Buying for a new home can be both expensive and overwhelming. Many first-time homeowners simply don't know what they want. Instead of going to a big warehouse and picking out this, that, and those, think about browsing in a vintage furniture store Paradise Valley AZ way. You may find that you love one particular style from a by-gone era, or you may find that you are enchanted by things that were made decades apart.
First, what makes a piece of furniture or an accessory 'vintage'? It must be of good quality, a fine example of its period. It must be at least thirty years old, while one hundred years may have passed since the item was new. It can be either handmade or mass-produced; there are many things considered collectible today that were made for tract houses in the fifties. If you find something you like, you can research it on your phone while you are standing in the store.
Anything over 100 years will be an antique and probably priced accordingly. Vintage pieces, in contrast, are often very affordable, especially if you have some ability to restore them yourself. Even if you need restoration help - if, for example, you find a charming pair of chairs but their seats are tattered - upholstering, slipcovers, new paint, or minor repair may still make a piece less expensive than new.
The other neat thing about good vintage pieces is that the better examples of a style will have been made with solid materials and craftsmanship often better than you will find in new things. A bureau may have a solid-wood back, not plywood, and the drawers could be on wooden runners rather than plastic. Pulls can be made of heavy bronze, with finer detail than you may see today.
Finally, this is a truly environmentally friendly way to shop. You will be keeping older furniture out of the landfills. Enjoy exotic wood and glass without depleting today's jungles or mineral deposits. The old finishes, fabrics, and stuffing will have long since off-gassed any toxins, so your home will be healthier as well as stunning.
Using vintage pieces will surely make your home stand out from others in your neighborhood. You might want to stick to one style, choosing furniture for every room from one period. You can even accessorize to match, using lamps, china, and glass from the period. It isn't hard to find fabrics for pillows and curtains, rugs, and pictures that invoke period rooms.
However, your own personality may find expression in using things you like no matter when they were made. An eclectic mix can be pulled together with color, or you can emphasize one thing about each piece that attracts you. Maybe they are all made of tiger maple, or all blend with your love of rough, natural fibers, or all set off your collection of glass or china.
Think about getting your basic furnishings at an affordable price and then slowly developing your taste as you stroll through shop after shop. Once your eye is trained, you can find treasures at thrift shops, bargains at second-hand furniture stores, and unique pieces at specialty shops. It's amazingly fun to live with things that have a rich history of their own.
First, what makes a piece of furniture or an accessory 'vintage'? It must be of good quality, a fine example of its period. It must be at least thirty years old, while one hundred years may have passed since the item was new. It can be either handmade or mass-produced; there are many things considered collectible today that were made for tract houses in the fifties. If you find something you like, you can research it on your phone while you are standing in the store.
Anything over 100 years will be an antique and probably priced accordingly. Vintage pieces, in contrast, are often very affordable, especially if you have some ability to restore them yourself. Even if you need restoration help - if, for example, you find a charming pair of chairs but their seats are tattered - upholstering, slipcovers, new paint, or minor repair may still make a piece less expensive than new.
The other neat thing about good vintage pieces is that the better examples of a style will have been made with solid materials and craftsmanship often better than you will find in new things. A bureau may have a solid-wood back, not plywood, and the drawers could be on wooden runners rather than plastic. Pulls can be made of heavy bronze, with finer detail than you may see today.
Finally, this is a truly environmentally friendly way to shop. You will be keeping older furniture out of the landfills. Enjoy exotic wood and glass without depleting today's jungles or mineral deposits. The old finishes, fabrics, and stuffing will have long since off-gassed any toxins, so your home will be healthier as well as stunning.
Using vintage pieces will surely make your home stand out from others in your neighborhood. You might want to stick to one style, choosing furniture for every room from one period. You can even accessorize to match, using lamps, china, and glass from the period. It isn't hard to find fabrics for pillows and curtains, rugs, and pictures that invoke period rooms.
However, your own personality may find expression in using things you like no matter when they were made. An eclectic mix can be pulled together with color, or you can emphasize one thing about each piece that attracts you. Maybe they are all made of tiger maple, or all blend with your love of rough, natural fibers, or all set off your collection of glass or china.
Think about getting your basic furnishings at an affordable price and then slowly developing your taste as you stroll through shop after shop. Once your eye is trained, you can find treasures at thrift shops, bargains at second-hand furniture stores, and unique pieces at specialty shops. It's amazingly fun to live with things that have a rich history of their own.
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Get an overview of important factors to consider before picking a vintage furniture store Paradise Valley AZ area and more information about a reputable store at http://www.vintagenita.com now.
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