Categories: Rouge

vintage gems

I spend a lot of time trolling around vintage, antique and second-hand stores. I have to admit, it’s not for the faint hearted. There is that smell…you know, musty. Musty like grandma’s attic. If you take the time to scout out some of these places, you get to know the ones that are well organized and clean. Even I have to be in the right mindset to go into the ones that are cross piled every which way, and seem to feature nothing but about 100 years of dust. Ew.

But here’s the thing. You can really find some wonderful gems. It’s true that “they just don’t make things like they used to.” Grandma has learned a few things in her days. You should listen to her. I like to think about the history and the stories that might be attached to each piece. My imagination soars!

This chair caught my eye because of the color and pattern of the upholstery fabric. Now, I am a more contemporary girl, no question. But a little something like this – after a good vacuum and a healthy spritz of Febreeze – has added a unique, vintage flavor to the bedroom. With the help of a modern throw cushion and a simple white cozy blanket thrown over one arm, I dare you to resist taking a moment to reflect here. All that for 50 bucks.

Another favorite find are these bedside lamps. They were found in an antique store while I was on vacation visiting some of my favorite people this summer. The shades were big, awful cone-shaped at both ends that had fake lace cording around the edge. You know the ones I mean, don’t you? A good dusting and two black drum shades turned these into gems that add drama and romance to the still modern and contemporary space.

There a zillion examples of great finds. If you can get past the smell and embrace the experience, it will pay off for you over time. “Vintage” and “antique” don’t have to mean fancy and expensive. “Second-hand” and “used” don’t have to mean dirty and disgusting. If something speaks to you, keep an open mind, and find a creative use or space for it. Check to make sure the piece is sturdy, has no signs of pests (past or current – yikes!), and is/ can be cleaned.

Guaranteed you’ll have a story to go with it. Be very choosy. Grandma’s attic is probably not the ultimate look you want to go for.

Haligonia Editors

See news happening near you? Tell us. Click here to email our team.

Share
Published by
Haligonia Editors

Recent Posts

A Quick Look at Contemporary Halifax Nightlife

More than 500,000 Canadians proudly call Halifax their home. Not only is this an extremely…

18 mins ago

Charges after road rage incident sends man to hospital

HRP release: On December 6 at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of…

11 hours ago

Senior and driver attacked by same suspect, charges laid

HRP release: On December 6 at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of…

2 days ago

Planning and Successfully Executing an Office Move in Toronto

Organising a move is always a complex undertaking, and when it comes to office moves,…

2 days ago

Securing Tokenized Wallet Payments in Regulated Gaming

  Source: Pexels One recent trend with regulated gambling platforms in Canada has to do…

3 days ago

(UPDATED 12:55pm Dec 8) Precautionary boil order issued for 2,000 homes as watermain break disrupts service

Updated Dec 8 12:55pm Halifax Water release: The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following update regarding the water…

3 days ago