My Antique Space at Curiosities Vintage Mall

A lot of you know that I have a love of antiques and vintage fashion. I have closed my Etsy shop to focus on my modern jewelry site Luxe Craving but have been craving to get back into my furniture refinishing! There is such a thrill from start to finish of any project. The thrill of finding that one amazing piece buried in boxes of junk at an estate sale, to the actual refinishing and breathing new life into something that has since been forgotten.

My co-worker Jon, had shared with me his friend was opening an Antique Mall called Curiosities. I have always wanted to have my own little vintage space and was thrilled to hear that I might actually have the opportunity to have a spot to display my finds! If you have never had the pleasure of shopping an antique mall, they are typically one large open space divided into smaller  individual dealer spaces. Each dealer has their own specialty and style so it's a great way to shop for that special one-of-a-kind piece because there is something for everyone!

For Spring, I wanted my space to have a softer, more delicate feel with a pink and pastel vignette. I can't wait to show you my Summer design, big plans!

Here are some of my photos from the grand opening!

Hope you enjoy.....

*All photos by JD of  Steele Photos

DIY Chair Reupholstering with Vintage Burlap

I purchased two lovely French Provincial chairs at auction a couple months ago.

 And when I say lovely......I wasn't seeing them for what they were but

  what these well loved pieces could be with a little revamping.

I know this style isn't for everyone, but I wanted to think outside the box with this one and

try something new!



AFTER



BEFORE



First, I started with what I thought would be the fun part, DEMO!

Turns out ripping the old materials from the chair was more work that I thought it was initially going to be.

The old fabric was faded and stained with Koolaid and who knows what........

Using pliers and a screwdriver to pop off the tacks, I was finally making headway after one hour!

I am a major weakling with hardly any arm strength, it was a total undertaking.

I primed then sprayed my chair with a high gloss blue.

The original cushioning was in great condition, so it was kept.

Plus it gave me a good guide for the French tufting, which I have never tried before.

Using cotton scraps as a liner, I then layered the vintage burlap atop and began the tufting BEFORE stapling down the material.

I thought it was awesome to reuse the pink satin brads for the tufts!

I was so excited I got "Baltimore" to line up perfectly on the front of the chair.

Dig the cute ruffle detail? I do :)

I trimmed the back of the chair with the seam of the burlap bag.

Talk about using all of your resources :)

I think this fun little accent piece would be perfect at a pretty vanity or even a fun desk chair.

Overall, this project wasn't difficult at all. It took a lot of time, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Any guesses on what color the other little chair will be?......

VIP Pickin

Yesterday, I got one of the most exciting phone calls a picker can get!

Let's start from the beginning......

A couple years ago I went to a local estate sale hosted by two lovely ladies in their 70's ( I mention this because they are the cutest little sassy cotton tops you've ever seen!) I found some wonderful pieces of vintage jewelry and tins. As I was checking out to pay for my new treasures, I asked if I could leave my name and number with them should they ever have vintage dresses and jewelry in their next sale. **I am sharing insider information with you right now** Leaving your contact info for estate sale services is a GREAT idea. Not only do they call me when they get the good stuff............but I now get to go what I like to call VIP Pickin'.

Yesterday, Shirley calls me to inform me they are hosting an estate sale this Thurs-Sat loaded with pristine vintage clothing! Being full-time, my heart was jumping with joy and also breaking at the same time. I had to figure out a way to shop the sale from the start so I wouldn't miss out on the super fabulous treasures!

So I called her back and simply asked if I could come after work and shop the sale early......

 My prayers were answered!!! Aaahhhh...lalalaaa
Let me just expand on how awesome this actually is. As much as I love estate sales, they are actually quite stressful. People are super pushy and grabby grabby. So being able to shop at my leisure and look first, is a dream.

I got home from work, grabbed my wingman (Charlie) some skilla $$ and I was off! I pulled up to a two-story 1920s home.

The first room I got to shop was loaded with racks and boxes of fun vintage dresses, coats, and super lovely nighties and slips. Everything was pristine. The dresses all had dry cleaning tags attached, and the pretty little slips looked to be brand new. I scored about 12 frilly nighties, 5 dresses and some other goodies.....

 After a one hour pick, here are some of my favorite finds!

Second Hand Decorating

After searching for the perfect pieces over the last year, I finally feel like our master bedroom is complete! As I was laying in bed last night, gazing at my "new" chandelier, I realized everything but our mattress and the curtains are major thrift scores.

A lot of people have the misconception that shopping thrift stores and yard sales must mean that you are poor and your home will reflect that. It couldn't be further from the truth!

Here is how I created my elegant little sanctuary like a thrifty pro.

This lovely piece is an early birthday gift to myself.

I've been searching for the perfect chandelier for quite some time now. We have standard height ceilings in our little home so I have to be sure and find one with a small drop.

I found her on Craigslist for only $25. It was soooooo dirty and covered in dust.  Probably hadn't been cleaned since the 1940's, but nothing a little Windex and paper towels can't clean up!

I have been packing around the filigree light halo for about 5 years,

waiting for the perfect opportunity to put it up.

I think it really makes a statement. Don't you?

Vintage bedspreads give a "bed & breakfast" feel with added ruffle bed skirt from Overstock.

The small cherry blossom oil painting on the left was a yard sale score. The elderly woman I purchased it from (only $15) said she got it an antique store back in the 40s. So who knows how old it is!?

The large one is a vintage print found at only $20

My amazing 1950s upholstered headboard has to be one of my most exciting finds this year! I got it at auction a few weeks ago. It's solid wood and has the most lovely filigree and gold leaf details.

Lamp, yard sale score $10

Side table, refurbished by me, $5

My French Country DIY Coffe Table

I recently attended a large Shabby-Chic flea market hosted by The Funky Junk Sisters. It was held at the local fairgrounds and was loaded with lovely vintage treasures from fabulous artwork, glassware, and wonderful re-purposed furniture. I was on the hunt for some old cast iron bathtub claw feet for my very own crafty project!

My Mother had scored this awesome rusty military trunk for me at auction.

I've always loved the idea of reusing these trunks as a coffee table!

Here's how I put my spin on the concept:

I masked off the handles to preserve the weathered leather. Then lightly sanded the entire piece with a sanding block and wiped free of dust before priming.

ALWAYS prime before painting.
Trust me, I used to skip this step thinking it was unnecessary.
Priming really makes a world of difference. It helps your paint color to go one more smoothly and evenly, and also helps your paint to last.
I prefer Rustoleum brand spray paint for metal pieces such as this.
A paint gun is on my birthday wish list........HUBBY, hint hint.

After two coats of primer, I then painted my trunk
with "Victorian White" Rustoleum spray paint in a satin finish.

No shabby-chic project would be complete without a little roughing up!
I took my sanding block and went to town with it. Sanding away on any areas that had hardware. I love how it makes the metal stand out and make a statement.

I was unsuccessful with  finding the claw feet at the market. So my friend and I later went to a lovely antique store where the owner helped me find something I wasn't even looking for.........curtain tie backs!
These lovely vintage brass pieces were in pristine condition with a beautiful patina. The botanical leaf-like design spoke to me and offered a French Country feel.
$24 for the set of four, I couldn't pass it up!
Hubby bent them for me with a rubber mallet to the shape I preferred.



I have a bit of an obsession with birds,
so I had to add this pretty vintage parrot vase to my table display
which I filled with cut branches from our yard.





The lovely white filigree tray was a Goodwill score at only $3.99.
I also love hunting the thrift stores for fun books.
Who doesn't need a little Victorian etiquette in their lives?



Romantically Eclectic

As some of you know, I'm a huge treasure hunter. I frequent estate auctions, yard sales and thrift stores. I love searching for the strange and unique. You know how they say it's the worst thing ever to show up to a party where another girl is wearing the same dress?........I believe visiting a friend and realizing she has the same art work hanging on her wall is WAY more upsetting.

I love a worldly, well-traveled look with a touch of whimsy. I like to call my decorating style
                                                          "Romantically Eclectic"

I've always been a "more is more" kind of girl. I've once tried a clean & chic modern look, but always felt like something was missing. Like the look wasn't complete. My friends sometimes come to me when they are stuck on how to decorate a certain space, and this saying I once heard always comes to mind......

                       "If you decorate with things you love, somehow it all comes together"




Mirrored serving tray with a shabby chic feel, HomeGoods $30



HomeGoods glass candle sconce $20
I added vintage mason jars to house scented candles. Love the chrome antlers? I thought they added a playful rustic touch! Deer shed their antlers every Fall and my Hubby loves searching for them while hiking. He has quite a large stack of them collected over them years, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate them into our decor. I primed them, then spray painted them with a liquid metal paint. Valspar from Lowe's makes a fabulous one that really looks like liquid metal!



Hand-stitched Victorian era lace table runner.



How cute are these antique crows-feet tongs? Perfect for selecting your favorite sweets! I love my vintage Fenton glass stemware. I scored an entire set at Goodwill and was told by one of my lovely subscribers, they can be quite valuable. Oohhhh how I love to hunt thrift store for amazing treasures like these!



       

This lovely bed-side dresser was an estate auction find for only $10! She didn't used to look so lovely with literally 10 coats of colored paint....from neon green, pink, and electric blue. It took me weeks to strip it down to it's natural state. Not sure why people decide to cover such beautiful natural wood.
The leaded glass window was a local yard sale purchase for only $20. I found some rustic rope at the hardware store to hang this heavy piece and covered the nail head with a crystal doorknob.

Crystal candle holder, yard sale $5
Reproduction Mercury glass candle holder TjMaxx $10
Crystal flower candle holder, yard sale 50cents!
Vintage serving tray, thrifted $3

1930s Art Deco Frank Art "brain" lamp

Antique frames make for an inexpensive wall display.