WINNING Combinations

Amy Grassinger has a special affinity for vintage and rustic pieces. The Columbia, South Carolina, homeowner may not always know immediately how an item will work in her decorating scheme, but she trusts that what she loves will all come together. One key to making her home decor flow is to creatively combine treasures. Learn how you can incorporate Amy’s tips into your own imaginative arrangements. Classic meets contemporary.

Though Amy cherishes her antiqueand thrift-store visits, she doesn’t shy away from mixing in selections from big-box retailers. For example, brand-new upholstered chairs cozy up quite nicely with an old sawhorse turned into a bench and weathered metal chairs in her dining room. Look for modern goods that complement the aesthetic of the more seasoned furnishings.

Elevated interest.

Don’t stick to one height when grouping items. Arrange bottles, crocks and pitchers by varying heights, or use risers, boxes or books to raise some goods to the next level.

Statement pieces.

Use collections boldly. Hang watering cans from a peg rack to make a strong focal point, or affix rug beaters to a wall to provide pattern.

Layered looks.

Combining several items or enhancing them with naturals is a great way to bring a fresh feel to your existing decor. Place a garland atop a valance, hang a painting or sign on an old gate, or secure a basket of dried grasses to a vintage door. “Some days, I go out junking with no certain thing in mind, and then I come home with a new piece and instantly my creativity kicks in,” Amy explains.

“I love pieces that tell a story with their patina. The more weathered and worn, the more I love it.”

Right: One of Amy’s favorite collections is her stash of rusty scales. In the dining room, they crown the two-piece Hoosier cabinet, which is filled with ironstone bowls, vintage Dundee marmalade jars and an old iron grate. To break up the neutral palette, she also added a dark-colored crate and a berry and grapevine wreath.

Below: A little cabinet placed atop a green secretary makes a home for pitchers, glass bottles and ironstone plates. “The sign above is a perfect reminder daily for me and my family,” Amy says.

Below: Simplicity breeds serenity in the master bedroom. To coordinate with the rest of the home’s decor, Amy added several vintage and thrifted touches, including a sifter, a corbel, ironstone pitchers and a window frame, that line the top of a chippy old mantel, which introduces a hint of pink to the room.

Once tasked with displaying goods in a hardware store, the large blue shelving unit in the sunroom is now stocked with a collection of crocks, greenery and spindles. Old fabric takes on new life when repurposed into a flag-inspired artwork.

An old crib becomes a daybed in the sunroom and adds to the relaxed seating options. A trunk used as a coffee table introduces a dark, grounding hue, while the bright Clearance Sale sign brings a burst of energy to the neutral palette. An old scale hung in the corner makes for an eye-catching plant holder. Amy also repurposes pails and buckets to host potted plants and employs ironstone pitchers to hold small garden tools.