What to buy when antique shopping

Hey there! A couple times a year I take a trip to my favorite antique stores to see if I can find some treasures. Some of my favorite pieces in our home are antiques or vintage and I enjoy the "hunt" when I have the time. (Go here to see my absolute favorite spot in Indy for antiques!)

I found out a few months ago that one of the best places here locally had shut down. They've been open for as long as I can remember so I was really bummed. This week I went to another place I've enjoyed over the years instead, but when I walked through I was sad to see that 90 percent of it was no longer antiques.

Almost all of the antiques had been replaced with items I can find at HomeGoods. I was annoyed. :)

I found a new place nearby that I hadn't been to yet, and thankfully they were a treasure trove. I wanted to show you some of the items I loved and talk more about how you can incorporate these older items into you home -- no matter your style! There are certain items I've always had luck with over the years.

1. Servingware
I have gathered so many serving pieces and they continue to be some of my favorites. I found these vintage glass dishes years ago and still use them all the time. They are perfect for small get togethers:

You can sometimes find these at Goodwill too!

I also love white ceramic -- it goes anywhere, not just the kitchen! I found this bowl the other day and put it in the family room:

I thought these plates I found in the shop were so pretty!:

I was so close to grabbing that salt and pepper set! So cute!

2. Brass pieces
I think these are my all time favorites! I love the look of old brass, but you can easily polish it up with this stuff.

I've gathered many brass candlesticks over the years, but this set I use every fall and Christmas is my favorite:




I found this brass bowl at my favorite antique store downtown Indy years ago:

This one is one of my all time best finds. It lives on my office shelves but I really need to place it somewhere where the beautiful colors can be appreciated more:

I love brass birds! I grab them whenever I see them:
I also love brass containers. They're so delicate and unique:

Another favorite are brass bookends -- I've found so many unique versions over the years. I still have our cute brass elephants but haven't found a spot for them at this house:

On my last trip I found a few brass options -- these are just a couple:


3. One-of-a-kind finds
OK, they items may not actually one of a kind, but they sure look like it!

I was absolutely obsessed with this brass fireplace set. Obsessed!:

Problem is, we have a gas fireplace. It looks like wood burning though...do you think I can pull these off? I just adore them.

This fireplace screen was another favorite find on this trip:

You can usually find a selection of vintage globes so they aren't terribly unique, but there are always so many different versions.

An endless variety of colors and metal bases:
5. Books
Antique and vintage books are great finds to decorate with as well. I use them all over the place -- I love when I can find a set like I the blue ones I put on my office built ins:

These old Reader's Digest books are just beautiful -- I usually find a few on each trip:

They come in every color of the rainbow and there's always a beautiful print on the cover. (By the way, you can see how I got those free bird printables here!)

6. Furniture 
You usually have to see the potential when shopping for vintage or antique furniture. A lot of the items need some love. Although occasionally you'll find something that is in perfect condition!

This metal twin bed frame was a major find:

It was in perfect condition and a GREAT price. Oh how I wish we needed a twin bed. :) I would have bought that up in a second! How sweet for a toddler room (boy or girl!).

My little vintage cabinet in our family room is a favorite of mine. I gave it a new coat of paint a couple years ago and I love love LOVE the green:

Many readers thought it used to be a record player cabinet. So cool! I love pieces that have a story.

7. Frames/Art
Last but not least -- frames are another great find! They are usually more ornate:

If you're new to shopping for these items, keep the following in mind:

1. Be sure to look at the bottom of the item. I've noticed over the past five years or so that some antique shops have started incorporating brand new items that look vintage into their inventory. This may not matter to you! But when I'm looking for something old, I want something old. ;) Check the bottom for a tag (sometimes I find the tags are covered with a price tag). 
2. Take your time when antiquing. You'll miss SO MUCH great stuff if you move too fast! 
3. Usually you can negotiate the price a bit -- but this all depends on the location. If you're at a "mall" kind of place, the person in charge may not be authorized to make a deal. If it's a fair or booth situation where the seller is on site, I find they are almost always willing to work with me. 
4. I LOVE to check out antique stores when traveling. All you have to do is search "antiques" on your phone map and local places will pop up. 
5. Bring cash if you're visiting a pop up or fair kind of situation -- some places have the ability to use cards but not all. 

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