Interior Design is a very personal choice, and not everyone will agree on the best practice. We can comment, however, on how we see things through our own business. We have now been trading for a couple of years and It is interesting to us, how some trends appear out of nowhere, or reappear and yet some never go away.
Pieces such as kitchen items, old wooden frames, vintage artwork, classic mirrors, vintage seating, and unusual lighting seem to be an ongoing theme for us, whereas other items like brown furniture, industrial pieces and the quirkier items are just starting to pick up. We are sure that if you asked 10 dealers of vintage, collectables or antiques they will all have a different take on it – which just makes it even more interesting for us all.
To a large extent, it depends on several things, such as the location, our clientele and sometimes, simply ‘what we can get our hands on’. We can never get enough good quality side tables, consoles, and garden items. It does seem that interior design trends are looking for the lovely combination of old and new, so this helps to drive demand on props and practical classic pieces that are out there.
We are sure – like all dealers – we are all drawn to what we like and sometimes we cannot help ourselves from buying random items that may not, in fact, be very commercial or practical. We can only hope that if we like it someone else might too. It’s not always great business sense, but it’s very rewarding to see unique pieces find their way to a new home.
We guess the key for us is going for quality, or something unusual, or an item that has a niche interior appeal. Where can we see it going, in someone’s house, garden, or shed? Can they use it today or can it be put to another use? This is the game we play and then we invest in the things that tick some or all the boxes.
So, coming back to what’s hot and what’s not…. Well in a nutshell and in our opinion, it is less about ‘antiques’ and more about the right ‘look’. It could be something made in 1970 which is only 51 years old, but the styling might be timeless, the quality and design is something that simply cannot be bought today.
In summary it doesn’t really matter if something is ‘hot’ or ‘not’ as it is asking the wrong question. You should be asking yourself the following questions: Is it well made ? Does it offer a use or function in the home ? Does it really appeal to you? If yes, then it is worth investing in.