Design 2012: General-Store Style Goes Mainstream
Expect even more old-meets-new in home decorating shops this year
I think the general-store twist on mixing vintage utilitarian finds into your decor is here to stay. Seeing a vintage scale with its rusted edges sitting on a new granite countertop is a perfect example — these vintage pieces tell a story and complement shiny new décor for a style balanced between old and new.
You can find accessories with that general-store style in mainstream catalogs like Pottery Barn. There are small indie collections with large followings, like Schoolhouse Electric, devoted to today's general-store style. My question for 2012: if this general store style becomes so common in the mainstream, will it lose its charm?
You can find accessories with that general-store style in mainstream catalogs like Pottery Barn. There are small indie collections with large followings, like Schoolhouse Electric, devoted to today's general-store style. My question for 2012: if this general store style becomes so common in the mainstream, will it lose its charm?
Hello, dream kitchen. There are so many interesting vintage pieces in this space — the vintage sign, the old clock, the vintage stool and rolling cart (used as an island), and even the container holding mail on the wall. And it all works so well with the modern faucet and countertops. This kitchen looks like it functions well for today's cook, but it also oozes charm.
Here's a space that's very contemporary in style, but in the big collection of art along the back wall, there's one piece that adds so much: the vintage scale. Without the old scale with its worn edges, the space could look too polished.
Tip: A few general-store style pieces save a space from looking like a catalog.
Tip: A few general-store style pieces save a space from looking like a catalog.
Vintage wooden crates that once held sodas or milk make the perfect modern-day storage solution in the entryway. I also love the wire baskets holding all the magazines.
Check out this ideabook for how to turn a vintage crate into rolling storage.
Check out this ideabook for how to turn a vintage crate into rolling storage.
Typography is a big way that general store style has gone mainstream. Everyone loves personalized items — finding a letter or number that has special meaning has sparked a demand for vintage signs.
Tip: Don't be afraid to try displaying some artsy vintage finds in unexpected places — like a group of signs on a radiator. The randomness only adds to the whimsical vibe.
Tip: Don't be afraid to try displaying some artsy vintage finds in unexpected places — like a group of signs on a radiator. The randomness only adds to the whimsical vibe.
From the vintage glass canisters to the worn vintage lunch sign, there's so much to love about this space if you're a fan of general-store style. Set against the shiny white subway tiles, these vintage finds stand out as special.
When I think of general-store style, I think of vintage pieces that were once functional and utilitarian, even if they aren't now. A perfect example is a vintage scale. This piece has its own charm, keeping the kitchen from looking too cookie-cutter.
That's a vintage tobacco basket on the wall, and the coffee table is an old factory cart. The fun of finding new uses for old things is another reason I love general-store style.
Vintage signs and blue glass canisters mix in with all the modern amenities of this kitchen. Overall, I think the general-store style works best in the kitchen.
Vintage-style phones other sought-after finds that capture general-store style. I find a bit of humor in that, considering so many people have dropped their landlines in favor of cell phones.
This laundry room is calling my name. It feels very European to me and is full of pretty utilitarian touches like the metal hanging basket and the wooden hook rack.
From the vintage clock to to the old trunk, these vintage finds stand out in a pack. They may be old, but they're eye-catching.
A vintage scale is a cool spot to keep a few notebooks by your bed.
More: Vintage Modern Phones
Surprisingly Versatile: Old-School Stools
Vintage Lighting Shines
More: Vintage Modern Phones
Surprisingly Versatile: Old-School Stools
Vintage Lighting Shines