Whenever I see a beautiful vintage or retro item featured in a home or stylist's shoot in one of the 2 interiors magazines I subscribe to, it is usually from one of the following stores - Vampt Vintage Design, Ici et La, David Met Nicole or Doug Up on Bourke.
For a while now I have been dying to visit some of these stores and have a wander through all the vintage loveliness and finally last Saturday I got the chance!
First stop was Vampt Vintage Design...
Located at 486-490 Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, this store is a stunning showroom full of high-end designer retro pieces - credenzas, lamps, sofas, everything the mid-century enthusiast could wish for. Their prices are pretty steep but they do have every piece beautifully refurbished and polished, they are definitely catering to the buyer who knows what they want, has the money to buy it and is not interested in the hunt and thrill of getting it for a low-low price that I love. I have no problem with these stores charging these prices, these are the antiques of the future, all their pieces are in top-notch condition and to be honest, if people are willing to pay a premium then why not charge it?
I WANT that lamp!!!
Those green upholstered chairs...
And that orange lamp too please.
Moving on to the next store - David Met Nicole, a small charming vintage store located at 382 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills.
This gorgeous space is chock-a-block with beautiful vintage items. The prices again are aimed at people who prefer to get what they want pronto and pay the premium for somebody else to do the hunting, not crazy prices though.
Those light bulbs can go straight on to my shopping list...
A girl can never have too many globes, right?
I have a real thing for vintage educational charts and maps, what a collection!
Printers blocks galore!
Industrial letters...
Fab suitcases...
Pendant lights...
These rubber stamps would make a gorgeous feature on the desk I still haven't found for my hubbie...
I'm not a fan of taxidermy as decor but love these numbers...
OK, next stop, Ici et La...
Located at 7 Nickson Street, Surry Hills, this is a gorgeous rustic Aladdin's Cave of beautiful vintage items with a French twist.
How fab would those doors look in my dream house?
Again with the lamp love...
My favourite corner of the store was this gorgeous, old-fashioned fabric department, lovely! Again, prices similar to other vintage stores, you pay them to do the hunting and you reap the rewards. And, why not?
Are you tired yet? I was at this stage, I had done a LOT of walking and nearly considered giving my last destination a miss. I am SO glad I didn't...
Doug Up On Bourke located at 901 Bourke Street, Waterloo is an emporium of retro and industrial delights. It is HUGE and I literally felt like I'd died and gone to vintage heaven when I walked up the stairs and saw what awaited me!
I know!!! I think the pictures say it all! I wandered for AGES in here, the focus here is on industrial vintage items, there's rust, dust 'n' grit, it is FABULOUS! If you have been dreaming of an antique set of plan drawers (I know I have) this is the place to come. The prices aren't crazy either, the furniture is above what I would pay as I prefer to hunt these things down at markets / Op Shops myself but the smaller decor pieces are within range. Gorgeous blue vintage oars were on sale for $45 each, typewriters for $70, shoe lasts for $15 each and so on...
OK, so what did I buy? Well, nothing. This was just a relaxing, window shopping sort of day for me. I'm still thinking about those oars though...
12 comments:
You strong willed woman you.Id h=ve to take a box of tissues from drooling over it all and crying for what I couldnt have lol
Hey, it doesn't matter if you didn't buy anything - it was almost like a museum trip! I enjoy just wandering around places like that, too (although being able to buy whatever I fancied would be nice for a change!)
Am wondering if we crossed paths without realizing!! All my favourites! xx
I l-o-v-e everything! Thanks so much for sharing, as a Perth girl I only get to read about these shops so I really enjoyed this post. I could go on and on (and on!) about how wonderful everything is, BUT I'll stop now.
p.s. we were lucky enough to find a lamp base exactly like the ones in your pics for $25 at a local swap meet last year...still hunting for the right shade though.
I am very impressed at your ability to actually cover all that ground! Great pics - very drool worthy. You've inspired me to take another trip there myself :) xxxx
I love seeing/reading about vintage shops in other countries-- surprisingly trends seem similar to the U.S. (the globes, industrial items, numbers/letters, Midcentury furniture). There are a lot of high end stores here too, I pretend like they're museums so I don't feel bad about not being able to buy anything.
EVERYTHING looks amazing!
Gosh I'm beginning to feel like I Australia might be my spiritual home after all (despite my sporting ineptitude and translucent skin) - I keep discovering more and more thrifty/vintage type blogs from your side of the world and yours is another great one! Thanks for the glimpse at a Sydney vintage store...one day maybe...
The suitcases, globes and mid-century furniture are all things you'd see over here, although I've yet to come across a camel!
I'm Lakota, and I'm your newest follower x
WHat FAB treasures! I am loving the Vintage suitcase piles! :)
-pamela
Great post! Makes me want to book a weekend up to Sydney. I love a good rummage through awesome vintage / design stores :)
x captainkk
P.s. Not sure if my comment will show up as me bc blogger is being a bit naughty & I'm on the husband's iPad
What a treat to stumble upon your post. I have thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of your post. Oh my vintage heaven! Those delectable piles of cases...bliss.
I found a retro warehouse opened up in Marrickville Sydney http://www.retrofunkandjunk.com.au
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