This is just the kind of list we're always putting together in our head, but Canadian House & Home beat us to actually writing it down. There are a few things we always beeline for in the thrift store; let's see how our favorites stack up.
We're definitely in agreement with them on these three:
• Lamps
• Pottery, glass & china
• Chairs
Good lamp bases are always what we look for first at a thrift shop. Moreover, things that didn't start out as lamp bases can end up that way, like vintage glass wine jugs.
These we're not so pumped about:
• Frames
• Vintage hardware
• Vintage fabric
Frames seem like they should be a great find, but we've had bad luck with cheap, flimsy ones, regardless of all of the DIY possibilities. A better bet is an old framed picture, rather than the bin full of empty frames. Hardware doesn't excite us just yet (though we're sure it will one day, when we're renovating an old house or something, as we've dreamed), and vintage fabric can be hit or miss with material and quality.
What we'd add to the list:
• Vintage silverware and cutlery
• Old signs and letterpress blocks
• Candlesticks and votive holders
But overall, CHH has produced a decent list. What are your favorites?
Image: Michael Graydon for Canadian House & Home
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Comments (10)
Lamps
Mirrors
Casegoods (Dressers, end tables, cabinets, etc)
Dishware
Decorative items (Vases, Ornamental plates, etc.)
Artwork (Paintings/Prints)
Rugs
Chairs
Books
Cufflinks/Jewelry
Threadbare oriental rugs, vintage handmade crafts (old needlepoint is cheaper than Jonathan Adler!), antique wooden crates (for storage), beads...
I spend way too much time at flea markets.
Hello Lisa(Montreal),could you please give me some good flea market address in Montreal? so far,I've found only one typical flea market named st michel....others were just tax-free new goods....Thanks!
Chairs, bookcases, small shelving things, small tables, baskets, pottery, vases, glassware, cutlery and then cruise round the clothes section.
Artwork
Any kind of table
Vases
Chairs
Footstools
Children's clothing
I'm obsessed with vintage kitchen anything, pyrex, fire king, glasbake, etc... so that's where I head first.
I collect vintage children's books.
books, jewelry, china, records
I've bought pottery, lamps, bakelite utensils, chairs, glass, books, art, and anything unusual that catches my eye.
This weekend I saw some things people here would have loved.
I adored (but have no room for) three solid light oak chairs that came from a church. The "middle one" (presumably) had a pointed back about 4 feet high, the others more low lined, and all three were comfortable arm chairs with extremely blocky modern lines in perfect condition. Two had their seat cushions, the third was missing, but they were simple square cushions, easy to replace. All 3 for $50.
The same guy had a MCM loveseat that needed cleaning or reuphostering, also cheap. Plus I saw a few other random chairs... a few looked iconic, although I didn't investigate and they might have been knockoffs.
You gotta flea market!!