Very Vintage Vignettes - Flea Market Finds: Home and Garden Decorating Ideas by Expert Interior Decorators

Ice Cream, You Scream Bryan Cosham of Granby, CT shares his home decor, DIY projects, and delicious baking (@our.cozy.little.home) on Instagram. He fashioned his own nostalgic ode to picnics and the splendor of ice cream atop his small kitchen hutch and adorned the front with a perfect patriotic bunting. Bryan has a wonderful collection of vintage signs that he changes throughout the seasons.

Crowning Glory Jana Saputo and her husband have been collecting vintage and antique treasures for many years. Their home is filled with finds from all over the world as well as local thrift stores, garage sales, and flea market finds. Jana’s favorite pastime is creating vignettes throughout her home, and since her multiple sclerosis diagnosis five years ago it is also what keeps her moving and active. Here she combines a lovely assortment of neutral pieces with her collection of glimmering crowns and jewelry.

Porch Sittin’ and Sippin’ Jeanette Simme of @lifehasrepurpose fully lives the vintage life from her charming, humble home and secondhand resale business to her cozy front porch. A simple bench and a quilt-covered settee are a perfect spot to enjoy a sip while watching laundry dry in the country breeze. You can shop Jeanette’s vintage finds at www. lifehasrepurpose.com.

Kindred Spirits Lisa Kindred is a newly retired schoolteacher/school principal who now works part time at a unique historical venue for weddings and small businesses where she has a tiny vintage boutique with her friend Nancy, called Foxtail Finds and Designs. Lisa created the cozy she- shed shown here during the pandemic with found, free, and vintage elements. You can follow Lisa on Instagram @foxtailfindsanddesigns.

Tomato, Tomatoe Renee Lafontaine says that her tomato pincushions are one of her favorite “accidental” collections, started when she scored a heavily pinned one at a thrift store many years ago. “After that I would always make a beeline to the sewing section when out thrifting and before long, I had a huge jar full of these delicious, little gems. I’m always fascinated by the unique pin designs, which I think reveal a lot about their previous owners’ personalities.” The two rules Renee follows? The price must be right (cheap), and the little strawberry must still be attached— these are filled with Emery powder or sand, depending on the age, and are meant to keep your needles and pins sharpened and polished when inserted regularly.

A Shoe-In Summer is prime garage sale season, and Robin Brown of @junkismylife is ready for it! Not only does she host a booth inside a mercantile in Rochester, Indiana, she styles her home using her favorite finds. This craftsman cabinet holds a variety of treasures including wooden chocolate boxes, a brass cobbler stand, a boot form, and an ice water pitcher from a shoe company that reveals Robin’s affinity for shoe memorabilia. See more of Robin’s finds and DIY projects at junkismylife.com.

Childhood Summers Elizabeth Morris brings in bright vibrant primary colors, along with orange, and adds elements of summertime nostalgia with vintage water jugs, Boy Scout/Girl Scout manuals, soda bottles, flashlights, and thermoses that remind her of childhood memories. “I received my graduate degree in Public History back in 2018 and was particularly drawn to the material culture classes, so when I bring items into my home, (almost always bought from estate sales or the thrift store), I feel like I am curating my own tiny material culture museum! It is especially fun to dig into the history behind an item,” says Elizabeth. Follow along with her on Instagram @elizabethannantiques.

Works of Art “I’ve been collecting crocheted American flag blankets and throws for several years and bring them out starting in May for Memorial Day,” says Karen Otto of Plano, TX. “None of them cost more than $10, and to me, it’d be a crime for any of these beautifully crafted, time consuming works of art to be lost,” continues Karen. She shops year-round for vintage red, white, and blue pieces, including old roller skates, handmade wooden “firecrackers,” flags, soda pop bottles, and crates to set a festive table and drink station for outdoor gatherings. You can find Karen on Instagram @homestarstaging and @thingsyouottoknow.

Fit for a Queen Renata Talmont lives in Western Massachusetts in a 1900 Queen Anne Victorian home filled with flea market finds and secondhand decor. Along with her husband and son, Renata frequents indoor and outdoor flea markets looking for just the right pieces for their unique home. You can follow along with her DIY projects, (she’s renovating three rooms right now,) and the family’s shopping excursions @onceuponavictorian on Instagram.

Stars-n-Bikes Holly Blain, who shares her Michigan home situated on an amazing acreage with three outbuildings on Instagram, (@rusticwildarrow) utilized an open alcove in her home to display a wonderful vintage bicycle draped with the stars and stripes. A large canvas printed with uplifting reminders serves as a wonderful backdrop.

Rotating Collections Kimberly Porter is a prolific collector and rotates her collections by season, color, and even monthly for some of her kitchen collections. From bright Americana, beloved jadeite, and strawberries in honor of her late mom, Kim finds sentimental meaning in many of her pieces. Her collection of picnic tins is especially amazing, and she loves the endless storage they provide.

Curated Collections Nichole Garmon-Lindsey of Newnan, Georgia remembers flea marketing, thrifting, and going to estate sales with her mother, and continues the tradition today. Nichole and her husband tackle many DIY projects around their home, and she loves styling them all with secondhand finds. We love how Nichole layered her vintage novelties into a cohesive vignette that we are certain is a conversation starter in her home.

Rustic Americana Mia Morgan’s 4th of July cabinet, as she lovingly calls it, is a remarkable sight. Filled with a unique assortment of rustic curiosities, it perfectly re ects the spirit of Independence Day. You can see more of Mia’s curated home on Instagram @canoblane.

The Vintage Life Susan Naumann displays and uses her vintage treasures throughout her entire home where living with sustainability in mind is just a way of life. Susan has been cooking and baking with her amazing 1920’s Magic Chef oven for 45 years. “It is wonderful, plus has such a great presence,” she says. Susan garners much inspiration for her décor by browsing YouTube for videos on interior design and antiquing.