With our foundations rooted in the love of antiques from the South of France, at Gabby we understand the joy of incorporating vintage and heirloom pieces into your home. Has something caught your eye you’d love to display but you’re looking for inspiration? In this guide we’ll outline some of the top tips for upcycling those gorgeous vintage pieces you’ve inherited or picked up on your travels.
“Lean in and make your finds the centerpiece of a room or stage them as an intentional moment in your home.”
1. Be brave! Don’t be afraid to make a statement with your chosen pieces – books, prints, works of art or furniture. Lean in and make your finds the centerpiece of a room or stage them as an intentional moment in your home. That huge pile of old books in the attic might just be the perfect backdrop for your new bureau or bookcase, or a collection of vintage soda siphons from a European antiques market can be bunched together to catch the light on a modern bar cart.
2. Bring back romance! The souls of lovers, friends and acquaintances of the past can be traced through handwritten letters. At brocante (or flea markets) in Avignon and Provence there are often packets of letters, deeds and other old legal documents for sale, elaborately illustrated in careful copperplate handwriting. Perhaps you have inherited some? Give vintage papers a new life on the wall. Speak to your picture framer about how best to showcase your treasures. Top tip – choose a float mount to show the edges of your letter or document. Hang your pictures in rows above a chest or cabinet to make a statement.
3. Repurpose! Bring found and vintage ceramics back to life as decorative planters. Be sure to use pots so you can remove your plants for watering. Otherwise the sky’s the limit. From old fashioned ornate tureens, porcelain punch bowls, gilded chocolate pots to saltware jugs there is bound to be something that catches your eye at your local antiques market or in your attic.
