From midcentury bar carts to retro glassware, vintage-inspired bar accessories seems to be everywhere these days — the Mad Men influence, perhaps? In any case, there are plenty of contemporary options, but to find the real deal, look no further than Etsy. With authentic vintage tumblers, old-school cocktail sets, and midcentury accessories, Etsy offers plenty of retro options for your modern bar. Check out our favorite vintage picks for a chic bar style!
One of the easiest ways to refresh an old blazer is to change out the buttons. Today, we're taking a cue from Louis Vuitton's retro Fall '12 runway and giving a mustard-yellow blazer a little vintage flair, just by adding diamond and pearl buttons. In just a few simple steps you'll have a unique blazer all your own! On Allison McNamara: H&M blazer, StyleMint top.
Originally built in 1895, the Blackgang Mission Hall was restored four years ago through Vintage Vacations and is now available for weekend or weekly rental. Located on Blythe Shute, just outside the village of Chale on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, it's a fun option for adventurous travelers looking for something a bit outside of the ordinary in terms of lodging.
This rental property features double mezzanine bedrooms and can sleep up to eight people. The main hall's large bathroom features a sunken bath placed in what was once the baptismal font. The kitchen is a restored 1950s-era English Rose model, and in the original Sunday school wing of the building, there are two more bedrooms, a second bath, and access to a decked courtyard and raised garden. Come explore this funky-chic vacation spot!
When textile artist and Wisconsin girl Jamie tied the knot with her long-time sweetheart and fellow artist, Joe, they made sure to include many artistic touches in the celebration. Jamie imbued the beautiful, laidback wedding ceremony and reception with lovely vintage pieces and beautiful ideas, noting that, "Our entire day was an epic collaboration of friends, family, grandmas and grandpas, neighbors, and friends of friends who were all so generous in offering helping hands." Check out some photos from the wedding to explore her unique, lovely style.
Photos by James Stukenberg
Thinkgeek is the place to go when you need a little retro gaming fix. But rather than buying an old-school arcade, you can transform your modern iPhone and iPads into vintage gaming consoles you can take anywhere. Need proof? Just click through the slideshow to see more.
No matter how high tech your life gets, some classic gadgets should always be welcome in your abode. Let's face it — no matter how sleek and pretty an iPad looks, a vintage typewriter or phonograph is always going to qualify better as an interesting decor accessory. Keeping this in mind, I've rounded up some inspiring ideas for decorating with a vintage Underwood or Empire, as well as an excellent resource for finding your own gorgeous vintage typewriter. See how they can be used in any room in your home, as well as at a wedding, when you keep clicking.
You can get a generic camera strap from just about anywhere these days, but this one is streets ahead. Made from vintage vinyl from 80's Mercedes models, the Deadstock Vinyl strap ($35) is affordable, stylish, handmade, and should satisfy even the most hipster of photographers in your life. Of course, if a camera strap isn't enough, you can also get a guitar strap and wallet made from the same material.
See this little desk? It's the desk of my dreams. Granted, it may not be the desk of your dreams, but it's "the one" for me. This little oak arts and crafts-era slant-top desk is in nearly perfect condition and is petite and perfect for our bedroom — which means I officially have an office space to decorate after our toddler kicked me out of my old office. I couldn't be more pleased.
However, this little gem didn't just land in my lap. I spent a month combing the pages of Craigslist to find it and actually rejected half a dozen desks in person on my journey to find it. Although, I've shopped on Craigslist before, this time really taught me some great lessons that I thought were worth sharing. I also asked Twitter and Facebook friends to share some of their tips as well, which I've included in the post.
You may be too cool for school, but that's no excuse for avoiding decorating with great vintage school supplies. You can't go wrong with globes, and there are many ways to add them to your home. Whether in a large grouping or a single accent piece, there are plenty of corners where this cool educational prop would give your home a bit of old-school style.
Photo by Martyn Thompson
Retro is in, baby, and if you've got a stockpile of vinyl records hanging out in your living room, why not store them in a more fashionable way than just sitting in a heap on your floor? These five shelves and cases should do the trick.
