I have spent decades curating my home, filling it with hard-to-find antiques and unique tchotchkes. Hydrangea House, as I call it, is a hub of everything I love, including my prized collection of artwork. When friends and family see my home, it’s the first thing they notice. Their almost immediate yet exasperated comment is, “Where did you get all of this?” My answer includes local craft shows, art galleries, estate sales, antique shops, and thrift stores. In fact, some of my most valuable pieces are second-hand.
My collection of art got me thinking: If I love sourcing artwork from second-hand stores, do interior designers find as much joy (and success?!) in it too? I reached out to a few experts from around the South to find out. Spoiler alert: They enjoy it as much as I do! Below, designers share not only why they source art second-hand but also the types of art they keep on their radar when visiting antique and thrift stores.
Anything In Multiples
Finding artwork in a pair is good, a triptych is great, but four or more? That’s ideal. Because of the nature of thrifting, paired artwork is often unintentionally separated. Maybe a piece is damaged. Maybe part of the collection was donated, part of it was left behind for the original owner, and only part of it was purchased by the buyer. “A large grouping of artwork always catches my eye,” says Edith-Anne Duncan, an interior designer in Virginia. “A set of six or eight botanicals, or a set of dinnerware with a fantastic pattern [for a plate wall], are examples.” Her best advice is to look for larger groupings that create instant collections.
Oil Landscapes
Few things add warmth and a bit of history to a space the way that an antique oil painting does, and that’s exactly why Mississippi designer Melanie Bryant searches for them. “I always keep an eye out for vintage oil landscapes, especially ones with visible texture and a bit of wear,” she says. “The patina adds character, and the scenes often bring a richness and historical feel to a room.” Even better, these pieces are often completed in gilded frames, which not only adds more detail but takes up more wall space, too.
Old Photographs
Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason
Like portraits and ephemera, photographs incorporate warmth into even the most contemporary, clean-lined spaces. “One well-loved piece can shift the energy and make things feel more grounded and personal,” says Charleston designer Betsy Berry. On a recent overnight at 86 Cannon, a boutique hotel designed by Berry, I noticed black and white photographs and etchings of Charleston sprinkled throughout the property. They emphasized the hotel’s long-standing history, and Berry says that pieces of art add a layer of authenticity and often become a conversation point. “I love that no two are ever exactly alike,” she says. “There’s a uniqueness that helps make the space feel curated, not decorated.”
Vintage Portraits
Credit:
Brie Williams
One of my estate sale buddies and I jokingly call vintage portraits our lost family members. We make up stories about their history and connection to our “family.” Truth be told, these portraits can be colorful, impactful statements in any room. A lady of the house portrait hangs in the living room of antique aficionado Emily Mabe. Mabe found “The Green Lady,” as she is lovingly referred to, in Atlanta at an estate sale. “The Green Lady has been watching over our family for many years now,” she says. “It’s special to have a portrait in our home by the ‘painter of presidents,’ James Anthony Wills, whose presidential portraits still grace the storied walls of the White House. She has truly become an integral part of the story of our family and our home.” Birmingham interior designer Lauren Connor asserts, “People are often drawn to the unexpected objects with character, history, and the potential to spark conversation.” Mabe’s Green Lady certainly does just that.
Framable Ephemera and Maps
Letters, grocery lists, love notes, birthday cards, and other paper items are unique pieces to consider picking up second-hand. Bryant says that these pieces are affordable, sentimental, and especially charming in kitchens or casual spaces. “I once found some old World War II naval maps and had them framed for a client who was a world traveler,” she says. When you find an inexpensive paper piece, you can splurge a little more on the framing and matting to help the work shine. Bryant says old postcards, handwritten recipes, or pages from vintage books or magazines are all great options for bringing a little sentimentality into a space.
Botanicals
Owner of retail shop Matilda’s Lifestyle and South Florida designer Dana Small says it’s important to create a sense of place in her design work. “If I am working on a project in Florida, I look for vintage prints of palms, corals, shells, and fish. If I am working on a project up north, I look for wildflowers and ferns,” she says. Additionally, Atlanta designer Nina Long says botanical prints add a tinge of classic decor, “Botanicals always catch my eye at antique shops because they are timeless, and the soft color palette and historical charm work well in spaces that feel traditional or English inspired.”
Architectural Drawings
Growing up, my dad was in commercial construction, so blueprints and architectural drawings were often spread on tables around his office or rolling around in his pickup truck. It’s no surprise, then, that I continue to be drawn to these types of works, and designers and decorators are too. These detailed drawings offer a glimpse into a building’s past.
Prints
When in doubt, a vintage print is almost always a great buy for sprucing up a space. Small says she keeps her eyes peeled for prints, especially when traveling. “The past few years, I have had the luxury to go to Paris and have found some great reproductions along the Seine River. They are a great price, but you really have to go through them all to find some unique pieces,” she says. If you aren’t flying to Paris anytime soon, you can find lovely reproductions on Etsy. “No matter if the hunt takes you down the street, across the pond, or on your laptop, I highly recommend using vintage prints to elevate your space and give it the personality it is looking for,” says Small.