By Hannah Schwab
Whether you are a broke college graduate trying to furnish a first apartment or just trying to change the look of a generic room, vintage shopping offers one-of-a-kind pieces at reasonable prices.
But how do you know if the piece that caught your eye is a hidden gem or a worthless piece of junk?
"Condition, condition, condition," said Steve Humphreys, owner of Vogue Vintage in Ferndale. "Use your common sense. If a table looks unstable, chances are it is. I hand select all of my pieces so I know they meet a minimum standard of quality. I do dabble a little bit in refurbishing wooden pieces, but I don't tackle fabrics. For me, it isn't cost effective."
Humphreys stocks his store with a few items customers bring in, but he said he finds most of his pieces at estate and movie prop sales. He said these sales feature a lot of merchandise that sellers are trying to move quickly, so he can usually find good deals.
Although vintage stores specialize in unique pieces, Humphreys recommends new vintage shoppers research pieces online.
"If I'm carrying a couch from the 1960s, chances are someone else is selling one like it on eBay or Craigslist. Those are easy places to check prices so you know if you need to counter offer," Humphreys said. "Also, search brands. If there is a name on a table or lamp, look it up to check its quality or worth."
When it comes to haggling, Humphreys will only go so far.
"I know how much I need to sell an item at to make my money back," Humphreys said. "So I know how much I can come down. I fully expect customers will counter offer but I hate it when someone really low-balls me. Don't insult an owner's intelligence, otherwise they will never work with you on the price."
While owners are looking to make money, they also want you to be satisfied with your purchase. Vintage storeowners will often let customers try out a piece to make sure it is what they want in their home.
"I have no problem letting someone take a pillow from the couch home to make sure the colors work in the room," Humphreys said. "We let people borrow tables and wall art to make sure they fit in the space they have picked out."
Randilynn Talsma, owner of Second Chance Design in Holland, said finding vintage pieces is easier than people think. She looks locally for people who want to downsize their living arrangements and people who are moving and don't want to store massive amounts of furniture.
"When grandma moves into a retirement community, she has to unload her furniture somewhere," Talsma said. "I had a woman call me the other day because she was going on a mission trip out of the country and she needed to get rid of rooms worth of furniture."
Unlike Humphreys' shop, Talsma and her husband Jason will refurbish almost any piece that comes through the door.
"As long as the piece has good bones, anything can be refinished," Jason Talsma said. "Most pieces made in the 1950s and '60s are a better quality than we find today, so those pieces can be saved. Vintage that is still around is usually still good."
The Talsmas agree that if someone is new to vintage shopping, start off acquiring pieces slowly. If someone tries to refurnish an entire room or apartment at once, they can end up frustrated.
"Pieces take time to find," Randilynn said. "If someone comes in looking for something specific, they may never find it. I've seen people come in and say they have been hunting for a specific piece for years. Chances are if they haven't found it, it isn't out there to be found."
Jason recommends finding a store or two that a shopper likes and stopping in a few times a month to see what new products come in. Vintage stores have a high turn over rate and customers often can be inspired by a new piece.
"Start off slow, with a pillow or pattern that you like and try to gradually build off of that," Jason said. "Carpets and wall colors can be changed easier than upholstery can.
"Start with a clean slate in the room and slowly build the furniture around something that you love. If you take your time and let the inspiration come to you, you can end up with a room you really like that can last."
