Vintage at Home--5 Great Pieces to Add Character and Style

 

Vintage is a trend that doesn't seem to be going anywhere and I am not even sure if I would refer to it as a trend.  Vintage clothing has been a red carpet darling for some time now and in the less glamorous side of the closet it has been embraced my hipsters wanting to save money and the planet at the same time.  Mackelmore's hit song "Thrift Shop" had many people thinking of vintage and thrift store finds with a fresh new perspective.  But there is also vintage style for your home and the same way a vintage bag or coat might add affordable punch to your wardrobe, a great mirror or side table can do the same thing for your home. 

We've all been to some one's place but it looked as if the furniture store truck had just unloaded moments before you rang the doorbell.  Is that wrong?  Maybe not.  Does it sync up with the character of the people that live there?  Well maybe not in a good way.  So how can you use vintage pieces in your home and it not look like your grandparents?  Think of vintage pieces as accessories or punctuation in a sentence.  Properly placed and used, the sentence says what you want it to say.  Left out, not so much.  So where do you start with vintage pieces to give your home character and style?  With the help of Chris Clement, co-owner with John Bell of Sweet Home--Clement a vintage store in the SoMa neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, we've identified 5 pieces that can give your home vintage character.  They are more easy to find, don't have to break the bank, and are even in different styles to fit your taste. 

1.  Globes

Globes are great pieces to work into your home decor.  They look great on top of an armoire or cabinet, even in a kitchen above your cabinets if that space is there.  They are colorful and add interest.  All of us have memories associated with them from school and learning the countries of the world.  One great thing is that they are not expensive and are fairly easy to find.  The older they are or more elaborate of course that can increase the price.  Look for ones where the names of countries such as Russia, formerly the USSR, can give you some idea of how old it is. 
African countries' names have changed since the 1950's and can help in dating your finds.

I love this smaller one with the red base which would be great in an area you use as a library.  So there are different sizes and they look great in a collection together.

This a great one and has a very interesting frame.

 

 



2.  Mirrors

One of the pieces that always catch my eye when I am shopping for vintage pieces are mirrors.  The variety is pretty much endless and whatever your style you can find ones that fit it just perfectly.  Mirrors are a great focal point in a room if they are in a grouping or even by themselves.  I love using a great mirror in a bathroom instead of the typical mirrors you find above a vanity.  They have a broad range in price and if you want a hand carved one or a gilt one be prepared to pay more, but there are older gesso ones that are incredible and won't cost you so much. 

From the 30's, this rectangular Federal style mirror is a fresh change from the round bulls eye variety.

This one is gilt wood and would look great in almost any décor.

Shell mirrors are great decorative items.  Clement pointed out "some were more craft projects and some were made by artisans in resort areas."  They are very popular with people decorating beach homes but also look great in more European settings.

3.  Vintage amateur paintings

I love these!  You can really find some great great art out there that was done by an amateur once upon a time.    You are unlikely to find a lost Renoir and more likely to find a piece by someone's aunt that took a class or a local artist that was well liked but never really famous.  To me it is the sincerity of them that I like.  And the prices aren't bad either.  They come in a huge range of styles and motifs but my personal favorites are landscapes. 

This one is such a great piece and has a California feel to it.

This one is great with nice muted tones.

This one is small enough to add some punch to a bar area or a bookcase.

And then there are pieces that are very modern and full of really great color.

 

 

4.  Lamps

 

 



There are tons of lamps and bases that you can find all over the place.  One great thing about them is that they are well made.  Also they can be very affordable so you don't have to feel bad if you want to paint the base or take liberties with them.  Many times they are missing their shades but think of that as an opportunity to put your own twist on them, making them very custom. "I would find a good lamp shop to help you with wiring and to give you suggestions on finding a new shade that will work well with the base." says Clement.

These are a great pair of onyx vintage lamp bases that just need a great shade.

Love this one mid-century Italian lamp.  A very similar one was feature in the tv show Mad Men.

This one, which is one of my favorites at the shop, is a Frederick Cooper lamp and is very unique.

With a classic shape, this lamp would pretty much work anywhere.

This lamp would be a great floor lamp with a large shade on it and could go very contemporary or traditional. 

5.  Side tables

 

Side tables are so easy to find and in a variety of sizes and styles.  They are a better alternative to new pieces because they are often more well made and more affordable.  You can use them beside a sofa or chair, a bed, in a bathroom, or even an office.  This one above, a vintage acrylic table has the benefit of giving you usable surface space without the visual impact of a solid table. 

This handmade riveted copper cube would make an incredible table beside a sofa or could even be used as a cocktail table in front of one.

I thought this one is really great and just needs a top.  You could use glass, marble, or even a large tray.

This one from the 60's would look great between a pair of chairs even if they were more traditional.

Nesting tables are also a great functional and decorative piece.

 

 

 

I love vintage and hope that this piece will encourage you to go out there and find things that can give your home style.  If you were not interested in vintage before I hope you might be willing to give it a try now.  Also with vintage pieces you can think outside the box and use them for a different purpose than they were intended for.  Another great thing is that these pieces are virtually one of a kind in that you are not likely to find another one like it. 

 

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  All of these images are courtesy of Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography/Brian's Style Guide and are protected by copyright law. None of these images may be used, edited, reproduced, transferred, published or distributed in any form or by any means whatsoever without prior written permission.