Flea Market Loot - 2016

Come summer and visiting local flea markets, antique fairs and salvage yards is a ritualistic affair for me. Flea market style is something that I’m hooked to because it advocates style that is authentic. It's the possibility of finding pieces that are loaded with faded charm or have the ability to evoke nostalgia that makes the process of scouring flea markets so exciting. What's also wonderful is that if you are someone whose décor style thrives off of flea market finds, you know for sure that no other home out there is going to look like yours! 

I'm so excited to share my first flea market find, these gorgeous 1950’s Afghani spice boxes. Traditionally used to store spices, they now serve as storage for my ring collection. I have blogged about similar pretty boxes earlier, and have had them on my must-have list for the longest time. I've spotted a few on Etsy and Ebay but boy are they pricey! However, I got really lucky the other day. These beautifully handcrafted boxes in shades of coral and deep garnet, with flaking paint and intricate detailing, literally jumped at me from a pile of clutter (Tip: Having a trained eye always helps to recognize the potential that pieces might have when you spot them amidst a pile of junk.) I contained my excitement, for the fear that the seller might pick up on my vibes and quote an exorbitant price for them. So with a casual tone, I approached him and to my delight, these were up for grabs for a song:) 

Next is a vintage amber miniature glass hobnail oil lamp from Japan. I not only fell in love with the color but also with the size! It’s in perfect condition with a working wick. Spotted this one on the third floor of an antique shop. Hiking those rickety stairs was so worth the climb. I also plan on building a collection around this particular find. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have this in different sizes and colors all lined up on a mantle? (Tip: Another helpful tip would be to have a mental list of what you’d like to snag at a flea market jaunt as this way you have a specific requirement, don’t end up with stuff that you may not need and stay well within your budget.)

Who doesn't love the iconic lassi glasses of Punjab? I know I do. I love displaying blooms in unique receptacles and a brass lassi glass would elevate the entire arrangement to a whole new level is what I reason. I hunted long and hard for the perfect lassi glass. I also believe in stretching the dollar. So if the price is not right, I just wait. And I can happily say that the wait was well worth it. With elaborate details, this handmade filigree work, lassi glass weighs a ton. An authentic vintage piece, the seller himself sourced it directly from Pakistan. There was no way I was going to walk away without this piece. So the offer was made and graciously accepted by the seller. Back home, the lassi glass turned new vase, holds some pretty in pink, Turkish carnations. 

Last but not the least is this Pakistani truck art. It was so unique, kitschy and colorful that the minute I spotted it, I knew where to hang it. These are traditionally used to decorate trucks in Pakistan. Much like our trucks in Punjab, the truck drivers take great pride in decorating their trucks. Infact, truck art has even made it from the road to the catwalk. (FYI: The Italian fashion company Dolce & Gabbana used truck art-inspired displays in a 2015 campaign.) 

With that we wind up with our flea market post for today. I hope you enjoyed the vignettes I shared from around my home and are inspired to do some flea market shopping of your very own. (Tip: Flea market style is also about stretching the dollar so remember there is always room for bargaining. That being said, if you happen to fall in love with a piece, price becomes a secondary consideration. What really becomes important at this point is deducing what the particular piece can do to elevate your current interior styling situation:) 

This month we are focusing on flea market and vintage style. I have a lot in store and you are going to love it (if I may so myself). So do stay connected.  To catch up on my other flea market posts, click here, here and here. 

Happy decorating!

(Image Credit/ Copyright: Sruthi Singh, The images may NOT be copied /used for commercial or non-commercial purposes without the prior written permission from Sruthi Singh and TECD)

Flea Market Loot!

Adopting an “Eclectic style” can be quite liberating when it comes to design dilemmas, don't you think? Here is my take on why I say so - it gives you the artistic freedom to pool together diverse styles, cultures and periods. The combination of different styles and cultures coming together is wonderful but the one thing that is imperative for me is that the home should feel warm and lived. For a home to emote that kind of a vibe, I think one must layer the home with a good mix of pieces from different periods. The worn surfaces, washed-out colors and peeling patina and paint of vintage treasures have the magical ability to infuse a room with character and an informal vibe that says come and sit awhile and put your feet up.

Like I’ve said earlier, flea markets are a great place to score vintage finds. And summer is the best possible season to explore them. If you are considering design on a dime, flea market style is definitely the way to go. I love the way my eight year old sums up the affordability factor, " Mom, really! For the price of an ice-cream you can get a painting?" Well, if you put it that way, then I say the ice-cream can wait and let's go on that flea market jaunt!

After all the rummaging what did we find, you ask? We scored some 1930s British Regimental illustrations. The print on the right depicts “The 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own)”, a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1715 to 1969 while the print on the left, shows Skinner's Horse (1st Duke of York's Own), cavalry regiment of the Indian Army, which served in the British Indian Army before independence. I just love the aged tonal quality of the print - it is anything but a factory churned production of today!

Next on my list of the flea market loot, is the Hellenic glass set complete with a brass wire holder from the Jeanette Glass Company. The Grecian patterns pop against a sea-foam green and are reminiscent of Wedgewood design. These are sometimes hard to come by as Jeanette Glass shut down in 1983.

My final score, a vintage ceramic two tone milk jug that I’ve re-purposed as a vase! 

So what say, ice-cream or vintage style?

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright. Please do not use without prior written permission.

Reclaimed Design (More on Flea Market Style)

Flaky paint, tarnished patinas and corroded surfaces are words that make a flea-market junkie's heart leap! It’s what elevates the flea market treasures from the common catalog offerings and seals them with the stamp of time. Flea market style gives us the freedom to push the envelope and test our creative boundaries. I say this because an imaginative and innovative mind is the epicenter of good flea market style. Another important aspect for flea market style to thrive is a healthy mix of the old with the new. A space comes alive when the polished and lustrous surfaces of the new get mixed in with the worn and scuffed treasures from a flea market exploit. 

Sharing her flea market inspired vignettes from her Massachusetts’ home, my virtual friend and owner of Mayil Scarves, Madavi Oliver, has mastered the art of flea market style. She sourced most of her treasures from the “paathra kadais” (shops that deal in old kitchen utensils and other household goods) in Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu, India). 

Her flea market vintage collection includes brass bells and lamps, aruvanmanai (vegetable cutter) and a vintage sign in Tamil that reads “Narasu's coffee and tea”. This is her absolute favorite and I can see why! 

Weren’t those corner’s absolutely delightful and inspiring? I’m totally inspired to go looking for my very own vintage sign board…….

Thank you Madavi for sharing such enchanted corners of your home. To all my readers out there, if you know how to work the flea market style, do write to me at theeastcoastdesi@gmail.com with pictures of the lovely vignettes from your home, for an exclusive feature on TECD:)  

Images are the property of Madavi Oliver and may not be used without prior written permission.

Flea Market Fever

With décor rules chucked at the door, Flea Market style can be liberating in more ways than one. It can adapt to any style and can match every price point. And the two most wonderful aspects about flea market style is that every piece has a backstory to it and there is low or no maintenance in most cases as the distressed patina and peeling paint reveals the stamp of time and adds to the personality and ambiance of the space. But one must develop an eye to spot some style amongst all that flea market clutter. TECD reader and flea market enthusiast “Jayanthi Kanderi” truly knows how to work the flea market style.

She recently sent me this delightful corner of her home and I was so besotted with the whole look that I had to share it with you’ll. Now getting into the details, this is what Jajanthi had to say sharing about this lovely corner of her home,"I have always had a fascination for things that have already lived a life – there is always an aura of mystery surrounding every piece. I found the big antique trunk in a flea market for $10! It came with the legs already attached (whoohoo:) The brass trinkets were all picked up over the years. I have no guilt in accumulating them since I pay so little for something that cool. The Pepsi crate is a recent flea market find which was again very inexpensive. I live in Coca cola's hometown (Atlanta) so I guess Pepsi crates are not all that popular:) A touch of green adds freshness and brings the whole corner alive.” 

Thank you Jayanthi for taking the time to share and connect with us. If you too know how to work the flea market look together, do send in pictures of your lovely vignettes to theeastcoastdesi@gmail.com to be featured on TECD!

Images are the property of Jayanthi Kanderi and may not be used without prior written permission.

How to make the most of the Flea markets this Summer

If you, like me are drawn to pieces that have a story and character to them, then may I suggest you scour the summer flea markets for some weathered relics that may be repurposed, recycled and restored to add that special stamp of personality to your home.  Flea market style makes it easy to pull together a look that's individual, stylish and affordable. What's even more wonderful is that flea market style is versatile. You may choose to create a style that suits your personality - modern eclectic, romantic country or simply traditional. 

This image that I'm sharing today is from my sister's (Sunayana) home in London. She like me, loves to decorate and has an eye for interesting finds. Showcased here is a bronze tea kettle she scored at a London flea market for £15! The table used to showcase the kettle was also a flea market find. A lick of paint gives it a new lease of life!

The basic virtues that you need to possess to be a flea market shopper are:
~  a discerning eye to spot those special pieces in a pile of junk,
~ a creative and imaginative approach to look beyond the dust, grime and marginal wear and tear and imagine it adorning a corner of your home and
~ a great deal of persistence and enthusiasm as not every flea market trip is going to be a success story. I thought it would be fun to share a few pointers that I've learnt from my shopping experiences at the flea market. These simple guidelines will help you make the most of your flea market hunt:

• Start by making a wish list of the specific pieces that you would like to score at a flea market. Make sure to make a note of the necessary dimensions in a book kept exclusively for this purpose. 
• Next, make a list of the various flea markets in your neighborhood that you’d like to visit. Settle for the ones that have a larger number of vendors as that means more choices to choose from. Also do an online research (where possible) to know who the vendors are and what experienced flea market shoppers are saying about this place. 



The little red Chinese foot stool was bought at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market (Bethesda, MD). I use it as a mini side table to host a plant or statue. 

• On the day before the flea market, clean out your car and make sure you have enough room to carry back all your flea market exploits with you. Load up on newspapers, bubble wrap and an old blanket to bring your goodies back safe.
• Tick off the checklist for a measuring tape, your book (with the dimensions), water, hand sanitizer and wipes, and a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
• Carry real money (dollar bills). Most vendors prefer cash over checks. A sling bag would be great as it frees up your hands. Also carry a rolling cart or mini suitcase on wheels to avoid aching arms and make the shopping experience more pleasant.
• On the day of the flea market, rise early, eat a heavy breakfast and arrive early at the flea market venue. This was you have a great chance at calling first dibs on the best items available for grabs. (You could also get a great deal later during the day when the vendors are restless to unload and would be willing accept a bargain price rather than lug the stock back to their own store.)



The wooden utensils (originally used to store salt and other spices) were brought back from our trip to Cochin. Found these in a pile of clutter. After some sanding, a coat of dark polish, varnish and hardware to hang, they now adorn my breakfast nook. 




Also seen in the image to the extreme right is a 1960's ITALIAN GLASS VINTAGE GREEN HANDBLOWN WINE CARAFE. I scored this at the Lucketts annual spring market.

• If this is your first time at the flea market, walk around and take a look at the stock. Note down the shop numbers that have a style similar to yours and come back to them later to explore in detail.
• Establish a relationship with vendors who stock pieces that are similar to your style. If they don't have what your looking for, let them know about the specific piece you have in mind. Sooner or later, you will get lucky.
• Bundling always helps and gets you a better deal. So make sure to check out the vendor’s entire selection before you make your final offer.



Also don't forget to check out the neighborhood garage/yard sales and car boot sales! The little basket you see with all my decor magazines stashed in it was a $2 find at a garage sale:)

• Finally when you find a piece that you love, bargain with grace. Don’t be afraid to counter offer but keep in mind that the vendor is here to make a fair deal!
• Once home, make sure to wipe down and clean your find and then bring it into your home. If the piece was bought for its patina, preserve it (whether iron or wood) with a coat of polyurethane.
• Display your find with pride and enjoy it for years to come.....

I hope these tips are resourceful and inspire you to bring home some flea market style this summer. Have  a wonderful weekend!

Image copyright/credit: 1 - Sunayana Singh, All other images are the property of Sruthi Singh. No images may be reproduced without prior written permission.