Today we introduce a fab new column from reader/blogger/house tour volunteer Victoria.
Pretty much everything I own is a yard sale or freebie find off the street. (Hey one person's trash is someone else's treasure, and it's a great form of recycling, too.) But a lot of friends tell me they're intimidated by the flea market and are overwhelmed by the vast array of "stuff."
There is a lot to choose from, and I find that the best way to go about it is to take it slow, have an image of what you're looking for in your head and just enjoy the process of strolling through the market aisles, with an eye out for what you seek.
To demonstrate how I think about designing a room around existing pieces and introducing flea market finds I did a mock flea market shopping spree for a studio apartment with a retro, feminine feel.
To get started I pull scraps from my piles of design magazines in search of inspiration and use paint chips for color ideas. I lay it all out, or paste into one of my inspiration journals. (For this demonstration I've created an Inspiration Board.) This visual tool helps me think about what pieces I need to really add flare and personality to the room.
I'm feeling prepared, like any good scout. On the first Sunday of the month I head off to the extremely large Alameda Flea Market.
First, I find the perfect oversized, deco-looking chair in a soft pink fabric with great tapered legs. I'm going to use this chair as my muse for the rest of the room. And it's under $140.
I see some fun vintage drapery fabrics from the forties that would make fun throw pillows and pick up the fresh green accent color I'm planning on using. Pillows are easy, just about anyone with a sewing machine can sew a simple pillow. So I take one of the panels for $40.
I also find this nubby, bouclé wool upholstered side chair in a similar pink hue to my deco chair, so I scoop this one up for $85.
(And just so you know, I don't literally scoop them up - I leave larger pieces at the booth after paying and make note of the booth number so I don't get lost going back to fetch them! I then come back at the end of the day's shopping with one big cart, usually provided by the market, and collect all my purchases.)
I wander on and find this funky pink and black lacquer end table. It'll look great between my two chairs for only $35. I just need a dining set that will work with my desired look.
I find one later that afternoon that's a perfect retro style and am able to get the table and four chairs all for $150. With that, I'm feeling really good and load up for the day.
There's nothing like that "queen of the flea market" feeling you get when you pull away as other shoppers stare with envy. And it feels even better when you know you've pulled together a whole room for under $500. But it just gets better from there as you get to take it all home, lay out your room, add your existing pieces and make your vision a design reality.
Victoria's Flea Market Tips:
I bring swatches of colors, measurements, a tape measure, paint samples and anything that will help me decide if the purchase is worthwhile. I have a little kit I put together and I throw it in my bag before I hit the flea market, along with my rolling shopping cart - always good to have on hand. And I try to be fearless. Should you get something home and it's not quite right - there's always craigslist and ebay just a keyboard away. Sell it, move on and keep looking. I do it all the time.
Also -- I'm pretty brave about swooping up a must have if I see it. Even if I have no clue what I'll do with it, if my gut says buy it and it's in my budget, I do!
- victoria
Maybe I'm partial because that is the exact color scheme (and couch) that I've been working on but... Bravo! Excelent and highly informative post.
Very nice!
I love it at the alameda flea market when people stop you and want to know which booth? how much? did they have another? am I willing to sell mine?
I love this; cohesive in design and color, economical, and so cool! What a great tutorial!
Lovely job Victoria. You and I could seriously do some damage at flea markets together. :)
Great post, very informative, 5 stars all the way girl!
xo
Holly
Fantastic post. Great tips. Thanks Victoria.
Hi guys -
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. It's so much fun to do, so I'm glad you like it. More to come...
Victoria
I like your post a lot. It's very similar to my blog ... I am a believer of using what you have and mixing a few pieces in. :) http://dressyournest.blogspot.com
love-looking forward to escaping into your post every Friday:)
GREAT BUY'S!!!!
U GO GIRL............
Awesome. Let's see the room.
Sorry Shauna, there's no "real room". This project was done as a mock room design to demonstrate how I go about the design process, incorporating flea market finds...
"To demonstrate how I think about designing a room around existing pieces and introducing flea market finds I did a mock flea market shopping spree for a studio apartment with a retro, feminine feel."
An excellent post! Thank you so much for the effort you put into making it so enjoyable for us to see and read.
Victoria's kit is a great idea. some of my favorite pieces in my apartment are from fleas. only problem with fleas is they can become an addiction -- whenever I see one I have to scrounge! so it does help to go in with a plan and some sort of focus (color, era)-- it helps to keep impulse buying down.
Where have I seen that gorgeous brown sofa before?
It's from the lovely DWR.
That was brilliant.
And I'm apple green with envy because there are no good flea markets near me. I don't want to name names but even though state I live in is unbelievably gorgeous and livable there seems to be a state law that no garage sale or flea market can sell anything made between 1910 and 1985. I kid you not.
Nevertheless, your blog entry was fascinating and helpful and beautifully done.
Wow, I just love it (as a South Florida girl who grew up with some schoolmates from Palm Beach, I love, love, love pink and green, too). Nice job!
Thanks again everyone - I so glad you like the post!
Victoria
absolutely gorgeus buys! And so cheap! Let us see how they look at home!
So cool! You're my new role model! I'm going to be moving to a new state soon and getting a new apartment that will need practically everything--I don't own much right now. I have lots of design magazines, love trawling flea markets, but didn't know how to put everything together in a cohesive "design plan" for my new place. I'm going to use these tips to shop for furniture and accessories at flea markets and used shops. Thank you for the great post!