5 Secrets for Finding Buried Vintage Treasures, Straight from Design Pros

 

5 Secrets for Finding Buried Vintage Treasures, Straight from Design Pros

We spent a day in New York City looking for vintage and one-of-a-kind items with interior designer Mally Skok and her collection-loving daughter, Gabriella. They shared their shopping rules along the way.

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

1. Stay Open

"You can always keep a list of things you are looking for in the back of your mind, but don’t expect to find them. If you’re looking for a bamboo stool, for instance, you might be unlucky on that foray, but just buy the other thing you find that you love—the bowl or the painting. You need to have a lot of patience," says Mally.

Showplace antiques store boasts hundreds of pendants, while John Derian shops feature decorative accents such as glassware, ornaments, and handmade paper flowers by The Green Vase.

2. Zen Out

"We sort of treat shopping like meditation: You put your mind in neutral, and then suddenly something will jump off the shelves into your brain. It takes a while to learn the tactic of doing junk stores well," says Mally.

 PHOTO: 

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

 PHOTO: 

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

3. Look for Special

"On my mantel, I have this really great piece that has a toucan on it. It must have taken someone hours to create that little ceramic piece. In my years of antiquing, I've never seen anything like that: It stopped me in my tracks. I love something where the provenance is totally inscrutable: It's clear a human made it, but it could have been yesterday or 400 years ago," says Gabriella.

Trays, figurines, and textiles can add a charming touch to each room in your home. Yesterday’s News is the duo’s favorite shop for little trays.

4. It's OK to Walk Away

"I never want to feel like I'm getting ripped off. This past summer, Pyrex got very trendy, and all of a sudden, it was $60 for a mixing bowl. I was, like, 'This is ridiculous,'" says Gabriella.

 PHOTO: 

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

 PHOTO: 

ANNIE SCHLECHTER