I once saw a type of design style as “schoolhouse”. I had never really heard that before, but I was instantly connected to it. Anytime I am at an antique store/mall, I often get asked if I’m a teacher. When you put things that I like and that I’m drawn to all together, it seems they are all related to school in one way or another. This next vignette is in my main entry hallway and I would describe it as my “school house” vignette.  

I have always loved card catalogs, lawyer cabinets, hardware cabinets, etc.  I see them often at antique stores, but they are always out of my budget. I never want to pay what the dealer is asking for them. Not that they aren’t worth it, I’m just not willing to pay that much.  

When living in San Antonio, I went to this auction house weekly for treasures. I had a booth at the time and so I was constantly on the lookout for new items to buy and sell. Ok…little rabbit trail here…if you like antiques, estate sales, bargains, the hunt…GO TO AN AUCTION!  

Let me tell you real quick about my first action experience. Y’all it is so much fun and kinda exhilarating. It is such an adrenaline rush. This was my experience. You can go and look and see what will be on the auction block during the day of the auction and then the auction starts at 7p.m.  

I would write down the items I liked and my max amount I wanted to pay and then I take my list, get my popcorn and coke, and get ready for showtime. When my item would come up, you get your card ready with your bid number on it. You register before the auction starts with your name, payment information, and then they assign you a number. They then give you a card with your number on it. This is what you raise when you want to bid on something. It is so nerve-wracking, but so fun.  

I saw this card catalog cabinet one afternoon. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to be there that night because my husband was out of town on business and I needed to stay home with my girls. Y’all, I wanted this so bad and if I was ever going to be able to actually afford one of these cabinets, this was my chance.  

I set what my top bid would be and made a promise to myself I would absolutely not go over. If you weren’t able to be there in person, they allowed phone bids. I called in, and it was finally time for the cabinet. I was in a bidding war between a couple of other people and as the price kept rising, I was thinking I wasn’t going to get it.  

The price got to my max bid and I made my final bid and I heard silence, followed by… going once, going twice, SOLD! I couldn’t believe it! I got it! It is my favorite piece of furniture that I own. I absolutely love it! 

David Bust

My David statue was a gift from my sister many years ago. She found it at a thrift store (yes, thrifting runs in my family) and bought it for me.  It’s moved around with us for 15 years and always finds a new spot in our home. She has even tried a couple of times to take it back. LOL - I think she secretly regrets giving it to me since he’s so handsome!

Silhouettes

Oh how I love silhouettes. They are black and white which makes me love them even more. They are timeless. The ones pictured are of my girls and I. The girls’ silhouettes were my souvenir when we went to Disney World when they were just 6 and 8.  

The large silhouette is of me my senior year in high school. The moms did silhouettes of all the athletes for our athletic banquet. I didn’t even realize I had this until unpacking and finding it during one of our moves.  

North America Map

I found the map at an antique store named Alley Cat in Wichita Falls. It was such a great price at $50 and the perfect colors. It is a vintage school classroom map with canvas backing.

Little Window

The little arched window was found at Scott’s Antique Market when I lived in Atlanta, Georgia. I thought it was so unique how it was so little and arched. I thought at $85 it was a little pricey, but it was unique enough that I was willing to pay a little more for the uniqueness of it. It was so cute; I just had to have it. 

Letter Boards & Signs

As for the signs…I made the “LIVE YOUR WILD DREAMS” sign. The chalkboard sign was a find in an antique mall in Monroe, Georgia and I created the chalk art on the sign. It comes from the song “Oceans”, my anthem for my journey through all of my moves in the last 8 years. My felt letter board was a gift from my husband a couple of years ago for Christmas. He bought it on Etsy. I just love the vintage, yet modern look of these boards.  Classic.  

Old Books

Last but not least…there are 3 books displayed. The first is an old Bible I found at an estate sale and the next one is a medical book from the early 1900’s that was my great, great Grandfather’s. He was a doctor who was born on February 14 on Valentine’s Day and was named…Dr. Valentine Norris. It was one of his medical books. My Grandmother gave it to me years ago. The last book is a thrift store find.

Most of the pieces in this vingette have been found and redeemed. There are a few new things, but a majority of it is vintage. I hope this inspires you to not just think new, shiny things are beautiful. Look beyond the new and look to the old or worn. They tell a story and you get to continue their story.

Keep redeeming!