Vintage Tips: Emily Schoen

Introducing a new series to the blog—Vintage Tips! I’ve been dying to create a series all about vintage shopping (for your home and closet) with some of my favorite people. I’m thrilled to kick off the series with the lovely Emily Schoen! Emily is a realtor based in Ann Arbor with a passion for interior design. I’ve been following Emily for a few years and have loved following along on all of her antiquing adventures and watching her decorate her Ann Arbor home.

IN HER WORDS…

Hi! My name is Emily and I’m a realtor in Ann Arbor, MI. I have a passion for interior design which I share on my instagram, and a year ago my husband and I purchased our first home which has allowed me the perfect opportunity to lean into my passion for design. On the weekends I can be found popping into antique shops and markets, searching for the perfect pieces to fill our home.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ANTIQUING? Why do you like LOOKING FOR ANTIQUE furniture & decor?

Growing up in a small town we had some really great little antique shops that I would love to go to with my mom and sisters. I continued this hobby throughout college and then when I started working for Michelle Adams we would go to antique shops and markets in Ann Arbor which really deepened my interest in antiques! I have learned so much from her!

I enjoy antiquing/thrifting because you can typically find really beautiful, old, high-quality pieces for the same price or less than what you can purchase something that is new. I also really love antiques that tell a story and don’t hide their age—I adore a good patina! I think items like this can really help to add “soul” to a space.

What do you look for when you are browsing?

When I am antiquing I like to look for authentic, old pieces. One of my biggest pet peeves is when things are made to look like they are old when in fact they aren’t. When I find mirrors that I like I look for a lot of “antiquing” in the mirror glass. I always like to turn an item over and look at the back which will typically give you clues to its age. I also like to learn about the history of a piece from antiques dealers. It’s so interesting to me to learn how things were used when they were made.

Any specific types of items you frequently like to look for?

I’m always on the lookout for gold leaf frames, old oil paintings and brass and silver candlestick holders. Right now I also have my eye peeled for an oval wood dining table and a marble topped dresser for our bedroom.

What are some of your favorite local spots?

Schmidt’s Antiques, Materials Unlimited, and PTO in Ann Arbor. The Saline Antiques Market happens 1x month May-December and is really great as well!

what are some of your favorite online spots?

I don’t do a ton of antique shopping online, unfortunately! When I do, I look at 1stDibs and Chairish. Also, I recently noticed in Live Beautiful many of the designers interviewed list their favorite online antique shops in the beginning of their feature! I have really enjoyed browsing the different shops.

any tips for those looking to start antiquing / thrifting?

Don’t feel like you “need'“ to purchase anything when you go to an antique store/market. It is perfectly okay to walk away empty handed, even when you spot something you like and it’s inexpensive. My advice is that unless you LOVE it then you should walk away. Going in with this mentality keeps everything edited and you don’t end up with a bunch of random $4 things all over your house.

favorite piece you've found?

It’s so hard to choose a favorite! I’d say it’d have to be the antique french mirror in our entry. This is one of the first antique pieces I purchased and I absolutely adore it!