Make a statement by adding antiques to your decor!
Are you a lover of vintage and antique pieces? Do you use them in your decor? If not, you are missing out! Today, I’m going to tell you why you should add antiques to your decor!
Decorating with antiques is an opportunity to decorate your home with unique, statement making pieces that will bring instant character to your space.
Especially when it sparks interesting conversations about where you found it, how old it is, and why you love it.
Adding antiques and collectibles to your decor offers a stylish, interesting, and often practical way to liven up a room.
Vintage pieces can be affordable as well, when you shop wisely. Decorating your homes with unique pieces that have stood the test of time will tell a story and add beautiful layers to your rooms.
These old storied pieces add instant history and soul anywhere they are displayed.
Every house has its own type of beauty, no matter what decorating style you prefer. But, nothing quite beats the timeless beauty of unique antique pieces.
If you want to add a touch of elegance to your home, be sure to add a few vintage pieces here and there. You can bring a great deal of character to the place, and give each room a collected over time look.
The antique French chandelier in the dining room is original to the house. The dining table and chairs are all vintage pieces that we’ve updated with paint and new upholstery.
All of the artwork, Italian mirror, wine crate, and sconces are antique or vintage. The chest under the mirror is new. Two of my favorites in this room are the Louis XV French wing chairs from an Alabama estate sale. They are gilded and upholstered in burlap, and I absolutely adore them!
My poorly under decorated living room (I can’t seem to get it finished!!) has several vintage finds from auctions, estate sales, and even the Habitat Restore.
Bringing vintage furniture into your home is one of the best ways to add that one of a kind character.
Instead of throwing away old or inherited pieces of furniture, restore it! Sometimes a simple coat of paint or reupholstery is an easy way to update an old piece, breathing new life into it.
Check out estate sales, tag sales, auctions, and flea markets for affordable pieces that can be easily and lovingly restored.
Our breakfast room is centered with a family heirloom, the farm table that my grandparents purchased when they were married. Surrounding the table are flea market chairs and French loveseat, all re-painted and upholstered in grain sack. The deconstructed French chair was found in an Oklahoma flea market. The French Provincial buffet was found in an estate sale and I updated it with layers of paint. Another favorite of mine is the antique French estanier cabinet filled with ironstone. The buffet lamps are new, as well as the chandelier.
The mora clock is a new reproduction, surrounded with antique Roe deer antlers, wicker wrapped French demijohn, and Hungarian paddle bread board, all purchased at various antique markets.
Every room should have one piece that has a history and tells a story. Whether it’s a piece that’s been passed down through your family, or a piece you found while vacationing in France.
Your home should tell a story and reflect your interests and passions. There’s something so special about a piece that was made by hand and has survived the ravages of time.
When I bring an antique piece into my home, I always wonder about the people who made it and used it. What was their life like? What events has it witnessed? What conversations has it overheard? Whose hands have held it?
Our kitchen is centered with an antique chandelier over the island, with vintage English ironstone pieces on display.
The copper pans hanging over the stove are all vintage, picked up from various tag sales and flea markets.
Another favorite piece is the large marble angel statue, found in a junky flea market. She was definitely the rose among the thorns! The small oil painting is antique, and the hanging shelves are filled with vintage ironstone. Antique bread boards and a new reproduction English dairy slab with cloche, complete this space.
I can remember years ago, as a child, my sweet mom would take me to garage sales, estate sales, auctions, and flea markets.
Antiquing got in my blood at an early age, and I could easily go antique shopping for hours, looking for those special one of a kind pieces.
I’ve always loved our foyer with it’s grand staircase, and here I’ve mixed the old with the new. The mora clock is a new reproduction. The blue chest is new, as well as the lamp, urn, and mirror. The old chippy blue garden statue was a flea market find and the large floor altar sticks were all found at a local antique market. The French chair was found at an estate sale, and the pillow is new.
This gorgeous old church angel originated from a St. Louis church, and was found at auction many years ago.
Remember to stay true to your own style when incorporating vintage pieces, filling your home with things that truly inspire you. And no matter what your style is, there are vintage and antique pieces out there that will incorporate into your decor beautifully.
The study is one of my favorite spaces. The antique plaster station of the cross frame was found at a local vintage shop many years ago. The antique French chandelier is original to the house. The French plat desk is a newer vintage piece, a reproduction of the original antiques. The blue chair is new, the cane chair is vintage that we updated with paint, and the armoire is new that we repainted in colors that works better with our home.
Filling our home with unique, vintage finds has been my passion for years. I see the beauty in the old and imperfect, in the worn out and faded. For me, vintage decor is all about filling our home with charm and character.
Our master bedroom is centered with a new cane bed that we purchased several years ago. All of the mirrors are antique except for the center starburst mirror, it’s new. The bedside chests are antique, updated with paint. The loveseat is antique, the bench is vintage, all purchased from various antique markets. The metal wreaths, lamps, chandelier, and rug, are all new.
The vignette against the wall features vintage and antique pieces, except for the altar sticks, which are new. The French bergere chair is new.
Inherited antiques tend to have a precious sentimental value. But even if you don’t currently have any heirlooms, don’t worry! Browse the antique stores for sales and begin your own family tradition of passing down those special pieces.
The guest room features a new upholstered bed and rug. The starburst mirror is new, as well as the lamp. Everything else is vintage. The mirror over the chest is an heirloom from my mother.
If you don’t currently decorate with vintage and antique pieces, I hope this post has inspired you to start scouring the flea markets and estate sales! It can be quite addicting! And if you are already a lover of antiques, leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite find is!
Cheers, Cindy
Your home is gorgeous and I appreciate your sharing of all ideas
and decor. I love antiques and junkin!
Sincerely Sherry
Have just discovered your articles! Love all things French, so you are a wonderful inspiration! I was just wondering the story behind your name of Edith and Evelyn Vintage? I love it! It sounds refined and elegant. Intrigued since your name is Cindy.
Hey Cindy!! I so enjoyed reading this post. All your finds are just so beautiful! I,too,am such a lover of antiques. It is hard to pick a favorite though. I believe they add layers and layers of interest to a room’s decor. SO hoping that your house sells soon! I know you are ready to be close to your boys. Take care,sweet friend!!!
Thank you so much, Adele!
Your home is so BEAUTIFUL!! I just started following you, so I look forward to seeing your designs!! I love every room you showed, and all the rooms flow so beautifully!!! I was intrigued by the angel you have in your entrance. It looks so much like a statue in a church I attended in St. Peters, MO when I was a child. My first antique is an oak china cabinet that my Aunt Edith gave me. It was painted black and underneath the black paint was bright orange paint. I wonder who had the china cabinet before my Aunt Edith. Thank you for sharing your lovely designs, they always make me feel motivated and happy!
Thank you for sharing, Jeanne!
Love your home and everything you’ve done — but, your guestroom? Do you take reservations?
Ha ha, Claire! Maybe I need to look into that!
I really enjoyed seeing you home from different perspectives. It’s warm and beautiful! My first favorite piece is my mother’s writing desk. The only time she seemed to sit still was at her desk. My other favorite is the time punch clock from the factory in downtown Los Angeles that my father-in-law used to be part owner and where my husband worked In the summers.
Valeri, those are fabulous storied pieces! Thank you so much for sharing!
Loved this post Cindy. I have a few favorites. But my latest favorite, is an old cabin that was a gift from my girlfriend, whose great grandfather had hand carved the logs and built. I was inspired to add a vintage looking handpainted small sign of the builder and circa date, It’s a bit larger than a regular size birdhouse. I absolutely cherish it.
Oh, what a wonderful, special gift! Thank you for sharing, Cindy!
Wow! What a great post…I have followed you for years, seeing you re-do room after room. It is just fabulous to see them all in one post, and to have such great advice about finding our own antiques or painting/upholstering newer pieces. Thank you!
Thank you, Valerie!
Your home is amazing!
Thank you so much, Adele!
Your home is BEAUTIFUL! I agree putting antiques in your home. I love the thrill of the hunt and have always from the age of 13 had a passion for home and garden! I have too many favorites to list just one….lol I have pieces I need to sell that I don’t use but don’t know anyone of interest because their taste in decor is modern. I just bought yesterday a French gilded mirror because the price was so cheap! Shopping is addictive!!!!!
Yes, it is addictive Nancy! Sometimes I will buy pieces that I don’t really need just because it’s an amazing piece at a great price.
Your hard work shines in each photo! My first antique was a chiffarobe from my Mamaw Cazalas. I was living in Atlanta, visiting home (Mobile) for the weekend. This was the late 1970s. While walking around her back yard, Mamaw showed me her shed, filled with “stuff”. When she mentioned she was going to get rid of the chiffarobe, I said that I would love to have it. I could have it, if I cleaned out her shed. Oh goodness. I cleaned out dirt, broken items, rat poop, snake sheds – quite a bit of stuff. Rented a Uhaul trailer. Refinished the chiffarobe that had that black alligator finish from a fire in the 1950s in my spare bedroom. I wish I’d left the photo of Eisenhower behind the hinged mirror. That beautiful piece of mahogany furniture was part of their first bedroom suite. Later, I received the foot and headboard and bed rails (she’d cut off the tall headboard decades ago) and the matching dresser. One day, I hope to pass the set on to someone who will love it like I do. I have antiques throughout my house. They’re so sturdy and well-built! Thanks for sharing your home with us. My house colors are so different than yours – deep blue, red-orange, gold, purple, green, plus some original wall paper. The walls are filled with art – old and new. The only thing I want to change is my dining room table and chairs – they’re not antique. Hugs to you for sharing the transformation of your home.
I love that story, Anne! That’s one of the things I love most about antiques, is the stories and history behind them!
I absolutely love your house! It is the most fabulous home on the internet!!
Oh my goodness, Julie! Thank you so much! Your kind words have made my day!
Morning Cindy,
I have been following you for a short while now and always get inspired, as I love all things french! There is so much out there, but you are so unique!
Wondering if I were to take a picture of a problematic wall if you would help me figure out what to do with it?
I’d love some advice from you!
Francine ~
I would be glad to help if I can! Send the picture to cindy@edithandevelynvintage.com