4 Tips for Sourcing That Antique Piece You’ve Always Dreamed Of, According to Kelly Wearstler

Kelly Wearstler loves a vintage find. In fact, the famed designer has used her passion for researching and sourcing one-of-a-kind antique furniture to fill the three Proper hotels, two in California (San Francisco and Santa Monica) and one that recently opened in Austin, Texas.

The San Francisco Proper building had bones from 1904 while the Austin Proper was built from the ground up, but the Santa Monica Proper was quite literally a mesh of both worlds: half the property new, half housed inside restored building from the 1920s. While the skeletons of the two sections are very different, Wearstler used the same techniques and methods to find the right furniture, art, and objects around the world—from visiting smaller art galleries and studios to utilizing modern-looking pieces that harmonize with more historic elements.

The decorative elements in the public spaces are independently sourced, so if one needs to be replaced it will never be the same. (Call it a museum hotel, if you will!) It requires skill to be able to envision how one unique piece will fit among the others—and on a whim, no less—so we asked Kelly for her best sourcing tips that she could pass along to all of you. 

While going to major retailers is convenient, taking the road less traveled by—aka seeking intimate galleries and studios—is the way to find gems. “Many of my favorite pieces in my own home and for residential and commercial projects come from flea markets, galleries and vintage boutiques,” Wearstler told AT. 

Try looking up some local spots in your own neighborhood—it might be as easy as doing a quick Google search. And if you have travels planned, carve out some time to wander and stumble upon unique shops yourself. 

Sure, there’s nothing like a vintage or antique item to highlight in any given room, but more contemporary-looking pieces shouldn’t be overlooked. If anything, Wearstler said that more modern objects often blend seamlessly with historic elements, creating a balance of old-meets-new that is similar to what was achieved at Santa Monica Proper.

It probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard this, but good quality should never be compromised. Simply put, Wearstler said that “Quality is true luxury.”

Last but not least, the interior designer said to think about sourcing items as if you would observe a piece of art. “Select pieces because they resonate with you not because they are ‘expected,’” said Wearstler. “A thoughtful use of materiality and spirited, soulful silhouettes that carry a distinctive voice.”