My So-Connecticut Life: How My Local Flea Markets Help Me Add Soul to Every Room and Avoid 'Showroom Syndrome'
Come with me to the place I go when I need to find the beautiful old things that make a room come to life
After nearly 15 years as a design editor, I've seen a lot of very pretty rooms that have what I've come to call 'showroom syndrome'. On paper, these spaces work. The furniture is the proper scale, there's beautiful symmetry, and every accent works to tell a cohesive story. But still, it seems like the rooms are missing something. They look like furniture showrooms.
The thing that's usually missing? Soul. Layers. A depth to the contents that gives it a real point of view and tells the story of the people who live there. That missing piece is almost always because the room lacks history. Decorating with antiques and vintage items brings a uniqueness and warmth to the space that can't be replicated with even the most expensive upholstery and utmost attention to detail. Old pieces add contrast to new items in a way that creates depth, and they can 'throw off' a perfect room just enough to make it interesting.
The other plus to incorporating old things into a room is that they're so much more fun to shop for. I love nothing more than spending a morning at a thrift store, or an antique mall, or, during the warmer months, the flea market.
My breakfast nook is a mix of old and new, including the plate wall. Some of the plates came from local shops and mass-market retailers, while others are family heirlooms and flea market finds.
In the northeast where I live, there are all sorts of flea markets that pop up in the summer, but one of my favorites has to be the Elephant's Trunk in New Milford, CT. It's the largest weekly antique show in New England, and it attracts hundreds of vendors during peak months. What you'll find varies widely, from bargain booths filled with dishware and collectibles under $20 to higher-end sellers who know the provenance of their art and antiques. Either way, shopping at a flea market is nowhere near as expensive as your average gallery-style antique shop.
I probably go once a month to see what I can find. Usually, I have a loose list of items in mind. I find that helps me stay on track and not get overwhelmed by the thousands of items on display. It's also useful if I don't have a ton of time and want to home in on the things I actually want.
I love exploring every stand – sometimes I stick to my list, often I don't!
At my last visit, I was looking for vintage decorative plates to finish off a plate wall and copper cookware to display on some of the shelves in my kitchen, but I'm also almost always on the lookout for art and small antique furnishings like accent tables or stools. I ended up finding most of what I was looking for – vintage plates, a shallow copper bowl and a small side table – and I spent under $60.
If you've never shopped at a flea market before, or you find the scale of something like the Elephant's Trunk a little overwhelming, here are a few things I've learned after years of shopping.
I picked up this little side table at the Elephant's Trunk for just $25, and used it in my living room.
Go With a Loose List, Not a Strict One
As I mentioned, knowing what you're looking for, whether it's a category, a color, or a type of object, helps you move through a large market without losing three hours to browsing or coming home with a whole bunch of impulse buys and nowhere to put them. At the same time, I always leave room for the unexpected because you never know what you'll find.
Start With Small Things
Vintage art, ceramic vessels, small decorative objects, and old books are low-commitment ways to start bringing history into a room. They're inexpensive, easy to move around, and they add character immediately without requiring you to commit to a large piece of furniture.
I don't always pick up big pieces, but I am guaranteed to come home with smaller decor items.
Pieces Don't Always Have To Be in Perfect Shape
A little wear is part of the appeal of vintage and antiques. Crazing on ceramics, patina on copper, small chips on a painting frame, these are signs of age, not damage. What you do want to avoid is structural damage on furniture, or anything with mold or significant rust. If it's a larger piece like a dresser or cabinet, open the doors to check the interior condition as well as functionality.
Mix Freely
The goal isn't to create an antique room; it's to bring depth to a room that already exists. A transferware plate looks just as right on a modern open shelf as it does in a traditional dining room. Old copper on a kitchen shelf works alongside brand new appliances. The contrast is part of the point.
I am not looking for perfect, in fact I want things to have age, but I do always avoid pieces that are damaged beyond repair.
Lastly, Don't Forget the Practical
If you're searching for larger items, measure the space you have in mind for them before you leave the house. Then measure your car's cargo area and jot both down in your phone. Throw the tape measure in your bag in case you see something you like.
Shop Vintage Online
If you don't live close to a flea market, or like to spend a little more time considering purchases before making them, you can still find a ton of beautiful old things online. Here are a few that have caught my eye recently!
Etsy has a ton of pretty, pre-curated vintage plate collections.
I have a framed set of these hand-colored bird prints from the 1800s, which I found at a flea market.
This lamp would be a great 'old' find in an otherwise contemporary room.
Vintage rugs and runners have so much more detail and depth than many of the new ones you'd find for a similar price.
Every house needs at least one antique oil portrait of a complete stranger.
There's something so home-y about a sturdy old farmhouse table, especially an 8' long one that'll fit the whole family.
The Elephant's Trunk runs every Sunday through December, weather permitting, with peak season running May through October. It opens at 6 am for pre-sale, and the gates open to the public at 7 am.
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