I’ve never gone antique ‘hunting.’ I don’t know why, really. Perhaps I always thought antiques=junk. Why would I want some someone else’s beat-up, used, old, smelly piece of home decor? Harsh, I know. But to be perfectly honest, that was my snobby attitude– only something NEW can be chic and stylish and contemporary. But to be perfectly honest, yet again, my wallet and the planet cannot afford my need for interior change. I love change and I love to mix things up in my house. My sense of style is constantly evolving. I still consider myself a contemporary lover, but I enjoy splashes of Hollywood Regency, Traditional, and most recently, vintage. The lovely Tori Spelling (c’mon, I was a huge 90210 fan) labels her style as ‘Modage,’ a combination of Modern & Vintage. I dig that. And I dig her style (just check out her reality show on Oxygen). Pottery Barn’s fall collection is label ‘Vintage’ but uh, it’s NEW stuff. And, uh, I don’t like ANYTHING in their glossy catalogue. What I do like is vintage that’s been updated with high gloss lacquer or antique chairs upholstered in funky patterns. Modage, baby!
So, this weekend, on a whim, I ran over to our local antique mall (across from the hospital where Xander was born). Apparently Missouri has a ton of antique malls and shops, but this one was close and quite large (55,000 sq. feet of stuff). Boy, there definitely was a LOT of ‘junk’– things you’d expect to see on an episode of Hoarders. The mall was divided up into many, many rows of ‘booths.’ Antique dealers rent space in the mall and set up shop, displaying their treasures (and junk). The booths are unmanned so visitors can browse without pressure from sellers. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience! Most sellers arrange their antiques beautifully– cups and saucers lovingly set out on antique cabinets, antique chairs arranged around an antique coffee table with crystal, tear drop chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I adored all the vintage cooking pots and appliances, the old Life magazines, 1950-esque toys and books, and, my favorite, a 1957 Cadillac white and emerald baby carriage!! But, there were some weird things displayed too– a high-heel shoe chair, bizarre bar lights, military submarine shells, horribly tacky ‘art’ and an array of metal junk (not sure what it even was?!).
Here are some photos from my first Antique Hunting trip last weekend. These were taken with my camera phone, so I apologize for the poor quality!
Note: I came out empty handed, but I did LOVE the refinished antique white dresser. It had a SOLD sign on it, but it gave me inspiration for a future Craigslist find.

love how the hardware was painted white too!

baby carriage

Ronald McDonald Chucky Doll

anyone want a bomb?

or perhaps a piece of art depicting a snaggletooth drunk?

I'll leave you with something pretty. This piece is EXACTLY what I envisioned as a little girl when I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.