BH&G Flea Market Decorating
Better Homes and Gardens
From the Editors
Hunter Gatherers • Saturday morning transforms these design aficionados into intrepid flea market explorers. They divulge their tips to get the most out of your next excursion.
Collecting By Heart • We poked around to see what’s hot in the world of vintage and got some familiar and surprising answers. Here’s what’s having a moment, along with creative ways to live with your treasures. And remember, no matter what’s hot and what’s not, you’ll never go wrong if you buy what you love!
A Clean Slate • What happens when a country girl and a city boy meet? They buy a rundown, circa 1867 farmhouse in Pennsylvania and return it to its earlier glory.
Clever Containers • Called back into service, vintage vessels host color-rich flowers and foliage, bringing gifts of the summer garden into focus.
Memory Makers • A Minneapolis family builds history into their cabin getaway with favorite finds and shared traditions.
Jadeite Envy • The moment a collector and antiques dealerspotted the refreshingly colored line of tableware, she was bowled over.
A Room in Bloom • She dreamed about it. He helped build it. Together an Oklahoma couple fashions a greenhouse and family retreat from salvage materials and vintage pieces.
Perfect Little Parties • Make small gatherings more memorable with vintage country pieces and pretty garden blooms.
Strategic Style • After buying a fixer-upper on a historical street, this self-taught designer used thrifty collecting skills to create a warm and personal family home.
Stitches in Time • From embroidery to crochet to quilting, the needle arts are having a moment. Chalk it up to the “cottagecore” movement, where folks are embracing a simpler aesthetic that harks back to skills and crafts used in decades past. As a result, collectors report an uptick in popularity of sewing-theme collections of all types. The category is fun and affordable—and perfect for the flea market sleuther. We asked collectors for favorite categories, and here’s what we learned.
Treasure Trove • A Seattle shop owner uses her decorating and collecting savvy to bring out the natural beauty of her midcentury modern ranch.
Road Trip to Round Top • Mark your calendars, enlist your friends, and grab a truck—the bargains are Texas-size at Round Top Antiques Show! Designer and veteran showgoer Courtney Warren has the inside scoop on how to shop this flea market mecca like a pro.
Resources • Contact these design and collecting professionals for more information about their services or products.
Fabulous Finds • Here’s one last sparkly idea for turning your flea treasures into brilliant decor!