Antiques are the spice of the design world

In partnership with 1st Dibs

May 23, 2026

Hopefully, every interior designer will tell you that antiques and vintage items are the key to a home that feels lived-in, authentic, and rich in soul (I have nothing in common with anyone who would argue the contrary). Good antiques are challenging to find - it can be hard to know, without significant research, what is worth your time (high quality, timeless), and what isn’t. It can also be hard to find what you’re looking for, when you’re looking for it.

Shopping for antiques and vintage became a lot easier with the internet, but exacerbated the challenge of sorting through the good from the bad and the ugly. Websites like 1st Dibs make that process a bit easier - acting as a kind of global edit. Rather than scouring estate sales in cities you'll never visit or hoping a local dealer happens to carry what you need, you can access inventory from dealers and collectors in Paris, London, New York, and beyond from a single tab. The vetting is built in: sellers on the platform are vetted, which means the baseline quality is already higher than what you'd encounter trolling a random auction site. There's still discernment required, but the noise is significantly reduced. It's become one of my most reliable sourcing tools, allowing for the process to feel less like a treasure hunt, more like thoughtful selection.

I’ve purchased many antique items throughout the years, and have found there are a few keys to the hunt:

On patience and restraint

The best antique hunters know when to walk away. Buying something almost-right because it's available is how you end up with a home full of things that don't quite mean anything. Waiting for the right piece is always worth it (sincerely, someone who bought a lot of crap before she learned about the concept of restraint).

On buying what you actually love

Your home edit necessarily needs to be personal. For every space that has the same tones, the same statement couch, and the same light fixture, there are just as many that will be rushing to redecorate in just a few short years. Build a point of view and design from there: what speaks to you? What do you have an emotional response to? Listen to that signal - the pieces in your home will never feel dated if you truly love them, if they were purchased from a place of authenticity.

On letting antiques lead

Rather than finding an antique to fill a need in a room, let a great piece become the starting point. Some of the best interiors are built around one found object that set the tone for everything else. When I start working with clients, I lay down design principles: rules of being for the space (restraint, warmth, the refusal to over-decorate, anchored by proportion, light, and how the space lives day to day), and often anchor the home around a statement piece: a piece of art that contains the colors and spirit of the home, a gorgeous tapestry with the right patina.

Luckily, 1st Dibs (one of the best in the game) has a sale through May 31st, and I figured I would share some of my favorite finds across the board: