My mother was an antiques dealer, and being dragged to markets every weekend kind of rewired my brain. When most of what surrounds you has a past, you absorb a sense of history, craftsmanship and the value of things made to last.
Being immersed in so much “old stuff” also fed my imagination. Who owned this before me? Did they also wonder why this drawer sticks every single time?
Antiques aren’t always practical, so you learn to adapt, repair and repurpose rather than replace. Other people once leaned back on this creaking chair the same way I do now and I love that.
My mum always said, “Buy what you love: you’ll be the one living with it.” Markets change, but your taste and the joy you get from looking at a piece every day are long-term.
What was “hot” years ago might not work today, and something overlooked now may have its moment later. If something turns out to be worth more one day, that’s a bonus, but it shouldn’t be the goal.
Honour the patina
The pieces I grew up with were not always pristine and my mum knew the value of that. The soft scuffs and gentle signs of age aren’t flaws: they’re the line between a true antique and something that’s just… old. I’ll admit, I haven’t always honoured that wisdom.
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I once spent hours “freshening up” a beautiful bobbin side table that had already suffered at the hands of careless builders during a renovation. I scrubbed, polished and buffed, and in the process dulled its glow.
Off it went to a professional to be rescued, which served as a not-inexpensive reminder that antiques aren’t like modern furniture. Over-enthusiastic polishing can erase a century in an afternoon. These days, I clean gently and leave well alone. I’d much rather live with a little wear than buff away the very reason I fell in love with a piece in the first place.
Forget fast furniture
Don’t imagine you’ll get what you want at your first visit to an antiques market. What I learnt from my mum is to go with an open mind. Your dream piece is not waiting in a warehouse for next-day delivery: it’s hidden away in a dusty “junktique” shop, crowded trade fair or at an online auction. There’s a thrill only dedicated hunters know: early mornings, long queues and that spark when you spot something across a crowded room or field.
Over time, you learn makers’ marks, periods, materials and provenance. You compare, question and sometimes walk away. But, above all, you need to follow your instincts. In my experience, the antiques I love most are the ones I never feel the need to justify.
Even if the market never rewards them, they’ve already earned their place by bringing curiosity and joy into my space. And if tastes shift and the market catches up later? Great. If not, I still have something I enjoy. I think my mum would approve.
Follow interior designer and serial renovator Russell on Instagram @thehouseondolphinst for more inspiration.
