ASK: MAD ABOUT THE HOUSE
GOT A DECORATING DILEMMA? KATE WATSON-SMYTH, RED’S NEW COLUMNIST AND INTERIORS EXPERT, SHARES HER WISDOM
Red’s interiors columnist Kate Watson-smyth answers your decorating dilemmas
Q Where can I buy vintage furniture? And where are there bargains to be had?
A Just as fashion is cyclical, furniture trends work their way back around. In the 1990s, no one wanted so-called ‘brown’ or antique furniture, but with current (welcome) moves towards sustainability, vintage is making a comeback. We may have to content ourselves with window shopping for now, but when life returns to normal, whether you splurge on mid-century antiques or pick up a cheap pine table you can paint, it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve to secure a good deal.
If you’re shopping online, be specific about search terms. If you want six chairs, say so, or you’ll have to wade through pages offering two or four. Tick as many boxes relating to period, material and type of furniture as you can. And, on ebay, tick the ‘used’ and ‘original’ boxes if you don’t want to be deluged with ‘vintage-style’ items. Technically, antique means more than 100 years old and vintage is anything over 20, but not everyone abides by that.
Don’t be afraid to have a chat with the seller. Many own bricks-and-mortar shops as well, and if they don’t have what you’re looking for, they may be able to source it. They may also take a cheeky offer if you show interest and appreciation for their stock.
You could also try running a search with spelling errors. There’s a website, fatfingers.co.uk, that will show you the most common spelling mistakes. We all make them, and it would be galling to miss out on a really good price for an Eames chair because you didn’t check ‘Eemes’.
If you’re looking for something specific, set up ebay and Google alerts. If you aren’t, search by colour to see what turns up.
Remember, you can always reupholster. You might find a battered armchair for a tenner, then spend some money getting it remade in a fabric of your choice.
Many pieces are ‘collection only’, but these days, that needn’t be a dealbreaker. Shiply.com and anyvan.com will bid to transport your table from Billericay to Brighton and only set off when they’ve filled their trucks. That way, you get a good price and the knowledge that you aren’t paying someone to drive the length of the country with a single piece of furniture. Yet another way to make your purchase more sustainable.
If you’re offline, get to your chosen market either really early to beat the crowds or late, when sellers might take a lower offer. And always have your measurements to hand. There’s nothing worse than spotting something at an antiques fair or in a shop window and not knowing if it will fit.