My fascination with antiques began at age 18. An antiques shop opened in our small town of Baker, FL. Until then, I thought of antiques as fancy delicate things that were reserved only for the rich. I entered Daisy’s Antiques not knowing what to expect but was instantly fascinated by the variety of merchandise with some surprisingly affordable items. I purchased a single teacup and saucer and felt like I’d been on a treasure hunt. My love of treasure hunting continued to blossom as I moved to the Atlanta area after college. I had read about Scott’s Antique Market in Martha Stewart Living and decided to explore it one weekend. The vast assortment of furniture, trinkets and more transported me to another realm. My budget was limited, so I did not walk away with a treasure, but the experience made me feel rich. I would go on to spend hours of my Saturdays wandering through metro Atlanta antique malls. I usually only walked away with small items – French porcelain teacups, a pewter bowl, a vintage café sign. Each piece gave my first home a sense of character I couldn’t find in Target, Walmart or Rooms To Go.
Since that time, I’ve grown to love flipping furniture along with antiquing. I expanded my treasure hunts to include Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, auctions and thrift stores. A refined eye can score some amazing items at better than new prices. What I have come to appreciate most is the quality of antique and vintage furniture and décor compared with the mass-produced fare made in China. Some of my favorite finds include a Carver’s Guild mirror that adorns my living room mantle (pictured), a set of 8 Theodore Alexander Trellis dining chairs and a full suite of Lloyd Flanders patio furniture. I recovered the seats on the chairs and ordered new slipcovers for the patio furniture. These items combined would retail for somewhere north of $20,000, yet I paid only $1,500 including the cost of updating. It gives my home a luxe look, and only I (and you readers) know that I didn’t spend a fortune!
The impact of purchasing antique and vintage merchandise extends far beyond saving money. It saves mega tons of furniture, décor, textiles, etc from ending up in landfills. Buying from estate sales and auctions helps families in transition after the loss of a loved one. It supports local small businesses and crafts people who source and flip these pieces. I also find that many of the items I buy were made in the USA which appeals to my patriotic self. There really is no downside, so, if you think the room of your dreams is out of your budget, go on a treasure hunt. I promise you will not be disappointed!
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