This trip had two jobs to do: source pieces for a current client project, and hunt down a gift for our 11-year wedding anniversary. Two very different missions, one afternoon of digging through shelves and stalls.
The Reality Check
Here's the truth about sourcing with a specific list in hand: you don't always find what you're looking for. That's just how it goes. You go in with an idea of what you need, and sometimes you walk out empty-handed on that exact item. It's part of the job, and honestly part of the fun — the not-knowing is what makes a good find feel so good when it happens.
The Lucky Part
This time, I got lucky. I found a wrought iron floral chandelier that was exactly what my client's space needed — I showed it to her and she loved it immediately. Sometimes it really does come together that cleanly, though it's rare.
And then there was the detour I didn't see coming: a bamboo director's chair with a snake-print seat that stopped me in my tracks. Snake print is genuinely one of my favorite animal prints, but I'll be honest — it's a tricky one. Done wrong, it reads more costume party than considered design. It's not for everyone, and it takes the right piece and the right room to pull off without tipping into cheesy. But paired with bamboo? That combination gets me every time. The warmth of the bamboo grounds the print, and suddenly it feels intentional instead of loud.
That same trip is also where the brass lion door knocker found me. I wasn't looking for it — wasn't even thinking about our exterior that day — but now it's stuck in my head for whenever we repaint. Funny how that happens.
One I'm Keeping in My Back Pocket
Every so often you find a piece that isn't for you or your current client, but you just know someone out there is going to need it. This trip, that was a pair of chandeliers dripping in brass tassel details that stopped me in my tracks — yes, two of them, because apparently once I find my tassel obsession I go all in. A tassel like that is 100% my jam, and I know there's a client coming who will love brass tassels every bit as much as I do. So these two are staying on my radar until the right rooms come along.
The Ones That Got Away
Not everything comes home with you, and honestly, that's half the fun of sourcing. A few pieces I fell for but left behind, across a couple of different trips:
A gorgeous ornate mirror — no real spot for it right now, though I have a feeling it might end up in our bird room eventually.
A pair of MCM lamps I'm still thinking about. Genuinely amazing, just don't have a spot for them yet.
A set of nesting tables — loved the wood tone and the shape, but didn't actually need them. Sometimes you have to let a "want" stay a want.
A white wicker nightstand — sweet, well-made, just not the right aesthetic for what I'm building right now.
Some woven baskets and plant stands, so cool, just not the right look for me.
A beautiful wall sconce I'd picked out for a client — but it was hardwired, and she needed a plug-in option. So close.
A gorgeous vintage rug I sourced for another client, who ultimately went a different direction. Still a stunning piece, just not the one for that room.
A round woven tree wall art piece — I love that it's circular, and I love that it's a textile take on tree art instead of the usual print or carving. Just don't have the right wall for it yet, but I haven't stopped thinking about it.
A moody floral still life painting — no client for it right now, but I keep circling back to it in my head.
A set of chrome and white chairs I am obsessed with. White is a genuinely hard color for me to commit to, but something about these has me reconsidering.
A brass and wood bar cart — beautiful, just not the vibe for any of my current projects.
An Art Deco Van Briggle-style lady lamp that I am fully in love with. No practical reason, I just love her.
A hand-carved antique trunk that is an actual masterpiece and if anyone reading this wants it, please, go buy it, because I think about it constantly and cannot justify a sixth trunk in my life.
A gorgeous walnut side table with dovetail joinery detail — loved it, but no drawer, and a drawer was non-negotiable for what I needed.
A stunning walnut wall-mounted lamp/sconce — gorgeous, but the price tag was more than I could justify for what it was.
A teak shelving and cabinet unit with the cutest little dresser base — I am so in love with this piece, but it's just too small a footprint to be useful for the spaces I'm working with right now.
A set of four orange Eames fiberglass shell chairs on their original bases — I still don't fully understand how I walked away from these. They were perfect. I just didn't have a project that called for that much orange confidence yet.
And the one that keeps following me: an antique egg lithograph print I've been eyeing at this same shop for what feels like a dozen visits now. Every time I go back, it's still there, and every time I still want it. At this point I think the universe is just waiting for me to stop "thinking about it" and actually bring it home.
Moral of the Story
When you're hunting for something specific, go in with hope, not expectation. You won't always find the exact thing on your list — but every so often, the universe hands you a lucky day, and you walk out with what you needed for your client, a gift you're excited about, a piece to save for the future, and a completely unplanned obsession with lions. And sometimes the pieces you don't bring home teach you just as much about your own style as the ones you do. (Looking at you, egg print. I'm coming for you eventually.)
Where to Find Pieces Like These
This trip (okay, several trips) took me through some of my favorite sourcing spots: Eastwood Gallery, Mid Mod Men, Artifact Art & Antiques, Art & Architecture, Retro Wanderlust, Vintage Jam, Missouri Mouse, Style Society, Betty's Antiques, and Mall of Saint Paul. If you're local and love vintage as much as I do, all of them are worth a wander. Just don't ask me which piece I'm quietly hoping is still there next time I visit.
Does vintage sourcing like this resonate with your own space? If you're dreaming about bringing more character, history, and one-of-a-kind pieces into your home, I'd love to help. Reach out here to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call, and let's talk about what your space could look like.
