Flea markets and vintage furnishings shops are a very good option to find that piece of furniture or design item we have been looking for so long, which was either hard to find, or simply too expensive. Flea markets are the ideal place to shop when your budget is limited. You could find some lovely treasures. Patience and cleverness are the keys to a successful transaction.
Flea markets owe their name to the fact that people usually look like fleas from a distance. Also, some believe that the name originated from the fact that the pieces of furniture bought actually came with fleas. This is not so much the case nowadays. Flea markets and vintage furnishings shops have come a long way. Now everything is much more organized and regulated, and in many flea markets you can even pay with a credit card. Also, many modern flea markets have delivery services, so the pieces of furniture you want can be delivered right to your home.
In Paris there are a well established and very famous series of such markets called Les Puces. Here both permanent booths as well as an ever changing weekly array of sellers come together to offer things from frumpy to fabulous. The markets are hundreds of years old but began more officially in their current form around 1880.   Many a treasure has graced the covers of famous international magazines which began its voyage in these humble and jumbled beginnings. The thrill is in the search and many make the pilgrimage on a weekly basis. I myself have spent many days on each of my trips to Paris combing the markets for both fun and treasures. On one such trip, I fell deeply in love with a beautiful crystal chandelier. Amazingly, I was told that it had just been sold…as luck would have it to a colleague of mine from right here in Seattle of all places. Great minds think alike…even in the Puce in Paris.
The idea is to take all the time in the world, to thoroughly check the pieces of furniture you are interested in. If they are damaged, they could probably be repaired by a carpenter, and for a small fee, you get to save thousands of dollars. Also, if you’re handy repairing things, it is known to be great work therapy, to relieve stress. Wood is a very noble material to work with; if you are kind to it, it will respond beautifully.
It is crucial that the piece you acquire does not carry larvae of insects. Some insects feed on wood, and if an infestation occurs, it can very well end with your home’s foundations. The wisest thing to do is to leave the piece in quarantine, in the garage, for instance, before granting it a place inside your home.
Tables, chairs, sofas, armchairs, beds, closets, mantelpieces; you name it. Any L.A., New York, Miami, or Seattle interior designer would agree that the right item could be a stylish addition to your home; some may even give it the right touch of distinction. Patience and a keen eye can prove to be very useful when it comes to the search for the perfect design item.
