be is covered in crystals. Took out a magnifying glass and found the Swarovski Swan stamped in the frame of the glasses. Don't know the value, but I do know it was a very good buy!!
Small red leather barrell chair that swivels…..53.00…Vintage Ikea SideBoard, 4 bookshelves, coffee table , round dining table and 4 chairs..400.00,……best find was all wood high end retro bedroom furniture put out to curb……had a friend paint it all ..gorgeous…wish we could post pics here!
I have been purchasing things at estate sales, auctions, and thrift stores for as long as I can remember. It is all about the thrill of the hunt. I purchased a Currier stone lithograph with original walnut and gold-leaf frame dated 1847 before it was Currier and Ives at an estate sale for approximately $10, valued at more than $8,000 to $10,000. I found a hand-carved oak ice box for approximately $35 that I have been offered more than $1,000 for, a beautiful 500 pound hard-wood butcher block table for $100 that I use as an island in the kitchen that is priceless, and a beautiful 6' primitive pie safe with tin-punched inserts in the doors for $40 that I keep my cook books in. I also collect dove-tailed copper pieces – from bowls to apple butter kettles that have all been found at sales for next to nothing. Sometimes, it pays to be in the right place at the right time.
Several years ago I went to a little shop here in Mobile, Al. I saw this old silver round holder that had small bottles in it along with small jam servers and spoons.. its hard to explain.. I could’nt resist it at $2.00 and bought it.. even tho I had no idear what all the small bottles were for… I showed it to several people and before I know it I had several offers for it.. I ended up selling it for $350.00 to someone that was going to take good care of it and wanted mit real bad for her home.. she seem to know what it was…lol.. Sometimes I wish I hadnt sold it but at the time The money came in at the right time…
I am an avid camera collector and concentrate on the rarest Kodak cameras. In 1978 Kodak and Coke issued a Coke Happy Times Instant camera. Only 25000 were made and most were returned to Kodak and destroyed when Polaroid sued over patent infringements. The current camera catalogs list the camera @ $125-200, I had offered a coke collector $150 for one but no sale, collector said too rare to part with. One day my wife came in and said " I was at the thrift store and saw this I don't know if you are interested but it was different so I bought it". It was a Happy Times Instant, marked 79 cents. Now that we have ebay I see them for $50.
wow, I just don't where to begin. My husband and I are avid scroungers. We've been going to auctions for years and we hardly ever buy anything at a retail store. Thrift is our way of life! We've gotten a brand new sleeper sofa and love seat for $300.00. Two club chairs and matching ottoman almost brand new at auction for $35.00. Boat motors for $1.00, glassware, chandeliers, I could go on and on! The best was our auction cat Zippy, a beautiful Tabby they were giving away and I got him!
I walked through the door of St. Vinnies and right in front of me was a dining table covered with Bing & Grondahl porcelain. It is the Hartman design and I recognized it immediately. I asked how much it cost and was told 59 cents each! But, they actually gave me the whole works for $15. The pattern is still available and a cup and saucer alone is around $75 or more. I cherish it and have it on display in my new kitchen and dining room.
I found a nice dining room table at a thrift store. While checking it out underneath a sticker was on it." Pottery Barn made in Italy!" Beautiful solid wood table needs a little refinishing. 75.00 !! I love thrifting!!:D
I would have to say, I have 2 but one I found at a garage sale – which was my $10 desk at least so I thought come to find out when I tried to load it that it had an antique sewing machine from the late 1800s made out of cast iron. My second one was a find really, I was leaving work to go grab lunch when I saw a chair lying on the side of the road, stopped and picked it up. Had some minor scratches and had to fix a couple of the straps underneath the seat but it was free! Found out later that it was an antique chair. Now those were a couple of my favorite bargins.
omg you guys are pro antiquers!!! i love hearing about your amazing finds!
I have so many things I've collected since 1990 when I visited New England for the very first time! Amazing silver spoons, a silver clam shell purse (from my trip to Hawaii), and most recently here in SoCali, a pristine cigarette box for under $3! I also found incredible antique door handles made for a castle for under $25,00! I wish we could post pics here too leslie!
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I'm addicted!! Love, Love to shop thrift stores!! Most recent great find were a pair of 31" Stiffel lamps looks like brushed nickel . They were $9.99 each and they were on a half off day so for about $10.00 I got them even though the bottom of one of them needed the weight inside glued back into place which was totally easy and worth it! They're beautiful! Thanks,Kat