Tina's Tips for FLEA MARKET SUCCESS

2022-08-01 -

Have you ever gotten overwhelmed at a flea market or antiques store? The options seem either non-existent or endless. Tina offers the following advice the next time you’re shopping vintage.

• SERVEWARE AS DECOR.

Tina recommends getting neutral-colored dishes and serveware you can use as décor. “Find old pitchers and soup tureens to use as vases, small plates and bowls to add in a bathroom as a soap dish, bowls for rolled wash clothes, plates on the wall in the dining room, stacks of plates and bowls on a side table or in a shelf or open cupboard...the ideas are endless,” she says.

• FUNCTIONAL FINDS.

Need some extra storage? Old wire baskets are Tina’s go-to. “I’ve used them everywhere: for towels in a bathroom, magazines in our living room, cozy throws and extra pillows in our family room, toiletries in a bathroom and guest bedroom, books in a child's room and dishes in the kitchen,” she says.

• PICK BY PALETTE.

Make your shopping experience less daunting by narrowing in on the colors you know work for your home. Tina says it’s best to figure out beforehand the palette for a particular space you’re decorating, and then filter your search. “For example, if you’re wanting to add touches of blue to your living room, look for anything that’s in that shade,” she says. “You might find some pretty books, a lamp, pillows, a vase, a set of vintage pictures or a painted piece of furniture.”

• THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

If you’re on the hunt for a certain piece of furniture, Tina suggests being open to other pieces that might fulfill that role. “If you’re looking for a coffee table, look for items that could serve the same purpose, such as a bench, an old trunk, an industrial cart, an ottoman,” she says. “Finding unique items to use in place of traditional furniture will help to create spaces in your home that are visually appealing, tell a story and allow you and your guests to feel at home.”

Another find was the original pine wood flooring. “Sadly, it wasn’t in good condition, so we opted to have pine flooring installed on top of the original pine floors,” she says. Other features Tina strove to keep were the original doors, molding and doorknobs.

THE FINAL TOUCH

The key to Tina’s cozy, inviting and vintage style is her collection of flea market finds and antique pieces. Most of the furniture in her home is secondhand.

The key to Tina's cozy, inviting and vintage style is her collection of flea market finds and antique pieces.

" When people say they feel comfortable as soon as they walk through the door, that’s the ultimate compliment.”

?? ?? The charming original fireplace sits between the entryway and living room and acts as a subtle divider between the spaces while allowing the open concept to continue. “It’s a beautiful focal point in this space and makes for great conversation whenever we have people stop by to visit,” Tina says. — The charming original fireplace sits between the entryway and living room and acts as a subtle divider between the spaces while allowing the open concept to continue. “It’s a beautiful focal point in this space and makes for great conversation whenever we have people stop by to visit,” Tina says.

?? ?? (above) The family room isn’t original to the home, but was an addition by a previous owner. The tongue and groove pine flooring is a nod to the original pine flooring they discovered when renovating. As it wasn’t salvageable, they found replicas to replace it. This cozy sitting area is another example of Tina’s DIY handiwork. “I decided to paint the shelves white, add the antique barn beam as a mantel, and limewash the brick fireplace to give it an antique feel,” she says. The “8” sign represents the size of her family. (left) In this laundry/mudroom, Tina used vintage, hand-painted signs for a touch of charm. A brick backsplash matches the flooring. “The sink is antique enamel; we salvaged it from an old house on my husband’s family farm,” Tina says. “It fit perfectly!” — (above) The family room isn’t original to the home, but was an addition by a previous owner. The tongue and groove pine flooring is a nod to the original pine flooring they discovered when renovating. As it wasn’t salvageable, they found replicas to replace it. This cozy sitting area is another example of Tina’s DIY handiwork. “I decided to paint the shelves white, add the antique barn beam as a mantel, and limewash the brick fireplace to give it an antique feel,” she says. The “8” sign represents the size of her family. (left) In this laundry/mudroom, Tina used vintage, hand-painted signs for a touch of charm. A brick backsplash matches the flooring. “The sink is antique enamel; we salvaged it from an old house on my husband’s family farm,” Tina says. “It fit perfectly!”

?? ?? In the kitchen, the warm pine floors balance the white cabinets, shiplap, tile and light Dolomite countertops. “Keeping the budget in mind, I opted to keep most of the existing cabinetry,” Tina says. “Painting the oak cabinets white instantly updated the space.” The wood detailing on the island, an old, repurposed store counter and custom vent hood give a visual cohesion to the room as a whole. Tina removed the upper cabinets to add another window for extra light. — In the kitchen, the warm pine floors balance the white cabinets, shiplap, tile and light Dolomite countertops. “Keeping the budget in mind, I opted to keep most of the existing cabinetry,” Tina says. “Painting the oak cabinets white instantly updated the space.” The wood detailing on the island, an old, repurposed store counter and custom vent hood give a visual cohesion to the room as a whole. Tina removed the upper cabinets to add another window for extra light.