The Cultivated Home

One of our favorite weekend activities is searching through Saturday morning yard sales to find those amazing hidden treasures.  Whether it is an amazing dining table, a piece of art, or a chair, there is something about rummaging through all the junk and finding something special from the past that brings us back to our grandparents’ attic.

Searching for a few sales to attend this weekend?  We found these two great sites that you must check out!  New England Auction Company and EstateSales.net are great for both the seller and the buyer.  They help you find a sale and give you tips for appraisal, internet bidding, and finding a live auction to attend yourself.

Check them out today and start your bargain hunting!

We have fallen in love with a great, new concept shop tucked away amongst the brownstones near the Met and Guggenheim.  This unique modern furniture and vintage clothing store first perked our interest with their quirky name, but Fair Folks & a Goat won us over with their great concept and unique way of business.

Located in a studio apartment on East 88th Street that is owned and was once occupied by owner Anthony Mazzei, it has been transformed into a store that resembles a lived in apartment.  The main space is filled with a great selection of contemporary furniture but, unlike other furniture stores, they encourage their visitors to sit and enjoy the space and furniture.  Mazzei and his partner, Aurora Stokowki, have added a vintage clothing aspect to the store, which is supplied by Texas-based Archive Vintage.  Rather than being displayed on racks, all of the clothes are stored in the actual closets of this apartment, allowing you to almost feel like a child again searching through your mother’s amazing closet.

Access to Fair Folks & a Goat is though appointment only (thegoat@fairfolksandagoat.com), but that does not mean you are going to break the bank purchasing pieces there.  Furniture ranges from $120-$10,000, and clothing starts at as low as $30.

With plans to open a second location in a bed and breakfast in New Orleans, we have a feeling this intimate shopping experience will be a hit!  Check them out in this great Racked article, or e-mail them for your own appointment.  We know you will be as obsessed as we are!

It is that time again—time for the 56^th Annual Winter Antiques Show held at the Park Avenue Amory! The show runs from January 22^nd to January 31^st and is open daily from 12 to 8 p.m. with the exception of Sundays and Thursdays when the show is open from 12 to 6 p.m. Exhibitors from all over the world come to showcase their pieces and support the East Side House Settlement, which offers a variety of educational and social services to the South Bronx. The best part about the show is that general admission tickets are only $20, including the catalogue. So whether you love antiquing or just want to help out a good cause, come check out the Winter Antiques Show!

Also, be sure to check out the Young Collectors Night on Saturday, January 28^th, 2010.

You may think that taxidermy is only for creepy movies or old houses, but trust us, the media is definitely misleading when it comes to this bit of art. Whether it is a full on 100% real piece or a cardboard cut-out, you can find some great pieces that will add to your home.

Check out Obscura Antiques; you may find some great pieces thrown in the mix. Antique stores can be great places to find taxidermied pieces—whether you are looking for a bird, mammal, or even some antlers; you just have to find the right one! Also, stop by the Evolution Nature Store, which also has an online store. They may not have as much character as an antique piece, but you may find something that you do like.

If the real deal isn’t for you, no biggie, we have also found some great alternatives. Check out the Cardboard Taxidermy from Urban Outfitters or Cardboard Animal Heads from Uncommon Goods. You’ll find a deer, rhino, buffalo, and moose—all painless to put together and a little easier on the eye. Another great piece is the White Lacquer Deer Head. With this you get a realistic look, without the realistic feel.