From Victorian writing desks to kitschy Bakelite doodads, antiques and collectibles can spruce up any decor
Joey Edwards holds a wood carving at his store Debris; it’s one of his personal favorite items. – Photo by DAVID TAFFET
Years ago, a walk or drive along Fairmount-McKinney, Inwood-Lovers and Knox-Henderson would have landed you in antiques central. But skyrocketing rents and land values have forced antique stores from their traditional areas, having been replaced by upper-end stores, bars and restaurants that cater to expensive new high rises in the area. (One of the first gay-owned stores on Cedar Springs, Crossroads Market, began its life as an antique store.)
Antique dealer Joey Edwards’ three stores — Lost, Found and Debris — are in the Design District, which offers large buildings and less expensive real estate. Roughly bounded by Oak Lawn Avenue to Continental and I-35 to the levees, older industrial buildings that once served as wholesale and manufacturing facilities now house more than a hundred antique shops and art galleries that are open to the public. Others are popping up further north along Irving Boulevard.
One store that has prospered in another neighborhood is Lula B’s. Located on Lowest Greenville Avenue, the store is the only one remaining in an area where antique stores once thrived.
Owner Pat Springer credits a great long-term relationship with his landlord and says he recently signed a lease for 3,000 additional feet of space that will open the end of May. A coffee shop will be included in the store’s expansion.
But if the locations have moved, there’s still nothing better than discovering a "gently owned" item that speaks to you today. And wherever you go — from antique stores to estate sales to garage sales — there are some good pieces of advice everybody should follow.
For shoppers new to antique buying, Edwards says rather than look for that rare bargain that’s worth much more than it’s priced, look for something you like. He picks up a wooden statue he says he purchased about two years ago that he thinks was a study for a bronze casting. Although it hasn’t sold, the sculpture is among his favorite items.
"Some people like simple, some like intricate, some like gold, some like wood," Edwards says. But he believes a true antique can fit into any décor. Even in a modern house with minimalist furnishings, a special piece can be the conversation starter.
Buyers looking for interesting accents should keep their eyes open for "bronze statues, a wonderful clock, antique art," Edwards suggests. Also popular in his stores are "writing desks, arm chairs, corner chairs, hall tables, consoles. Anything unusual enough, people pay attention."
Still, some older pieces of furniture just don’t work in a modern house. Contemporary houses tend to have plenty of closet space, so armoires are often repurposed as entertainment centers or wet bars, rather than used as originally intended. Old beds, he says, are hard to use, since older ones were rarely larger than full size.
Edwards defines a proper antique as anything made before the Industrial Revolution. "As soon as they started making it in a factory, it’s not an antique to the purist," he says. But he acknowledges that a more commonly accepted definition is anything over 100 years old. He calls mid-century items that are rapidly gaining in popularity collectibles.
Lula B’s is known for having a wide range of goods displayed by a variety of dealers with a good concentration of 20th century collectibles. Among Springer’s favorites are hi-fi consoles, which he reconditions and even outfits with new diamond needles.
Other pieces from the period include sofas, lamps, chairs and unique pieces like molded epoxy and two-dimensional metal wall sculptures. His partner, Maryann Kaylor, particularly likes Midwestern pottery brands such as McCoy, Hull and Frankoma.
Will using an antique decrease its value through wear? Springer urges people to take "reasonably good care of" antiques. "Use it and recover it," he suggests of sofas.
Polish furniture and care for it as you would any good furniture. If areas are damaged, they can be restored; scratches can be treated with wax and polish, but a big water spot takes professional refinishing.
Springer says to decide if it’s worn or damaged before making a purchase. Minor wear can actually add to the value and too much restoration can diminish it.
Damaged veneer can be replaced without losing value if the repair is done properly.
"Better refinished than damaged," Springer says.
Both Edwards and Springer warn about buying antiques for investment.
"Just because it’s old doesn’t make it good," Edwards warns. "A lot of people do buy antiques as investments, but you have to be careful. You should know the dealer’s reputation. Verify who it was made by."
"You shouldn’t buy it unless you really like it," adds Springer. After all, one man’s antique is another man’s junk.
WHERE TO FIND OLD STUFF Found Lost
Debris, 1205 Slocum St. 214-752-8855.
Lula B’s Antique Mall, 2004 Greenville Ave. 214-824-2185. Mondays–Satur-days, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sundays, noon–7 p.m.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice – Great Spaces print edition April 18, 2008.