You don't want to miss West End Salvage

Would you believe me if I told you that each of the four floors inside this brick building are filled to the brim with antiques and salvaged vintage pieces? Hanging from the ceilings, stacked along the walls, crammed so full that if you blink you may miss something? And would you believe me if I told you that this building, standing in downtown Des Moines, can pretty much hold its own against L.A. flea markets? I know, this is big talk. And you know I wouldn't compare just anything to Pasadena's Rose Bowl Flea Market (oh, how I miss it!), but West End Salvage in Iowa is amazing. Amazing. (No wonder they had their own HGTV show!) 

Luckily, my iPhone got some snippets of the place--and only snippets because I really was quite busy ooh-ing and aaah-ing with my sister-in-law Morgan that I took minimal photographs (although, a random passerby may beg to differ, as my minimal photo taking may be considered a maximum to some in situations like this).

So, if you still don't believe my lofty claims about this amazing store, let's treasure hunt, shall we?

Vintage Glass Containers

That little vintage shop with the yellow chair? It had these beauties too. All of these old glass jars reminded me again how much I love vintage. Not that I forgot about my love for vintage, but it is very easy to get caught up in the now, and the new, when it comes to design. Threshold at Target, West Elm, Ikea and other newer stores get me going on a modern kick, but still my roots and what I come back to is the old and the rusty. There is so much potential (Not to mention the story that often comes with it. Remember the story of how these vintage chairs came to Denver? And what if doors could tell about the secrets kept within behind their closed guard?) What about you, are you vintage or modern when it comes to design?

Yellow Chair and Old Ammunition Box

Is this chair, ammunition box, flower vignette just wonderful? We were wandering through Breckenridge two weekends ago and I came upon this in front of a very darling vintage shop that upcycles so many amazing finds, straight from farm country. This little set up is a mix between what I love and what fits Matt's style too. Me: bright yellow and vintage. Matt: old ammo box. I need to go back. I have decided that I need to set aside an entire weekend for antique shopping through all the little Colorado mountain towns. I've already marked a few I've stumbled upon in Idaho Springs and along the way to Boulder. I'm thinking it will be perfect on a scorching hot day in Denver--to get away and up into the cooler mountain air while looking for old treasures. Who's with me?

Be an Opener of Doors.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Be an opener of doors." What is it about old doors that are so intriguing? The mystery behind them. The color and pop that many add to and otherwise dull wall. The geometric carved out details. The tiny key hole with all power to unlock a world behind. The protection and security they bring. The history and stories they could tell. We want to open them. We want the sense of unknown and the adventure that comes with each new door opened.

A few weekends ago we meandered through the Valverde Bazaar Outdoor Market in South Denver. I shared about the scrap metal and rusty letters we stumbled on at the market already (specifically that metal ampersand that was just so tempting!). There were so many more amazing finds at the market and within the huge warehouse-- the most ornate and eye catching were the lofty doors and windows all around the exterior of the warehouse. There was a sense of history and wonder as I took in the beauty of these doors. And although no longer hinged to an entrance, I still longed to know the story these doors could tell. 

Pearls Poppies PICKERS.

Traveling the backroads of America looking for rusty gold is quite possibly one of my dream jobs. I love the show American Pickers with Mike and Frank, and getting to pick myself when the opportunity comes along is something I never pass up. It happens very few and far between seeing as though I've typically lived in a big city, or near a big city, with slim to none in the "backroads of America" category. And typically the times I happen upon a junk yard of treasure, it is very unplanned. Hence, this Saturday. I tagged along with the men {Matt and our neighbor} for a bit of offroading and to scout out some great camping spots. After a day of bumpy roads, driving through rivers, and Yankee Doodle Lake, we stopped for some food which was right next to a plethora of rusty gold in this little indoor/outdoor shop. I did not buy a single thing, but I LOVED and savored the experience of rummaging through this mercantile junk yard antique shop. And I will definitely go back to this spot. I thought you might enjoy perusing and picking too ("window picking" we'll call it), and gathering up a few tips for braving the rusty venture of a bargain hunting pick...

Wouldn't this chair be great on a big porch or deck, painted navy with mustard yellow striped cushions? It was only $15, which I would have been all over if I had the place or space for it! And note the orange chair in the left photo. It was so darling as well!

Here are a fewTips that I have picked up from Mike and Frank, the American Pickers themselves, which I love to lean on at all picks/ garage sales/ bargain hunts {You don't just have to be on the backroads to do this! Try it out at your next neighborhood garage sale!}: 

• Break the ice with the vender/junk owner by paying the suggested price for the first item. Get the ball rolling and prove that you are serious about buying and know a gem when you see one!
• Save negotiating for the item that is just so-so. If you find an item that is a decent price, and you just love it, buckle down and pay the marked price.
• Bundle items. Find two or three items that you want and offer a single price for the group. When you bundle you often end up paying a lot less and the seller typically loves this because you are buying more of their treasures!

• Look high, look low. Sometimes you won't even realize it until you look up that chairs, photographs, frames, baskets, and light fixtures are right above your head when on a pick. And don't be afraid to look under chairs and in trunks and boxes. Often, antiques and junk are being literally stacked up as the collector or seller is getting more and more in their space, so things are everywhere!

• Venture outside and don't be overwhelmed by junk. Often, there is something so wonderful hidden in there that is hard to see from just scanning the outdoor area. Things kept outside get rusty and peely from weather, but be optimistic about a fresh coat of paint or some tuning up! These are the deals that are the best finds, because outside junk is big, bulky, and often overlooked by the average passer by. 

• Have a pickin' buddy. There's nothing better than having a partner in crime to sift through junk with. A second set of eyes can find things you might pass up, offer good advice, and help you break the ice, bundle, and negotiate. The roads traveled can be long and windy, and having a friend there along with the stories to tell is vital. What would picking be without this essential piece?

Do you have any pickin' adventures to share? Any tips you've learned to rely on?