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Sunday, March 19, 2023

15 of My Favorite Vintage Finds


Tour my favorite antique and vintage finds that I have displayed throughout my vintage-modern decorated home! 


Throughout the past several years, my love of vintage decor quickly turned from a hobby to selling in a vintage boothonline, and at local vintage markets

I love thrifting, hunting, and picking for vintage decor then styling and curating my finds to create beautiful and unique displays and vignettes.  

It's such a fun hobby turned side business that has given me the chance to explore new areas, meet new people, and find some really awesome vintage items.  

Some of the vintage finds I sell, some I hang onto and enjoy for a bit before selling, and others are just way too good to let go of. 

Today, I'm sharing 15 of my favorite vintage finds that I knew right away were keepers!

Vintage and antique finds

Before I get to my favorite vintage items that I have displayed throughout my home, I wanted to share a few articles to help you find, stage, and decorate with vintage decor. 







THE BEST SOURCES FOR FINDING UNIQUE VINTAGE DECOR

- Antique shops and malls
- Vintage markets
- Auctions
- Flea markets
- Thrift Stores
- Yard sales 
- Church sales
- Estate sales
- Facebook Marketplace
Etsy
- Ebay
- Upscale curated online marketplaces (Chairish1st Dibs
- Instagram
- VINTAGE BY LHOF (MY ONLINE SHOP) 


1. VINTAGE PENDANT LIGHT
SOURCE: Vintage Market  


The vintage milk glass schoolhouse pendant light was a cool find from a local vintage market.  Knowing that it was salvaged from an old Baltimore city restaurant was an added bonus that had me sold.
vintage decorated mudroom

2. VINTAGE TIME CARD BOARD
SOURCE: VINTAGE MARKET


This vintage time card board is easily at the top of my favorite vintage items list.  It's unique, hard to find, and a super cool piece that adds interest and character.   

antique time card board

3. VINTAGE SET OF BRASS DEER 

Source: Local Online Auction


Last year, I won an incredible set of very large vintage brass deer from a local auction.  I have a feeling many people didn't quite realize how large they were, which allowed me to snag the pair for a mere $60.  

Luckily, I was able to view them before the auction started and knew they were huge and I HAD to have them.   Some vintage items I contemplate keeping or selling, but there was no question that these deer were staying with me.  I even keep them out and displayed all year long!

vintage brass deer set

4. ANTIQUE DOCTORS BAG
SOURCE: ANTIQUE SHOP

There is an antique shop within a few miles from my home that I try to stop in about once a month.  I often walk out empty-handed, but every once in a while, I find something worth buying and keeping for myself.  

One of those items was an antique doctor's bag that once belonged to the county coroner where I live.  Sadly, someone bought the old paper death certificates from the bag, but it was still filled with old medical tools, medication, and other cool vintage medical ephemera.

vintage leather doctor bag

5. ANTIQUE WICKER WRAPPED DEMIJOHNS
SOURCE: AUCTIONS

Wicker-wrapped demijohns are something that I recently started collecting.  I try to limit myself to only purchasing them from auctions, which makes the hunt a little harder and collecting them more affordable.  

I do sell some of the wicker-wrapped demijohns that I find, but the majority of them I keep and display throughout my home.  


antique wicker demijohns

6. ANTIQUE METAL DRAFTING STOOLS

SOURCE: VINTAGE MARKET

I love mixing vintage and modern, so when I saw these black antique metal drafting stools I knew they would be the perfect addition to our newly renovated kitchen.   I've had them for a few years now and love them just as much as the day I bought them. 

antique metal drafting stools

8. ANTIQUE WOOD CUBBY
SOURCE: AUCTION

How awesome is this antique wood cubby?  I bought it a few years ago from an auction with the intention of using it under our living room tv.  I wanted something that was vintage, unique, large, and made a statement.  This definitely fits the bill! 
antique wood cubby

9. VINTAGE BRASS BLADE FAN
SOURCE: AUCTION

I've always been drawn to old fans and fell in love with this antique cast iron and brass blade fan when I saw it at an auction.  It's super heavy and fun to decorate with, but it's also in perfect working condition.  

vintage cast iron and brass fan


10. VINTAGE "FURNISHED ROOMS" SIGN
SOURCE: AUCTION

Vintage signs are an awesome way to add character to your walls.  I have a few throughout my home, but my favorite is the double-sided metal "FURNISHED ROOMS" sign that hangs over my bed.  
vintage metal sign


11. ANTIQUE OAK CARD CATALOG
SOURCE: AUCTION

I've had a love for antique card catalogs for as long as I can remember.  I've bought and sold many throughout the years, but there are a few that I just can't bring myself to part with.  One of my favorites is a fifteen-drawer card catalog that I cleaned up and keep in my new office

vintage oak card catalog

12. VINTAGE CLOCKS

SOURCE: AUCTIONS


Antique clocks and cameras are some of the first vintage items that I started purchasing and collecting.  I have quite a few of them displayed throughout my home, but I'm particularly partial to vintage alarm clocks with black faces.  

Some of my favorites are displayed on a shelf in my office where I get to enjoy them while I'm working. 

vintage alarm clocks

13. EAMES-INSPIRED LOUNGE CHAIR
SOURCE: AUCTION


My Eames-inspired lounge chair was purchased for myself from an auction a few years ago.  It's been moved throughout my home from the basement to my office and then back to the basement.  It's super comfortable and brings a nice MCM vibe to wherever it's displayed. 

Vintage Eames style chair

14. LUG ANTIQUE APOTHECARY JARS
SOURCE: AUCTION


I recently bought a large collection of LUG (label under glass) apothecary bottles from a local auction.  I love unique apothecary bottles and jars and knew they would make a great display on my basement fireplace mantel. 

antique apothecary jars

15. ANTIQUE CHURCH HYMN BOARD
SOURCE: AUCTION

Last but certainly not least, my antique church hymn board.  I purchased the hymn board for a steal from a local auction and knew it was an item I was never going to sell.  I found the perfect spot for it in my basement and use it to display important family dates. 


antique church hymn board


I'm always on the lookout for the next best vintage item to add to my home.  The best part is the thrill of the hunt and never knowing what you may find!

What is your favorite vintage or antique find?


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favorite vintage finds




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Would you like to comment?

  1. Hi, Katie! I absolutely love your blog and your vintage style of decorating! I, too, have gotten the vintage bug and so enjoy collecting and selling at vintage markets now. But my very favorite item in your home is the time card board because my regular job is VP of Human Resources of a community health center. My husband found one for me that hangs in my office now and staff think it's so cool! I also have an old typewriter, a collection of vintage cameras, an antique fan and stack of old green books on a small secretary in my office as well. LOL! As you can see, I've learned from you well! Now to collecting alarm clocks! Love me some Big Bens!

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    1. How cool that your husband found a time card board for you! It sounds like we have very similar style and taste when it comes to vintage decor :)

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  2. Ohhhh!!! Those large brass deer are to die for!!! Such a great score! Please contact me if you decide to sell them in the next few years or so. Doubtful, right??

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  3. So many pretty things. My favorite of course is the brass deer and the brass bladed fan. I love brass all day long.

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