Try local auction houses. I discovered auctions just recently, and it's almost unbelievable the great deals you can get. Almost tag sale pricing on some things.

The good auction houses have websites that will show pictures of their next auction's items (at least the more noteable items). Then you go to the auction and preview all the furniture to see if there's something you like. (I know, its lots of invested time)

Check out this link for auction listing in your area: local auctions

You spend years hunting things down!
That's why a house furnished with antiques is so special....because it didn't happen over night...
And with antiques you can if you have bought wisely, re sell and buy something new and not lose any money....Antiques are always worth about what you paid!
Linda C

I'm afraid it's not like going to a furniture store. Or hiring an interior decorator. It's a lifetime project! But you just have to keep looking. The bad news is, you 'lose' some things you'd dearly love to have. The good news is, your taste keeps developing. The longer and harder you look, the more refined it gets. Once you see something you truly can't live without, you'll recognize it instantly!

Good luck in your search. And, for heaven's sake, don't give up!

What Linda said ... if you aren't lucky enough to inherit it, you will spend YEARS in happy pursuit.

How do you go about finding something you have your heart set on? Don't set your heart on anything - see what happens.

I don't look for any specific thing. I don't say "I want a 1912 Hoosier for my kitchen, with a zinc counter and red trim". I will be thinking "something for kitchen storage, no wider than 40 inches" and may end up with a Hoosier, or a tansu, or a pie safe. MY "something to hold lamps and books" led me to a small chest of drawers, which worked better than any end table because it also held my needlepoint safe from the cats.

Fortune favors the prepared mind. I think that by doing research and learning about different styles, periods, etc. you become more open to serendipity. I wasn't looking for pottery when I saw a hand-made Bauer rose bowl in the junk section of my local hospital thrift store. I spotted it, paid my $3.00 and sold it later for about 1000x more.

I firmly believe that if you read, look at antiques in museums and "real" antique stores, you become more open to finding gems where and when you least expect them. But by looking frantically for the one thing you MUST have, you miss the others that might serve you better.

Some things I do not mind waiting for, and enjoying the hunt so to speak. The one thing I really want now is a Dining Room set...so for this I am frustrated, instead of enjoying the process of finding something. It was one of those things that I was "a day late on" and it also somewhat set the standard for what I want. Now I keep looking for something that is as pretty as that one, and I am discouraged that I not only missed that one, but that nothing I can find even comes remotely close and of course that one was a really fair price to boot!

You will be very unlikely to find a "diningroom set"....in antique furniture.
When we moved into a house with a formal diningroom, people asked me....what are you looking for in a dining room table? My answer was..."I'll know it when I see it" And one day I found it.....with a million coats of orange shellac and needing some skillful repair. I used it for about 10 years and inherited my mother's much more formal dining room table and chairs. My old table now lives at my daughter's.
Keep looking....it'll come!
Linda C

By set...I am referring to a table and chairs that compliment one another. They do not have to actually "belong" together...and I want the side board to compliment but not match...I do not want it to look like a furniture store where a dining room comes in a "set".

One thing at a time.....find a table and the chairs will be easier to find.
I have occasionally seen wonderful Victorian dining room sets for sale....but usually they are a bit overwhelming!
Linda C

Buy the table first. YOu can always mix up the chairs. I have two wing chairs, and then 4 other side chairs.

Just before my wife's grandfather passed away, he gave her his old oak 42" round table. It is beautiful. It has the claw feet and several leaves. We put it in the dining room, but we didn't have any chairs. We had a few unmatched ones, but that is not what we had in mind for this beautiful oak table.

We had decided that we wanted a set of six oak chairs, pattern back, with caned seats. So we started looking. We would even take trips all over this state and even to adjoining states. Keep in mind, this was before the internet. Every antique store we entered, we would ask for a set of six oak chairs, pattern back, and caned seats. For about six years, we didn't find what we were looking for. We were about to give up.

On a trip to visit my sister who lived in Omaha, we stopped at an antique store in Auburn, Nebraska just to stretch our legs. We asked the dealer if he had the chairs we were looking for, and he said, "Yes, I have two sets. One set in the back room, and one set around my dining table at home". We took the set that he had around his table at home. They were exactly what we were looking for.

Collecting what you really want is not something that you can do on one trip to an antique store or attending one auction. Stick to your guns and keep looking. The hunt is what is fun about this crazy hobby. (Antique collecting)

Yeah!! Dude!! I so agree.....and I am so addicted!!
Linda C

don't forget about watching your local craigslist classifieds. I've gotten many 'deals' through ours...

craigslist.org

Maddie

I'm not sure if you have certain antique shops that you frequent, but if so why not get to know the owners so that they can call you when they get something that might be of interest to you. They also might also know of other sources or items. For example, an antique store owner once told me about a couple that had something for sale that he didn't have room for. If this had been something I wanted he was willing to let me contact them directly. Just a thought.

My hubby and I are filling our house with antiques..we attend local auctions and we have scoured several near by states looking at shops for those SPECIAL FINDS....Without a question the Auctions are your best buy.. They can be addictive ...but lots of fun..and you can find some really great antiques at a reasonable price. Where do you think the Antique Shops get their items to sell??

Lots of great, encouraging information from other posters. Dig in and have fun.

If you have an idea of the era in which you prefer to decorate, look specifically for dealers who specialise in your preferred era. They're much more likely not only to find what you want, but to KNOW what they're hunting for you.

If your needs are simple, and you don't mind the occasional replica or "fixit" item, go to any local auction or estate sale you can find. These events are a blast! I love to buy a junky looking bit for my house. After a good clean and repair, it's a functional furnishing with character. I'd like some of these bits buried with me when I pass on! And you never know-you might find some incredible things and bargain prices.

If you've got meticulous tastes, you'll search for the better auction houses. These also attract deep-pocketed dealers and collectors, so you'll pay a bundle for your purchases. These are also highly pleasing events, as you can chat with some of the biggest names in the trade. It's a great learning opportunity. And there's still the chance that you can score a great piece fairly cheap.

It's not easy to find designers who fit into your preferences. They do exist! Bear in mind that designers insist on ridiculous discounts from dealers, often severely limiting their dealer base. Or the dealers mark up for sales to designers in order to meet a margin. We need to pay overhead and bills, buy inventory, and put food on the table, just like anyone else in business. (and we like to have a little something left over for fun!)

If you want to lessen the legwork, a designer is key. If you want to spend years learning, meeting folk in the trade, and accumulating a knockout decor, do the legwork yourself, following the pointers offered by everyone else here. I promise it's vast fun! Like Linda C says:

"Yeah!! Dude!! ....I am so addicted!! "

Hi Bnicebkind!

I can understand your frustration about finding a dining table/set- we moved into our new house in January, and our formal dining room sat empty until just a few days ago, while I scoured the antiques shops and ebay for an old set. Everyone told me it couldn't be done becasue I wanted at least eight chairs and nothing too fancy. Well, I finally found IT, and it was worth the wait! I would rather wait until I find just the right thing than to buy somthing I don't love (thus leaving lots of empty spaces in my new house for those treasures once I find them! :) Good luck with your search!

Reagan---what a beautiful dining room.

when we were cleaning out my mother's house we found some old chairs in the cellar that my father had picked up over the years---

We found 6 very much like the ones in the picture---they needed a lot of work but a young couple was thrilled to buy them.

bnicebkind-- take your time and enjoy the hunt.

Florence

Nice find Reagan!

I just drove 1 1/2 hours EACH WAY because someone told me that their was an awesome huge antique shop in another town. Yes, it was huge, but what a huge waste of time. There was so much junk upholstry from the 70's and I have seen better case goods at garage sales.

So the search continues.

I know what youre saying.My hubby and I have been antiquing for about 30 years now.when we started we would come home everytime with some great finds.Then everybody started.Now its harder.Best we found is to go to home sales,auctions.Before the stuff gets out on market.We only buy the best shape etc.Rather than say settle for something damaged.Glad we started when we did.