There’s no denying, vintage or antique pieces can set the tone of an entire space. These pieces tell stories and start conversations. I have to say, hunting for beautiful, one off pieces, may be my favorite aspect of this business. I have spent countless hours searching antique shops, scouring flea markets and shopping secondhand. Not to mention the online marketplaces that are now excellent resources for buying vintage and pre-loved. Here are a few of my go-to tips that always deliver.

SHAPE, SHAPE, SHAPE

There are certain details of unique pieces that tend to remain the same time after time. There is undoubtedly one trait that always catches my eye and that is shape. One of my most beloved pieces is a beautifully carved birch tree trunk that stands about four feet tall that sits next to my bathtub. I hadn’t seen anything quite like it and that’s what I loved the most. If there is a piece you are looking for, you can train your eye to see traits of what you’re looking for, height, weight, shape, color or material. Trust me, you will start to see more and more of what you’re searching for when it’s broken down into these categories. The chair below I found at a local secondhand shop and immediately noticed her shape. She was covered in a yellowish, dingy paint that had started to chip off. I sanded down the entire chair, gave her a fresh coat of paint and reupholstered the seat with a lovely cream boucle. The uniqueness of the tall back and the cutout details catches my eye whenever I walk past.

BE CONSISTENT

I get asked quite a bit, “How do you find these pieces?”. I look often, and by often I mean weekly, sometimes even daily. There are even weeks in which I will visit the same shop twice. The inventory changes so rapidly that consistency is key. You may go weeks on end at the same shop or thrift store and not find anything that catches your eye, that’s ok, keep going. If there is one take away from this writing it would be, consistency is key. You will become frustrated at some point and want to throw in the towel. Keep going. If you have a hard time getting out often, you can always scour Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, ebay and other online auctions you can shop right from home. Remember that the hunt is often times the most fun part. This should be something you enjoy doing and when you come across a piece you love it makes all the trips you left empty handed, all the more worthwhile.

THE MORE CHAOTIC THE BETTER

I have found this tip is often shared among many thriting enthusiasts. The more junk to sift through the better the outcome. Don’t ask me why but I love searching through an old dingy garage or clearance racks stuffed to the brim. The more disorganized the better! This tip applies to estate sales a great deal. You can visit EstateSales.Net to find estate sales in your area (just search by your zip code), this allows you to view some of the photos of sales prior. I tend to look for sales that have a ton of ‘stuff’. You will also be able to obtain all the information on sales via the site such as starting time and which form of payment is accepted. You will be able to tell immediately if the person was a collector and their style of collection.

I am also a fan of stopping by antique stores whenever I have the chance. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a high-end antique store, BUT, I don’t love paying high-end prices. If I can find an antique store on the side of the road that looks like it may be unsafe to enter, I’m goin in! Those spots are the best and you may even be able to negotiate prices.

LOOK OUTSIDE

Each time I go to an estate sale I look outside first, ALWAYS. I love the outdoors and during the summer months here in Michigan you will find me outside. To all my michiganders, you know how fleeting summer can be around these parts! I find a great deal of inspiration in nature, my painting reflects how I interpret nature and I find being closer to nature simply makes me happy. With that being said, I look for objects or pieces that have an organic feel to them and have been aged by nature. I have found some very unique sculptures and garden pieces outdoor at estate sales. I love finding items that have natural patina due to the time spent outdoors. I find it brings such a uniqueness and an interesting quality to my home and outdoor space. This is also where I find large pieces that have been moved outside to free up walking traffic at an indoor estate sale. Concrete work and vintage planters are a few of my favorite finds when scouring a backyard at an estate sale. You can sometimes come across really beautiful planters and urns that have been aged quite nicely. This pieces can get heavy so bring something with you to help carry.

I hope these tips help during your next vintage or thrifting trip!

xxLH