The rest of the look—a mix of rustic farmhouse style and nostalgic folk art and bold color—is delivered via Sue’s many collections. Yellowware in the kitchen was a practical, affordable pick that she began accumulating many years ago as a newlywed. Sue stores them in the open shelves of an antique hutch and cabinet as an homage to her shop. Primitive kitchen tools, arranged on ledges and lined on shelves, harken back to a simpler time.
The most dominant element in Sue’s décor is her collection of vintage advertising. Signage covers much of any available wall space, touting everything from root beer to gasoline. She considers it folk art.
“Someone has taken the time to paint it, usually for family businesses,” she says. “For example, The Breezy Hill Pony Farm—you could tell he had a son at one point because there’s the addition of ‘and son’ to the sign,” she says, referencing her favorite piece in the collection. “And then you can tell he had another child because you can see that he stenciled in ‘and daughter.’ That’s what I love about them, they tell a story.”
Most of Sue’s belongings tell a story, some from her own family, as she’s since inherited her grandmother’s quilt collection and taken ownership of the old train station bench. Her 2-year-old granddaughter occasionally jumps on it as much as Sue did in the charge of her parents, bringing the family love of antiques full circle.
