{"id":4550,"date":"2022-02-20T11:00:52","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T10:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=26982"},"modified":"2022-02-20T11:15:35","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T10:15:35","slug":"how-to-thrift-furniture-for-your-home","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/how-to-thrift-furniture-for-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to thrift furniture for your home"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Molly Malsom\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 20 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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In November 2018, fine art and antiques auctioneers Sworders sold a set of seven Regency dining chairs<\/a> for \u00a3340. They were made from mahogany and boasted elegantly turned legs beneath their newly upholstered seats. Whoever bought them got a bargain. Even with the auction house premium (typically 20 to 25 per cent of the sale price), the cost compares favourably with the high street; and you can be pretty sure that the average mass-produced, contemporary chair wouldn\u2019t be made of a solid hardwood. \u2018Antiques were often handmade using the best quality materials and the most exceptional workmanship,\u2019 says antiques dealer Ed Butcher, who sells mainly mid-century pieces<\/a> from his eponymous shop on London\u2019s Lots Road. \u2018This results in something truly beautiful that will stand the test of time and won\u2019t depreciate in value the moment you get it home.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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This contemporary apartment in Covent Garden, designed by Sophie Ashby, blends quality antique furniture and accessories to chic, modern effect<\/span><\/figcaption> Philip Durrant<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Of course, there are many contemporary designers and manufacturers producing exquisitely made furniture from the finest materials, but such craftsmanship often comes at a premium and is out of the reach of anyone furnishing their houses on a limited budget. The more affordable end of the new market offers a wealth of (mostly good-looking) choice but, largely, it is not built to last. The UK throws away around 1.6m tonnes of furniture and bulky waste each year, according to The Great Recovery, a project run by the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), most of which ends up in landfill. As the damaging environmental impact of our disposable lifestyles becomes more evident, reusing what has already been made makes ever more sense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antique furniture<\/a> has personality, too. Older furniture comes with a back story \u2013 even if you don\u2019t know the provenance of a piece, you can imagine the previous owners and the homes it has lived in \u2013 and you are far less likely to find that your best friend or neighbour has bought the same piece. As antiques-loving interior designer Sophie Ashby says, \u2018Antiques offer so much style and character compared to high street furniture, and finding a piece that\u2019s special and more than likely can\u2019t be found elsewhere is deeply satisfying.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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In this bedroom, designer Sophie Ashby chose an art deco, marble-topped bedside table \u2013 its quality and beauty sings<\/span><\/figcaption> Philip Durrant<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

How to find antique furniture<\/h2>\n

But where to start? There\u2019s a plethora of places to find good quality furniture at the lower end of the budget spectrum \u2013 flea markets and antiques fairs<\/a>, auctions and shops<\/a>, both physical and online<\/a>, all offer a dizzying array of antique<\/a>, vintage<\/a>, salvaged<\/a> or otherwise pre-owned furniture, lighting<\/a> and accessories. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to James Pickup, Auctioneer and Valuer at Sworders, auction house sales are no longer the expensive, intimidating places of stereotype. \u2018Our existence relies on us being accessible,\u2019 he says. \u2018While the top end of the market is very expensive, the lower end [for example, unattributed pieces, brown furniture, anything that has been restored] has fallen by about 60 per cent in the last 20 years, so buying at auction<\/a> can be extremely cost-effective.\u2019 His top tip for success is to be prepared. \u2018There are no refunds at auction so you need to be sure the piece is right. Get the catalogue before you go, highlight lots that are of interest and arrive early so you can look at everything thoroughly. Measure things, open drawers and cupboard doors to assess the condition, and ask questions. When it comes to bidding, make sure the auctioneer can see you and bid with confidence up to your budget limit.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Georgian oak chest of drawers sold for \u00a3220 at Sworders in November 2018<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Knowing what you\u2019re looking for and careful inspection are the keys to successful antique furniture shopping, wherever you choose to buy. Even online dealers such as Gemma and Simon Jones of Mustard Vintage recommend hands-on scrutiny wherever possible (ask for close-up photos and detailed information about the condition if you can\u2019t see a piece in person), while Will Thomas, Managing Director of International Antiques & Collectors Fairs, which runs large outdoor fairs such as Newark and Ardingly, urges anyone buying wooden pieces to \u2018look for evidence of woodworm, check the joints and ask whether it has been restored\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Restoration<\/a> divides opinion, as serious collectors may avoid anything that isn\u2019t in its original condition, but if you\u2019re buying to furnish your home on a budget, a few well done repairs are nothing to worry about. Neither are some visible signs of wear and tear, providing a piece is structurally sound. \u2018The patina of use adds character,\u2019 says Adam Hills, founder of salvage specialists Retrouvius, adding that he is drawn to \u2018unloved, neglected pieces,\u2019 of the kind found languishing at the backs of salesrooms and market stalls.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Victorian ex-museum mahogany display cabinet cleverly repurposed as a kitchen island by Retrouvius<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Fallon Photography<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

How to shop for bargain antiques<\/h2>\n

Opting for the scuffed and \u2018unfashionable\u2019 may require a shift in attitude, but it is a sure route to a bargain, particularly when it comes to more incidental items such as side tables, occasional chairs and cabinets. It also leaves you with more to spend on investment pieces such as sofas<\/a> and dining tables. <\/span><\/p>\n

Christopher Halls, an Associate at auction house Cheffins, recommends looking for pieces \u2018in the style\u2019 of well-known design classics as a way of getting the look for less. Jane Juran, organiser of the Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair in London, suggests bargain hunters seek out carved Victorian lamp bases, Georgian dining chairs, and country stools and cricket tables, which are so simple they look modern. Simon and Gemma Jones tip old school furniture. \u2018It was often incredibly well made and has a timeless, utilitarian look that can add character and warmth to a room,\u2019 they say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\""How\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
An easy armchair in the manner of Howard & Sons with mahogany front legs and loose covers, sold for \u00a3300 at Cheffins in September 2018<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Buying old rather than new inevitably leads to a more mismatched, eclectic aesthetic and, as Sophie Ashby admits, it\u2019s not for everyone. However, if you\u2019re looking for an interestingly layered, narrative-filled interior on a budget, antiques are the way ahead. And you don\u2019t have to sacrifice modern style, as antique does not equate to old-fashioned. \u2018It\u2019s all about the mix,\u2019 says Sophie. \u2018Put something new next to something old and try placing opposite materials next to each other.\u2019 You\u2019ll need to experiment, but the other great thing about antiques is that they tend to hold their value, so if you make a mistake, you can simply sell the piece on. What\u2019s not to love?<\/span><\/p>\n

Decorating on a shoestring<\/h2>\n

Meet Katie McCarthy, the savvy antiques lover who decorated her home on a shoestring.<\/i><\/p>\n

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When Marketing Manager Katie McCarthy moved into her two-bedroom Edwardian flat in 2016, she knew she wouldn\u2019t have much money to spare for the interior decor. \u2018It needed a lot of work so the budget had to be spent on the basics,\u2019 she says. Keen to draw attention to the age of the building, she decided to try to furnish the place with antique and vintage pieces and so began a protracted shopping spree that has taken her to markets, second-hand shops and even the local dump. \u2018Shopping like this is so much fun,\u2019 she says. \u2018I much prefer the effect you get by incorporating older pieces \u2013 the colours, scale and finishes are often unique and these objects become talking points in your home.\u2019<\/p>\n

Her best buys include a hotel sign she bought for under \u00a310 at a second-hand store, a round Victorian mirror with beautifully foxed glass found for \u00a35 at the dump, and a green velvet seat made from an old sofa bed and upholstered using a pair of curtains that came with the house. \u2018It\u2019s practical and the fabric reminds me of the original history of the house.\u2019<\/p>\n

The end result is eclectic, of course, but Katie has learned through trial and error that old and mismatched can look modern and fresh so long as the background is simple. \u2018I\u2019ve kept the wall colours muted and the ceilings and woodwork crisp and white so the furniture and other pieces stand out and don\u2019t have to compete with the bones of the house,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

What Katie bought:<\/b><\/span> a chest of drawers, an armchair, three rugs, a marble table, a set of mid-century chairs and more decorative objects than she can count. Total spend:<\/b><\/span> \u00a3400.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Best bargain:<\/b><\/span> A \u2018Pay at the Desk\u2019 sign. \u2018Old signs and typography are a particular interest of mine. I spotted this at the mechanics and asked if I could have it. He said yes!\u2019<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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By Molly Malsom Published: Sunday, 20 February 2022 at 12:00 am In November 2018, fine art and antiques auctioneers Sworders sold a set of seven Regency dining chairs for \u00a3340. They were made from mahogany and boasted elegantly turned legs beneath their newly upholstered seats. Whoever bought them got a bargain. Even with the auction […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[1,20],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Molly Malsom Published: Sunday, 20 February 2022 at 12:00 am In November 2018, fine art and antiques auctioneers Sworders sold a set of seven Regency dining chairs for \u00a3340. They were made from mahogany and boasted elegantly turned legs beneath their newly upholstered seats. Whoever bought them got a bargain. Even with the auction…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/4550"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}