Shabby Chic Featured at Antiques On the Farmington, Collinsville, CT

Vintage Cottage Style Decor at

  Antiques On The Farmington 

"Antiques On The Farmington", a huge Multi-dealer shop in Collinsville, CT now has a delightful Shabby Chic dealer on the second floor. Her booth is simply darling and cottage style lovers are keeping her busy. You will find sweet accessories, pillows, shelves, lamps, dressers,  vanities,  textiles and more. The booth is meticulously arranged so that you will get great ideas of how to display and decorate cottage style collelctibles in your home.

For more information visit  http://antiquesonfarmington.com/ .

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 I Antique Online 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 café. 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Pretty In Pink: Painting Your Antique Mall Booth Space Walls PINK

Shabby Chic Lovers Will Adore Pink Walls In Your Antique Booth Or Shop

If you sell pretty antiques and collectibles, you may want to consider painting the some or all of the walls in your Antique shop or booth space PINK. I just had to share with you an absolutely lovely booth space showcased on http://dignifiedrubbishblog.blogspot.com/

Adding Pink Painted Pegboards

Pink painted walls and peg boards work very well with cottage style collectibles as well as "Shabby Chic". Combined with white painted shelving and furnishing, pink walls are delicious.
Often all it takes to transform an antique booth or shop is a unifying paint color.

Cottage Style Goes Well With Pink Painted Walls

Because cottage collectibles include rose themed accessories, the pink walls are a terrific way to
create a softer tone for your booth which works so well with delicate floral wall decor, tea sets, decorative plates, textiles etc.

Photos Courtesy of http://dignifiedrubbishblog.blogspot.com/
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 café.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.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Authors Guild, Inc.

The "Art" of Buying Vintage Painted Cottage Style Furniture

Many collectors of cottage style furniture are enamored with painting older dressers and end tables white. It seems that everywhere I go, painted furniture is the norm. But when you really look at some of these painted pieces you will notice that everyone's style of painting is really quite different.

Some cottage or furniture dealers in an effort to sell their items quickly, do what I would call "a smear on ". Others take their time and really fuss with their painted pieces, as you will note in the examples shown here done by Michele's Cottage Antiques of Plantsville, CT.

Next time you are shopping around for these charming and nostalgic furnishings, take a closer look at how the paint is applied. Does the application look sloppy or quite evenly and carefully applied? And when you find a talented painter do you prefer an even coat or an antiqued look with different shades of paint?

While many people who sell cottage style furniture do a lovely job of painting their treasures, they may still prefer very simple furniture. Cottage after all is a style which encourages a casual
and relaxed look. There are however other folks who like to make the process of re painting furniture a journey.

These dealers of cottage make an art out of the task of re-purposing furniture. In fact their process begins from the very beginning. These individuals consider themselves "artists " who hunt for furniture that inspires them. Perhaps it is a dresser with lots of carvings or ornaments or one with unusual legs or compartments. Furniture with a lot of detail requires a lot of patience when painting.

You can of course coat these detailed pieces with all the same color, or you can use another color, perhaps gold or silver to accent the furniture. So the next time you are in the market for painted cottage furnishings, think about the style you are after, plain and simple or detailed and unique.
And be sure to check out the way the paint is applied. By all means, you should evaluate the price of the piece and the quality and uniqueness of the item you are buying.

Be sure to see my book "Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes" (Collectorbooks.cm) for so much more on the subject of cotttage furniture.

Photographs courtesy of Michele's Cottage Antiques in Plantsville, CT

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 café.

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.

Re-Upholstering a Shabby Chair with Vintage Embroidered Linens

Sentimental Baby Boomer

Like many sentimental baby boomers, I have drawers filled with older linens passed down from mom and grandma. Grandma Sophie (who I warmly discuss in my first book Hot Kitchen Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s) is very special to me. She embroidered everything, from challah covers to pillow cases. Almost everything grandma owned had her personal stitchery added.
So when I walked into one of my favorite little Shabby style antique shops this week and found two whimsical vintage chairs with hand embroidered linens that reminded me of grandma, my cottage-y heart went boom boom boom.
Getting Rid of the "Stuff"

I really wanted to buy these chairs, but there is one big dilemma, my house has just been through a MAJOR make-over. At this very moment in time, there is nothing cottage-y about my home at all. All the collections and tag sale finds are gone. ( O.K. almost all gone...still work in progress). I just finished a two year (felt like two decades) renovation, re-do and purge, dumping years of "stuff" and selling the rest.

So now that I am starting from scratch again....there is actually room in my home for some wonderful one- of- a- kind funky, shabby, chairs. Boy do I wish I had found these chairs before I painted my bedroom walls over three times (Nobody's perfect!). So let me tell you more about these chairs that I have my heart set on.
“Shabby-tized Chairs”
The chairs have been “shabby-tized” (my way of saying, they took dark old wood furniture and painted them white) and then there is a mixture of different older hand embroidered textiles forming a lovely unified look. Never, I repeat never throw out soiled, tattered or torn vintage linens, especially ones with hand embroidered detail. You can always work these charming textiles into new projects such as throw pillows, dust ruffles, chair coverings and more.

You will find lots of ways to create a cottage style feeling in my book Hot Cottage Collectibls for Vintage Stytle Homes.

The chairs shown here are from the collection at The Bleu Willow in Simsbury, CT


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 café.

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.

Romantic Dining with Cottage Chic Collectibles

"Romantic Victorian Style" also referred to as "Country Victorian", is a great look for collectors and home owners who enjoy combining cottage chic with turn of the century elegance. Borrowing design elements from earlier times, the romantic cottage collector enjoys the "feminine" touches that were prevalent during the Victorian period but not the dark and heavy textiles, window treatments, and furniture.

Flowers are everywhere… as patterns on china, tablecloths, napkins, draperies, and wallpaper. Elaborate bouquets of either fresh or dried flowers in attractive vases are always present. Roses are by far the most popular motif for the romantic cottage collector. Hand-painted china, vases, gorgeous serving pieces, collections of decorative plates, figurines, and candlesticks are all very desired collectibles. Buffets, china cabinets, and dining room sets are painted white or pink and showcase lovely collections of floral teapots, cups and saucers, creamers, pitchers and other dining accessories.

Ornate crystal chandeliers, Italian tole, and decorative sconces are very compatible with divine dining. You will find fine examples of these romantic style collectibles in my new book Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

"Cottage Chic" is really a perfect choice for homeowners who want to add a little pizzazz to their holiday table without going over budget. Because "Romantic-County Victorian"allows you to blend the new with the old, you can use what you have or add a few elegant touches.

For example, set your table in style by finding a beautiful older tablecloth to overlay atop you newer tablecloth. Many hand embroidered or lace square or round cloths make gorgeous additions to you holiday table. Check for stains, holes and missing stitches when buying older linens .Colorful floral tablecloths from the 1940s-1950s with pink or red roses are also attractive to use.


This is the time to take an old silver plated pitcher or pottery vase and fill with flowers. If you have a closet of decorative plates passed down from grandma or your favorite aunt, bring them out and use them to serve condiments, appetizers,desserts etc. Mixing different kinds of china plates is fun and very "in" today.


You may also enjoy serving tea or coffee in pretty vintage tea cups. It's time to take these lovely china cups out of your buffet closet and use them! What are you waiting for ? If you need to buy a few more cups, go ahead and visit your nearby antique shop or on-0line auction. These collectibles are readily available and so easy to find.

A hand painted creamer and sugar set are also darling additions to your special table. When buying china, always run your finger around the inside of the rim to check for chips. Pass up pieces with cracks, crackling or discoloration. On the other hand if you chip a china teapot, pitcher or creamer that you have, don't despair, re-purpose them .......use them for flowers.

Suppose you break a few dishes along the way, hang onto the pieces. Broken china is very collectible. Many people enjoy the craft of broken china mosaics, also called "pique-assiette." When it comes to "cottage chic" everything can be used for something.

Photo shown above courtesy of Hot Cottage Colectibles for Vintage Style Homes

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 café.

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.

Vintage Cottage Style Decorating: A Remedy for "The Decorating Blues"

Photo featured in the new book Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes - Courtesy of http://vintagerosecollection.blogspot.com/

Vintage Cottage style décor is a terrific remedy for people who are paralyzed by the "Decorating Blues". Folks with this malady complain that they can't make up their mind. They have trouble with too many choices. It becomes overwhelming for them to think about colors, furniture styles, patterns etc. As I will discuss shortly, these individuals need permission to "play" with their own ideas. Here are some common characteristics of folks who are experiencing "decorating blues" (1) They a fear of making a decisions (about color, style, textiles etc.).
(2) They suffer from procrastination (putting off shopping trips to furniture stores, outlets, shops).
(3) They fear making a commitment ("everything is so expensive so I can't be wrong").
(4) They are prone to avoidance (sitting on the floor because they have no couch to sit on).
(5) They self-doubt (asking others how their own house should look).
(6) They are rigid (think the world is coming to an end if they change their mind about a color).

If you suffer from any of the above characteristics, consider "Vintage Cottage Style Decorating ". According to the author, a seasoned psychotherapist, mixed media artist and avid collector, cottage style is a perfect fit for many individuals who experience the home interior blues. The beauty of Cottage style decorating is that it is affordable, eclectic and forgiving. You really can experiment with mixing and matching eras, looks, textiles, finishes etc. This type of decorating can truly be quite helpful to those who are "afraid to make a mistake" ( which is what many decorating phobics are really worried about).

If your ultimate goal is to live more comfortably you may want to begin by taking inventory on what you want to keep, what you want to ditch, and what you can make-over in the spirit of living the cottage life. Room by room, one baby step at a time, it is helpful to make a list of what is hot and what is not. This is actually the fun part. You look at what you have and imagine it differently. Are your bedroom lamps really tacky or do they have potential if only you added some cute shades? Should you buy a new bookcase or "shabby-tize" the one you
have with a different color and finish? Once you get into the cottage mode, the sky is the limit.

Now you can look at grandma's coffee table with a whole new vision. Suddenly 1940s dated can become retro-romantic chic with the right touches or you can transform old architectural salvage into some eye-catching decorative accessories
Because decorating may be scary for the "decorating phobic", it is important to approach your goals very slowly.

Start with one room, let's say the bathroom ( a small and safe place to start). Ask yourself some key questions. What colors do you like? Is there a theme that suits you? For example perhaps you love the beach and want to create a whimsical "beachy look". Then perhaps you should decorate your bathroom close to the summer months when there a lots of beach and nautical related accessories available. You can decide upon a red, white and blue theme or perhaps a pastel color motif. Or maybe you enjoy a rustic look. You can hunt for cabin collectibles and other warm and cozy objects to create your cozy cabin style bathroom.

You can carry out a similar plan in other rooms, using something to help you focus and build in some structure for you.Fall in love with a rug and then use that rug to help you build a color palette for the rest of the room. Or consider a shape, or a pattern, or a theme and build your room around these beginning ideas.
What is so nice about cottage style decorating is that you can organize your "hunting" and "shopping" trips around a concept while at the same time leaving room for lots of flexibility and creativity. Cottage style decorating includes the following:

(1) using flea market finds, collectibles, found objects
(2) mixing and matching time periods and styles
(3) personalizing your decor
(4) layering fabrics
(5) re-purposing furnishings
(6) covering walls with textures

(7) experimenting with color, patterns, finishes etc.
(8) building collections
(9) hanging objects on the wall

Another helpful approach for the "decorating phobic" is too think about the whole process differently. Nothing in life is forever, change is healthy. If you paint a wall Provence blue on Monday, and you hate it, you can paint it Bermuda Buff on Tuesday. Chill, life is too short to fret over a paint color. Besides, the color of your walls should be the least of your worries! The key to resolving your "decorating phobia" is to be willing to go along for the ride wherever the journey may take you. Trust your instincts, after all....... it is your home, make each and every space your own!

For many more practical and creative ideas about how to "do cottage style" with ease and confidence consult my book, Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

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 café.

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.