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Keep an open mind. Sometimes the most eye-catching décor comes from using an everyday object in a new way. Major retailers now offer apothecary-style cabinets and "aged" wood furniture at a steep markup from the original vintage versions. Why not be ahead of the curve and make your own style statement with a vintage find? Here are a few ideas to get you started: • Use a collection of vintage doorknobs or drawer pulls as coat hooks. • Lean an old wooden ladder against the wall to hold tea towels in the kitchen. • A vintage garden gate can become a one-of-a-kind headboard. • Pile twinkle lights into an antique birdcage and suspend from the ceiling for a quirky light fixture.
Vintage hunting in person can be a satisfying pastime, and you never know what treasures you will come home with. If you decide to take a day trip to explore a flea market or antiques fair, it pays to be prepared. Here are a few things you might want to bring along: • Small notebook with measurements and paint swatches from your home • Tape measure • Sunhat, snacks and water • Hand truck or wagon for hauling your loot back to the car • Cash. More and more fairs are accepting credit cards, but you are more likely to stay on budget with good old greenbacks
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