Imagine not being able to stop soaking in the beauty and ambiance of a holiday table set with an eclectic assortment of fine antiques or vintage retro furnishings. Those exact gems and collectibles offered by Lauren Bugg, proprietor of GasLamp Antiques & Decorating Mall, provide so many options, one might have to plan several table themes within which to rotate from meal to meal.
Lauren's antiques mall and her neighboring store, GasLamps Too, together offer 50,000 square feet of floor space on nearly an acre of climate-controlled shopping that features the collections of 250-plus dealers/vendors. During this March, they celebrated the store's 17th birthday with a virtual open house and special offerings online.
She says cocktail accessories and decanters are popular this year, as well as decorating bowls with American and European art glass of the 20th century or serving water with “ball” pitchers.
Lauren suggests the following tips when incorporating antiques into contemporary table settings:
- If table space is limited, first weave in vintage vases and candlesticks to look fabulous while being useful, too.
- Seek out other complimentary pieces to that precious family heirloom and assemble them clearly as the table's centerpieces.
- Serve tea with a special tea set before or after meals.
- Antique Transferware pottery, as covered serving dishes, make great impressions.
- Aged bowls and ashtrays work well for holding potpourri or place cards.
- Serve dessert from an elegant Fostoria or glass cake plate.
"We also can help shoppers round out their dining rooms and serving areas with antique mirrors, extra chairs, artwork, furniture, rugs and of course lamps -- or themselves with estate jewelry to wear," assures Lauren.
Both GasLamp locations are open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays noon until 6 p.m.
GasLamp Antiques, 100 Powell Place, Suite 200, 615.297.2224
GasLamp Too, 128 Powell Place, 615.292.2250
GasLampAntiques.com