Vintage shopping can result in unique gifts for family and friends. Vintage home decor items can also be found that will add interest and charm to a home during the holidays and throughout the year!

Seeking Vintage Finds for the Holidays!

The more I look around and shop for gifts and clothing, it’s tiring viewing the same everywhere. Especially when seeking something charming or unique. Getting back to repurposing and something special for holiday gift giving is where my shopping efforts are heading.

Knowing that I enjoy buying something from the past with a story seems acceptable when purchasing for yourself. What about gift giving? Is there a protocol for not sharing a unique find from an antique or vintage shop with someone as a gift? I go back and forth.

After visiting one unique and special establishment found on a back-road drive, I began to think differently. Breaking for the sign that read R.S. Butler’s Trading Company while driving through Northwood, New Hampshire, sparked my interest. I had passed it by but immediately took a U-turn to explore this unique establishment. I thought I might have been there before, but when I entered the main pink barn it all seemed a bit different.

Vintage Finds: Records, Clothing, and Furniture

From my first step through the door, it felt like I was stepping into the world of my childhood. Owners Colleen and Don Pingree invite you into their world of fabulous vintage finds. When I arrived, Don was cataloging his vintage record collection, and Colleen was pricing vintage clothing from all periods. It all felt so comfortable.

I was in heaven and taken aback by the amount of vintage clothing from the 1930s through the 1980s. It was perfect for me as I was looking for something unique to wear to the Patrick Frey dinner in Paris in January. One of the exclusive invite-only events during Paris Deco Off 2020.

Drooling over some of the clothing, a couture French arabesque pattern tan and blue velvet skirt caught my eye with a navy blue bustle in the back. Can’t get any more vintage than that, and it fits perfectly. A big score for the Paris trip.

Strolling continued through the barn to find that Don had a stall of perfectly organized vintage albums just beyond the mid-century furniture area. Pink lamps, vintage area rugs, unique tables, and vintage fabrics were just a few furnishings of mention. Colleen has vintage tablecloths and vintage bed linens organized by size in an armoire with pull-out drawers. Baskets of sterling silver and shelves of pink, green and blue depression glassware was another find and a collecting passion of mine.

The Yard and the Barn

Pulling myself away from this barn of pink, I took a stroll outside in the yard that led to the second pink barn. The yard was a treasure trove of concrete benches, birdbaths, iron garden items, and the most enormous and beautiful pergola.

The second pink barn was another gold mine filled with unique lighting, chandeliers, tables, vintage signage, and antique produce scales. It was amazing. I couldn’t help but imagine what these pieces could look like in a room design.

Would the one receiving the gift appreciate a uniqueness such as these? I might settle for the vintage Christmas ornaments that always bring me back to my childhood days of decorating the Christmas tree at home. These delicate glass baubles are always the perfect gift for someone who would appreciate strolling down memory lane during the holidays.

Purchasing vintage and unique finds to showcase for the holidays is a thoughtful way to spark memories during gatherings. Shopping local is also a generous way to support local artisans and shop owners during the holidays and year-round. .S. Butlers Trading Company is located at 102 1st New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, NH.

About Debbe Daley

Debbe Daley is one of New England’s leading interior design experts in interior design, decorating, and the styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in interior design. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center.

Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.

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