Cathedral Antiques Show Blog

5 Ideas for Using Antique Books in Decorating

2012-11-07T19:31:38Z

There’s an undeniable allure to antique books, from the beauty of their aged covers to the captivating scent of their old pages. Antique books are readily available at a variety of venues and price points, from incredibly valuable first-editions to twenty-five cent copies at a used book or thrift store. Regardless of price tag, antique books can be a beautiful addition to any home decor. You can get very clever with your displays, breaking away from the traditional library-style bookshelves, to create an interesting and scholarly atmosphere in your Atlanta home.

If you enjoy collecting antique books, we’ve found five excellent ways to display them in your home.

1. Create a Color-Coordinated Display

Grouping your antique books by color is a great way to make a cohesive display. We particularly like the idea of showing coordinated antique books in a vintage cabinet.

2. Use Floating Shelves as Decor

Stacking your antique books on a floating shelf turns them into beautiful wall art. You can even use them as a lovely shelf to display other antique finds.

3. Centerpieces

Stacking antique books from largest to smallest makes for a very pretty centerpiece on a coffee or side table. You can place a plant, sculpture, or plate of candles on top of the books for an even nicer display.

4. Glass Dome Arrangements

Arranging your books under a glass dome turns them into a cohesive and collected display, similar to a terrarium. In this one, the addition of a bird’s nest adds more character to the display.

5. Wallpaper

Sometimes the binding of old books wears out and the pages fall out. If you’re not terribly concerned about restoring the book, you can make the best of the damage by repurposing the pages as wallpaper. This wall would be a beautiful accent in a study, office, or library in your Atlanta home.

If you enjoy finding antiques to use in your home decor, be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming Cathedral Antiques Show, beginning on January 30 in Atlanta! For more updates on the show and general information about antiques, be sure to “Like” us on Facebook as well.

Photos via Houzz

Antique and Vintage Furniture Find New Life as Sinks

2012-10-13T17:15:59Z

If you love antique furniture as much as we do, you may one day find yourself at a loss in regards to where to use your new furniture pieces. After all, a home only needs so many dressers, desks, and tables. If you have run out of places to put beautiful antique finds, you can get creative with new uses for your furniture. One way many people bring new life to their vintage and antique furniture is by giving it the alternative function of a sink. Dressers and sideboards can be turned into gorgeous and unique sinks, and many of them provide greater storage utility than a standard counter or pedestal sink.

We’ve found some lovely furniture sink ideas to help you find inspiration for using your own antique and vintage finds in your Atlanta home. Before you turn your furniture into a sink, however, you may want to get it appraised at our upcoming Cathedral Antiques Show in late January to be certain you aren’t modifying a priceless antique.

Do you have any great ideas for repurposing antique furniture? Share them with us in the comments or on our Facebook page, and be sure to mark your calendars for the next Cathedral Antiques Show from January 30-February 2!

Photos via Houzz

The Cathedral Antiques Show 2013 Inspiration House

2012-10-04T16:48:51Z

The time is drawing near to announce the selected designers for the 2013 Inspiration House, but before we do that we want to take a little time to introduce you to the house. This year’s house is designated as a Historic Landmark Status and is located on the grounds of The Cathedral of St. Philip.

Known to The Cathedral as the “Lanier House,” the home and the surrounding landscape was purchased in 1990 and renovated through the generous donations of many members of the Cathedral including the Goodman and Lanier Families.

Atlantans may also know this house as the Andrew-Dunn home in honor of two of its influential owners during the early 1900′s, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pemberton Andrews and Dr. and Mrs. William M. Dunn. The home’s architecture is an excellent example of several significant trends in home building, and its design shows the various changes the area underwent between 1907 and 1927. The architectural styles represented in the home include elements from Tudor Revival, Bungalow, and some influence from Frank Lloyd Wright, creating a very distinctive blend in its design.

You can read more about the history of the house at the City of Atlanta’s website. Be sure to keep an eye on our blog for the future announcement of the 2013 designers, and mark your calendar for the 42nd Annual Cathedral Antiques Show and Tour of Homes, where you can see the Inspiration House and the work of our talented designers.

Photo via AtlantaGA.gov

Caring for Your Antique and Vintage Furniture

2012-09-27T22:11:31Z

When you choose antique or vintage furniture to add to your collection, you choose it for a reason beyond the simple function it is meant to serve. Whether that reason is the monetary value of the furniture, an emotional reaction to the piece, or simply because you like the way that it looks, antique and vintage furniture provides you with more than the simple function it was built to serve. It brings both character and warmth to a room and is imbued with a greater sense of worth than furniture from IKEA or Pier 1.

Because your antique and vintage furniture does carry more value than the readily available modern furniture you can pick up from an ordinary store, you will want to be sure to care for it properly. Between their age and their worth, these older pieces require a little extra attention to stay in top condition.

Wood furniture should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid fading and yellowing.
It should also be kept away from heating and air conditioning vents or any location where it could heat up, like near the fireplace. The varying temperatures and excessive heat can cause shrinking, which damages several aspects of the furniture.
Keep the humidity in the room relatively constant to avoid problems with expanding and contracting.
Do not polish your furniture with oil; use furniture paste wax instead. Keep your brass and copper hardware unpolished as well.
Dust regularly with a lint-free cloth to avoid dust build-up.

For more information on caring for your antique furniture, read this helpful article from Furniture Care Tips. Remember to mark you calendars for the Cathedral Antiques Show from January 30-February 2; you might find your new favorite antique furniture piece!

Photo via Homesqu.com

Using Antique and Vintage Desks to Enhance Your Space

2012-09-27T22:11:03Z

Antique and vintage desks have so much personality and beautiful appeal. The some-assembly-required, wood veneer desks so common in modern furniture stores can’t hold a candle to the lovingly handcrafted details and pure wood of an antique or the character and craftsmanship of a vintage piece.

These aged desks are also an incredibly useful addition to your home. Between the cubbies and drawers that many of them provide to the added flat surface, an antique or vintage desk can find great purpose in your home. Here are a few examples of how you can use one of these desks to enhance your space.

If you have the space between your bed and your wall, a small antique or vintage writing desk makes for an excellent bedside table. The added surface area allows you to add more decorative accents without making it feel cluttered, while the drawers provide an excellent hideaway for books or remote controls.

If you have a landing above your stairs, you can put it to good use with the addition of an antique or vintage desk. This is a great place to put seasonal decor or to pay bills.

While not recommended for a valuable antique, if you have a vintage piece that is not worth much money or if you have a piece that is irreparably damaged, you can turn it into a truly unique sink. All the drawers in this desk make for a perfect spot to hide away makeup, toothpaste, and other small toiletries.

Of course, you always have the option of simply using the desk as a desk. An antique or vintage desk adds a lot of sophistication and personality to an office.

How would you use an antique desk in your home? Share your ideas with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page; we would love to hear from you!

Photos via Houzz

Volunteer Opportunities at Refugee Family Services

2012-09-27T22:09:49Z

As you may be aware, the Cathedral Antiques Show has chosen Refugee Family Services as our beneficiary for the 2013 show coming up at the end of January. This event is truly a Passion for a Purpose, where we will donate proceeds to the literacy programs offered by Refugee Family Services. By participating in the 42nd Annual Cathedral Antiques Show as a sponsor, an antiques dealer or a visitor to the show, you will help to support RFS increase their reach into the Atlanta refugee community.

As you’re waiting for January 30 to come, you can show your support for Refugee Family Services in other ways. Their programs include job training, crisis intervention, and educational assistance for refugee women and their families, and they can always use donations and volunteers to keep these programs available and effective.

Refugee Family Services currently has several volunteer opportunities available to anyone in the Atlanta area who would like to donate their time. They need tutors and classroom assistants for children in grades 1 through 8 in Stone Mountain and Decatur, and they need Family Literacy Tutors in the Clarkston and Stone Mountain area. The tutors and classroom assistants for children have set times each week, but the Family Literacy Tutors have the option of flexible scheduling. All volunteers pay a $10 registration fee to cover application processing and a required background check.

For more information on volunteering, be certain to read through the Refugee Family Services website. You can also support RFS by volunteering at the Cathedral Antiques Show from January 30 through February 2. Just call 404-365-1107 for more information, and be sure to “Like” us on Facebook for more updates on the Cathedral Antiques show.

Photo via Refugee Family Services

WABE’s City Café John Lemley to Host Discussion at The Cathedral of St. Philip

2012-09-27T22:08:44Z

This Sunday, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, you will be able to enjoy a morning with Cathedral member and host of WABE’s City Café, John Lemley, and Emily Pelton, Executive Director of Refugee Family Services (RFS). John will “host” a discussion with leaders of RFS. You will also be able to meet some of the refugees whose lives we’ll touch through this important community outreach project, the 2013 Cathedral Antiques Show and Tour of Homes

Entrepreneurial Bhutanese artisans from Bhutan Baskets will be doing live basket weaving and selling finished baskets made out of the kudzu vine.

Bhutan Baskets began five years ago as a result of an astute observation made by an ESOL teacher at Druid Hills High School and the positive response of volunteers in the area. The teacher had noticed that some of her students were coming to school without shoes and wearing the same set of clothes every day. Volunteers gathered to assist the people living in a refugee apartment complex with a variety of projects, one of which was creating a garden in the complex. Unfortunately, the area suffered from an overgrowth of kudzu, a common affliction in Georgia. While reclaiming the land from this insidious vine, some had the idea to weave baskets from the plant. Bhutan Baskets was born.

Bhutan Baskets helps Bhutanese artisans generate income and hope for the future. At the demonstration this Sunday, you will be able to see the incredible skill with which these artisans weave their baskets, and you can purchase the handmade baskets for use in your own home. All proceeds from the sales support the artisans; for many it is their only source of income. Cash and check are accepted at this sale.

The discussion with Refugee Family Services leaders will be held this Sunday in Child Hall at 10:10 a.m. – The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Spotlight on Art Nouveau

2012-09-27T22:10:03Z

When you’re collecting antiques, it does not take long to notice how much the antique furniture and decorative items you see were influenced by the art movements that were occurring when they were creative. One of the most visually distinctive art styles you might find in your antique searches is Art Nouveau, a style that gained prominence in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Art Nouveau paintings, furniture, and home fixtures are easily distinguished by their ornate organic forms, largely consisting of elegant curves inspired by flowers and feminine forms. The Art Nouveau movement greatly influenced the “applied arts,” like furniture creation, and served to unite the aesthetics of “high art” with practical and useful items.

Orchidée desk, 1903

Though it was primarily a European art movement, there was still a significant Art Nouveau influence inAmerican glass and ceramic work. Perhaps the most famous American Art Nouveau artist is Louis Comfort Tiffany, who created the highly influential and oft-imitated Tiffany Lamps.

Tiffany Lamp, c. 1899-1902

Have you ever found an Art Nouveau piece to add to your collection? Tell us about it in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Photo Credits:

1.) National Gallery of Art

2.) Wikimedia Commons

Vintage or Antique? Take the Quiz and See if You Can Tell the Difference

2012-09-10T12:32:47Z

Telling the difference between a vintage item and an antique item can be confusing at times, especially since the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. When searching for new antiques to add to your collection, it’s only natural to want to know whether the item you are considering is a true antique or a vintage piece, especially if you intend to sell it later.

There are a few rules of thumb when it comes to determining whether an item is vintage or an antique, such as whether it is more than 100 years old. If you want to test your own knowledge of the differences between antiques and vintage items, you can take a quiz at TLC. Even if you are brand new to antiques collecting, it is still worthwhile to take the quiz; you can learn plenty from the answers given after each question.

How knowledgeable were you when it came to deciphering the differences between antiques and vintage pieces? Share your results with us in the comments or on our Facebook page, and be sure to “Like” us for more information about antiques as well as updates on the 2013 Cathedral Antiques Show in Atlanta.

Photo via Houzz

Through the Looking Glass: A Brief History of Mirrors

2012-09-27T22:10:21Z

Mirrors are incredibly common these days, from little pocket mirrors to wall-spanning bathroom mirrors to the mirrored glass windows in several Atlanta buildings. Mirrors weren’t always so prevalent in society; though they were in use as early as the Greco-Roman era, they were still considered an extraordinary luxury as late as the mid 1800s. Over the centuries, mirror manufacturing has evolved significantly, and there are many differences that separate modern and antique mirrors.

The first mirrors, in use through the Middle Ages, were simply highly polished, somewhat convex disks of bronze, tin, or silver. It was the Venetians that first developed the process of backing flat glass with a reflective combination of tin and mercury. They kept their methods a closely-guarded secret, but in the late 17th century France managed to learn enough from the Venetians to begin their own mirror production, revealing their accomplishment at the unveiling of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. It wasn’t until 1835 that a new method of fusing reflective metal to glass paved the way for modern mirror-making.

Hall of Mirrors

Original mirror plates are difficult to find in an antique mirror, due to their fragile nature. Those that have survived the years are frequently cloudy or muddy, and any that were created between the 16th and mid-19th century cannot be restored due to the toxic mercury used in their silvering. Luckily, most buyers are perfectly happy with the cloudy glass of antique mirror plates, and many people like the look enough to imitate it on modern mirrors.

Regency Mirror, 1815 featuring clouding effect.

Have you ever found an incredible antique mirror to add to your collection? Tell us about it and feel free to share photographs of it on our Facebook page.

Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, Art & Antiques

Image Credits:

1.) Wikimedia Commons

2.) Art and Antiques Magazine