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Flea Market Finds and Fresh Flowers

by habituallychic

03 . 13 . 12
There is no cheaper pick me up for a home than fresh flowers. I’ve been treating myself to fresh blooms all winter including flowering the Quince branches above. They last a few weeks and are a beautiful harbinger of spring which definitely feels to be sprung in New York. 

Another great inexpensive pick me up is a trip to the flea market.  I stopped by The Garage and parking lot on 25th Street the last two Sundays and found some really great items.  Yesterday was a very lucky day that resulted in the loot above.  I spent about $120 for everything and I couldn’t be happier with each piece. By the way, please ignore the color of my floors. If I owned this apartment, refinishing them a darker color would be priority number one. 

The vintage wooden tennis racquet is a fun addition to my umbrella stand from Pearl River Mart and umbrellas from J.Crew and the 2009 Whitney Art Party. 

I love that this blue and white porcelain vase is painted on the bottom. The top lid comes off and has holes in it.  If anyone knows what it would have originally held, please feel free to enlighten me.

I was looking for a new lamp for my side table and this one was only $20.  It will need to be rewired and   a new shade and harp will have to be purchased but in the end, it will still cost less than any new lamp on the market.

The same vendor who sold me the lamp also sold me this covered dish for $5.  A steal!

This is the mark on the bottom.

The little silver box is wood lined and was only $25. The top doesn’t close on the right side but you really can’t tell. The mark on the bottom reads “WYLER, EPNS, MADE IN ENGLAND. I found the Flaubert book underneath last week and bought it just for the pretty blue cover. 
So if you’re in need of a little spring cheer, I highly recommend some flowers or the flea market.  You can’t really go wrong with either! 

22 Comments
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  1. Pamela RG March 13, 2012 | 3:06 am

    Amazing purchases from the flea market! My mother would enjoy and love to visit that flea market in New York City! Thank you for sharing.

  2. Chiara March 13, 2012 | 4:27 am

    I definitely need to make a visit and buy me some flowers…they always spruce up my living room. Just haven’t done it! Thanks for reinforcing 🙂

    Chiara
    thelittletiara.com

  3. columnist March 13, 2012 | 4:40 am

    I would imagine the Chinese porcelain vase is a flower brick – the filligree top, which you don’t show – to hold the flowers.

  4. Slim Paley March 13, 2012 | 5:30 am

    It’s been too long since I’ve been to a good flea market. I need to get to NY…
    or Paris 🙂

    xx
    S{

  5. Ian March 13, 2012 | 6:21 am

    The Asian porcelain box is an opium pillow for keeping your head raised and cool. The hole is where you safely stash your valuables while in blissful hallucination in shady opium dens.

  6. C March 13, 2012 | 7:58 am

    Love the peaks of your home! What a great haul. I’m guilty of sometimes buying books for their covers too.

  7. Pablo March 13, 2012 | 9:54 am

    Love the pictures, they are so inspiring! Especially love the flowering branches, where did you get them? =)

    http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com

  8. Jennifer John March 13, 2012 | 10:32 am

    Great finds! I love your blue and white pieces!

    Jennifer

  9. Miss Margarita March 13, 2012 | 10:48 am

    Love your home!

  10. briannelee March 13, 2012 | 12:21 pm

    Love all of your purchases… especially the blue and white vase and the silver box.

  11. David Y. March 13, 2012 | 1:22 pm

    There is NOTHING better than the flea markets around town – i am so glad you share the interest of books in your decor. i LOVE your blog!!!

  12. xo J and V March 13, 2012 | 1:44 pm

    Great lamp!! That is an awesome find and love your umbrella stand! Wish we lived in New York for all the great flea markets!

  13. Lizabeth @ Infuse With Liz March 13, 2012 | 1:46 pm

    Wow you found some wonderful deals! The chinese porcelain piece is intriguing! I suppose it is for flowers at another person commented. I like your wall collage and vignette on the table top. The floral branch really sets a nice stage! The blue dish was a steal! The lamp is fun- I think someone custom built that!
    I like your vintage tennis racquet! I agree I like their look much better than the new ones!

  14. Karena March 13, 2012 | 2:02 pm

    Heather your lamp and silver box are my favorites; great finds!

    The cheery blossoms are blooming so I will have to bring in some branches!

    Xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

  15. teaorwine March 13, 2012 | 2:11 pm

    The mini covered dish is beautiful and a steal at the price of $5!!

  16. kbd March 13, 2012 | 2:44 pm

    I noticed you also got a couple of frames that don’t have backs. I have one too, and I’ve been scheming on how to get a picture in there and how to keep it secure. I’d love to hear how you plan to tackle that problem…

  17. Habitually Chic March 13, 2012 | 3:54 pm

    Thanks for all the nice comments! I thought the blue and white vase was for flowers but Ian’s suggestion that it was a porcelain pillow might be the correct answer. It looks similar to some examples I found online. The holes seem too small for flowers.

    KBD – I will take my frames to a framer to have them put together with glass and a mat once I decide what to put in them. I don’t think it’s a DIY project.

  18. kbd March 14, 2012 | 1:58 am

    Thank you Heather – I appreciate that you always take time to reply… I recently found a great framer near me so I’ll follow your lead and take it to him for his assessment.

    Congrats on the book! Can’t wait to see it!

  19. MJH Design Arts March 14, 2012 | 4:58 am

    Hi Heather. I think that you scored with the lamp. You could also replace the cap with a smaller version and then you would have all of the Hollywood Regency guys going nuts. Mary

  20. UrbanChiqueNess April 4, 2012 | 6:18 pm

    Just discovered your blog…love it! Great treasures.
    xo
    E
    http://www.urbanchiqueness.com

  21. Keith fitzpatrick April 6, 2012 | 1:05 pm

    Hello,

    Love the Blog and this post on Flea Markets – I am also a Flea Market shopper. As for the blue and white rectangle “vase”, I know some people suggested, a headrest or a vase, but I believe they where used to hold brushes. It depends on how old it is. If it’s new – say last 20 years i would say it’s a vase to hold flowers. However the older ones where used to hold brushes. Thanks so much for your blog.

    Keith

  22. Paris Rendez-vous April 6, 2012 | 1:39 pm

    Loved your little assemblages….and the tall Spring blossoms look fantastic. I think I’ll go hunting around the flea market tomorrow. A bientot.