Do you find Valentine’s decor tends to be a little on the cute-sy side…..with an over-abundance of red and pink? How about taking the cute factor down a notch with these neutral Valentine decoration ideas that have a more sophisticated feel. Valentine home accessories in shades of cream, white, gray, brown, black, and even blue blend in nicely with almost any type of decor.
Anitques
Decorating With Dough Bowls | Valley Auburn Opelika Alabama Antique Store
Of course we love to decorate with vintage items filled with charm and history…..but how often do we actually take the time to research the original uses and history of these simple utilitarian objects from the past that bring us so much joy? We just love this article from BetterBaking.com by Leon Neal. Here is a portion that we found especially interesting.
In the South and in the territories where the most adventuresome settlers sought new opportunities, the use of locally available materials for houses (log houses, etc.) and for basic household utensils (carved wooden bowls and slatted wooden buckets and barrels) continued into the 1800s and 1900s. In the very rural and isolated Appalachian Mountains the pioneer lifestyle, language, and attitudes persisted even longer. These people were primarily subsistence farmers, hunters, trappers, and often harvested trees to sell for money (saw mill work). These people existed on very little money and grew most of their own food and so bread was a very important element of their diet (biscuits and cornbread). The common situation in the mountains even upon until World War II was that there were biscuits at every meal, the wife made biscuits three times a day and a typical treat for a visitor was a friend fruit pie make using biscuit dough and dried fruit and fried (some call these a turnover). Because of this constant process the biscuits were usually made in a hand carved wooden bowl and the bowl stayed with flour in it at all times except every week or so the bowl would be washed.
In my grandmother’s time and later for some of my mountain relatives the family dough bowl was a critical part of the family food preparation, highly used and highly treasured by the best cooks. It was not uncommon for a future husband to carve a wooden dough bowl for his bride as a wedding present. It was also common for a young female to desire a carved wooden dough bowl for her hope chest so that when she married, she would have a very desirable kitchen tool (Other hope chest items were things like handmade quilts and other family heirlooms). A mother’s dough bowl was usually one of the items in an estate that was most sought after typically left to the oldest daughter and there have been more than a few siblings who have stopped talking because of a mutual desire for the same dough bowl.
Now that we’ve shared a little snipit of the history of the dough bowl, how about a few inspiration photos of ways to display these historic treasures?
How about keeping our dough bowl close to home and using it in your kitchen to store and display fruits, vegetables and baked goods?
Display collections……..
We love how these displays will take your decor from winter to spring by just adding a few flowers!
Display and store your vintage linens.
Aren’t these spring/summer centerpieces gorgeous?
and just because winter isn’t quite over yet a few cold weather ideas to add instant warmth to your space!
If you just HAVE to have a dough bowl to add to your decor, come in and see us at the store. We carry antique and reproduction dough bowls in many shapes and sizes. You never know what we will have!
A Mantel Without A Fireplace | Valley Auburn Opelika Alabama Antique Store
Do you love the look of a mantel but don’t have a fireplace? Of course we love traditional mantels, but what if you don’t have a fireplace? We have gathered some great ideas and inspiration to help get your creative juices flowing!
Have you ever thought of using a mantel outdoors? We love these beautiful vintage pieces! Use them in gardens, weddings, porches, the possibilities are endless! Did you know we have a couple mantels in our wedding rentals?
We are loving these unconventional ideas! Convert an old fireplace space and mantel into a fun activity center for your little one! And with a little love and extra lumber this gorgeous mantel turned into a bookshelf!
Here are some great ways to use your mantel like a traditional mantel, just without the fireplace! Who doesn’t love to have a centerpiece to decorate for every season?
One of our favorite ways to use a mantel is to use it as a headboard! Use it as is or upholster the open space where the fireplace used to be. A wonderful way to add beautiful focal point to your room!
Come in to the store and see our fabulous collection of vintage mantels and all kinds of wonderful vintage architectural treasures!
Vintage Milk Glass | Valley Auburn Opelika Alabama Antique Store
Milk glass originated in Venice in the 16th century. However, did you know that back then milk glass came in all different colors including yellow, brown, black, pink and blue? All of these colors still project a ‘milky’ color. Some of these colors still exist in milk glass, especially blue, but white remains the most popular.
Since the 16th century, milk glass has remained a popular collector’s item as well as a useful item around the house. Most of the collectible milk glass of today dates back to the 1700’s or newer.
During the early 20th century, milk glass was synonymous with the cultural prosperity of the wealthy American culture. Milk glass made in the 20th century remains some of the best ever made. It is known for it’s delicacy and elegance and was often seen on dressers and shelf tops in upper-class American homes.
During the 1930’s, milk glass made during the Depression was considered less elegant and delicate and more a product of the hard times. Because of this, milk glass made during the 1930’s and 1940’s is often considered of lesser quality.
These days, milk glass still remains a popular collectible. It makes a beautiful alternative for all sorts of decorations and decor items.
Milk glass is still manufactured by several prestigious glass companies including Atterbury Glass Company, Fenton Glass Company and Fostoria Glass Company.
Do you love milk glass as much as we do? We’ve gathered a few ideas to help you display and find new uses for your treasured collection.
The Best Paint On The Planet | Auburn Opelika Valley AL Antique Store
ReThunk Junk Paint
We have been carrying Rethunk Junk Paint for a while now, we’ve used it ourselves and have received feedback from our customers as well. The verdict? We love it! It’s easy to use, has a durable finish and awesome colors! This is NOT chalk paint……This is what Laura herself has to say “What can “breaking the chalk habit” do for you? Chalk paint lines have been around for years. Their ability to be used without sanding or priming started a renewed interest in saving and updating furniture. Here at Rethunk Junk by Laura, we have taken things to a fabulous new level. Unlike chalk paints, our patent pending paint line uses no powder additives, and our Dryquik Technology will absolutely blow you away. The revolutionary formula makes painting furniture and cabinets easier, faster, and less expensive than you ever imagined! In addition, our Research and Development team are busy creating innovative new products that will help you achieve looks far beyond what the chalk paint lines can do. It’s amazing what we can (re)do together when you “break the chalk habit!”
There are 5 Steps to Getting it Done
- Prep – clean your piece
- Paint – yep – already! no sanding or priming!
- Distress – take a sander to that puppy and knock off some paint!
- Glaze – (optional) you can use our dark glaze or add paint to our tint-able glaze to make a custom glaze
- Seal – (optional) brush on our clear sealer or our tuff top
You’re done – enjoy your piece and brag to all your friends!!
Here are a few of our favorite projects from the website!
Who doesn’t have a table like this around?
Prep, Midnight, Stain Top, Tuff TopDid you know you can paint fabric with Rethunk Junk Paint?
Prep (on wood), Linen, Robin’s Egg Blue, Clear SealerHow cute are the fabric ties on this tall chest?
Prep, Cotton, Stain Top, Clear Sealer
We just love this idea of added interest to an old piece by adding fabric or paper inserts!
Prep, French Vanilla, Dark Glaze, Stain Top, Tuff Top
Come into the store and get your Rethunk Junk Paint and supplies! We have tester and quart sizes as well as the prep, glaze, tuff top and stain top. See a color you love that we don’t have? We will special order it for you!
Rustic Holiday Wrapping | Valley Auburn Opelkia Alabama Antique Store
Brown paper packages tied up with string……these are a few of our favorite things!
Kraft paper wrapping has been a favorite forever. Newspapers or brown paper bags also give the same feel. We have quite a selection of rustic wrapping supplies here at the store! Burlap ribbon and bags….lace and muslin ribbons, burlap bags in all sizes, kraft wrapping paper, and jute twine…..even a few rusty bells…..find the rest in your yard and you are set!
Pine cones and cedar sprigs instantly transform your wrapping into woodsy wonders.
Burlap, which is really all the rage this year, now comes in nice ribbon rolls, so it’s very easy to use. However, if you find it is difficult to tie or glue on a package, try stapling the burlap ribbon right on the box or the paper bag!
To tie it everything together, use strings of all sorts: baker’s twine, raffia, jute or hemp twines, wool and pompoms – anything with a natural feel! Whether it is by adding a piece of lace, doily, or ribbon, a touch of white mixes beautifully with the natural earth tones of Kraft paper.
Try hand stamped names, floral picks, or find a variety of adhesive decorations on the scrapbooking isle!
Decorate with wood twigs (have fun picking them up with the kids on your next outing!), fir branches (real or fake!), dried leaves, pinecones and berries…
A Tree Without A Tree | Valley Opelika Auburn Alabama Antique Store
Decorating for the Christmas season in a small house can present some challenges, foremost of which is the Christmas tree! When space is at a premium, it’s not easy to move or even remove furniture to accommodate a real tree. And even if you have the space for one, some apartment and condo rules prohibit real trees because of disposal and clean-up issues. Not to mention many condos also don’t have a mantel or staircase-traditional places to deck the halls! With these concerns in mind, we gathered up a few solutions for Christmas decorating in your small space!
How about using chalk, paint pen or washi tape to create a tree on a large wall? You can even decorate it with traditional lights and ornaments, or use your imagination! The sky is the limit!
A book tree!! We have seen so many versions of this classic! But re arranging your books on an existing shelf is genius! Use what you have!
How about using lights to create a tree? Wrap a simple tomato cage with lights, or create a tree from scratch!
Ladder tree anyone? This is another great idea to use what you have to decorate for the holidays! Grab an old ladder and let your imagination soar! Add lights and some vintage goodness and you have a one of a kind centerpiece for the holidays!
How about using natural elements? Decorate some weathered twigs from your yard, or drape your existing houseplants with a few lights and ornaments!
Another wonderful idea is to use your special ornament collection and display them in the shape of a tree on a wall……what a great way to display your personality, memories, and style!
Use scrap upcycled wood or pallets to create a tree! Use vintage fixtures, ornaments or lights to decorate!
Chalkboard Art Cheat | Valley Auburn Opelika Antique Store
Did you know you can create cheap, over-scaled art work created through Black and White Engineer Printing from OfficeDepot, OfficeMax or Staples? If you haven’t heard of this idea, well it might just change the way you think about large scale artwork, or even changing your artwork for the season!
Engineer, Architecture or Oversize Printing allows you take a photo or printable, and create large black and white copies on inexpensive paper. Engineering printing will not create color copies and you need to make sure your original work isn’t too small of scale. There are several sizes to choose from……..think BIG!! A 24×36 print is generally under $5.00! The process is easy, just upload your artwork at any of the major office supply stores, follow the prompts on the order screens, and you should get a confirmation within minutes and most times your print will be ready in under an hour! Talk about instant gratification!
You have your fabulous chalkboard print! Now what? Well there is a great and very simple tutorial over at Dear Lillie on how to build your own frame! Dear Lillie also sells downloadable printable chalkboard art and have a detailed tutorial on how to have them printed as well!
So don’t be intimidated by large scale art! It is easy and affordable to decorate your home and make a statement for every season! Here are a few of our favorites……..can you believe these are prints and not actual chalkboards?
12 Days Of Christmas | Valley Opelika Auburn Antique Store
We are so excited to announce Resurrect’s 12 Days of Christmas Sale!! Join us December 10th thru December 23rd and we will have a different treat for you every day!! Don’t miss out on these fabulous deals as you finish up your Christmas shopping…….or just get a little something for yourself!
Simply Lunch at Resurrect | Valley Opelika Auburn Antique Store
Did you know there is a sweet little home town cafe inside Resurrect? We have created the perfect excuse for you to make an outing! Come shop with Resurrect and our fabulous vendors then grab some lunch at while you are here! Simply Lunch inside Resurrect Antiques can also host or cater your next party or event? Bridal Showers, Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, Ministry Meetings, Bible Studies or Club Meetings…..No problem! Large carry out orders or Office meetings? No problem! Give them a call at (334) 756-5800.
Also get Chicken Salad, Pimento Cheese, or Broccoli Salad by the pound!
Fresh simple food and fabulous small town service! Once you try it, they’ll have you hooked!
It’s Holiday Market Time | Valley Auburn Opelika Alabama Antique Store
We can’t believe how fast this month has flown by! Please come join us this Saturday November 22nd from 10-6 EST for our Holiday Market!! We will have some fabulous vendors set up in our parking lot, our Christmas decor is making it’s appearance, and SANTA will be here! There are only a few spots left to get Vintage Santa Photos…..click HERE to claim yours!!
Creating Your Perfect Color Scheme | Valley Auburn Opelika Anitque Store
Have you ever seen a photo of a beautiful room, but short of trying to copy the look exactly like it’s pictured……..where do you start? Well…..if you haven’t heard Adobe has a fabulous color tool called Adobe Color, and it’s FREE!! You can browse color schemes created by others or take an inspiration photo or……10 and create some schemes of your own. Visit the Adobe Color website…..
over on the right hand side you will see a little camera icon……
Upload an inspiration photo from your computer, and click on the “Color Mood” box on the left hand side to see Adobe Color magically create your color schemes. You can even drag around the little circles on your photo to further customize your color scheme.
There are a lot of fancy things you can do with Adobe Color, and there is even a link at the top of the screen that says “learn more”. But for our purposes, it’s easiest to just use your browsers print button to print the page. Keep it in your design notebook and use it to pick paint colors, fabrics, or accessories for your room. And just for fun, below are a few more color schemes we came up with from some inspiration photos we love! And as you can see it doesn’t have to be a room! A dress, a towel, or any image that inspires you!
Now it’s your turn! Have fun……and don’t forget, when you decide on your colors, come into the store or the online store and get some of our Rethunk Junk Paint to make your inspiration a reality!
Repurposing Old Doors | Valley Auburn Opelika Antique Store
Doors, they surround us, we use them daily, but they may not be something that you notice or may think about everyday. They may just get overlooked.
Recently though, the trend is reuse… up cycle and we know a lot of people have been considering doors more. So, we thought we would get some great ideas together of things you can do with your doors, from simple to a little more involved. But all these DIY door ideas will help bring more character and interest into you home.
Here at the store, doors are something we never run out of! Each is full of character and interest. So if we’ve sparked your creativity and now you have a project in mind, come in and see us!
Doors in the great outdoors? Why of course! And this is one of the most original ideas we have seen using vintage doors! What a fabulous privacy fence! Talk about character!!
We love the new life that’s been breathed into these doors in a garden setting, what a special little secret retreat!
Add interest and character to your driveway or create a fabulous drink station on your summer porch!
Add a few shelves for great display space, even a potting bench outdoors.
Of course we couldn’t do a post about vintage doors without giving a couple examples of beds! These go a little above and beyond the typical door headboard……aren’t they fabulous?
Have a door with glass in it? Instant frame! And how about removing a panel and inserting a mirror for a great addition to any room?
oh……and wait for it……..how about using a vintage door as a ……….door?
What an original idea for a bar, counter top or table! And how easy can it get! Just put a piece of glass over the perfect door, add legs and perfection!
Have you considered beautiful storage in your bed room? We just love the character and functionality that these doors add.
Transitional Fall to Winter Decor | Valley Opelika Auburn Alabama Antique Store
Thanksgiving’s almost here but don’t over do it, we have the Holidays coming too soon! So try Transitions, placing things like these around, that can stay out right through the whole winter season. By adding layers to our decor we build the warmth and the anticipation as we move through the season.
Candles and fruit are complementary materials that allow you to easily create artful decorating accents that last from autumn through year’s end. Try miniature fruits — kumquats, clementines — tucked in a patterned glass bowl; tuck a large pillar candle at the center.
Tie bundles of bare tree and winterberry branches to the spindles on your staircase for an autumnal look. After Thanksgiving, tie pine boughs to the branches with pretty velvet ribbon, and wire Christmas ornaments around the velvet ribbon for extra color. Chalkboards are another great decor item for all seasons, pen an appropriate sentiment or quote and you have added a holiday centerpiece!
Trays filled with ornaments make a great holiday centerpiece. For warmth, temper the shine with small sprigs of greenery and miniature pinecones or pumpkins tucked between the ornaments or even inside small vases.
Tuck pillar candle into a glass container and fill the space between with mixed nuts, berries or mini pine cones. Easily switch them out for the season if you wish.
Fill pots, vases or bottles with twigs, pine cones or berries and greenery. How easy is it to go from pots with pumpkins……to pots with pine cones?
And don’t forget the great outdoors…..this pot with twigs and greenery can go from fall to winter easily! Add a few glass ornaments or lights for an even more spectacular display! Fill a bowl with pine cones……pumpkins for the fall and maybe berries or some greenery for winter!
We hope we’ve sparked your creativity, and now you can even more quickly and easily transition from your fall to winter decor. Don’t forget to come see us at the store for all kinds of treasures, holiday or everyday to add to your decor this season!
Non Traditional Vintage Nursery Furniture & Storage | Valley Auburn Opelika Anique Store
Decorating a nursery or children’s room? It’s time to think outside the box! There are so many pieces of vintage furniture out there! Solid wood, well made beautiful pieces! Use your imagination and use traditional pieces in an nontraditional way! And how about storage, want to make it more interesting…..cute? Here are a few ideas to get you started! Come into the store to see our huge variety of beautiful vintage furniture and storage solutions!
How fabulous are these vintage consoles? A little paint and they have found a new life!
Grandmas Hoosier Cabinet? What a way to keep memories, and add beautiful storage and functionality to your nursery.
Beautiful vintage buffets come in all shapes and sizes, add a changing pad and you have created a one of a kind changing table.
How about a china cabinet, add a rod for hanging, baskets for storage, or just stack on the shelves. Show off your gorgeous treasures!
Don’t forget vintage vanities & desks!
We just love these vintage metal racks for storage and display! The sky is the limit!
Looking for something just a little different to do with those vintage wooden crates and soda crates? Hang them on the wall!! Instant storage and charm!
A vintage ladder is perfect in the corner for blanket storage, metal bins, and what a fabulous way to use an old wooden cable spool?!
Add wheels to a crate…..or with so many options these days, you can also buy new storage solutions with a vintage flair, like these canvas lined wire bins.
Fall Drinks | Valley Auburn Opelika Alabama Antique Store
Fall is a wonderful season, forerunner of the winter. In this season of the year the weather becomes colder and darker. People starting to like hot food and drinks, to warm up their soul and body. Here are a few of our favorites! Enjoy!
Spicy Hot Chocolate Mocha (diethood.com)
Hot Orange Mocha (BHG.com)
Pumpkin Coffee Milkshake (seriouseats.com)
Vanilla Chai (bettycrocker.com)
Caramel Apple Cider (bakingbites.com)
Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate (bakingwithblondie.com)