Oh, that was sweet of you! I was, and am at the moment, busy with baby. If it was 10-1, I sat while she attended friends wedding.

Great looking trunk!

I do think it has hurt, especially high price items. There was an article w/in the last 6 months either in the NY Times or WSJ. I'll see if I can locate. Pal may make it appear before I can. ;)

Newdawn, Great finds. And they look great. Where can I see more of your home? I love your style.

Thank you mtnrdredux, I will post some pictures perhaps tonight. I love your house like crazy.

Oh Allison, your welcome, babies are sweeter than stuff.

.....Jane

Your bedroom is perfect. It is the decor equivalent of what DH calls "the-no makeup-look makeup". In other words, people (or places) that appear to be beautiful without even trying. Though we both know better.

Does that make sense?

Oh, how sweet and yes it makes sense. I am a former hairdresser and make up artist. And, I love make up on the face and on the house. (lol)

And, have it look natural, I meant to add.

Your house is charming Jane. Saw your other post but didn't want to post first since you were addressing someone.

I don't see many trunks locally in metal that size. Mostly boxes. Have you seen my black and tan leather trunk? It has a dome top and initials on each end. Found it at Hanna's.

If not, and you're interested it's in part two of my house tour on AM. On iPhone and not sure I can go copy and paste w/o loosing post. :-/. It's in the bedroom with dog etchings

I really like your new metal trunk! As for antiques, we've been told by several dealers that 9/11 hurt them the most. They've never gone back to pre-9/11 days and the current economy is a big factor, too. I wonder if fewer people buy antiques now that such a HUGE number of home-decoration stores and departments exist, both online and brick-and-mortar. Maybe a lot of people want to keep up with the Joneses and have new new new, not old.

Some of the prices of antiques are down in our area -- crystal and china for one -- the younger generation do not want it and it is supply and demand! And furniture, too, has taken a hit here -- you can get some really good deals on furniture -- one dealer told us that everyone wants the "Pottery Barn" look so . . .

We were back east last week and I was surprised at how reasonable most of their things were. Even furniture!

I had a whole post written and it's gone - got some crazy GW message dated April 7th .....

Gist of my post:

Bedroom belongs in magazine

Prices too high - been lucky lately - maybe things are changing here.

A famous antiquarian in Houston closed up shop and moved to France a couple of years ago, after having been in town for years and years, and having been credited with popularizing the habit of mixing antiques and new furnishings in Houston. Said business had gotten tough. Many other shops have remained open, and the prices do not appear to have budged (the infamous $16,000 zinc butcher shop steer head comes to mind).

Your BR is gorgeous!

I seem to see here (Carolinas) that antique stores and consignments are doing OK. People are interested in being "green" and in the quality of a vintage piece vs. something made in China. Plus, I found a great store where they reupholstered my chair. That's a great added bonus for a store.

Most antique stores in the traditional area for them are gone, and one is by appointment only. That one in particular sells on 1st dibs. Most vintage furniture stores have very few upper tier MCM pieces in their storefronts.The best one is also on 1st dibs. People will contact these two stores looking for something very specific.

Many of the business still exist but they do it online. There isn't a decent Goodwill or Used Furniture type place anywhere around here; there are some in the suburbs.

Since ebay, antique stores are doing less business~~economy hasn't helped either. IMO, when you're shopping in an antique store, it becomes a want, not a need. On the plus side, consignment stores are on the upswing, some carry antiques. ;o)

I tried to find antique stores in San Diego last Summer when we were out there. An area called Adam's Ave used to be "antique row". It isn't any more. It is awful now. Most of the shops are closed. I talked to one owner and he said no one comes in and that all the other places had closed. We were disappointed. We didn't go to the 2 other places that are well known...Ocean Beach and La Mesa.

We had a great antique mall here that I used to go to a couple times a year. The 3 dealers I liked most and had bought from are all gone. When i asked the manager she said that business was down and that they had moved to GA to malls there.

We have a GW and a couple thrift stores. They are not nice at all but that said I rarely if ever shop for anything anymore as I have more than I need now . I know you have to go very often to find the good stuff LOL. I can't bring myself to do it. c

I know several dealers who don't have an open shop any more. They sell on ebay and do shows.

There's not much left of Baltimore's "Antique Row". A shop specializing in silver recently lost most of its inventory to thieves. It's sad to think of all that old silver melted down.

Many shops in this area that used to carry some nice things have turned junkier over the years. There are some nice consignment shops though.

The prices of transferware, flow blue, and the like really have fallen. Old Mahogany furniture from the 1940s or so (especially serving pieces) and 1920s golden oak furniture seem to have no value at all. Some desperate sellers have tried painting this stuff white but it looks ridiculous. (You'd think they'd at least remove the colonial-style hardware).