Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Creating Decorative Window Displays Using Colorful Vintage Glassware, Collectibles and Stained Glass

Introducing Coffee Trade Antiques

Windows in any antique or vintage shop are important features which need to be carefully included in the overall look and feel of your store. At The Coffee Trade Antiques in Avon, CT. owner Joan, uses her windows as if they were blank canvases and she was the artist deciding what to "paint" on her picture.

Vintage Vignettes

She uses the light and architectural elements of her rectangular windows to serve as interesting backdrops for the vintage vignettes she sets up in front of the window. Standing lights are also positioned in key spots to provide additional light when the natural light is fading. Lovely warm orange-pink tones are cast on objects by using a colored lamp shade.

Highlighting Geometric Shapes

If you look at the photos shown, you will see that
interesting geometric shapes are formed by the windows themselves, the objects in front of them and the shelf openings.

Not only are customers invited to look at her window displays from the outside, these planned window treatments interest customers who are strolling throughout her shop.

Colorful Glassware and Stained Glass

Joan likes to use colored glass in front of her windows. Sometimes the colors come from vintage stained glass windows she sets in front of her windows and other times she strategically places colored vintage glassware on a partitioned shelf in front of the window. In other words she creates clever window shelves using a free standing shelf unit sitting atop a piece of furniture or table top. (see top photo).

Photos Courtesy of The Coffee Trade Antiques. Avon, CT http://www.thecoffeetrade.com/antique-store.php


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro cafĂ©.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Dianne,
    I just checked out your blog..WOW! love all the vintage collectables, I also checked out your video and I need you at my house, my kitchen is blue and yellow with new counter tops, I think I need to add some red! you are awesome!
    Thanks for sharing all this!

    Cheers,
    Melanie
    www.artfulinterludes.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Melanie, I loved your blog....and what music is playing?
    Dianne

    ReplyDelete

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