Treasure Hunting and Tips for Shopping Scott’s Antique Market

I’m back with part 2 of my trip to Scott Antique Market this month.  Today I’m sharing some of the furniture pieces that caught my eye along with some tips I have for shopping this market.

I mentioned in my last post that Scott Antique Market is made up of two buildings, North and South as well as outdoor vendors at each building.  I can’t even begin to estimate how many vendors show as Scott’s each month but there well over 300. Because of the size of the market, Scott’s has claimed the title as the World’s Largest Indoor Antique Market.  You can find just about anything at Scott’s from rare antiques and silver to antique reproductions and vintage pieces.  And, just like every antique store and flea market around, there is junk to be had as well.

This beautiful wicker and cane chair was a favorite from the show.  The scale large enough so that the chair could be used alone as a cute accent chair.

There are lots and I mean lots of upholstered furniture vendors at Scott’s.  Most of them focus on classic designs and neutral fabrics.  You can find sofas, chairs and ottomans in every shape and size.

Shopping Tip:  Make sure to check out the quality of the furniture and the details of the upholstery.  This sofa for instance looked great at first glance but upon closer inspection the fabric was not taut and the pleating around the arms was irregular.

Here’s another chair that caught my eye, but look closely and you’ll see the fabric on the seat was loose and the cording around the pillow was not done well.  When you see this, it is probably the sign of a vendor that buys cheaper furniture pieces is all about quantity over quality.

There are lots of metal and iron furniture pieces at this market.  This cabinet was really something.  The door and drawer details we stunning and you can see the workmanship that went into the piece.

Shopping Tip:  When looking at furniture with wood tops, ask if the wood has been fully dried and sealed.  You don’t want to buy a piece only to find the top warping months down the road.   This is a common issue with reproduction pieces from the far east that aren’t allowed to fully dry before they get shipped out.

The vendor that made this round ottoman is one of my favorites.  Their pieces are all made in the USA and are beautifully crafted.  This ottoman was massive!  I laid down on it with my feet hanging off and still had room to spare.

Here’s a dining chair that I liked.  They were $215.00 each and were a nice quality.  The one thing I did notice was that the chair was not real heavy which points to the type of wood used in the construction.  For dining chairs that don’t get sat in every day, these could work.

Shopping Tip:  Most of the vendors have items priced at an ‘each’ price.  If you are considering multiple pieces make sure to ask for a price break which you are pretty much guaranteed to get.

I loved this pretty bench.  The arm details were great and the neutral fabric made it so versatile.

Yes in deed this Asian wall unit made me stop dead in my tracks.   I loved the wavy glass and the gold details.  Scott’s is a great place to find larger pieces that you may not typically find in stores.

Shopping Tip:  Scott’s is a buy-it, take-it place so once you buy something you’ll have until the close of business Sunday to pick up the piece.  Make sure the dealer clearly marks the item sold and includes your name and phone number just in case he gets hit by a Marta bus and you’re left dealing with someone else. p.s.  There are porters at the market that will move the piece to your car and load it for you so no heavy lifting on your part until you get home. (Tips appreciated).

I mentioned the chair variety available at Scott’s.  Here’s an example.  These chairs are from a US manufacturer and they show every month at Scott.

Shopping Tip:  The more you frequent Scott’s the more you identify those vendors that come to market every month.  That’s good because if you have a problem you can work with them and if you ever need ‘one more of those’ they probably have it or can make it and bring it to the next market for you to buy.  Repeat vendors=vendors that have developed a good business and good following at the market.

This chair was another favorite of mine.  This piece was available from ‘my guy’ that brings pieces he’s secured from estate sales, manufacturer overruns and antique markets he attends around the country.  You see lots of these types of vendors at Scott and in most cases their pricing is pretty good to the point that they won’t haggle.

Shopping Tip:  The more you frequent and buy from a vendor the better deals you get.  Me and my guy know each other by name and he always gives me a price break.  Another added benefit is that when you develop a relationship with a vendor you can ask them to keep an eye out for specific types of items which in turn means you have your own personal shopper!

This beautiful chest of drawers caught my eye.  Love the stain finish and the hardware.  You can tell this was an antique piece that had been stripped down and refinished.

Many of the dealers at Scott’s come from surrounding states but you’ll also find local dealers and businesses represented at the market.

The Upholstery Fashionista is a customer upholstery housed owned by my friend Julie.  She has been upholstering for 10+ years and recently decided to show at Scott’s as an extension to her business.  She is known for the unique twists she puts into her pieces and her attention to detail.

If you need upholstery work Julie contact Julie.  She offer pick-up and delivery and has a timely turn around time.

Here’s a chair that has been refinished (something Julie also does) and upholstered.

I love the hand-braided trim detail you added to the arms.

This grey chair and ottoman were stunning.

Julie added silver nailhead details for that added touch.

Another local dealer that I always visit at Scott’s is Steve who owns Southern Accessories Today.  I’ve known Steve for many years and besides being one of my favorite people on earth he has an incredible eye for antiques, vintage and décor in general.

A recent addition to his product line-up is reclaimed wood slabs mounted on to vintage industrial bases.  These pieces are truly one-of-a-kind and a real statement piece.

Steve’s booth (located in the north building) always has a selection of antique furniture, art and accessory pieces.  This tall cabinet was a favorite of mine and would make a great linen cabinet.

Shopping Tip:  The north building has more high-end antiques, substantial furniture pieces and rare items.  You’ll also find a great bead vendor and most of your silver or silver-plate vendors in this building.

Here’s a beautiful antique desk in Steve’s booth.  An elegant statement for a home office.

You’ll also find whimsical hand-made pieces in Steve’s booth.  This oversized ottoman was crafted from vintage coffee sacks and linens.

If you’re heading to Scott Antique Market next month ( March 6-9) be sure to stop by Steve’s booth, shop and say hi!

And finally, Scott’s always has a piece that lingers in my mind long after the show.  This wine cabinet drawer unit was the piece this market.   Yes it would be great for wine and entertaining items but I’m seeing a gift wrap station written all over this piece.

Shopping Tip:  If you see an item you really love don’t think too long about it because chances are it will be sold and will not make an appearance the next month.

A few more shopping tips for Scott’s Antique Market:

*  The market opens at 1:00 on the second Thursday of each month (but get there about 20 minutes early as they tend to let cars in early)

*  There is a shuttle bus (Fri, Sat, Sun) that will shuttle you between the two buildings (runs about every 15 minutes)

*  There are food vendors on site and some of them look really good.  Believe it or not I’ve never eaten at Scott’s.

*  If you want a great deal, shop the outdoor vendors.  Many of them shut-down when the weather is not but those that stay open are willing to negotiate.

*  Bring cash–a lot o vendors take checks but you’ll get a better deal if you’re negotiating with cash { cash machines on site}

*  Saturday night of the market there is an auction that takes place where great deals can be had.  More details here.

*  Bring your own tote bags or rolling bags.  Most vendors have hand-me-down plastic grocery bags for you to put your treasures in.

*  Plan on spending a full day at the show to see both buildings and the outdoor spaces.

Hope you enjoyed this overview of Scott’s and hope to see you there next month.