Scrolling through Instagram my feed is filled with beautiful cabinets and collections, some are colour co-ordinated, some are themed and some are just the most perfectly curated collections I’ve ever seen. If you are a minimalist, this post is definitely not for you . Filling my cabinets and shelves is the part I’ve been dreaming about for years, being able to display all of my collections and the things I love. So far I have two parts in the house that display all of my things, the shelves in the kitchen, and this cabinet in the living room, and of course there will be a lot more added as we complete rooms.
My collection in the living room, visually, is definitely less themed than all the gems I have on the shelves in the kitchen. Colour wise and overall aesthetic, the kitchen is very co ordinated, but I think that matches the more rustic feel to the kitchen. The living room however, is more colourful and elegant, and I wanted the collection of “things” to really be a reflection of us and our memories, and of course be pleasing to look at. I thought I’d share some of the items in our cabinet, and why we have them, and where to start if your interested in starting a vintage collection of some sort.
We love to hunt for vintage and antique gems, but what we really love to find are pieces that represent things we love. So over the years I have managed to collect Vintage Paris souvenirs, Nathan and I have visited Paris so many times, and it is literally our favourite place to go abroad. I also have special memories there with my Mum and Gran, I just find the place inspiring and beautiful. So I think if you’re thinking of wanting to start collecting Vintage, but have no idea where to start, and a wider loose theme such as colour is to daunting, think about what you already love, wether its a place like Paris or Rome, or you love photogrpahy and cameras, start with a theme if you feel lost. Have a little search on ebay and see what comes up under “Vintage (insert your love here)”. That is literally what I do, I search Vintage Paris souvenirs, or I search Vintage North York Moors, or Vintage wax seals, and then that gets me started on a new collection! Of course as well, you may see something you like when at the charity shop, a vintage store etc, and that might start off a whole new collection you didn’t even know you needed!
So my Paris collection includes lots of post cards and post card books, brooches, perfume packaging, Parisian buttons on cards, a muscial brass Sacre Coeur, a letter opener with an image you view in the handle (wild right?) and some other little bits and bobs . I put the paper type items and packaging all in a wire basket, I felt it was a great way to display them, as they are a bit awkward on their own. Before I went full time with my online store, I was a graphic designer, so I have a soft spot for old packaging and typography, and the vintage souvenirs really hit that spot for me. We also have a small collection of North York Moors pieces, but this is really small, and something I struggle more to get hold of, so I took one of the postcard books that include these gorgeous paintings of the heather on the moorland, and folded it so that I could display one of them in the vintage gold concave frame. It is such a beautiful way to show one of the places that holds a special place in our hearts, but also keep it within the style of our home.
The Victorian vase in the top corner was a gift to me from my Mum, and the beautiful tea set in front was actually my Grans. Years ago I took her for a look around the local vintage charity shop, and she bought this set from there and had it on display in her cabinet, so the fact I can now have it on show in our home, means so much to me, and again its that sentimental feeling I really wanted.
I also have a couple of frames with pressed flowers inside, these have been made by me, and contain flowers that I have pressed from special places we have visited. I love them, they just capture those places, and bring back so many memories.
Of course there are other items in here that are just there because I love them and they look pretty, but even though they have no sentimental value, I always remember where I bought them and the thrill of getting something so beautiful and most probably at an amazing price too. One of the best parts about collecting vintage is definitely the hunt, closely followed by coming home and researching your new find.
I love my cabinet, and it may not have a tight theme, but it represents who we are, and it makes us happy to have these things – and that’s all that matters!
What would you display in a cabinet like this?
Much love
Natasha x
