Not old, but vintage. Where to find rare furniture and how to fit it into the interior

Where to find antique furniture

First of all, determine what things you need and for what. For example, if you are planning to assemble a unique collection, you should contact a specialist. It will help you not to make mistakes and find truly valuable and rare items. If you just want to dilute the interior with unusual details with history, you can do it yourself, spending a little time searching.

Walk through flea markets

It is unlikely that it will be possible to visit foreign flea markets in a pandemic, but Russia also has enough legendary places. For example, in Moscow, you can look at the Levsha flea market on Novoskhodnenskoye Highway and the Flea Market exhibition on Tishinskaya Square, and on weekends, fairs are held in the Izmailovsky Kremlin. In St. Petersburg, for rarities, you should go to the market near the Udelnaya metro station.

If you want to look for something interesting at the flea market, come early, better by the opening itself - this can increase the chances of a good catch. Remember, flea markets have their own rules. Sellers can often inflate the cost of a product if they see that they are a newbie, so do not hesitate to bargain.

Another option is thrift shops, a legacy of the Soviet era. People donate old things there, which they are easily ready to part with, not realizing that these can be real masterpieces. True, to find really valuable items here, you have to be patient.

Visit grandma

Our grandparents are from the generation that is used not to throw things away, but to fix them. Surely, relatives will find an interesting wardrobe, an oil lamp from the Tsarist era, or an old German service. Yes, and grandmother will be glad that you do not persuade her to get rid of the trash, but give things a second life. Who knows, what if the old chest of drawers will become your family heirloom.

Do not neglect the furniture of the Soviet era - this is also a kind of vintage. If you hire a good restorer, you can transform an old armchair or sideboard beyond recognition. Of particular value is furniture in the Stalinist Empire style, combining features of the Baroque, Art Deco and late Classicism. As a rule, it is made of solid wood, for example, oak, so it can stand for another hundred years.

Take a look at ad sites

It is convenient to search here for unique furniture and decor throughout Russia. Even if no one sells the coveted vintage lamp in the neighborhood, there is a chance to find it in another city. And be sure to check if the seller agrees to bargaining: this way you can buy a rare item with a good discount.

This option is more convenient than walking through flea markets: you can immediately estimate how the find will look in the interior. It is also easy to conduct an investigation with the help of the Internet, using, for example, image search. This will allow you to better know the history of the interior item and understand what era or style it belongs to, where and from what it was made.

Things to Consider When Choosing Antique Furniture

If you know the intricacies of buying antiques, the risk of buying a pig in a poke and running into a reproduction instead of the original will be lower. First of all, pay attention to the appearance of the item: usually the fewer defects the furniture has, the higher the cost. For example, an antique wardrobe in perfect condition can be considered a collectible, so it will cost more expensive than a similar worn item that is less valuable to sophisticated collectors rarities.

At the same time, abrasions and minor mechanical damage on cabinet furniture made of wood are considered the norm. The same goes for discolored or darkened spots on upholstered furniture, carpets, and antique tapestries. In general, materials are an important characteristic for antique furniture. Take a closer look at options from precious woods and models with gilding, lacquer coating and unusual fittings.

Also, the cost of antiques is influenced by its uniqueness: the fewer copies were produced, the higher their attractiveness. And items with a history are especially appreciated. If the thing belonged to famous people or served as a background for significant events, this may affect its value.

How to make antiques friends with your interior

Combine the incongruous

Gone are the days when a strict adherence to one style was in fashion. Today, such a commitment has been replaced by eclecticism, so you can safely experiment. In order not to complicate the task for yourself, try not to make impulsive purchases. Better imagine in advance how this or that rarity will fit into the interior of your apartment.

Feel free to add antique accents to the simple, clean lines of modern interiors. For example, a simple dining table can be decorated with bronze candelabra. And a new dressing table in the bedroom will play well with an antique chair with quirky armrests. Interesting ideas and examples of original combinations can always be seen in the works of interior designers.

Find Companion Items

Such things will allow you to combine the new and the old. For example, a carpet can become a kind of bridge between eras. It will help an antique sofa "settle down" in a modern living room. It is important not to overdo it with an abundance of details: the more decorative details the furniture has, the more laconic the carpet pattern should be. But neutral colors of interior items can be diluted with bright accessories and textiles.

Place accents

Antique furniture is a real piece of art, so it is important to define one of the main places in the room for it. Vintage should attract attention without being striking.

There are two popular design tactics to choose from. For example, make an antique the main detail of the space, so that the rest of the objects serve as a background for it. If you are not ready for a large-scale transformation of the interior, give it expressiveness by adding two or three small rare accents.

Don't overload the space

Antiques need air and freedom, so do not clutter up the room with unnecessary items that will draw attention from unique things to yourself. Also remember the rule of proportion. It is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the antique accent so that the thing does not get lost or, conversely, does not overshadow the other "inhabitants" of the room. So, a massive wardrobe will be cramped in a small room, in contrast to a small console table, which would be lost in a spacious room.

Finally, experiment with lighting. An abundance of natural light can be beneficial to emphasize unusual furniture, but if this option is not suitable, use floor lamps or sconces. Spot lighting makes it easy to accentuate a unique piece of furniture.