Refresh this Spring with some vintage charm
Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your living spaces, and adding vintage elements can give character, warmth, and timeless appeal. Here are some simple ways to refresh your home with vintage-inspired decor this season:
Start with a thoughtful color palette inspired by bygone eras—soft pastels reminiscent of the 1950s, earthy tones from the 1970s, or gentle florals from Victorian times. All of these colors serve as the perfect backdrop to your interior.
Hunt for unique pieces at thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets. Look for quality craftsmanship in furniture with good bones that can be restored or repurposed. Even a single statement piece—like a mid-century modern chair or an antique dresser—can transform a room.
Mix old with new for balance. Pair vintage furniture with contemporary textiles, or display antique collections against modern wall colors. This prevents your space from feeling like a museum and creates a lived-in, collected-over-time aesthetic.
Bring spring indoors by arranging fresh cut forsythia sprigs about to bloom or soft pussy willow branches in vintage vessels—depression glass, milk glass vases, or ceramic pitchers all make charming containers. This simple touch bridges the old-world charm with the freshness of the season.
Remember that vintage styling is never about perfection! Quite the opposite. Embrace the patina, wear, and history that comes with older items—these imperfections tell stories and add soul to your home as you welcome the renewal that spring brings.
Browse around my store to see what’s waiting there for you and your home!
Hidden Gems of Danish Design: 1930s Cohr Salt Shakers
Long before Danish Modern furniture took the world by storm, a quiet revolution was happening on Denmark's dining tables. The Cohr salt and pepper set, designed by Hjordis Haugaard in 1930, tells this fascinating story.
With its UFO-like silhouette and streamlined form, this set wasn't just ahead of its time – it helped define it. While most associate Danish design with the 1950s boom, these elegant shakers prove that modernist innovation was already flourishing decades earlier.
What makes this particular set remarkable isn't just its design. The original packaging, with its minimalist graphics and bold typography, survives as a rare example of early modernist commercial art. Finding both the shakers and their original box intact is increasingly uncommon, making complete sets like this particularly valuable to collectors.
For those interested in design history, these pieces offer an accessible entry point into early Danish modernism. Before the famous chairs and lamps that would later define the movement, designers like Haugaard were pioneering modern aesthetics through everyday objects.
In this world of mass production, these beauties remind us of a time when even the simplest household items were crafted with extraordinary care and vision. They're not just vintage tableware – they're perfectly preserved snapshots of design history in the making.
Election Day 2024 🇺🇸
A quick post to acknowledge today for the monumental day it is here in America, Election Day 2024.
The air feels a bit different today. A warm day here in New York. Beautiful weather, really. Has a shift begun to occur in this country? I think so. I believe in the underlying decency, common sense, and core compassion in our country. Anger, quick judgment, and mob mentality is ugly but it burns out, runs down, and eventually reveals the fear beneath it.
Whatever this day brings, it will be the result of years of heartfelt work and growth in our collective lifetime. I have a strong sense that we will come through this stronger, wiser, maybe even evolved. Yes, no question there. We are evolving.
If you haven’t already, please vote!
Peace xo
❤️🤍💙
Generosity of Thrifters
A quick post because words escape me. Depending on the day and circumstances, I tend to avoid other thrifters. I really enjoy having a low profile, staying as focused as possible. That works well in most ways but sometimes I become isolated. It’s a habit that I’m working to drop because the cost is simply too high. It stopped working for me a long time ago. I used it like a trusty weapon when it wasn’t safe to be vulnerable and naive. Hard to put down something that, without a doubt,saved my life. Times have changed, though. No going back to the old way of being out in the world around people.
This beautiful crystal bowl is a gift from a stranger at a local thrift shop. We’ve chatted before and I thought I knew her enough to say we didn’t agree on a lot. I overheard political views and I closed myself off based on my own judgments. She found this French lead crystal vintage piece and we had a great conversation about incredible finds we came across over the years. There was a second lady in the circle we formed and we really talked for a few minutes. Later, as they came to find me in another isle and offered the bowl asking if I wanted it. I was incredibly happy , so touched by the gesture. I even heard how much she appreciated meeting me and connecting over our love of vintage pieces. My heart melted. It was a pivotal moment.
I want to put this out there, mostly to remind myself that I rarely know the other person’s story. Quick assessments and harsh judgment is isolating. Yes, we were different in many ways but essentially we were the same. Let that be enough.
If you’re reading this and recognize yourself as the gracious, fun, and thoughtful shopper that day, please know how grateful I am.
Thrifters unite!
Thanks for listening! ❤️
Happy Pumpkin Spice Season to all who celebrate!
Happy September
A quick entry to share this recipe of a pumpkin spice latte I found on the Everyday Cheapskate website. I want to give it a try. That’s a great site with a ton of great tips, articles, research and a lovely writer, Mary Hunt. I’ve been following her for years and she hasn’t steered me wrong. I post my results in a day or two. Now, this is not to rush into Autumn and the cold weather. Not at all!
The weather here in NY has been beautiful. It changes quickly after Labor Day. One weekend it’s hot, sunny and humid. Everyone is in the pool or walking around in flip flops and the very next weekend, not so much. The thought of jumping into a pool seems insane. Happens almost every year since I can remember.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
2 Tbsp pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (bought or homemade)
2 Tbsp white sugar (optional)
pinch of black pepper
1 cup half and half or whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup strong hot coffee or espresso
Whipped Cream for topping (optional)
Heat all but the coffee, whipped cream, and vanilla in a sauce pan until hot but not boiled, take off the heat, whisk until frothy.
Add vanilla extract after whisking
Pour coffee into large mug, add frothy mixture on top, top with whipped cream, garnish with cinnamon stick, sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice, whatever you like.
Let me know if you like the recipe. If this is an interest, I have more really great pumpkin pie spiced recipes to add, like baked pumpkin oatmeal ( I’m getting hungry just thinking about it).
Labor Day 2024
Labor Day 2024 is brought to you by the working class people that came before us. My first job was at the age of 11 yrs. I worked at a local horse stables from early Spring to the start of school in September. My friend and I both wanted to be near horses and the owner of the stables let us come in everyday and clean. We were eventually paid with free horseback riding lessons thanks to my friend’s grandmother who gave the owner a piece of her mind when she heard we were not being paid. I watched her in utter amazement. I’m still grateful to her today. That was my role model for speaking up to management!
I had a favorite horse, Barron. He was owned by the stables and ridden by people who just wanted a quick lesson. I took care of him, groomed his whiskers, curried his coat, gave him extra hay and sawdust for his stall. I learned how to ride, cantor, gallop, and even jumping. That was what I was after. The experience of taking care a horse and learning to ride. The unexpected benefit was how we developed a work ethic and a very early age. I viewed that job back then as a way to get what I wanted most. Later, any job I took (multiple jobs) was a way into my own first car, apartment, higher education, general independence. Union jobs came a bit later after just starting out. My dad told me about our cousin from the early days of NYC, a Transit Workers Union, TWU leader named Michael J. Quill. My grandfather, Michael Duggan pictured above, arrived in New York City from County Kerry, getting a job as a bus driver. He drove a double decker bus on 5th avenue. Without the Transit Union, back in the 1930’s, bus drivers were expected to work 12 hour days, 7 days a week, never guaranteed a steady job. They would show up in full polished uniform every morning and the boss would select who could work that day. If you were black, jewish, catholic, you were probably not picked or given harsher treatment. The Union changed all that. Michael Quill fought Mayor Lindsay and was arrested and jailed for continuing the strike of 1966. Nobody wanted a strike but in order to get a fair contract, it was necessary. Because of his sacrifice, the TWU were given a fair contract when Mayor Lindsay saw what he was up against. Michael Quill was not a young man at the time. He developed pneumonia while in jail and later died, as a result. I’ll leave a link to old video news footage so you can see the man himself. This video is from TWULocal100 You Tube channel.
https://youtu.be/yNVPSIm7vR0?si=I8CtTnqlxDDMtj_D
Thinking of those who paved the way, did they fight the good fight thinking of us, the grandchildren who would inherit a world of laws, rules, or environments that would make day to day life a heaven or hell? I’m sure they knew what was at stake. Their brave efforts, collaboration, and ability to work together and look ahead has ensured a fighting chance. The past has much to offer. If nothing else, just a sense of gratitude for progress made on our behalf.
I hope you enjoyed this post. It became much more than just the idea I started with! I surprised myself especially the part about our grandparents thinking of the world we’ll occupy today. Maybe that line of history about relics, vintage, and past worlds is why I decided to collect and sell the items I do?
What are some of your memories of first jobs, asking for what you want, or family who paved the way? Leave a comment. Thanks for taking time to check out my blog.
Happy Labor Day 🇺🇸
Bringing vintage forward
Alphonse Mucha’s “Automne”
Art Nuevo image on glass 1970’s
Vintage is here to stay and ends up being a hero to our future, lifestyle and the environment. Who knew the humble thrift stores, reselling shops and garage sales across the nation would end up answering the call to help our overwhelmed senses? First it was fast food, then fast fashion and we were hooked. Buy now pay later and boy did we ever! Now, with a sense of clarity, responsibility, and decision to look around, we see what was always there all along. The art, craftsmanship, culture from years past has value, sustainability, and is just plain beautiful. Thankfully, someone had the sense not to throw it all in a heap and walk away. With great care the hardwood furniture is still available. Fine art, textiles, studio glass, dishes, flatware, vinyl albums are finding their place in our culture. Millennials and Gen Z are wise beyond their years in knowing what works and what doesn't. Sustainable living is a priority and actually affordable. Young families are savy enough to know that if they want to survive even thrive, living within their means is non-negoiable. They are choosing vintage fashions finding high quality pieces. Keeping expenses down, they will shop for glassware over plastic, copper and stainless cookware over the non-stick "throw you out in a year" pan leaching toxins into the food we eat. I feel a new sense of hope and real pride in being part of the vintage revolution. The research shows sustainability is top priority for consumers. When we refuse to buy fast furniture and turn to quality pieces at the thrift store, local garage sale, online resellers, Wall Street has no choice but to listen. We know a good thing when we see it and pass it on. Keeping the past alive in a meaningful way builds a better tomorrow for communities, families and day to day living. Have you noticed a shift in how we look at vintage? Leave a comment and share what you've experienced. I'd love to hear from you.