Hello, Friends!
Today I'm excited (as usual) to share an antique and thrift haul with you. It has been several months since we've gone shopping together and I felt it was time to share what I've found. The goal in sharing these shopping trips and decorating visits is to inspire you and hopefully give you ideas for layering in the English country style into your home. Really though, these tips can be applied to any style.
Watch our latest video on thrifting and antiquing for cottage style decor.
As usual, shopping (for me) begins at home. The decor style that feels the most natural, homey, and comfortable for us is the English country style. To achieve this style, I have three steps that have become my method for creating this look on a budget.
~ First: I begin by getting a firm idea of the look I want for the space I'm working on, and the pieces already in the area. These ideas can come from several sources: Online there is Pinterest and Instagram. In person, there are other people's homes, stylized antique booths, and design books. Pictured below are some "new-to-me" interior design books that are providing hours of delightful study in old world design. Mixed with my love of the English country style are roots of country, colonial, and Southern flavors. By isolating these other influences I can better define just what it is that feels like home to me & how to mix them well.
~ Second: I study our home. By "study our home" I mean observing how we live and use the things we have. Sometimes simply rearranging, or purging an area can be all that space needs to "feel" right and function better. For example: in the evening I've noticed that one corner of the living room always seems gloomy. This means a lamp is needed. If I don't have one I can spare from another area, then a lamp goes on the shopping list. This approach to shopping has saved me money, and time, and allows me to purchase with confidence. In the photo above you will see home decor items that were specifically on my list. We needed a small candlestick lamp for a dresser in the guest bedroom, we've also recently expanded our book collection and I was specifically hunting alabaster horse head bookends. The art and transferware aren't "needs", but they go with our style & color palette and bring me joy.
~ Third: I begin hunting for the items on my list on Marketplace, then thrift shops, and finally antique shops. By searching in this order we are able to save the most money & find the most unique pieces. Online, these Italian hand-carved alabaster bookends were running $225 - $380. This pair was thrifted for $20! There is something extremely satisfying about creating a home that is a pleasure to use and a joy to live in ~ affordably!
This antique watercolor cottage scene is another example of patience and a clear design direction. Art is one of my favorite home decor items like icing on the cake for me and I'm willing to watch and wait until the perfect piece comes along. An antique watercolor similar to this one was $250 and didn't have a frame I loved. This piece of art popped up at another antique shop around Christmas when the whole shop was running a 20% off sale. The watercolor was marked $75, and I also had a $25 gift certificate which brought this piece to $35, plus I love the frame!
Here is the brass candlestick lamp I spoke of earlier. It is the perfect size, was only $7, and gives me another excuse to make an English country pleated lampshade!
The antique transferware teapot is another example of watching & waiting for that perfect home decor piece. Not only does it look lovely on a shelf, but I've used it in Christmas decor and to hold fresh bouquets.
I hope these ideas will give you a practical approach to decorating your home as well as a method for finding the pieces that create a home you & your family love to be in. Until next time,
Take care, Rachel
