Today I thought I’d show off a few of my recent finds from our local Flohmarkts (fleamarkets) and thrift/antique shops. As things have opened up a bit more, I’ve been able to find a few larger pieces that were on my wish list. I feel like our apartment was a bit bare before (deliberately, as I wanted to leave room for some European treasures!) but now it’s starting to feel more homey.
It’s hard to choose a favorite, but this huge gold mirror might be it, since everyone who knows me well knows that I have a serious gold mirror addiction. I found it on Facebook marketplace and am in love.
Around here, you can rent a van for about 5€ an hour, which is perfect for bringing large items home. I picked my husband up from the train station after he returned from a week in the States, we rented up a van, and drove about 30 minutes to Freiburg to bring this beauty home. I figured keeping him busy would help with jet lag–he’s a keeper because he didn’t complain a bit!
I think it will look best mounted on the wall but that’s a task for another day because as you might expect, it’s ridiculously heavy.
Also gracing our dining room is this antique rocking horse. I’ve seen plenty of reproductions over the years and even purchased a few, but this is the real deal. His saddle is leather and his tail is real horse hair.
Isn’t he handsome?
I originally thought I’d just bring him out as part of my Christmas decor, but I like how he looks between the two windows, so he’s going to get to stay out year-round for now.
I also bought my first chandelier (definitely not my last!). This one is about 100 years old and is an Empire basket-style chandelier. It’s already rewired and ready to go. While I can change out lighting fixtures in the States, I’m going to call an electrician this time, so I can see if the process is any different over here (we have 220v in Europe, for example). It’s also really heavy, and our ceilings are concrete–two more things that make it a job for a pro.
I’m going to put this one in our hallway (pic below) and hopefully I’ll find a couple of matching sconces soon:
I’ve also found a few smaller items that I’ve had fun working into my decor. For example, in addition to my gold-mirror addiction, I also like to collect silhouettes of random children. I have a few silhouettes of my own kids in the dining room, but I have a grouping of strangers in our entry as well.
I found two new-to-me silhouettes of German kinder (love that round gold frame!):
They fit in very well, don’t you think?
Oh, and the little ginger jar in the above picture is new, too. It’s harder to find chinoiserie over here as the blue and white items are more Delft and blue onion patterns, but this was just 5€ and I couldn’t pass it up.
I also added a few beautifully bound vintage books to my collection.
And I brought home a pair of watercolors of Notre Dame that work well with the colors in our living room.
We have a new couch in the living room that I’ll have to show you all soon; it was time for my husband’s recliner to go to its eternal reward.
Last but not least, I bought this old demijohn and wire basket in Poland. They are inexpensive and easy to find over here (WAY less than the brand new ones they sell in the States), and most people collect a specific color (brown, green, etc). This one is clear with a little blue-green tint. It might have a new job holding the ridiculous number of wine corks I’m collecting from living in Europe.
That’s it for today. I haven’t told my husband this yet as he’s still recovering from the mirror, but now I’m looking at armoires, vitrines, and Shrunks. He’s in trouble for sure!
Oh, and if you’ve never read this blog post by Victoria Elizabeth Barnes about a much larger gold mirror, I highly recommend it–it’s hilarious.
Enjoy your day, and thanks for stopping by~
Wow, such fun and fabulous finds. So glad things are opening up so you can enjoy all the great thrifting Europe has to offer.
I’m heading out again tomorrow–wish me luck!
Boy you really lucked out. I love the mirror on the floor. That horse is great. I love it. Why is so hard for men to give up their old broken recliners?I just had my husbands recliner picked up and added the new one I had ordered. My husband will not live if he doesnt have a reclinerbut the one I got has the buttons to lift the seat, put the back higher and lowerso it wasnt such a blow to him. He is very happy, the old one was 30 years old. Yes you heard me 30 years old. I told him that broken ugly chair, or me.Can you believe it he had to think about it. Good luck finding all the otherstuff you are looking for and by the way your apartment is beautiful…
Oh my goodness–yes! They love their recliners to be sure! My dad had his old one reupholstered and I’m pretty sure it was more than 30 years old when he finally got rid of it, so I completely understand. I figured out how to schedule a bulky waste pickup so they’re coming to take his away in a few days (it’s in the front room now, waiting to go to the curb).
I’m heading out tomorrow to search for more treasures and I’ll be sure to share what I find!
Wow, that mirror is gorgeous! You found so many beautiful items! I look forward to seeing the chandelier hung. I read Victoria’s blog about the mirror ~ thanks for the laugh! It is an amazing piece. Thrifting around here isn’t that good…or perhaps I just don’t go to the right places! 😂
xo
Pat
I know; I’ve never found anything close to her mirror in the States, but she is proof that it CAN happen. I’m pretty happy with this one; every time I look at it, I smile!
I had tears running down my face reading the giant mirror post. Boy, I needed that today.
And your finds are lovely too. It is so much fun watching you transform your German residence 🙂
I know, right? I first read it a few years ago and I go back to it over and over. I read it out loud to my husband on the way back from picking mine up just so he could understand that IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. Now that I know that I can rent a van for only 5€ an hour, he’s in trouble!
What beautiful finds! I know. You’ll love shopping for the sconces.
I found three from the loveliest woman in France (on Etsy). They should arrive in the next day or so, since she’s right next door to me. I’m looking forward to sharing them with you guys!
Hang on to that mirror, I had a smaller one disappear on a move from Heidelberg to the War College. It had been my grandparents, my grandfather was an imposter at JFK In NY and had gotten it from France. They preferred to pay me for it rather than look for it. Very sad day.
Oh, that makes me so sad to hear! I hate when things go “missing” in our moves, and even more so when they’re precious treasures that can’t be replaced. They can try to pay replacement value, but it just doesn’t make up for the loss. I left a few things at home in private climate-controlled storage (like a stained-glass window from the church in which my parents got married) that I knew I couldn’t bear to lose in transit.
I did get a laugh about your grandfather being an imposter; I knew what you meant but sometimes autocorrect has its way with us. 🙂
My grandfather was an importer……..not an imposter, haha!
Tonight has been an excellent time of laughing. First it was Victoria’s blog about the mirror. I had to keep going and watch the purchase of the huge whatever too big for the kitchen. lol She should be a writer not just a writer in a blog!!
I love your mirror, Christy, and looks lovely on the floor. And that chandelier will look gorgeous in your hallway. Fabulous finds to be had at those flea markets.
She is a really talented writer, isn’t she? I’ve read that mirror post several times over the years and it makes me belly laugh every time. I read it to my husband so he could realize how much worse it could have been for him, but I don’t think he truly appreciated it. 🙂
Loved Victoria Barnes blog…..hilarious! I did like her Kingdom, the roommate in my head said. Thanks for sharing your shopping finds, my favorites: those silhouettes, to die for and that ginger jar, the cutest. Happy shopping.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Marti! Yes, those silhouettes just made me happy when I found them. I love my other treasures, but those are special. It’s fun to share my finds with you guys because I know you’ll appreciate them, too.