something old

i love a cosy home vibe all year but especially for the holiday season. new york becomes grim, very cold and cloudy during the winter months so having an inviting indoor space is key to my surviving these months. but in many ways these months are also my favorite time of the year: the beanies and boots, homemade hot chocolate, wood burning fireplaces, cashmere robes and faux fur blankets... theres nothing quite like it.

over the past month i've been slowly converting my home into a perfect hibernation space for the coming season. part of that is having conversation pieces around my home as well as very old items that truly speak to my happiness and character.

if you aren't an antique-er then you may be very confused as to what i'm talking about... let me explain.

there is something about a piece that is so beautifully made but just a little off; it could be a 2000 year old urn with a small chip, an eighty year old hand woven turkish rug or a hand painted victorian bowl with some fading colors. some of these are what i like to call conversation pieces, something so unique and bold that isn't found in stores today. those are the items people notice and ask about. it's nice to have things like this in your home that have a back story or that had a life before the one you gave it.

fun fact: the first thing i bought for this apartment was a handmade pottery dinnerware set from an antique store Franklin, TN. each item is just little different that the one next to it and something about that just makes these pieces so special to me.

i also really love the whole process, being surrounded by things that someone once fell in love with, items that could have been passed down for generations, and the idea that no one else has them... i love scouring through warehouses of everything from furniture to books, clothes and games.

this will be a roundup solely of my purchases over the past few weeks, however robb also did some antiquing for his office - crystal decanters + a photograph of the flatiron building being made - some really cool finds if you ask me. if you're interested in what a mans perspective on this, leave a comment and maybe we can have him do a guest post.

without further adieu...

some images from my favorite local stores & my recent purchases.

knock on wood antiques. Norwalk, CT.

Mother Junk. Williamsburg, NY.

Wooden Vessel $30

Vinterest. Chattanooga, TN.

vase $10

Vinterest. Chattanooga, TN.

bronzed vase $10

Turkish Rug $100

Perennial Gardens. Bedford, NY

stone pottery $30

Black Frame Antiques. Bridgeport, CT

Antique bread board from 1800's $160

Stratford Antiques.

1800's Spanish Vessel $170

Mongers Market. Bridgeport, CT

hand carved wooden picture frame from JP Morgans grandson's estate $150

Stratford Antiques. CT

milking stool $20

if you live in the NY tri state area, there are so many amazing antique shops! the best part, in my opinion, is no one else will have these pieces and you can negotiate the prices! we've gotten some amazing prices on items for our home. for instance, the spanish vessel above is very similar to one i've had saved on RH but for a fraction of the price. we also love Virginia, Frankling TN, Dallas, TX, + Pheonix / Scottsdale AZ for great antiquing.

what are some items in your home that you absolutely love and make your house feel cosy, comforting and inviting?