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A House Beautiful report gathers 10 types of antiques interior designers say they seek at estate sales, from glassware and candlesticks to rugs, artwork and intaglios. The designers describe how the objects can add character and function to a home, but the report does not establish typical prices, availability or investment value.
Interior designers interviewed by House Beautiful named 10 kinds of antiques they seek at estate sales, including vintage glassware, candlestick holders, copper kitchenware, pottery, rugs and original artwork. Their recommendations offer shoppers a practical checklist, though the report presents designers’ preferences rather than a ranking based on sales data or verified bargains.
The list spans objects for display and everyday use: vintage glassware, candlestick holders, copper kitchenware, pottery, culturally rich decorative pieces, distinctive furniture, vintage rugs, artwork, old books and intaglios. The designers say they value these finds for qualities such as craftsmanship, patina, color, pattern and the way an individual piece can give a room a more collected appearance.
Krystal Reinhard, founder and principal designer of Old Soul Design Studio, says browsing items in the homes where they have been used can make it easier to judge quality, scale and patina. She recommends candlesticks for adding height and warmth, and says vintage rugs can bring color and age to spaces ranging from powder rooms to seating areas.
Other suggestions come from Paige Loperfido, founder and principal designer of Decor & More Design Studio, and Valerie Helgeson, founder and lead designer at Design Directions. Loperfido points to hand-painted porcelain, ceramics, glassware, culturally varied decorative objects and intaglios. Helgeson says she watches for copper kitchenware and furniture with a strong silhouette. These are individual designers’ buying preferences, not a guarantee that every sale will offer such pieces.
How Designers Put Finds to Use
The recommendations are useful because they connect a type of object with a possible role at home. A vintage rug can anchor seating; candlesticks can add height to a mantel or table; and books can be stacked on a coffee table or used as risers. Pottery and glassware can serve as functional items as well as display objects, while a distinctive piece of furniture can shape a room’s overall look.
The report also frames estate sales as an alternative place to search for art and decorative objects. Reinhard says original art that might be expensive at a gallery can sometimes be found for less at an estate sale. That is her assessment, not a documented price comparison: the article provides no price data or guarantee of savings. Shoppers still need to assess condition, authenticity and cost for themselves.
For readers furnishing a home, the broader takeaway is to look beyond obvious categories and consider how an item might fit into a room. The designers describe mixing older pieces with newer furnishings, but their advice remains subjective; a find’s suitability depends on the buyer’s taste, space and budget.
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Why Estate Sales Attract Designers
The House Beautiful report distinguishes estate sales from thrift stores and flea markets by their setting: shoppers browse items in the homes where they were collected and used. It suggests some goods may have avoided an antique dealer, which could mean lower prices than similar items in an antique shop. The article does not quantify that price difference or say how often it occurs.
Reinhard says seeing an object in its original setting helps her assess its physical qualities. Helgeson describes the process as fast-paced, saying buyers may need to trust their instincts. The report’s list reflects this mix of practical evaluation and personal discovery: shoppers can arrive looking for a particular item, but may also encounter something unexpected.
The designers’ examples include Chinese antiques such as foo dogs and ginger jars, majolica fish candlesticks, midcentury glazed pottery and leather-bound books. The source does not provide provenance for specific objects or identify particular sale listings. These examples are categories to watch for, not authenticated items currently available for purchase.
“It makes it easier to spot quality, scale, and patina.”
— Krystal Reinhard, founder and principal designer of Old Soul Design Studio
Prices, Condition and Provenance Vary
The report does not list current estate sales, specific objects for sale, prices or the condition of any example. It also does not establish that the 10 categories are the most valuable, rarest or most frequently available antiques. Availability and price depend on the individual sale, and the article offers no market data to compare estate-sale prices with dealer or gallery prices.
Authentication and provenance are not discussed in detail. A shopper considering an item described as an antique or culturally significant would need to evaluate its age, condition and history independently. The report provides design advice, not a professional appraisal or authentication guide.
What Buyers Can Check at Sales
House Beautiful’s report does not announce a follow-up event or identify a next publication milestone. For shoppers, the next step is to use the list as a starting point when browsing: inspect pieces closely, check for damage, consider dimensions and compare the asking price with the buyer’s own budget. Design appeal alone does not confirm age, authenticity or value.
Because Helgeson describes estate sales as fast-paced, buyers may want to decide in advance which categories interest them while staying open to unexpected finds. The source offers no further details about particular sales or future designer recommendations, so whether any of these items will be available at a nearby event remains unknown.
Key Questions
Which 10 antiques do the designers recommend looking for?
The list includes vintage glassware, candlestick holders, copper kitchenware, pottery, culturally rich decorative pieces, distinctive furniture, vintage rugs, artwork, old books and intaglios.
Does the report say estate-sale antiques are always cheaper?
No. House Beautiful says some items may cost less than similar finds at antique shops because they may not have passed through a dealer. It gives no price data and does not promise savings at any particular sale.
Why do designers shop at estate sales?
The designers cite the chance to see objects in their original home settings, find pieces with character and browse for items that may not have been on their shopping list. Reinhard says the setting helps her judge quality, scale and patina.
Does the article verify the age or authenticity of these items?
No. The report shares designers’ preferred categories and styling suggestions; it does not authenticate specific objects or provide provenance records. Buyers should evaluate an item’s condition, history and asking price before purchasing.
Source: housebeautiful.com
