How to begin collecting: The Collected Home Series

Although you may have missed the Antique Acres Event last weekend, the inspiring displays are similar to those their vendors arrange at other locations throughout the year. Since the shopping experience is a mix of one-of-a-kind antiques, crafts and re-imagined goods, it really had me thinking about my Collected Home series.

As we’ve begun to discuss this trend at the heart of decorating the Collected Home is, well, heart. The idea is to bring joy and sentiment to your space in a way that highlights your favorite pieces and doesn’t feel cluttered. Collecting in this regard shouldn’t be thought of as owning an entire series of similar objects. Collecting is truly the verb, in the sense that it is the action of choosing what fits best with your identity and established decor. Here’s where it gets a little easier- not every piece has to hold a story or meaning to you. Some of the things you will buy will be there merely to enhance the presence of a really meaningful item.

But what if you are starting from scratch? Where to begin? The only true way to get the look, other than slowly building up your collection of favorite things over the years, is to mix in older pieces that will represent a connection to you of a past item or memory. The types of refinished and repurposed wares for sale at events like these pass as family heirlooms or sentimental pieces far better than trendy new knickknacks from a chain store. Let’s take a little walk around the beautiful barn and adjoining buildings of this Medina venue and i’ll show you what sparked my interest and why I thought it was worthy of adding to my collection!

What? An old water thermos

Why? If it takes you somewhere…

I’m a sucker for an old water thermos. I already own a yellow one and a brown one. They have become one of those things I collect when I see one I love because they give me a warm fuzzy feeling and make me think of nostalgic campsites and north woods adventures. In other words- they take me somewhere in my mind. The general decor of my house leans towards a rustic cottage so these appear on side tables as if they have always been a part of my life. I enjoy the way this one joins a collection with a vintage hunting print and a wooden duck. This vignette could easily be reproduced in your home and is on track with the ongoing trend of vintage wildlife motifs coming back into style.

See also: my “Outing Jug”

What? An incubator

Why? If it brings you back home…

If you’re not familiar with what this is (above)- it is an egg incubator. There is still one like this in my parents basement that I plan to someday move to my house. Much of my childhood was defined by our country lifestyle and the birds we raised. For me, an incubator that can be used as a side table wouldn’t just be a kitschy repurposed find- it would remind me everyday of my upbringing and of simpler times.

See also: the barn vent side table at Back Porch Gatherings

What? A little fuzzy alpaca

Why? If it makes you smile

Turns out the flocked deer I bought for Christmas decorations really were just a gateway for this strange addiction to equine related figurines. I snagged a one-eyed horse with a white mane around St Patty’s Day from Water Street Vintage and now I pause at every horse I see. This alpaca almost made it to the checkout with me because something about it just made me smile. Collecting a home should feel somewhat organic. There’s room for a touch of surprise. Like a serious china hutch that just happens to have a shot glass from Mardi Gras mixed in. The mini collection in this picture feels both playful and nostalgic, the delicate pattern on the serving dish an interesting contrast to the busy patchwork dress of Holly Hobbie, while the alpaca is adding just the right amount of whimsy and…fuzzy.

See also: my own Captain Oats

What? Color coordinated pieces with patina

Why? There’s beauty in age

Here’s where we begin to discuss the supporting cast around your collected home. Decorating is still decorating. The goal isn’t for your house to appear as a museum of mementos representing your life. The idea is just for your decor to be more authentic and meaningful. Which is why you will need to accessorize those favorite pieces with complimentary side kicks. Layering is an important part of bringing depth to the Collected Home style. This stack of options drew my attention because of their richness of color. The aged copper, rusty beaters, stunning brown, tan and white weaving on the picnic basket and the golden herringbone suitcase lend a variety of textures and opportunity to mix with framed pictures, glass candlesticks and ceramic or wood figurines. The basket and suitcase can add height, while the kettle and beater are great background accents.

See also: the green basket at Hart Mercantile

What? A bold alternative to manufactured art

Why? Why not?

This isn’t going to work with every aesthetic but the point in capping off my Collected Home post with this example of a vintage advertisement as decor is simple. It is to get you to think about art in a non-traditional way. If your house is mostly white and neutral colors and you have an office or a basement rec space that could use a little something unexpected- this may be the perfect fit! The navy and gold are great punchy colors that lend themselves well to the addition of aged metal and worn wood accessories. You may not have a personal tie to the messaging but the uniqueness of collecting a one-of-a-kind piece like this is still more interesting than a mass produced sign declaring you should live, laugh and love. I also think we have a bad habit of under sizing our art for our wall space. Go bigger!

See also: Olde Country Store Antiques for vintage advertisements as art

Although the examples from the Antique Acres barn sale were endless for me you might struggle with finding what draws you in. If you’re not one for nostalgia but you’re craving a little patina in your life- try picturing a favorite place or time of year or a holiday and look at antiques as a snapshot to represent those feelings. Build your own backstory to items that make you smile and that you would find enjoyable to see among your decor. The key is that the end result feels authentic and not manufactured. Don’t simply replace shiny new tchotchkses with vintage old ones and think that you have completed the assignment. But it’s understandable to feel discouraged if none of your favorite things compliment each other in the same space. We started by declaring- find your inspiration! Then we searched our own basements, attics and garages for things we may have overlooked. Today I gave you examples of how to start collecting and the next step will be how to make it all look good together! Stay with me- like the process of this evolving design style- we’ve got a little way to go!