This past weekend I went back to my hometown to visit my elderly parents. There’s a lot about going home that depresses me – seeing my parents as they deal with all that sucks about getting old, and seeing my town as a shell of its former self….a dying auto town with boarded up buildings and a depressed economy. There is some hope amongst all this blight in the form of a burgeoning gallery and antiques area. I packed up my mom and her walker (no small feat) and brought her to this area which is close to the neighborhood where I grew up. It gives my mom such joy, as she’s stuck at home most days and she was such an arts advocate and antiques buff back in the day; her influence made me who I am.

First stop…Nancy Johns Gallery & Framing…

She has an extraordinary eye and represents some amazing local talent, like this painting above by Jerzy Werbel who seems to channel The Group of Seven…

…and this fabric artist who captures trees and other images from my old neighborhood….

From there, a short block away, is Magpie Antiques and sister store, Tango, owned by the mother of my childhood friend. Magpie has everything from the best of fussy knick-knacks so reminiscent of the English side of my Canadian upbringing (who doesn’t love a spot of tea in a proper cup?)…

…to all things mid-century modern…

I’d kill for any of the German glass or this lamp at 25 bucks. Two doors down at Tango, there’s a great mix of vintage furniture, clothes and art.

This blonde, mid-century dining set including the buffet…$150, no joke. I triple-checked the tag, thinking this had to be a mistake. For someone just starting out, this is a great find for good quality, well-made furniture.There are bargains to be had at antique and thrift stores – the thrill of the hunt, as they say. One of my favorite finds there (a display piece sadly, and not for sale) provides great inspiration for what to do with old armoires…

…this jeweller, who consigns at Tango, painted the piece, padded the door to hang pins for necklaces, and added other interesting ideas to display her wares. I’m thinking I could copy this for great lingerie storage on the left and jewellry on the right, perhaps? And lastly, some folks feel the need to wear their design (with pride) on their sleeve…

… and that’s what makes design so personal and oh, so interesting, right? Happy design travels to all.