Book to Know: 'Flea Market Chic'

Modern

Although all the pieces in this kitchen are vintage, the look stays modern with clean lines and continuous color. Combining certain modern elements and painting the floor white keep the look current, while the secondhand items add character.

Tip: If it's hard for you to make time for scouting, look for a thrift store along your daily route so you can do a quick scan on a regular basis.

Modern Eclectic

This London apartment has been almost entirely decorated with flea market finds and Internet auction steals. The giant photo of the waterfall was found online, and the leather L-shape sofa was bought secondhand. Covered cushions were purchased at antique fairs.

The glossy black coffee table is actually a Chinese lacquered chest. Chinese-influenced furniture has been in and out of style since the 17th century, so there are usually affordable pieces at online auctions. Searching for this particular style can be a good place to start for beginners.

Tip: This homeowner suggests dry-cleaning and protecting old fabrics against moths.

This homeowner put a fitted unit in her small kitchen to make use of every available inch. She had a Formica company custom design the bench seating, which is made out of the same material as her countertops.

To blend her flea market finds into this kitchen, the homeowner kept backgrounds and large items neutral, and then accented with color. The green Ikea lamps keep the space lively and work well with pieces from India and Paris.

Tip: Above-average uses with an average material can make a big difference. The Formica on the countertops isn't anything grand, but extended through the banquette and with extra deep counters, it lends an elegant and modern touch.

The Railway Wagon

This rustic-looking guest house is actually a refurbished railway wagon, which the owner bought online for $150 and had initially planned to use for extra storage. The cabinet and old wood-burning stove were found at a secondhand shop.

The Natural Look

This home has a simple natural and soothing look. The antique armchair was reupholstered in a soft linen, and the pillows are all made from fabric that the homeowner has collected over the years. The unique coffee table is an African drum, and the little cupboard in the fireplace was an old Indian refrigerator. When you're flea market friendly, it's worthwhile to rethink the way you'd normally use an object.

Tip: Sometimes older pieces just aren't practical. This homeowner wanted the look of older cupboards but knew that they'd be too small to hold what she needed. Instead, new cabinets were outfitted with older doors for a similar look. Try combining old and new to get the look and functionality you need.

The same earthy tones and neutral colors of the living room in the previous photo flow into the bedroom. The bed is a French antique that was stripped back to the wood and then reupholstered in antique linen. If you're having a hard time finding good-quality duvets and bed linens at an affordable price, you can buy antique fabric on the cheap and sew up a simple duvet.

Tip: Get creative with storage. Forms of the past provide great inspiration! Here, two old French apple-picking ladders are used as racks to store hats and purses.

Country

This beautiful kitchen belongs to an interior designer who loves to reuse materials and products wherever she can. The reclaimed cedar kitchen table is paired with mismatched secondhand chairs, all of which sit in front of kitchen units from several sources. (The beautiful slate countertops were made from an old pool table!) The Aga oven was also found secondhand.

Finding used kitchen units is actually pretty easy and affordable, since people tend to get rid of good-quality pieces simply because they don't like the style. Pulling different items together can result in an eclectic look and may require just a bit of adjusting. For example, if you're trying to put together a chest of drawers and a cupboard with different heights, you can trim the legs of one until they're even.

Tip: Keep an eye out for pieces that can be broken up and remade to customize your space without the cost. Tabletops can be torn off and used as work surfaces, benches can be recut for wooden beams and so on.

Flea Market Chic, by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell
Publisher: CICO Books
All photos: CICO Books

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