
This last week I've been doing a post Christmas tidy up and getting back to pre-Christmas order - something I find both slightly depressing (putting alway away the lovely Christmas decorations until next year) and also uplifting (an opportunity for a good clean and rearrange). While doing this I've been admiring my favourite little corners and displays and thinking what I'd like to do this year at home. We have a bit of an eclectic mixture in our house - brand new (I am a big Laura Ashley sales fan), hand me downs from when my boyfriend (now husband) and I first moved in together 20 plus years ago, and vintage. The vintage items are fairly new additions but are definitely my favourites.
And why? Because they are unique or unusual, there may be more of them about but they're cetainly not mass made like furniture is today. Building little collections of vintage glassware or ceramics is great. Some people might have something similar but your own collection and the way you display them will be unique. The nice thing about curating a little collection is that you can create your own theme - it might be a particular maker or period you're after, or it could just be based around a certain colour or pattern. For example I started collecting majolica plates with birds on them, I'm also building a collection of milk and jadeite glass following a trip to New England last year.
I'm also always on the look out for adding to my vintage cocktail cabinet. Another fairly newish buy to me. Reproductions of these brilliant pieces of furntiture are becoming ever more popular, but they're not cheap. I think mine is a 1930s one, made from walnut. I picked it up for abut £100 18 months ago, and yes it does have a couple of marks but that all adds to its charm, and it's way cheaper than getting a brand new one. It is now filled with my cherry B and Babycham glasses but I'm also adding other vintage glassware all the time. I just need to find some nice glass cocktail sticks - I've sold some in the past, and still regretting it!
Mirrors are a great way to add some vintage charm to your home. I really love the frameless, bevelled art deco and mid century mirrors. I fulfilled a number of requests from customers for these in recent months, but managed to keep one back for our newly decorated front room. I also love a vintage chair and am building up a lovely collection which are spread about the house - Edwardian occassional chairs, victorian nursing chairs, parker knoll armchairs - I've got them all! I have a very good friend who is an upholstery and she brings these lovely pieces back to life. Let me know if you want her details...
Anyway I hope this gives you a little inspiration to think about buying vintage in 2017, either for the first time or to add to your ever growing collection! Please post any photos of 2017 vintage purchases - I'd love to see them!