The thing about furnishing with antiques, if you see it and like even if it's not perfect, buy it because you can always sell it for about what you paid ( sometimes for a lot more!) and buy the perfect thing if you find it.
My frustrations in shopping for antiques is finding stuff I love but have no room for.
Linda C

I should add on a happier note, that when you do find that "right" one, it is so special, because it has that lovely patina and craftmanship that only comes with age, that makes you swoon when you see it!

The other thing about shopping for antiques is the prep work. I always go with a notebook that has room measurements, ceiling heights, door widthes and carry a tape measure.

I have a "dream list" -- things I need (like an 8x10 cast iron register grate) and things I want like a drop leaf walnut table.

I study antiques enough to know what "trips my trigger" and what "fits" my house. And I know what I am and am not capable of repairing. Right now -- I'm stripping bright yellow latex paint off an oak commode -- already removed the red plastic knobs! But repairing and restoring an antique gives me the opportunity to buy a wonderful piece much cheaper.

The biggest thing is to be confident in your choices. Ask the dealer to hold it for you while you think about it and call them if its not going to work. Its only furniture -- not life or death!

Cathy

My frustration is that there's not enough "in the rough" antiques out there. I'd rather do the dirty work myself and end up with a nice mellow finish instead of the high gloss varathane that so often ruins a nice item.

My chief frustration is when the "antiques" are badly identified ... like the supposedly 1810 "sheraton" dresser that had not only plywood but Bakelite in it.

Hi Bnice, it's a love/hate relationship~I love the 'thrill of the hunt', but hate not finding what I might be hunting for! I try *not* to actually 'search out' something, but rather stumble into it or let it find me. Several years ago I was looking for an armoire to house the the TV in the LR. I had my heart set on an antique armoire, but knew I needed something x-tra deep, too. I had been to several shops, and one Sunday, while driving around, saw a small narrow shop with an armoire *outside* the front door. No, this wasn't *the* armoire, but if it wouldn't have been there I would have missed the shop completely! After talking to the owner at length, I fould out her DD lived in Scotland, and hand picked all the items to be sent over and could get me just about any thing I might want. The store only dealt with European antiques, mostly English, Scottish, and French. I told her 'my need' and that I would prefer a three-door, with no outside mirror. It must have been my lucky day! She took me to a matching set of two armoires, one two door, the other three. She said they were French~curved top and little curved feet, with a nice little thin moulding on the doors. They were a burled walnut, and the condition was fair to good~I didn't want the look of new, so this was fine with me. Needless to say I bought the 3-door for me, and the 2-door for one of my DD's~the price was phenomanal! All I had to do was have shelves installed and knew that would be a piece of cake. I can honestly say I am extremely happy, but I didn't 'have my heart set' on any particuliar style, but would 'know it when I saw it.'

IMO, this is where *you* need to be~when the time is right, it will 'find' you. You will walk into just the right store, on just the right day, and find just the right piece. You see, I believe we always find what *we* attract, and that applies to love or a piece of furniture. Visualize, think positive, and keep an open mind. A closed mind breeds frustration. ;o)

patty_cakes

I guess we do it a bit different. Our home is furnished in 1700-1850 American antiques. We are collectors first...home decorators second. So, when we stumble across a piece that meets our collecting criteria...we purchase it and find a place in our home for it after the fact. We have never gone looking for a specific something for a specific somewhere in our home. Because we've limited ourselves to a certain period (1700-1850) everything blends quite well. If we were to add a Mission Oak dresser to one of our bedrooms...it would look quite weird. What you are describing is home decorator first and antique collector second. So, yes...I imagine it is difficult to locate just the "right" piece in those circumstances.

The last major piece we added was about 2 1/2 years ago...a C.1825 Newport, RI inlay mahogony card table. It's beautiful and in original condition. Had no idea where we were going to put the silly thing. Ended up folding it to it's half-circle position and putting it under our living room window with a Chippy chair next to it. My DH dislays a few of his 1650-1750 wine glasses on the top along with an antique wine glass/decanter reference book. We are like Lindac...it's getting tough to find a place for new pieces. We're even having trouble with space for my collection of mulberry.