apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Those peanuts are crazy! I thought this was a very interesting article, about something of which I know nothing. Thanks, Chicago area contestant Sarah!

Great post....Having just cleared out 30 years of my mom's accumulation I can identify!

Thanks guys!

KTG- They were a bit bizarre. They were in a pile with vintage Christmas ornaments, so I am assuming they were "Christmas Elf Peanuts?" What one does with such things... I have no idea!

good reading.

Great post! I really love the colour themes of this post, and the last shot is great!

these auctions are so much fun. i love the luggage and those cushions are fab. thanks for a great read!

Thanks dsgblgr!

Rosetravale- The man in the last shot is a regular auction goer and his sideburns are FANTASTIC! And he smells of lilac! It's great!!

RockTheHotBox- The cushions were fun, I love the stacking nature of them, although their style doesn't go with my current theme, I can totally see using the cushions for something else! I think they were for all of 2 bucks!
The luggage was to die for, and there were 3 sets of it!

Hooray to someone from KC! I'm in the metro area too, though I'm over the border in Kansas. I'm definitely checking out Cates though! Thanks and good luck!

64138 is my growing-up zip code........

Cates is based out of the Northland, so many of their auctions tend to be up that direction, although they do tend to be worth the drive.

You can check out www.auctionzip.com and plug in your zip code to find local auctions. It's super simple and easy (it works nationwide!) and allows you to check out auctions for most auctioneers in the metro months ahead of time!
(on their site, you can also search via keyword, so assuming you know what you are after, you can search around the country incase you want to take a drive, or bribe a friend to go pick something up for you!)

wowee zowee! miss trover is off the hook! kansas city represent!

like others have said, thanks for the Kansas City update!

Wonderful article! I love the photos, and the immense possibilities that are out there in the land of auctioned goods. I can't wait for your next article Sara Rae!

I love the suitcases & cushions (and your other photos), and your perky yet snarky style. Bravo!

Great article! I love the photos and the subject matter! :)

That being said, I've followed Sarah's blogging for a couple of years now and I always find her posts entertaining and lively. I discovered ApartmentTherapy a few months back and I think Sarah's an excellent candidate for blogging on the site. With her eye for the whimsical and a unique perspective to give from another differently-paced city and the Midwest in general, I think she'll bring a lot to your (well-decorated) table. I look forward to reading more of her posts and I'm sure you'll feel the same way!

Cheers!

A delight to view and read.
Thank you Sarah!
x

That was great! Thanks for the entertainment!

ooh you've made me want to go to an auction now!

Great article. It's always good to see another KC metro article. From KC myself and I will sure keep up with your posts. Thanks.

Great artidle!
I love that you gave us a complete little story - not just bring up something cute or clever and leave us hanging.

Great use of pictures and a great voice to take us right to the auction next to the scary looking guy buying doilies!

Thanks everyone for the awesome feedback!

Clickchick- There are more men who buy dollies than women I think. Most of them are looking for their own antique stores.
It's the one's who don't have stores that worry me!

Cojaclynsy- I have a ton of places lined up to show all those people with a coast, how we roll here in cow town! I can't wait!

Bridgett- They aren't that scary, my first auction ever, I went as a fluke by getting lost going to a garage sale. I was glad I went when I wasn't REALLY looking for anything, so I had a chance to see how people act. Some have their game faces on, and some are just there to hang out with their friends.

HI AT's.. I just wanted to say that I was Born and Raised in KC,MO and finally moved to Chicago 4 years ago. It's SOO Fun to hear about CATES.. Living their my ENTIRE Life and never knew about this auction place! I've always gone to an Auction house on Warnell or those cute Estate Sales/auctions at different homes.. Well anyway.. It's nice to see that KC is Blogging on this site as well

Fantastic post Sarah! I'm a frequent visitor to auctions, estate sales and garage sales, and this post makes me want to go out right now and uncover some treasures! I love your writing style and the photos are inspiring (especially the colors in that last one).

You have a very good eye. And seem to be right on target for whats fresh. I'm from the west and it is nice to see what is available in the Kansas City area. Keep it coming.

I'll have to look out for some auctions down here in Texas.. could definitely be interesting! Thanks for sharing.

eeek, trying out....that's so stressful! Lots of luck.

Allison Marie- Texas is FULL of good auctions! Check out auctionzip.com and plus in your zipcode and see what's in your area! Houston has some wonderful auction houses that track some some beautiful one of a kind pieces. Likewise, Dallas has some awesome auctioneers, there appears to be alot of history with the auctions down south, so it will be as informational as it is fun!

Popi- Depending on how far west you are the auction scene changes up quite a bit. Most auctions will still have the same type of people, but the items that are of "value" to people change quite a bit.
I know here that retro/mod and danish modern furniture are picking up interest.
However, moving west, auctioneers from Nebraska and the Dakotas practically pay YOU to drag it all away.
Once you hit the Rockies again it picks back up speed... so it's all on where you shop!

Danellewilliams- Sometimes it's hard to see past the layers of dirt that old items have on them, I have been known to carry 1/4 of a magic eraser in my back pocket to check out how a piece will clean up on site.
This past fall, my husband and I drug home a set of 4 Tulip Chairs... but they did have some heavy staining, I was glad I had it in my back pocket to test them when no one was looking!
Finding the set for a small price is awesome... as long as you aren't paying big bucks to re-fiberglass something due to stains!

Katgirlnchi- The Mayo Auction down on Wornall is a great place to go! They are super friendly and always have things in a controlled climate which is nice. Chicago weather isn't that different from Missouri weather (atleast you can get a decent hot dog now though!), so there are only a few weeks where auctions are the right climate. They can be freezing, wet, humid, sticky and down right sweltering!
We have been known to keep a cooler in the back of the car, so if there is a lull in the action we can escape for a refreshing beverage!! But we know when we head to a Mayo auction it's not as painful!

I'm so proud to be a part of a pack-rat city. :) It does make it easy to find great little finds though, doesn't it. This inspires me to go out and get some junk too. ;)

Fantastic Photos! I loved reading your post from start to finish! Very entertaining! I think it's time to go and do some weekend auction hunting!

Great post SarahRae! Thanks for the auction tips and the glimpse at KC area decorating potential. You're putting the "Midwest" in the Midwestern Modern movement! As a fellow plains states dweller, I appreciate getting to see other decorating/lifestyle sources than the local *-Mart.

Thanks again!

I like the pictures - good stuff

Those photos make me want to find an auction right now! Thanks for the lovely article!

Great info and fantastic pictures. Looking forward to more!

Sarah is a great commentator! I love to read her blogs and read her descriptions of the different products. Her comments are a joy to read!

Sarah is a fantastic writer, and has amazing style! She has a unique little twinge about her, and her photography is right on! I really enjoy reading or seeing anything she has to offer!