Welcome to the journal of Trove Market. We believe preloved treasures have more character, buying locally is better for the environment and your community, and unique finds spark so much more joy.
Unfortunately, we have made the decision to shut down Trove Market, a decision that saddens us deeply. Our vision still holds true and believe having a safe and reputable place to find antiques, furniture, and other treasures from neighbors and local sellers is important. Reuse helps prevents items going into landfills. It was a joy building and working on Trove Market and wish the best of luck to other players in our space. Thank you to our loyal users and partners! We couldn’t have got this far without you, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s helped us along the way.
When most people think of hot tubs, they think of sitting back with their eyes closed while resting and relaxing in bubbling, warm water. Weight loss usually isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when most people envision using a hot tub. However, there may be ways to use your hot tub to help you shed a few pounds. In this article we’ll go over various hot tub uses and their ability to help you lose weight.
The Hot Water Soak
It stands to reason that immersing your body in hot water will increase your body temperature. And an increase in body temperature should lead to burning more calories. So does that mean by relaxing in your hot tub you’ll be able to lose weight? There has been research into this phenomenon, but unfortunately it appears the amount of calories burned by simply sitting in a warm hot tub is relatively nominal. The fact is that with even the most liberal estimates, sitting in a hot tub for 20 minutes will burn as many calories as walking slowly for a similar amount of time. Yes, by sitting in a hot tub, you’ll be burning calories, but not enough to make much difference on the weigh scales.
The Pre Dinner Soak
It’s said that soaking in the hot tub before dinner will decrease your appetite. Accompanied by drinking a large glass of water, a soak in the hot tub 20 minutes before eating can apparently decrease your appetite and make you eat less once you sit down at the dinner table. It sounds reasonable enough. And even if it doesn’t lower your appetite, at least you’ll be well relaxed at supper time!
The Pre Bedtime Soak
By having a relaxing soak in the hot tub before bedtime, you’ll improve your chances of a deeper and longer sleep. And being well rested has been said to decrease the chances of weight gain. There are studies that indicate people with poor sleeping habits or who receive less than five hours of sleep a night are more prone to weight gain. Once again, even anecdotally, the idea that a relaxing soak in the hot tub before you go to bed will result in a better sleep sounds quite reasonable!
Hot Tub Exercise
Of course, it’s well known that the scientifically proven way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Earlier we spoke about using the hot tub to bring down your appetite. Here we’ll talk about using the hot tub as an area to perform exercise. Although initial thoughts may not consider a hot tub as a place for exercise, the fact is that it can be the perfect place for a workout routine. Not only does the warm water increase your blood circulation and warm up your muscles which lowers your chances of injury, you have the perfect relaxing spot once you’re done your workout! Water’s natural resistance can turn simple movements into excellent workout programs. Actions performed underwater such as arm circles, clapping your hands, or doing bicycle kicks all become much more of a workout when compared to the same actions done out of the water. Water’s buoyancy also provides a great medium for low impact exercise needed by people with joint or bone issues. Exercises such as running on the spot can be performed much more safely if one is worried about the effects of heavy impact on knee joints or ankles. Water buoyancy can also increase the safety of people who are overweight or have mobility issues.
Perhaps if you were seeking another reason to purchase a hot tub, how it can help you shed a pound or two might be the encouragement you need to take the plunge and become a hot tub owner.
Meta: Hot tubs have many health and wellness benefits. Is losing weight one of them? Click here to find out more.
About the Author
Scott Bland has been in the leisure industry for nearly 20 years. As a sales manager in the leisure industry he knows hot tubs inside and out. Right now he works sales while writing about consumer goods on the side. If you want to contact him, you can do so at hisLinkedIn
from marrakech desert tour , 2 day from marrakech desert tour
This morning after breakfast we set off in a comfortable private A/C Vehicle; for our circular Marrakech to Zagora desert tour 2 days journey through the Saharan landscapes of both the Hamada (stone desert) and Erg (dune desert). Our first visits include Ait Benhadou, Ouarzazate&Draa valley, where an ancient Kasbah of Tamnougalt once held treasures of the silk route in desert oasis terrain, followed by a visit to the spectacular Agdez dates Market.
view more at : https://www.morocco-nomadic-travel.com
GIVE YOUR HOME AN EXOTIC APPEARANCE WITH THE BEST DESIGN TOOLS
Home decorations and remodeling is not always an easy endeavor that we can take up anytime because there are lots to be considered regarding design tools. Whether you are going to design or re-design your living room, bathroom, kitchen, or your outdoor spaces, it is essential that every area you wish to develop gets individual attention. However, for you to carry out a standard remodeling, it is advisable to hire the service of a contractor because they are all-encompassing and skilled in that area and will guide towards achieving your desired design ideas that will make your home tremendously beautiful.
Visualizer Tools to Help Give Your Home an Exotic Look
For you to be able to give your home a striking appearance, various design tools must come to your mind. Such as bathroom, kitchen, and outdoor visualizers.
Visual Kitchen Designer: in other for you to give the kitchen an eye-catching and remarkable look, it is imperative that the right installation of sinks, faucets, countertops, and a cabinet is used. That is why you need a standard kitchen visualizer.
Special Visualizers for The Bathroom: aside from making the kitchen captivating, the bathroom is another place that we would also love to give an appealing look. But before we do so, there are certain things we ought to consider before installing our bathroom appliances such as backsplashes, countertops, vanities, and lots more.
Visualizers for Countertop Edge: after you have selected your desired countertops for your bathroom and kitchen, another step is to choose your preferred design for the countertop's edge. However, with the help of a design tool, you will be able to select the appropriate draft that will bring out its beauty.
Having your home visualized by either a technician or an app will go a long way towards allowing you realize your dream home design because it is after you have envisioned a particular area of your home that you can determine the best model for it.
Best Design Tools to Make Your Home Exotic
For your kitchen and bathroom to have an outstanding appearance, you will surely need backsplash designs. Below are the various types of backsplash designs that you can select from.
Arabescato Carrara 1x1 Honed and Keystone Blend Interlocking Pattern: This woven mosaic tile is a perfect complement to the bathroom's style, and it's also available in white shade, making it an impeccable design to wear well.
Arabescato Carrara Herringbone Pattern and 4x4 Honed, and Beveled Tile: Made from an elegant Grecian white marble, these tiles aren't your average mosaic, and they are also available in white shade.
Arabescato Carrara Marble And Black Blend Glass: for perfect flooring within your kitchen and bathroom you can surely opt for this tile.
Arabescato Carrara Split face: This marble tile is perfect for flooring of any kitchen and bathroom because it is made of elegant white tones that can make your room look its best.
Arctic Storm Bamboo: You can select this type of tiles too for your kitchen. These tiles have gray shades in a dramatic linear pattern crafted from beautiful natural marble which can make your kitchen splendid.
Arctic Storm Brick Pattern: Brick patterned marble is a unique wall and floor tile to incorporate as it can give the flooring and wall of your kitchen a gorgeous look.
Apart from these designing tools, experts’ suggestions are very much required to choose the correct mosaic for the specific area of the house. However, combining all or some of these designs while remodeling your home will allow it look modern and fabulous.
About the Author:
Dan Chabert - Writing from Copenhagen, Denmark, Dan is an award-winning web lover and the Co-manager of several sites for your house needs and others. You can check these out That Sweet Gift, Borncute, Motorful and Runner Click. He is a travel Scholar at the same time a health Enthusiast.
Back to Basics: Country-style Interior Design Ideas
Farmhouse design is all about keeping things organic, simple and comfortable. Characterized by welcoming front porches, symmetrical windows and second floor dormers, country style homes have an enduring and nostalgic appeal. Country style homes started showing up around the South of the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, and remains one of the most popular styles in interior design to this day.
Any home can embody the farmhouse design style no matter what landscape it is surrounded by. Unlike many other modern interior designs, farmhouse design invites you to add personality to your home. The style’s flexibility allows you to decorate with your own personal decor and country style furniture that you have fallen in love with. You can highlight the element you wish to shine the most by tweaking the finer details.
The kitchen is the most important room of any farmhouse design style home, as it sets the tone for the rest of the house. A farmhouse style kitchen should be kept simple, but vibrant. You can create this mixture by combining neutral colour schemes with eclectic furnishings. Pot racks, white china and apron sinks are classic elements of a farmhouse kitchen, along with a wooden dining table and painted chairs for the dining area. Adding chandeliers and antiques are the perfect touch to give your farmhouse design a more authentic feel. When it comes to designing your country style bedroom and living room, think about all the ways you can create the most cozy and relaxed environment. A farmhouse style fireplace is a classic feature of most country style homes. A vintage mantel with a brick exterior is a great choice for any farmhouse design. It creates a sense of authenticity with its snug, dreamy look, and will help you get through the coldest days of winter. You don’t need to worry about finding pieces of furniture that match perfectly. Farmhouse interior design allows you to get away with an eclectic blend of different chairs, sofas, beds, and fabric accents.
In recent times, farmhouse design has blended with modern styles in interior design. The desire to take old styles and make them new again is one of the many challenges interior designers face. Modern farmhouse design keeps the basic traditions of country style homes intact, while putting a fresh spin on the rustic details. For instance, farmhouse tables have gathered friends and family in country style homes for generations, but the worn in tables of the old have since seen a modern update. Rather than mismatched chairs, sleek seating or pared-back benches are the way to go these days. Incorporating broad tonal shifts in the wood of the table adds a nice, subtle modern touch.
The sliding barn door is a classic feature of farmhouse design style that has seen various modern tweaks. Outfitting the door with contemporary X shaped modelling and painting it a bright white paint colour is a popular trend in modern farmhouse design. Exposed brick is another tradition of farmhouse design. This raw texture can be given a modern flair by pairing in with open shelving filled with antiques and vintage books. Painting the space a bright white colour and using clean and unobtrusive roller or vertical blinds will add to the sophisticated, modern feel. White is the main colour you will find in most modern farmhouse designs. If you want to add a bit of colour, light beige or cream works well. Crisp, neutral colour schemes combined with simple furnishings will effectively modernize any farmhouse design.
Pay attention to the craftsmanship and materials of couches. All couches are not created equal! Even couches that look the same may not hold up equally over time. Be wary of inadequate support and materials that are not going to last as long as you need the couch.
How to Create a Celebrity-Inspired Bedroom on a Budget
Not all celebrities are naturally stylish. Some are just armed with the right designers, decorators, antique purveyors, stylists, hairdressers, and consultants of all kinds to help them achieve the right look both for themselves and their homes. If you don’t have celebrity-level cash to pay for all of that, it’s not a problem. The truth of the matter is that you don’t need to spend thousands or even hundreds of dollars to create a bedroom that’s fit for a celebrity. Even with a limited budget, there are a bunch of ways to make your regular old bedroom look like a million-dollar flat in Brooklyn.
Curate Your Clutter
Wait, isn’t all clutter bad? Nope. As explained by Max Humphrey, an interior designer based in Portland, there’s good clutter and bad clutter. Bad clutter is basically clutter as you know it: dirty clothes or trash on the floor, a bunch of random objects almost spilling out of a bedside table, unopened mail, or unorganized electrical wiring. Good clutter is classic bedroom design: books and other non-decorative reading materials neatly pinned by a tasteful bookend, hats and jackets hanging on an antique coat rack, or a glass/metal jar carrying a bunch of different writing materials.
Basically, if the object doesn’t add anything to the look of the room, try to hide it from sight or improve its look via storage or rearrangement. That poorly stacked pile of magazines in the corner of the room only needs to be properly arranged on the work table to become good clutter. Even changes as simple as having a clothes hamper with a lid can get rid of bad clutter quick. Curating your clutter is a good way to instantly up your bedroom’s value.
Embrace the Available Inspiration
Most of the work that interior designers do for celebrities (or celebrities do on their own) can be found online through Pinterest, Instagram and other social platforms. In short, there’s no shortage of inspiration to draw from. You don’t even need to copy each and every detail in your favorite celebrity’s entire bedroom. Just pick certain details that speak to you on a personal level and either find those items or employ those design philosophies.
Find Cheaper Alternatives for Expensive Celebrity Design
This is an old trick that’s often employed by both amateur and pro fashion stylists: instead of buying designer clothing off catalogues, they find cheaper versions elsewhere to complete budget luxury outfits. The same can be done to reverse-engineer the look and feel of celebrity bedrooms. Unless what you’re aiming to copy is extremely luxurious like a granite bed headboard, there’s probably a cheaper version of it available on Amazon, the local furniture retailer, Salvation Army stores, or even garage sales.
Keep It Zen
Zen is a great minimalist palette on which to paint a luxurious picture. This design theme emphasizes clean lines, calm and neutral colors, and the reserved use of striking accents. It’s no wonder plenty of celebrities choose to have a zen-inspired bedroom.
Not only can it be luxurious, it’s actually very conducive for the bedroom’s main purpose in the first place: relaxation and sleep. With a zen look and feel, it’s easier to use your existing bedroom furniture, your comfortable mattress , artworks, accents, and decor to create a space that looks like it’s been commissioned by an A-lister.
Whether you’re a first time seller or a vintage fair and flea market rockstar, there are always things you can do to improve your experience – and that of your customers – and keep yourself safe when selling online. Here are a few commonsensical tips that seem straightforward, but that may also slip the mind without a periodic reminder.
1. Present your item truthfully
If there’s a small imperfection, snap a photo for your potential buyers to consider.
2. Avoid flakey buyers
Users that frequently reschedule, or users that continue negotiating after you’ve accepted their offer are more likely to flake or change their mind.
3. Never give out your personal information
Keeping all communication within Chat ensures that your personal information stays safe, as well as serves as a record of your transaction and exchange.
4. Allow buyers time to inspect items at meetup
Take this opportunity to chat and create a lasting impression that will leave them wanting to purchase more from you in the future.
5. Be a considerate seller
Don’t lose patience with buyers that ask a lot of questions. Chances are that other users have similar questions and will see your thoughtful responses positively.
Check out the YouthfulNest Blog for a look at our interview between owner Lisa Janvrin and one of our founders, Mason Richman! Youthfulnest is an amazing interior design firm that is focused on helping you create amazing spaces for your babies, children and young adults!
Avoid Bedbugs! Carefully Inspect the Items You Buy
Tip originally published at HowStuffWorks.
When you’re out hunting for amazing secondhand treasures, you’ve probably got a million things on your mind, with scoring the best piece at the best price at the top of the priority list! We’ve been asked what to do about bedbugs (you may remember our advice to stay away from used box springs and mattresses), so we searched the web for great advice, and we found the following tips for avoiding pieces that may be infested by bedbugs, courtesy of HowStuffWorks.
Image courtesy of Bustle.
Bed bugs are hard to identify, but they aren't invisible. They leave signs you can sometimes detect if you're careful and observant. If you find an item from a reputable seller you think is worth serious consideration, grab a magnifying glass and flashlight and look for these telltale signs of bed bug activity:
Bed bugs deposit small black spots after feeding. You can sometimes see groups of pinpoint spots on hard and soft surfaces. Fabrics may also show reddish streaks or smears.
Since bed bugs spend a lot of time hiding, check the backs and undersides of tables, shelves, headboards and other furnishings for live bugs or molted skins (discarded bed bug exoskeletons).
Bedbugs often hide inside furniture joints, seams, creases, crevices, cracks and voids. You can sometimes also find them or their eggs in screw holes, nail holes and small louvered vents. Shine a flashlight into narrow openings and inspect them with a magnifying glass. You may even catch a bed bug scurrying away from the light.
If you're interested in a painted furniture piece, check for bed bugs hiding under any loose paint. Yes, they can hide behind peeling, soft or uneven painted surfaces as well as behind wallpaper.
Bed bugs sometimes gather behind the paper backing on framed prints, too.
These are just a few places bed bugs hide. There are many, many more. Bed bugs can shelter inside hollow towel racks and curtain rods as well as in small appliances. They can burrow into plush toys. They can conceal themselves in clothing, bedding, curtains, rugs, shoes, handbags and just about anything else you can imagine.
After you invest in a second hand piece of furniture, consider heat treating it in a dark plastic bag to be sure it doesn't harbor bed bugs or their eggs. (Remember, your target is at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours or more.) If that's not feasible given the size of the object, place it in quarantine in an empty bathtub. Bed bugs can't escape up the slippery sides of tubs, so they'll be contained and easier to detect. Barring all other options, keep new acquisitions away from sleeping areas and inspect them periodically for bedbug activity like spots, exoskeletons and eggs.
Design decisions extend beyond the big day for newlyweds. Instead of it being about which flowers you’ll have at the wedding, it’s about which flowers will live in your home. It’s no longer about a single day. It’s about the long-term. As a newlywed couple, it can be hard to incorporate his and her stuff together for a cohesive design in the home. However, this list of tips should help you design your space without a fight. See our tips, after the jump!
Here are some great decorating tips for newlyweds that’ll surely make your Happily-Ever-After abode more stylish!
Take Your Time
You don’t have to decorate your home as soon as you move in. If you rush it, there’s a good chance you won’t be happy with it down the road. Take your time to really think about what you both want and get a feel for each other’s tastes. Give yourself enough time to discuss the topic and come up with alternative options that you can both agree upon.
If you’re still arguing about what color to paint the walls or what type of sofa you want in the living room, you’re not ready to redecorate yet. Consider starting a Pinterest board that you can both pin to so that you can share your ideas with each other. Then, sit down together to review them.
If necessary, list out the things you absolutely need and the things you’d much rather live without. Then, explore creative ways to accommodate those needs. For example, if you need to keep your grandmother’s hutch and your spouse absolutely wants a sectional sofa, look into ways you can fit both into the space.
Once you’ve started giving your stamp of approval to each other’s ideas, you can begin shopping and slowly easing into your new home design.
Take Inventory of What You Already Have
Do you already have pieces that you can both agree upon? Then why rush into buying something new that you have to compromise on? Take a look at what you have, and consider what can stay and what has to go. For example, if he has a nice sofa but she has a pink fluffy chair, your best bet is to keep the sofa and toss the chair.
Feel free to toss out anything you no longer need or want. You’re starting a new life together, and that means letting go of some of the old items that will bog down your space.
Start With Neutral Furniture
You probably both have that piece of artwork that you need to hang on the wall. However, too many pieces and splashes of color can become overwhelming. Tone it down by starting with neutral furniture instead of those with bold colors and patterns. Black, white, gray, and beige are good neutral tones to start with. Then, use both of your unique style elements to add color and intrigue to the room. With a neutral furniture base, it will be easier to mix your and your spouse’s styles seamlessly.
Remember: Different styles can work together if you do it right. For example, you might like still life while your spouse would rather hang his vintage band poster. If the colors match, however, they can both work together to brighten the room.
Pick Out Your Décor Together
Being married is about being part of a team, and that includes making your home design a team project. Even if you put one person in charge of design, consult your spouse before buying anything. Continue to do this even if he or she always responds with a shrug — it shows that you still value his or her opinion.
Avoid buying art without asking your spouse about it first. Instead, go shopping for your décor together so that you can talk it out and compromise if necessary. Try to focus on picking out pieces that speak to both of you, and build from there. Not only will this help you both rest easier in your home, but it can become a bonding experience that you’ll cherish forever.
Personalize Your Space With Pieces that Represent You Both
When you walk into your home, you want your common areas to represent you as a couple. Think about personal touches you can add that apply to both of you. This could include pictures from your wedding day or souvenirs that you bought while on your honeymoon. It could even be a framed caricature that you got on your first date. Anything that is both of yours should be displayed proudly. That’s what will give it a comfortable, homey feel for both of you.
Create a Space For Yourself
Even when not considering home design, it’s a good idea to create a space in your home that’s just yours. A man might get a basement “man cave” while a woman might prefer to set up the extra bedroom as her office. These areas allow you the alone time you need away from your spouse every once in a while.
They also give you complete freedom with the décor. If at any time you completely disagree over a design element, you can take that piece and put it in your own space so that you don’t have to give it up. The rest of the house should be balanced between your two tastes.
In Summary...
Designing your home is one of the first tasks you’ll undertake as a newlywed couple! It can also be one of the most frustrating. However, with the right amount of teamwork and compromise, you can easily design a space that both of you are comfortable living in. Start with the above-mentioned tips to enjoy your new redesign project as a newlywed couple, and then let us know how your redecorating process is going.
Have you already decorated your home with your newlywed? Is there anything you would have done differently the first time around?
Contributed By: Phil Good is 4th generation of a 120 year-old family furniture business serving a 250 mile market in the Midwest. Good's Furniture offers three city blocks of home furnishings and decor, a Bavarian Wine Cellar Restaurant, bed & breakfast, and a market full of goodies from around the globe.
Desire to Inspire – Xing's living big in a small space
Check out our CEO’s feature on Desire to Inspire! Xing gets into his design inspiration, philosophies on furnishing and decorating his apartment, and life in San Francisco!
Many thanks to Kim and Jo at Desire to Inspire. The Canadian-Australia duo is self proclaimed interior design junkies – and they do a wonderful job highlighting interior designers and decorators, architects, stylists, photographers, and even their own readers' homes! Kudos!
Every woman deserves a home complete with her own personal touch. Some women have to start small and make sure there’s enough room for their spouse’s and children’s tastes, too. Single women who live alone, on the other hand, are fortunate enough to have free reign of their interior design. Use the following décor suggestions to design the bachelorette pad you’ve been longing for.
As you continue reading, remember that Trove’s amazing Tastemaker Rhonnika Clifton also encourages you to design outside the lines!
A Personalized Color Scheme
When you live alone, you don’t have to answer to anyone when it comes to your interior design decisions. Sure, your friends might say something when they come over to visit, but the fact of the matter is that it’s your home, and you’re the one living there. Now is your chance to get wacky and experiment with colors and design elements you like. If you want your bedroom to be pink, go for it! If you want a cheetah print design on your kitchen cabinets, do it! Whatever your personal style, make it your own.
A Full-Length Mirror
When no one is around to help you with your outfit choice, a full-length mirror is like a best friend – especially when you’re getting ready to go out on the town. Better yet, large mirrors give the illusion of a bigger space.
A Stylish Recliner
After a long day, you need a comfortable place where you can kick up your feet and relax. Whether it’s where you binge watch your favorite shows on Netflix, snuggle in with a good book, or settle down with your computer to browse Facebook, you need a comfortable relaxation corner to help you clear your mind from a busy day.
Start with a cozy recliner. If you live alone and don’t need the extra seating space that a couch offers, this is the perfect piece of furniture to maximize your comfort. Plus, it saves space if you’re living in a small apartment. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for something modern, vintage, or somewhere in between; you’ll find something to suit your interior design tastes.
A Battle Station
What’s your favorite daily ritual? Is it putting on makeup? Blogging? Exercising? Whatever it is, you need an area designated for this activity. If you enjoy your makeup routine, purchase a vanity that will house all your beauty products. If your activities focus on the office, buy an office desk that will accommodate your work materials, including your computer, printer, files, and more. If you love exercising in the home, designate an area for exercise equipment. Then, choose furniture styles that suit your tastes.
A Spa-Like Bathroom
As a single woman, you have a lot of flexibility with your indoor design. Why settle with a boring bathroom? You need a place where you can relax and rejuvenate. Transform your bathroom into a spa experience. This can start with the right scented candles, but you can take it further by painting your bathroom in earthy tones like you’d see in the spa and installing dimming lights.
A Comfortable Rug
After you get home, you need to be able to kick your shoes off and enjoy walking around barefoot. However, some homes and apartments make this difficult when the floors are hard and cold. Instead of slipping off your shoes just to throw on a pair of slippers, keep your home comfy by adding an area rug, or two, to high-traffic areas. Not only will it help you relax in your own home, but the right rug can complement your décor and give that finishing touch to your living room or bedroom.
Fresh Greenery
Houseplants don’t just look good. They have also been shown to help you breathe easier, heal faster after surgery, and improve overall health. When you aren’t relying on someone else to bring you flowers, go out and buy your own greenery!
Spider plants are good for purifying the air, and peace lilies make good bathroom plants since they help keep mold at bay. Other good household plants to have — especially if you don’t have a green thumb — include pothos, aloe, English ivy, and jade plants. Otherwise, feel free to buy yourself fresh flowers every now and then to add a pop of color to your space.
Luxurious Bedding
If the recliner and spa-like bathroom aren’t enough to help you relax after a long day, settle in at night under luxurious sheets. Being single comes with its perks, like having the bed all to yourself. Treat yourself with bedding that will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.
A Bar
Stock up on your favorite drinks, whether it’s just for you or for when the girls come over for a visit. Feel free to get creative with your bar’s design, whether you want a full bar in the corner or just a small go-to cabinet that contains these goodies. An antique cupboard, for instance, makes a great bar and a beautiful addition to your home.
Organization Accessories
When you’re living alone, there’s no one else to blame for the mess. There also isn’t anyone else around to clean up after you. That means it’s a good idea to get organized. The benefit? You’ll be feeling more stress-free because of it! This can be as simple as purchasing a shoe organizer for your closet or a jewelry tree for the vanity, or it can mean keeping fewer dishes in the house so you wash them more often. Reduce the clutter and keep the rest of it organized. You’ll be thankful you did.
As a single woman living alone, you have the complete freedom to make your space exactly how you want it, from the colors on the walls to the style of furniture you choose. Start with the above suggestions to design a home that’s entirely your own. Which option will you tackle first to start building up your bachelorette pad?
Contributed By: Hannah Tucker is the mastermind behind product management at TheBackStore.com. Hannah has a (healthy) shoe obsession and resides in the beautiful and sunny San Diego. She has a fascination for ergonomics and its effect on workplace culture and productivity.
Bring Mid Century Modern Style to Your Home or Apartment
As you know, we are huge fans of mid century modern style! The mid-century trend continues to surprise and delight as designers and homeowners create new spaces and find new ways to decorate with MCM furniture and décor.
Given the popularity of mid century design, new companies have also taken an interest in recreating the style. Take, for example, companies like Joybird and GoHaus, who manufacture mid century modern furniture and luxury vinyl and engineered wood flooring – each with an essential focus on sustainability.
Many folks wonder how to incorporate vintage – and mid century modern – style into their homes without going overboard. Here are some great tips for incorporating retro-style into your home, contributed by GoHaus. Enjoy!
Tips from our friends at GoHaus:
Add one piece of furniture to the room
The easiest way to get a little retro flair without going overboard is to add one midcentury modern piece to a room. This will immediately warm up your space. Below you can see the midcentury modern couch, as the focal point of the room, really gives it a new, retro vibe. Paired with a classic-looking wood flooring like the one shown below gives it the perfect retro feel.
Source: GoHaus
Embrace a more retro color scheme
Look at the 60’s style color schemes and pick a traditional color to focus on. This was the era of mustard yellows, light blues and avocado greens. Look for pieces that fit your chosen color scheme and don’t be afraid to put them front and center. Check out the ‘avocado green’ couch below that really gives this whole room a retro feel.
Source: Joybird
Use pattern and texture to your advantage
Midcentury modern and graphic patterns are a match made in heaven! Don’t be afraid to get furniture or accessories that have interesting patterns or textures. You can shop online marketplaces like Trove to get some awesome MCM furniture second hand and avoid breaking the bank!
Bring on the cool lamps
Table lamps with curvy bases and slim tops were all the rage! Look for midcentury inspired ones with bold hues, from Trove sellers, vintage boutiques, antique shops, flea markets, and thrift stores. These can be great additions to any room to give it just a little midcentury modern flair and really spark it up without fully retrofitting your home or apartment. You can also consider a MCM style chandelier! This type of lighting is more of a focal point of a room and would give a slightly more retro overall feel than just throwing a few midcentury modern lamps on some side tables and accessories.
Source: Houzz
Mix in the Modern
The whole point is to not go overboard! You want to make sure to have some modern 20th century style in there unless you’re going for the full retro 60’s look. You can keep the coffee tables more modern with a midcentury couch or use a more up-to-date style floor.
Going with some European oak flooring in a modern color is a great way to keep the room a good mix of traditional vs. modern! You can get some new age colors with bluish tones or white-washed stains to give your home a modern feel while still outfitting it with some mid century modern classic accessories. Check out the selection of modern European oak flooring options here from GoHaus: http://www.gohaus.com/wood-flooring/oak
Check out the infographic below for more MCM tips!
With these tips you can spruce up any room or home with Mid Century Modern flair! As always, we’ve got an amazing network of interior designers who are here to help you with your decorating and styling needs. Send an email to [email protected] if you’re looking for help in the design department!
New York City, the Big Apple, is inarguably one of the world’s most vibrant, beautiful, attractive, and expensive cities. We love NYC and everything it has to offer – from cheap eats, to award winning broadway shows, to the fanciest dinners in America. One of the best things about New York is there’s something for everyone. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure type of city, and it opens its doors to all types of people from varied backgrounds, with diverse interests.
We’re of course in the decorate on a dime mindset a lot of the time. Even if you’re not into bargain hunting, most of us have experienced the feeling of a pinched wallet. Living in some of America’s most expensive zip codes doesn’t help the matter. However, it may fuel the urge to go on the hunt for amazing vintage and antique furnishings – or to scour Craigslist and marketplaces like Trove for gently used furniture that’s selling nearby!
Because we know YOU love buying quality used furniture and decor, we went on a hunt to find the best vintage and antique furniture and decor stores around the city! We’ve also littered in some of New York’s finest antiques dealers, in case you’re looking to do some higher-end retail therapy, and we close the article with a selection of the best used furniture stores in The Hamptons.
Enjoy! And happy hunting.
Here’s your guide to finding great, cheap vintage furniture and accessories in and around New York City!
Don’t see a store you love on this list? Want to leave a testimonial for a shop? Let us know! Send an email to [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.
Pippin – 112 West 17th St.
Pippin is a vintage shop specializing in antique jewelry—a passion of its owners—and it also has a fantastic collection of used furniture.
Furnish Green – 1261 Broadway #309
Furnish Green is Manhattan’s local vintage furniture store. The owners hunt for unique vintage and antique pieces and bring 5-15 items into their showroom in New York City every weekday.
Junk – 567 Driggs Ave. & 197 N. 9th St. (Brooklyn)
Junk, in Williamsburg, consists of two shops. Together they offer over 10,000 square feet of fresh vintage stuff: furniture, dishes, art, primitives, records, books, photographs, clothes, accessories and more. Hours are 9-9 everyday. New deliveries come in three times a week!
RePop – 143 Roebling St. (Brooklyn)
RePop, described by NYC.com as “a vintage furniture and oddity show space that combines the overcrowded charm of an old-fashioned Parisian boutique with the promising clutter of a midwestern junk shop”, offers a wide range of merchandise (dolls' heads, antique chemical bottles, taxidermy, modernist and factory lighting, vintage signs, and more) and is also known for its selection of unique primitive storage items and mid-century modern furnishings. RePOP also features local artists.
Mantiques Modern – 146 W 22nd St.
Mantiques Modern in Chelsea has a great collection of antiques and oddities. Come often as they have new stuff all of the time. Walking into the shop is a like wandering into a private collection of industrial and modernist furnishings and art from the 1880s to the 1980s – from beautiful to bizarre! Pieces by famous designers such as Hermès sit side by side with robots and natural curiosities like skulls, crabs, and animal horns.
Dorset Finds – 544 Park Ave. (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn)
Dorset Finds owner, collectibles dealer Justin Dorset, and the cool stuff he sells, are the opposite of stuffy. Dorset sources, restores, designs and sells vintage industrial furniture. Toledo stools, factory lamps and custom tables built from industrial-machine legs are some of our specialties. Dorset Finds operates out of a Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, workshop/showroom, where items can be viewed by appointment.
Yesterday’s News – 428 Court St. (Brooklyn)
Yesterday’s News is a jewel in the crown of downtown Brooklyn’s thriving antiques shopping scene. With an eclectic mix of mid-century, shabby chic finds and industrial steel furniture in mint condition, the store is, in their words, “overflowing with reasonably priced vintage furniture, brick-a-brac and clothing”. We love it!
Velma Vintage – By Appointment (Brooklyn)
Velma Vintage, located in the heart of Williamsburg Brooklyn, is open by appointment. Owner Lydia Rockett specializes in very old antique and vintage furniture, and tries to stay older than 1940s! She also occasionally gets mid-century pieces and has select hand picked clothing, like one-of-a-kind pieces and many Japanese Kimonos. The store also carries a large selection of vintage and antique materials, such as barn wood, antique hardware, vintage fabric, button, etc., as well as custom furniture such as benches, coffee tables, step stools, butler's chairs, end tables, barn doors, and other vintage furniture and decor.
See their storefront on Trove Market!
LOCAL TIP FROM VELMA VINTAGE:
Owner Lydia loves Mountain Province for coffee (it’s a full-service espresso bar offering a wide selection of teas as well as Filipino baked treats, specializing in fair trade, single-origin organic coffee imported from small growers in the Philippines); and Nha Minh for delicious Vietnamese American eats (the menu is breakfast-inspired and is served throughout the whole day with a focus on vegetables and daily fresh sauces)! Stop by each of these for a bite or a refreshment while you’re in the area!
White Trash – 304 E. 5th St.
White Trash is a celebration of mid-century, modern furniture priced for the regular Joe. Located in the East Village of NYC, White Trash specializes in mid-century modern furnishings from the 40s through the 70s. It’s a small space and inventory changes rapidly!
Obscura Antiques & Oddities – 207 Ave. A (at E. 13th St.)
Obscura Antiques & Oddities has a marvelous collection of antique oddities with a touch of the occult. From taxidermic treasures to dolls you wouldn't want to be left alone with.
PIVOT Project – By Appointment (Brooklyn)
PIVOT is a design collective with 6 product lines, 3 of which we’ll highlight here! You can find the others on PIVOT’s website. The *POP SERIES* takes traditionally designed, authentic vintage furniture refinished in eye popping, vivid colors. The *ENCORE LINE* is created using retired musical instruments, that have dutifully served the school children of New York. Finally, each piece in the *ONE OF A KIND SERIES*, evolves from a salvaged item and reimagined. No need to worry about someone having the same furniture!
See their storefront on Trove Market!
Big Reuse (formerly Build it Green) – 69 9th St. (Brooklyn) & 317 26th Ave. (Queens)
Big Reuse, formerly known as Build it Green, is New York City's only non-profit retail outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials. You’ll find everything from panel doors to high end refrigerators, window shutters to reclaimed lumber, kitchen cabinet sets to salvaged flooring. Big Reuse's mission is to keep these materials out of the landfill, while offering deep discounts on their resale.
LOCAL TIP FROM BIG REUSE TEAM:
“For all celebrations – and just sometimes just because, we go to Four and Twenty Blackbirds for the Oat Blackbottom Pie. And we run over to Court Street Grocers in Carroll Hill for the BEST sandwiches as much as we can. And one of the best vinyl shops in the city is also right there, Black Gold Records.”
Vintage Thrift – 286 Third Ave.
Vintage Thrift in Gramercy carries men’s & women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry; furniture, artwork, housewares, CDs, and DVDs. All merchandise is donated, and proceeds from sales benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side.
Demolition Depot – 216 East 125th St.
Demolition Depot in Harlem is a unique source of vintage plumbing fixtures, doors, windows, shutters, railings, gates, grills, mantels, stone and terracotta pieces, religious objects and more.
Brooklyn Reclamation – 676 Driggs Ave. (Brooklyn)
Brooklyn Reclamation in Williamsburg is filled with vintage and recycled furniture – everything from sleek, midcentury desk chairs to vintage model sailboats, and cool old commercial signs!
LOCAL TIP FROM THE BROOKLYN RECLAMATION TEAM:
When you’re in town, two of their favorite places to stop for a bite and/or coffee are Sweatshop and Black Tree! Sweatshop is a multidisciplinary studio AND espresso bar – grab a flat white and work on your brand strategy with an expert team! Black Tree serves American lunch, dinner and drinks, and can accommodate parties of most sizes – the duck-bacon stock ramen looks delicious to us!! Brooklyn Reclamation was even a part of building out some of Black Tree’s interior!
Olde Good Things –
Locations: http://ogtstore.com/locations
If you’re feeling like a splurge…. there’s the always fabulous Olde Good Things! Multiple locations throughout town, on Madison Ave., Bowery, and E. 16th St. (between 5th Avenue & Union Square). You’ll find everything from doorknobs, hardware, doors, mantels, decorative iron, stained glass, and terra cotta to antique furniture and oddities.
RoGallery – 47-15 36th St. (Long Island City)
RoGallery, an established auction house, art dealer and gallery, has over 5000 artists paintings prints photographs and sculptures primarily from the 1960s through the 1980s! The style of each piece was generally contemporary and modern at the time it was produced, which brings amazing character and diversity to the collection of vintage and antique artwork.
Philip Williams Posters – 122 Chambers St.
Philip Williams Posters in Tribeca specializes in European graphic arts. They have a great quantity, quality, and range of posters, and they also sell smaller prints and art objects.
Authentiques: Past and Present – 255 W 18th St.
Authentiques in Chelsea is a fun shop with great finds, such as vintage and reproduction cartoon glasses, barware, Murano glass, Art Deco-style ashtrays, lamps, trinkets, and Christmas ornaments – year round!
Annex Markets – Chelsea & Hell’s Kitchen
Both Annex Markets are open every Saturday and Sunday, year-round.
Chelsea Flea Market: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Chelsea Flea Market opens up in a parking lot off of 6th Avenue just down the street from the aforementioned indoor flea. The market began more than 40 years ago and is also now providing a new space for vendors of the recently closed Chelsea Antiques Garage weekend market. Lots of great furniture and decor can be found here at more than affordable prices.
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (HKFM) offers a place where collectors and top-notch hagglers including the fashion éclat, artists, celebrities, tourists, and residents shop the market for antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, home decorations, furniture, jewelry, and more.
Brooklyn Flea – Fort Greene & DUMBO
Locations: http://brooklynflea.com/
Brooklyn Flea, founded in April 2008, has grown into one of New York City’s top attractions, operating flea markets every weekend of the year that feature hundreds of top vendors of furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food.
Time Out also recently named Brooklyn Flea as one of the 50 best sights and attractions in New York City!
Gramercy Vintage Furniture – 61 Gramercy Park
Gramercy Vintage stocks a wide variety of vintage furniture from the 1800's, 1900's 10,'s, 20's, 30's, 40's, Mid-Century and more. Furniture, carpets and rugs are accepted for consignment and donation. The shop receives new merchandise and consignments almost every day. Gramercy is run by the same group of employees who for many years ran the St. Georges Furniture Shop that was located on Park Avenue South between 21st and 22nd Streets. Tax Deductible Donations Accepted to Benefit Calvary St. George's Church.
Green Village Used Clothing & Furniture – 276 Starr St. (Brooklyn)
Green Village Used Furniture & Clothing is an antique lover’s & bargain hunter’s paradise, with a warehouse of over 10,000 square feet, and vintage finds such as office desks and rolling chairs, flat files, filing cabinets, conference tables, tables and chairs, outdoor furniture, toys, bookcases, used clothing by the pound, vintage dresses, mounds of books, antique lamps, dressers and mirrors, costumes & props for set designers, electronics, sports equipment and more.
Showplace Antique + Design Center – 40 W 25th St.(between 6th Ave. & Broadway)
Showplace on 3 is a 10,000 square foot antique and design emporium located on the 3rd floor of the SADC. Over 80 dealers showcase and eclectic mix of period furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, fine art, jewelry, and collectibles in designer room settings and showcases. The inventory represents the best of seventeenth- through twentieth-century design in a diverse range of styles such as Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern.
25th Street Indoor Flea Market – 122 West 25th St.
This decades-old New York City business is filled with a variety of retailers. Here you won’t find much furniture, but there are plenty of antique housewares, art and other unbelievable memorabilia. Shops are run the old-school way, meaning if you have the gall to bargain for a deal, do it.
Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, whose mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and funds raised through entrepreneurial businesses such as their thrift shops.
You’re venturing out to the HAMPTONS, you say? You want to do some high end vintage shopping, you say?
Well, you’re in luck! If you’re heading to the Hamptons, home to some of the most expensive and elaborate abodes in the world, we’ve got you covered! Here are seven must-see shops for your itinerary.
Wyeth Home – 3654 Montauk Highway (Sagaponack)
Wyeth Home is a great place to find that certain pièce de résistance to bring your room together. With a higher-end selection of mid century furniture and accessories, this shop is a must-see.
Ruby Beets – 25 Washington St. (Sag Harbor)
Sag Harbor’s Ruby Beets is features a variety of antiques mixed in with contemporary art and photography. Think decorative antiques, vintage and contemporary furniture, lighting, and accessories, as well as contemporary art and photography.
Monc XIII – 40 Madison St. (Sag Harbor)
High-end in all the right ways, this Monc XIII is a true Hamptons gem. Owner Natasha Esch travels the globe to bring unique and timeless treasures from the 18th century to modern day into her Sag Harbor showroom.
Mecox East Hampton – 66 Newtown Lane (East Hampton)
The Hamptons outpost of the well-known, high-end antique, Mecox is the embodiment of the traditional mix we love so much about the east side. Mecox keeps this location feeling unique, thanks to its sourcing of local pieces with classic vibes. Expect a selection of home and garden furnishings and antiques.
Marika’s Antiques – 6 S Ferry Rd. (Shelter Island)
Marika’s has been serving homes and inns for over 25 years. They carry a selection of antique and modern home furnishings, lighting, seasonal and outdoor garden decor.
Laurin Copen Antiques is home to a large collection of furniture, lighting, paintings, pottery, beds and smalls, ranging from mid century modern, industrial, Swedish, rustic, and folk to the unusual, organized throughout an eighteenth century farmhouse.
LOCAL TIP FROM LAURIN COPEN ANTIQUES:
Laurin’s favorite spot to grab an iced tea or iced coffee – and lunch-on-the-go – is The Golden Pear, right in the center of Bridgehampton! Golden Pear Cafes exude an easy style and charm that epitomizes Hamptons living at its best.
Beall & Bell – 430 Main St. (Greenport)
Beall & Bell offers a mix of mid-century modern furnishings, American, French and English antiques, and industrial pieces. Every Thursday, owners Virginia McFadden and Kenneth Ludacer share what they have discovered over the past week with their customers, including designers and creatives.
But wait... there’s more!
If you’ve got a car, or wheels to get out of town, we have two special places to share with you.
Old New House – By Appointment (Westchester)
North of the city in Westchester, Old New House is a charming business, run by husband and wife team Melissa + Dave. Keep reading below...
Old New House owners Melissa + Dave hand select every single antique and vintage piece that you see in their shop. They’ve got a selection of art, decor, rugs, furniture, and more! Dave is a 5th generation rug man, and Melissa’s been fascinated with vintage treasures since she was a young girl – their selection is a beautiful mash of their two personal interests.
See their storefront on Trove Market!
Scranberry Coop – 42 Main St./Route 206 (Andover, NJ)
If you feel like taking an interstate trip to NJ, head to Andover for a vintage lover’s paradise! Keep reading below...
If you have access to a car, Scranberry Coop in Andover, NJ is only an hour from the city. They have an extensive selection of vintage art, furniture, and collectables, with some cool modern pieces mixed in. If you feel like exploring, there are a lot of great antique places nearby too, most of which are small mom and pop places, so the prices are great!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of New York’s best vintage stores! If we’ve missed someone, we want to know! Send us an email at [email protected] and let us know who YOU love!
4 best antique malls to visit when you’re shopping in Houston, TX!
Pictured: Dealer booth at Heights Antiques on Yale (2110 Yale St, Houston, TX).
Houston is a treasure trove of antiques in Texas. As America’s fourth largest city, and an oil and gas powerhouse, its antique lovin’ population explodes outward from and around the energy belt. With all its growth and the resulting societal change, Houston has become a diverse, culturally rich metropolitan area. In 2015, Houston was projected to unseat Chicago as America’s third largest city – and it’s got the restaurants, retail, and recreational hot spots to keep residents and visitors enthralled, and new community members moving in!
If you’ve been to Texas, you’ll likely agree that it’s an antiquing state! Antique malls are amazing resources for decor and furniture that can bring new life into your vintage, refined, or modern home. We like to call Houston our second home (only second to San Francisco!) and have spent a large amount of time there, working with our merchant partners, meeting and spending time with the community, and participating in events like White Linen Night in the Heights (website/Facebook) and Round Top Antique Week. As such, we’ve made some great inroads and spent our fair share of time in antique malls around town.
So, where to start looking for antiques, in the midst of such amazing things distributed throughout the big city? In Houston, the best places to start are Trove (of course!), and also in a select few of the many antique malls around town. Keep reading for a short list of our favorite antique malls!
Here are our favorite antique malls in Houston, based on their personalities, welcoming nature, and assortment of items that you’ll find in-store. You can really wander around each of these places for hours.
1. Heights Antiques on Yale
Heights Antiques is a family owned and run business, and the staff and dealers make it a very welcoming and enjoyable place to shop for your antiques. A fixture on Yale for years, the gallery has two floors filled with a plethora of antique decor, collectibles, and furniture to choose from. It's almost guaranteed you'll walk out with something you'll cherish forever!
If you are out on the town during White Linen Night in the Heights (1st Saturday night of August), be sure to stop into Heights Antiques for a beverage and to see their amazing showroom!!
Location: 2110 Yale., 713-861-3335. Inner Loop.
Here’s a quick look at some of the things you’ll find when you visit Heights Antiques!
2. AG Antiques on West 19th
AG Antiques is a great antiques mall located on 19th Street, right in the heart of the action! The store has been in the same family since the 1930s, first as a dry goods store, and now an antique mall filled with furnishings, decor, and other collectibles.This is by far one of the biggest attractions on 19th, with a classy, eclectic, fun mix of dealers and products.
Here’s a picture of one of AG’s dealers, Cindy Loper, in action! (Image courtesy of Houston Chronicle.)
AG is also a great stop if you’re out on the town for WLN in the Heights! Find yourself a nice glass of wine and wander the mall.
Location: 313 W. 19th, 713-862-1009. Inner Loop.
3. Chippendale East Lake Antiques
Chippendale is a smaller mall, located on 19th Street just a block from Yale at Rutland. It's right in the heart of the action and packed wall to wall with a wide variety of antiques, ranging from sports memorabilia to vintage medical equipment to fine housewares and furniture. Each of the dealers at Chippendale man the front desk, and they’re all very welcoming and helpful when you need a hand.
Location: 250 W. 19th St., 713-869-8633. Inner Loop.
4. Antiques and Interiors at the Pavilion
At Antiques and Interiors you’ll find high-end, high-priced epicurean antiques. The dealers and staff are super friendly, and willing to show you around the marvels at the mall. Several dealers are setup in their booths so they’re on-site and present to speak with customers at least part-time.
For a full list of antique malls in Houston, including some we’ve yet to venture into, take a peek at this article by the Houston Chronicle.
One antique mall we’ve yet to visit – but that’s on the short list to see – is Almeda Antique Mall. Folks sing praise for this mall, which has been operating for over 30 years, and takes great pride in it’s focus on the community and local business!
Did you know of another must-see antique destination? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment below or send us an email at [email protected].
