Where to Find Drawer Pulls for Antique Bedroom Furniture
For generations people have been babying heirloom furniture. From Grandma's armoire to the bed Dad slept in as a child, many people treasure these pieces of history as art. And today, as the effects of rampant consumerism are being felt in environmental costs and costs to our pocketbooks, even more people have begun to see the value in recycling and refurbishing used furniture. Why toss the old chest of drawers in a landfill when you can spruce it up with a new coat of wax and some decorative drawer pulls?
The beauty is in the details. Though physically small, door knobs and pulls, especially antiques or good-looking reproductions, can go a long way toward turning a banged-up piece of furniture into something quite artful. There are all sorts of places where you can find vintage drawer pulls to liven up your antique armoire or nightstand.
Handling the Goods
Flea markets are a great place to hunt down drawer pulls for antique bedroom furniture. Vendors appreciate how many people are out looking for knobs and pulls these days, and many set out all kinds of trays for you to sort through on your own.
Flea markets and collectors or antique fairs are especially nice if you're not sure what kind of pulls you're looking for. Usually there's a significant assortment, and you have the added benefit of weighing that vintage glass knob or brass handle in your palm, rolling it over to make sure it doesn't have any chips or dings, and asking the vendor directly if she happens to know the piece's history.
A quick online search for flea markets or antique fairs in your area should yield several listings. One good place to begin is the National Association for Collectors website.
Snooping for Salvage
Architectural salvage is a booming business. Professional collectors and designers who know their way around auctions and estate sales do much of the "heavy lifting" of lugging vintage neon signs and marble countertops salvaged from historic hotels back to their shops so you don't have to. But not everything they salvage is huge and unwieldy. Drawer pulls and knobs from across all eras and styles--from Victorian to craftsman to art deco--can be found in architectural salvage storefronts or online shops. These are a great place to begin your search if you don't have the time or inclination to handle the pieces yourself before purchase.
If you decide to purchase salvaged pieces online, eBay and Craigslist are good places to start.
Take Two: Reproductions
Antique reproduction drawer pulls have advantages over the real stuff. Though they lack the lovely patina and authenticity of the real thing, you'll sometimes find it's easier to get a full set of matching pieces, especially if you need several. And since they're newer, you don't have to worry about dings or broken pieces.
A quick online search should yield several online and physical storefronts from which to choose.
Mining Your Neighborhood
Sometimes the solution is literally in your backyard. Though you probably can't expect to find the same selection of antique drawer pulls in your neighbor's driveway as you're likely to find at a flea market or online, don't overlook the lowly garage sale. You never know what might turn up.
DIY Drawer Pulls
A do-it-yourself knob is sometimes a nice way to modernize or put a signature spin on an antique piece of furniture, like the nautical knobs featured in Martha Stewart Living. See the Resources section for a link to step-by-step directions.
Tags: drawer pulls, Antique Bedroom, , antique fairs, Drawer Pulls