Budding Inspiration: Spring at the Queen! Guest Post from Appalachian Vintiques

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The earth laughs in flowers.” After a very long, hard winter in the mountains of North Carolina, I am embracing spring with lots of laughter and looking to flowers for inspiration in decorating my home. With our recent Spring Fling, we saw many unique ways to incorporate pops of pastels, floral prints, colors inspired by nature and ways to bring sunshine and laughter into your home. And don't forget the Pantone color of the year, Radiant orchid, is a bright burst of Spring color for your home, and goes great with floral prints.

The Spring brings opportunities for entertaining - look for creative ways to display flowers. Take these ideas from the Queen, using vases, mason jars, teacups, or vintage bud vases for traditional and non-traditional floral displays. 

Vintage bottles would be perfect for displaying, with or without flowers. The fact that these bottles tell their own unique story make them a unique conversation starter. The two pictures below are bottles from our booth in Buford at Appalachian Vintiques. 

Love old Mason Jars? You can find a great selection of Ball Mason jars that are clear or you can opt for the older blue jars that are quite valuable. 

Spring entertaining (especailly in the South) isn't complete without an afternoon glass of tea. Our dealers have a large variety of tea sets to fit just about any taste or style. This floral display would be perfect for décor but can pull double duty because you can actually use the tea sets later in the afternoon!

The great thing about Spring is that there is a flower for every personality and style. Be sure to stop in at the Queen of Hearts and find the perfect piece to display your flowers, or  your Spring floral accents!

This blog was written by dealer Jennifer Turner, of Appalachian Vintiques (LIVJC) on Court St in Buford - like her on Facebook to see all of her fabulous finds!

Dealer Feature: Romancing the Home, Cindy Collins

Each month we are featuring our great dealers in our blog, to give a little background on them, how they got started at The Queen, and what trends they are seeing! Meet Cindy Collins, a dealer who has been at the Buford Queen of Hearts for three years, and is located on Broad St, dealer code RHT1. Visit her Facebook page Romancing the Home at the Queen of Hearts, to see all of her gorgeous items and Like her to be updated on new arrivals!

As an interior designer, I always enjoyed the pursuit of “the look” as much as the finished project. Room by room, house by house, it was a quest...a quest to match client lifestyles and personalities with uniquely designed interiors. After years in the field, I took a long sabbatical to care for my seriously ill, teenaged daughter. After eight long years, a few trips to the Mayo Clinic, and the Grace of God, she got her life back and so did I.

I wasn’t sure how to get back into the game, but strangely enough, the game found me. I was asked by my church to join the building committee to advise and consult on our new three-story addition. Suddenly, I found myself entrenched in carpet and tile samples, paint chips, fabric swatches and 3,000 opinions. Serving on a church committee means three things. No pay, long hours and a tight budget (and did I mention 3,000 opinions?). Working under these conditions made me realize how much I enjoyed the pursuit (again) but this time, the challenge was finding the “look” and being frugal at the same time. It takes a lot more creativity to do more with less and I was loving it! As the church project neared completion, I was well on my way to becoming a dealer/merchant at Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors in Buford. I had a short stint with a partner, then expanded to two booths, and ultimately in my current location at the front of the store. 

Combining my experience as an interior designer and picker, I have found my passion for painting and repurposing furniture, creating that “one-of-a-kind find”. Often times, I paint furniture that some revere as blasphemy. Yes, I paint antiques. Is there a support group for this? “My name is Cindy and I paint antique furniture.” I also “saved” a lot of pieces that were so far gone, refinishing was out of the question, but a coat of paint breathed new life into it. Painting can transform furniture from the ordinary to the extraordinary and most assuredly making it unique. 

               

When asked what’s trending today in furnishings and design, my best answer is the “pursuit of unique”. Seek that one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your personality and lifestyle. Shop vintage and antique. Don’t be afraid to mix finishes, stained with painted, old with new. If you love it, that’s reason enough!

Visit me at the Queen of Hearts in Buford, dealer code RHT1 on Broad St, and Like my page Romancing the Home at the Queen of Hearts! I'd love to help you find the perfect piece for your home and help you find your "look." - Cindy

Family Ties & Butterscotch Pies: Guest Post from Appalachian Vintiques

As we approach the holidays, my mind wanders back to my grandparents' house in the holler of Western North Carolina in a town called Waynesville. At Thanksgiving especially, the house came alive with family, laughter, music, jokes, football, and the smell of turkey and homemade biscuits. And then there was my great grandmother’s delicious butterscotch pie that we ate on the "special occasion only" dishes on her mahogany table. I cherish these memories, but if I could change anything it would be to make those moments happen every day, not just once a year.

As I prepare for this year's Thanksgiving, I'm changing traditions. I'm investing in china, decor, and furniture that won’t be reserved for one day a year, but are timeless, quality pieces that I can enjoy every single day. I don’t want to lock up the "special occasion only" pieces because every day that I spend with my family is special.

At the Queen of Hearts in Buford, the ability to find quality pieces that remain timeless is an easy feat. Your most difficult task will be narrowing down the fantastic options. At my booth, Appalachian Vintiques, we specialize in high quality, primitive pieces found locally in Western North Carolina.

This fantastic buffet is made by Lexington and is made from a beautiful mahogany; it reminds me of one in my grandmother’s dining room and would make a beautiful accent for any of your family meals. The antique gilded mirror and the delicate stemware is traditional and classic.

Don’t let a small space prevent you from finding a timeless and functional piece that will be a great conversation starter. This fantastic dining table with four chairs, also found at Appalachian Vintiques, makes entertaining easy while practical.

Dealer SJ at the Buford location offers this exquisite dining room set with quality china pieces. Add a centerpiece like this and make your dining room festive year round.

Dealer SPCA in the Buford location offers this unique serving platter. Perfect for your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham, but can be used year round - what about your next Superbowl party? This platter could hold enough wings to feed the team!

Dealer MNELW at the Buford location is offering this amazingly unique buffet. This classic French accent is sure to be a conversation starter at any gathering, and beautiful to admire when you are just eating dinner with your family.

I could post hundreds of photos from The Queen of Hearts in Buford. No matter what your style – traditional, modern, classic, romantic – there is something here for you. As you approach this holiday season, I hope that you will remember that people are what makes the moments special, not a date on the calendar. Whether it’s Sunday dinner after church with just your kids or entertaining your entire family for Christmas, choose pieces that you can create memories around that will last a lifetime. I will always remember my Nanny’s butterscotch pie...leave your family and friends with their own special memories.

Jennifer Turner is a dealer at the Buford Queen of Hearts and her booth is Appalachian Vintiques, dealer code LIVJC or VINTQ, located on Court St. Follow the link to like her on Facebook and see all her amazing finds!

Lightning Bugs, a Bright Idea: Guest Post from Appalachian Vintiques

Here in Western North Carolina, we call this place “God’s Country.” Small, southern towns with charm, sweet tea, front porch sittin’ and best of all, lightning bugs. As a kid, my grandparents would sit on the porch sipping sweet tea while my brother and I ran carefree through the grass near the ‘crik’ using our old mason jars to catch thousands of lightning bugs. Inevitably, we would run as fast as we could to show the grown-ups our special finds, poking holes in the tops of the lids and providing just enough grass for these amazing creatures to survive.  

What is interesting about lightning bugs is that they are the most efficient light producers in the entire world. Additionally, they have the ability to create a soft glow in even the darkest of country nights, which for me was always a comfort. In a similar way, the way we choose to light our homes can provide that same type of comfort. There is nothing more welcoming then walking into a home where the homeowner has paid special attention to lighting. I often think sometimes that lighting comes as an afterthought, which is unfortunate because the right lighting can add such pizzazz to any space.

With the advent of Pinterest and social media, there is no shortage of ideas for ways to incorporate lighting into any space. You can repurpose everyday items into focal points that become great conversation starters, or you can reintroduce beautiful pieces from the past. At the Queen of Hearts in Buford, there is an abundance of great options to fit any taste. 

We found this unique, upcycled lamp and added it to our booth space at Appalachian Vintiques in Buford. This piece is a great mixture of old metal and old car parts and would make a great addition in any rustic space or man cave. This is sure to be a conversation starter for anyone that sees it!

We absolutely fell in love with this beautiful antique hanging light fixture found at the Queen in Buford by dealer GATE. 

Dealer SMM at the Queen in Buford has several stunning options to offer homeowners and decorators alike. This dealer provides customers with a mixture of upcycled, repurposed, vintage, and antique lights – a taste for all lighting pallets.

Looking for a certain style – Parisian maybe? Check out dealer PARIS at the Queen in Buford for this fantastic fixture for a home office or living space.

Wanting to take a unique piece and upcyle it into something more useful? Check out this old chicken feeder we had lying around the house. I love the texture and color, but we don’t plan on having any chickens anytime soon! We drilled some holes into the sides and now we have a conversation starter that emits fantastic lighting.

Lighting should never be an afterthought when we are designing spaces that we love. Not only should we take into consideration energy output, but also placing pieces in our spaces that emit the right light and provide texture, color, and unique qualities will create spaces that we love and cherish for many years to come!  

Jennifer Turner is a dealer at the Buford Queen of Hearts and her booth is Appalachian Vintiques, dealer code LIVJC or VINTQ, located on Court St. Follow the link to like her on Facebook and see all her amazing finds! 

Monthly Feature at the Queen

Hi guys! It's Sarah from {Home-ology} modern vintage here to feature more of the Queen's talented dealers and the awesome finds they are constantly bringing in. There's some great stuff to be had this month!

Since it's February, the month of LOVE, I'm going to highlight a few finds that would be great additions to a bedroom in need of some updating. These finds are from the Queen's Buford and Alpharetta locations.

Starting off with one of my most favorite finds of the month is this unique set of gradient carpet samples. I w.a.n.t. them. Now. For my own. Yes, I have a crush on them, and I'm not ashamed. I can't help but drool over the luxurious little tufts of gradual color and the fact that they weren't meant to be so beautiful, but they are.

Spotted at the Buford location in DBW's booth, these panels are a great pop of color that will work with any color palette without overwhelming the room. Go get them before I can resist no longer.


Oh, and while you're at it, head over to the Alpharetta Queen to add this awesome table in as a bedstand.

   

So cool. This piece is made of ancient cedar wood. I love the organic feel of this petrified piece mixed with the modern glass top. So creative. From dealer LAG {Alpharetta}.

Moving from modern to vintage, I am also in love with this beautiful display for a vintage bedroom.

   

As much as I love modern, I also have a soft spot for this sweet vintage look. So soft and delicate in its colors and textures. Love how they used an old window as the frame and backed it with a beautifully faded wallpaper. This creative find can be found in DI's booth {Buford location}.

And I would totally want to add this beautiful mantle-made-into-shelf to my vintage boudoir. It just speaks cozy. This is in Dealer LOLA's booth {Buford location}.

Lastly, I found the perfect accessory for your vintage bedroom, these French riding boots. These would be the finishing touch for a bit of French flair. From the talented David, dealer ATK {Alpharetta}.

So there you have it, my favorite finds for February - the month of love, and the perfect month to make a few updates to your bedroom.

Bedrooms are such a personal space. It's the one room in the house where you are allowed to express yourself to the fullest. Take advantage of that freedom by really letting your personality shine. This room is where you start your day and where you end your day. You spend more hours in your bedroom than you do any other place in the home. Make it yours!

This is a guest post from Sarah Krouse at {Home-ology} modern vintage. As well as being a dealer in our Alpharetta location, Sarah blogs over at homeologymodernvintage.com. If you enjoyed reading her post and would love to see more, we encourage you to stop by her blog. There you'll see many of her vintage finds in their raw stage, get a story of where they came from, and see transformations of the pieces she revives and repurposes prior to their display at the Queen. Sarah also blogs over at themodern-lifestyle.com - a lifestyle blog for women of a "certain age."

Monthly Feature at the Queen

Happy New Year!  It's Sarah from {Home-ology} modern vintage.  I'm hosting my monthly guest post for the dear Queen and all you lovelies who follow her blog.  Thanks for having me over, guys!

So, how are your New Year's resolutions holding up my dear ones?  Success so far or utter fail?  Personally, I don't do resolutions, as I am a dismal failure at them.  But in January I do like to take a moment of quiet reflection to ponder goals for the new year and lay out plans for the future.

And today I actually accomplished one of my goals for the new year - I took my Christmas tree & all the trimmings down.  {Yay for me, finally getting that monkey off my back!}  Okay, that doesn't actually count as a "goal," but I am so glad to have it done.  Hey, it's a start...

So, yesterday, as I was returning from the car dealership where the hubs & I purchased a new car {another "yay" for us for finally replacing the jalopy!}, I stopped by the Queen in her Buford location about an hour before she closed for the day.

 Here's the hub's at the dealership.  I'm pretty sure there were tears as he wrote the check.

But driving my sweet, sweet ride made me forget all about his pain!  Only kidding...  However, all the ambient lighting, electronic gadgets, and the sweet voice of Ms. Navigation totally had me at hello.  My car and I are going to be great friends, I just know it!  Especially when they install the luggage rack on top so it doesn't look like a mini van.  Been there, done that, and don't want to go back...

Okay, back to the Queen and all the enticing bits & pieces held within her doors.

While perusing up and down the aisles, I didn't find any one item that inspired me to write a post about.  What I did find were lots of interesting objects.  So this post is a hodgepodge of fun items I was drawn to, in no particular order.

A pair of awesome shell chairs in DAN's booth.  Love me some mid century!  He always has a good selection of 50's.

And a great bar cart filled with grooviness from dealer STAN.  I haven't gotten over my love for bar carts just yet.  I'm still searching for the perfect one for my own home.

Oh, hello to you, too you great big Valentine!  I love this piece of ephemera in dealer BJ's booth.  Me thinks this would really make a statement to the one you're totally enamored with, no?  Brownie points to whomever uses this as a Valentine's card!

And, for the love of your life who also loves to bake, how about the red vintage enamel top table complete with a rose tablecloth & napkins in JUNK's booth?  If your sweetie didn't bake before, they just might start with a set up like this for Valentines ;)

Just as I was getting in the Valentine groove I became distracted by a booth filled with eye candy in shades of orange and gray.  Is this a new booth?  Me thinks it might be, and I love it!  Clean and modern.

 With a touch of 1970's whimsy.

 I think I like JoJo's booth very much!

So there you have the hodgepodge of things that caught my eye this month.  January is a good time to look at the trends happening in design for the coming year.  In January, I allow myself to to get distracted by this & that - just to see where my eye gravitates - as I look for inspiring ways to refresh my home.  For me, I'm finding my happy place is an edgy mix of mid century and European farmhouse.  Two contrasting designs that balance one another beautifully when done correctly.  Here's to the glory of the hunt!

Happy hunting!

xo,
Sarah

This is a guest post from Sarah Krouse at {Home-ology) modern vintage.  As well as being a dealer in our Alpharetta location, Sarah blogs over at homeologymodernvintage.com.  If you enjoyed reading her post and would love to see more, we encourage you to stop by her blog.  There you'll see many of her vintage finds in their raw stage, get a story of where they came from, and see transformations of the pieces she revives & repurposes prior to their display at the Queen.