Before we get hip-deep in linens, I just want to say a huge thank you for all of the kind comments left on yesterday’s post.  I’ve been struggling a bit with writers-block and, quite honestly, being in a bit of a funk, and those comments unclogged the cork!  Seriously!  I know I sometimes get stuck in my own head and getting a glimpse of how this work can and does impact and encourage others is like a stimulant for my creative soul. Thanks for the pick-me-up. So, I received an order of linens late last week and was in nubby, antique, blue & white linen heaven as they were unpacked.  Kriste organized all of them in stacks and rolls on our work tables and I had to leave the work at my desk and venture over to pet them. I order them from a supplier in Europe that I’ve worked

Over my years of buying and selling furniture, I have learned to trust my instincts on pieces.  If I’m all a-flutter when I see something, I know I should jump at it.  If it elicits that response in me, it probably will in others, too. Such was the case with this antique hardware counter I spotted one night as I was browsing craigslist… It’s 7′ long and I knew it would be a beast, but I couldn’t shake it out of my head, so I e-mailed the seller and asked my dad if we could go pick it up in his truck. The piece is an antique counter out of an old hardware store in Resisterstown, MD.  The seller knew the owner of the store and offered to take the counter to sell when they were considering throwing it out!  So, it ended up on craigslist and then it ended

Years ago, I spotted an antique crib used as a daybed in a magazine, I think Country Living or Country Home, and I was immediately in love.  I hunted for one and finally came across an antique metal hospital crib for $50 at the Old Lucketts Fair (not to be confused with the Lucketts Spring Market). Here’s some retro Miss Mustard Seed… Just for fun, here is what that window looks like today… Oh, how things change, right? Anyway, that crib was one of my favorite I-will-never-ever-sell-it pieces.  We even used it as our “sofa” when we lived in Jeff’s parents basement as he worked on his undergrad degree.  Jeff loathed the thing, mainly because it made an entirely impractical and ridiculous sofa, but space was limited and it’s what could be wedged between his desk and the wall! When we moved into our townhouse, I used it in the guest

If you’ve been coming here for a while, you’ll notice that things look a little different on my blog now!  I actually had this design created over a year ago, but it’s taken this long to get all of the technical ducks in a row to implement the new design and entirely rebuild the backend of the site for the sake of speed and efficiency.  We still have some minor tweaks and cosmetic changes to make, so hang in there if things are missing or a little off for the next few days. So, last week, I drove out to fellow antique dealer’s home to buy some ironstone, but I ended up buying an antique French daybed instead!  It was pretty much impossible to resist.  It does need some work, but I know it will be fabulous when it’s finished. Here is how it looks now… I will paint it, because

I hit a lucky streak on craigslist last week and I also scored some great finds when I was out shopping.  So, the studio is full of pieces waiting for their makeovers. And giving furniture a makeover is like therapy for me.  I put on some loud music and paint and it does me good. One of the pieces I’m really excited about is an antique step-back cupboard.  I got it for a good deal, because it was dirty and had some cosmetic issues, like a missing bottom shelf, a rotted back, etc.  It was otherwise sturdy and the fixes were well within my capabilities. Here’s the bottom of it… …and the top… It was a built-in piece, so it’s missing a back, but my dad cut the piece of bead board to attach to it once it’s painted.  I am planning to match that pretty robins’ egg color with a custom