Decorating with Flea Market Finds

Tour these stylish rooms, filled with flea market finds, for great ideas on how to display your own vintage treasures.

Changing lampshades is an easy way to update a favorite lamp. And in long rooms, old doors can be used to divide living areas to create nooks.

An 1870s weathervane takes folk art to high style on an antique table still sporting its original paint. Don’t be afraid to mix high- and low-style items. Mixing things up will keep your rooms interesting.

To add character to the dining room, Susan simply propped two vintage doors against the wall. Their rustic charm provides texture and interest. When working with architectural salvage pieces, take a cue from Susan and think outside of the box.

Create vignettes with your favorite finds to infuse spaces with warmth and style.

Stacking this collection of 1800s-1920s blankets helps keep clutter at bay and makes a colorful display.

The weathered texture on this country table mixes well with modern chairs made from reclaimed wood.

If you prefer uncluttered spaces, keep your collections organized behind doors. This 1870s cupboard holds antique stoneware and glassware.

Timeworn pieces like the stool and oars mix beautifully with new linens. Make thoughtful choices when blending old and new, keeping in mind the overall look of the room you wish to create.

The blue hue of this vintage mirror is the result of natural copper aging. To age a new metal-framed mirror, use a patina gel, available at craft stores.

By Hillary Black
Photography by Mark Tanner
Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel

Shared by - Flea Market

Top 10 Ways to Add Flourish with Fabric

Decorating with fabric need not be designated to your bed and window treatments. Add some color and texture to your home easily by using fabric in these unexpected ways:

1. Wrap a present and finish it with ribbon.
2. Line a basket for baked goods, teas or those odds and ends too pretty for the junk drawer.
3. As a stylish wine tote you can reuse.
4. Frame colorful fabrics and arrange in a grid.
5. Tie a strip of fabric around a throw pillow to add color.
6. Create sachets filled with lavender or rose potpourri.
7. Cover a corkboard with a vintage pattern for a personalized way to post notes.
8. Knot fabric scraps around drinking glasses for a vintage touch to a brunch or lunch party.
9. Decoupage a lampshade.
10. Create a swag over a standard wall mirror for instant drama.

Photography by Jaimee Itagaki

A Colorful and Budget-Friendly Collectible

Abundant as the harvests they advertised, vintage fruit labels are a versatile collectible. Valued for their color, motif and age, original labels not only indicated the contents of a crate being shipped across the country, they also soon served as travel marketing, touting the beauty of each region they originated from, says vintage fruit label expert Dwayne Rogers.

To start a collection of your own, get to know these tips:

• Prices range from a few dollars each for commonly produced and later designs to up to $200 for rare and pristine examples.
• Handling marks, tears, printer flaws, creases and wrinkles all affect value, but since the genre is fairly new, there isn’t a formalized grading system, and the value is often in the eye of the beholder. This works in the collector’s favor, so it’s easier to find great prices or bargain for better deals.
• When storing or displaying vintage labels, be sure to use acid-free paper and mats to prevent damage and decay.
• There’s no right way to collect labels; you can build a set around type of fruit, state or color.  Buy motifs that you love or ones that complement your décor and the value will follow.