Decorating & Design

May 30, 2011

Antique Hunting

One of my favourite things to do is hunt for vintage items in the most unusual places. I think of it as a treasure hunt, and there’s nothing I love hunting more than old junk! One of my favourite eastern Ontario stores is Belleville’s Funk & Gruven A-Z, and owner Mike also has a barn full of old bits and bobs in Prince Edward County, too, that I was so excited to visit.

Here’s what I found down in the county:

First, this beautiful old trunk with its timeworn patina. It’s dark green painted metal with some red striping and brass hardware. I also found this small metal table base to use in combination with the trunk. I may paint the base a dark colour and use this as an unusual side table somewhere.

You have to be prepared to climb through some pretty interesting spaces to find the real treasure, but how great is this old rustic hutch? It was worth it!

Check out my haul! Two wonderful industrial factory lights that I can see being rewired and hung over an island, a robin’s egg blue lamp for that perfect pop of colour, a painted wicker stool to pile high with towels in a bathroom, and more!

There were even some super rustic elements hiding in the long grass in the surrounding fields!

My treasures were looking pretty fine packed up in the back of the car! You’ll also see a cool old picture with black and white portraits, some homespun berry baskets (look for them in a photo shoot soon!) and some wonderfully weathered clay flowerpots. I have an orchid waiting for one right now!

There’s really nothing like hunting for vintage finds in an old barn!

For info, contact Mike at Funk & Gruven A-Z in Belleville Ontario: (613) 968-5612.

For tips on how to incorporate antiques into your home, see our Vintage Chic photo gallery.

Photo credits:
1-5. Michael Penney