Window Shopping Never Hurt Anyone

I never used to be interested in antiques. In fact, when I was young I was particularly keen on having things as clean and new as possible (that sounds much more snobbish than it should).

I remember admiring a friend's home who had all IKEA furniture, and thinking "meh" to the home of a family that collected antiques. I once suggested to my Mom that we use our Club Z points to buy a new blender, simply because it looked newer. And food; that's where I get particularly stingy. There's a 90% chance I won't drink milk from your house. Don't take it personally.

As I've grown up, and particularly since I decided I was interested in this field, I've begun appreciating the new with the old. The modern lamp on an antique table. A Louis chair (not the ghost kind) in a simple bedroom. A new bag of milk in a vintage container. There's charm, character and history in antiques that cannot be found in your run-of-the-mill IKEA catalog. So, I began browsing the St. Lawrence Market and now shop on the internet for something unique, too. Take a look at my latest favourite finds...

From English Country Antiques








From Treillage Ltd

Maison Claire

I have discovered the loveliest website of a boutique in England, named Maison Claire. The owner, Claire Gray, has a love for all-things-France and has been collecting beautiful French vintage pieces to sell. Here are a few of my favourites (unfortunately the beautiful sofa above has sold!).





Claire's unique finds have been featured in several magazines. I love this seaside spread from Country Living's August 2009 issue.

DIY Project: Bulletin Board

I saw this photograph a few months ago, and held onto it in hopes that I might get around to making my own bulletin board like the stunning one in this picture someday. Shockingly, I actually followed through! Here's my run-through on this easy DIY project!

The main thing that I loved about this idea was the vintage frame they had used. It was a little tricky to find one large enough (and original!), but I ended up paying $50 for this antique carved frame from My Back Shed. I'm sure some of you are thinking that I overpaid...but once I'm in love, I must have it! Plus, it was already painted?!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I wanted to create contrast by using a patterned fabric, and this green print was perfect! I purchased it from inVU Drapery Co. for $20/yard and have a bit left for a toss cushion or two when I'm in the mood for another project.

Rather than using cork for the board backing, I went to Home Depot for peg board. This way, the fabric wouldn't snag too much over time. For only $4, I had the board cut right there and was ready to assemble everything!

Just glue gun the fabric to the board, making sure the corners are tight, and then glue or nail the board into the frame. I tried the nailing route, until I took a chunk out of the front of the frame because the wood was just too old!

Rather than using boring old tacks on the board, I've found a second life for my stud earrings that have lost their pair. I think the pearls and "diamonds" only make it more charming.

I now have a not-so-cluttered home for favourite quotes, photographs and things that make me laugh (note the doll photograph)! And I don't think it gets any simpler than that...

Hidden Treasures

What started out rather serendipitously has become a refreshing way to spend a Sunday morning.

I was curious to find a great antique store so that I could take an old piece of furniture and turn it into something unique on my own. Most of what I found online were small shops in Toronto, so on a rainy Sunday morning (typical this summer), I went out for a quick browse.

In the Jarvis/Front Street area, there are some beautiful home décor stores with unusual furniture that you don’t find in the suburbs. I don’t want to give away all my favourite spots in just one post, but I’ve been looking forward to sharing the success of my shopping trip downtown that day!

While I was downtown, I discovered that the St. Lawrence Market has an antique market every Sunday from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm. There’s nothing like the stench of a room full of old stuff to really wake you up on a Sunday morning. I hate to admit it, but people watching can be just as amusing in such a place; the old woman in a full fur coat, the guy who’s trying to sell stuff you saw in Zellers ten years ago, etc. But if you go with an open mind, a good sense of humour and some hand sanitizer, you’ll be fine!

Outside in a small booth, I saw a beautiful yellow velvet chair that looked like it belonged in a woman’s dressing room. The couple was selling it for $90, which seemed unreasonable considering it needed reupholstering and had to be dragged back to my car, but I loved it so much that I couldn’t leave without it. At the end of some hard bargaining, I walked away with the chair for $40!

All of the quotes for reupholstery that I received were well over $300, so I decided to try doing it myself. I found gorgeous fabric at inVU Drapery Co. to cover it, some new nail heads, and ended up upholstering it on my own!

I’ve been back to the market since with no success, but I always love grabbing a coffee nearby and window shopping. If you have the time and patience to find something completely unique for your home, I definitely recommend venturing out to a flea market or antique show in your area.