Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • C&B Project House
  • Shopping
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Wish List
45K
314K
15K
Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • C&B Project House
  • Shopping
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Wish List
  • Lifestyle

How to Spot High-Quality Vintage Furniture

  • July 28, 2017
  • Written by Torrey Kim
  • Photography by Bret Gum
Total
2
Shares
0
0
2

Whether you’re shopping at a high-end antiques shop or the thrift store, if you’re buying a vintage piece of furniture, you want to make sure it’s a high-quality item. “Education is key,” says artist and The Painted House blog Angela Blehm says. If you see a piece of furniture with a label on it and you aren’t sure if that’s a good brand, research it before you buy it, she says. The following additional five tips can help you determine if a piece is worth the energy it will take to refinish, repaint or repurpose it.

1. Look for joint construction.

If you’re evaluating a wooden piece of furniture, higher-quality pieces will have joint construction that interlock the pieces together (such as tongue-in-groove or dovetailed joints). Anything that’s stapled or glued will be less sturdy and may not have as many years left. interlocking joints in many cases also point to a piece that’s been hand-made rather than factory produced. This is not only a great because it means the piece is truly older, but it also means it’s been crafted with some love.

2. Sit on a sofa or chair.

This may sound obvious, but many buyers don’t “try out” a chair or sofa before buying. Sit down and make sure the springs aren’t shot, the chair doesn’t wobble, and the back doesn’t immediately lean back too far. Listen for squeaks and creaks which could indicate weak spots or actual cracks in the framing.

3. Check the fabric, even if you are planning to reupholster.

If you’re thinking of reupholstering a piece, then the fabric color may not matter—but fabric damage might. Give the furniture a good whiff—if it smells musty, it’s possible that the furniture was wet, which could alter the quality of the cushions, wood or springs. Also, original upholstery which was done to a high quality also indicates that the rest of the furniture’s construction is likely very good quality.

4. Check drawer-slide integrity.

Have you ever tried to pull a drawer out of a table and had to ask another person to hold the table still while you worked the drawer out of its place? That’s a bad sign. Drawers should slide in and out easily and should fit well into place. Avoid warped, tilted or ill-fitting drawers. Pull drawers out if you can and check for obstructions or splits– this will be the difference between and easy or difficult fix.

5. Look for welded joints in metal pieces.

If you’re evaluating a piece of metal furniture, the sturdiest works will feature welded joints. If the joints are held together with rivets, screws or bolts, the furniture won’t be as hardy. Rust is an inevitable type of damage on metal furniture but intense rust that looks like it goes beyond the surface and has actually eaten away at the metal and created holes? Those will be beyond repair and could indicate that the furniture’s integrity is too far compromised.

Total
2
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 2
Related Topics
  • antiques
  • how to
  • select antiques
  • select furniture
  • Vintage furniture
Cottages & Bungalows

Previous Article
  • Design Ideas

5 Reasons to Head to the Hardware Store

  • July 28, 2017
  • Written by Elise Major
  • Photography by Bret Gum
View Post
Next Article
  • Design Ideas

How To Create an Antique-Style Sign

  • July 28, 2017
  • Written and photographed by Marian Parsons
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Christmas
  • Decorating
  • Design Ideas
  • Featured
  • Lifestyle

A Hand-Painted Focal Point

  • Written by Marissa Moldoch
  • Photography and Styling by Shelley Donnelly
  • December 12, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Lifestyle

Modern Cottage Living

  • Written by Marissa Moldoch
  • Photographed and Styled by Melissa Kalbfleisch
  • October 13, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Lifestyle

Curb Appeal: Ivey Creek Cottage

  • Written by Kelly McMaster
  • Photography by Mike Antonio
  • August 15, 2022
Black, white, and tan dining area that includes a fireplace
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Lifestyle

A Modern Beach Home in Newport Beach, California

  • Written by Marissa Moldoch and Cori Laatsch
  • Designed by Mindy Laven
  • Photographed by Christopher Lee Foto
  • August 9, 2022
Front porch featuring a table, rocking chair, pillow, buffet table, mirror, and flowers
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Lifestyle

A Cottage of Many Colors

  • Written by Meryl Schoenbaum
  • Photography and Styling by Kimberly McCole
  • July 15, 2022
View Post
  • Entertaining
  • Lifestyle

Grill Guide: No Beef? No Problem!

  • Courtesy of Grill Guide, the newest publication from Engaged Media, on newsstands April 19, 2022
  • June 7, 2022
Kanda Candles Seaside Mint candle
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • SHOPS & MAKERS

Smells Like Success: The Story of a Small Candle Business

  • Written by Marissa Moldoch
  • Photos by Kelli Gaertner
  • April 24, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle

Welcome Home! How One Large Family Makes a Small Home Work for Them

  • Written by Kristin Dowding
  • Photography by Jen Mikesell
  • April 18, 2022

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive the best of cottage style directly in your inbox!

  • 3 Day Blinds’ 3 Window Styling Upgrades

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive the best of cottage style directly in your inbox!

Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Newsletter
  • Do Not Share My Personal Info
Copyright © 2023 Cottages & Bungalows

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We use cookies to optimise our website and give you the best experience on our website. ACCEPTREAD MORE
X