NOVEMBER | My FBMP tips, a second-hand wardrobe and finally visiting The Spotlight Market
Second-hand interiors related inspiration, recommendations and maybe a purchase or two from the past month
Every year I’m flabbergasted by how early the run up to Christmas starts and at the same time it feels like the big day comes round faster than ever. I wish I could say I was one of the organised ones but I’m usually in denial until about the week before, my excuse being that both my Mum and sister have birthdays in December so the month is more than just a countdown to the big day. I’ve never actually hosted Christmas and I think I’m going to be in for a nasty shock when my turn comes around. Work has been pretty manic these past few weeks, hence why I’m sending my November round-up on the 11th December, so although I’ve managed to get my Christmas decorations out of the loft, we still haven’t found time to actually get them on the tree - we’re just going to use a little one from a few years ago that has been out in the garden and is miraculously still alive.
There’s lots I love about Christmas don’t get me wrong - the tree, the decorations, the family get-togethers, the fact it’s the only time of year you get to eat bread sauce, the games, the cheeseboards, the long walks, the carols BUT (unpopular opinion) there’s also lots I could happily do without. I’m averse to advent calendars (and the way brands compete to create the biggest and best), can’t bear Christmas shopping - I’d quite happily forgo gifts altogether - and I’m sick of the songs after a couple of plays (another reason to avoid the shops from November onwards). My favourite part of the festivities isn’t even the day itself but twixmas, that lovely stretch of downtime in between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. To my friends and family I’m a bit of a self-confessed Scrooge but hey, I’ll readily admit to preferring a dialled down version of Christmas. No matter your preference when it comes to the festivities, I think the most important thing is to not feel under pressure to tick every box and to just do you.
The same goes for my festive films of choice - what I like to classify as non-Christmas Christmas films, where Christmas features within the film but the film isn’t exclusively about Christmas. Here’s my working list in case you were wondering. Any I’m missing? I’ve managed to tick two off so far this year.
You’ve got Mail, Serendipity, 101 Dalmatians (real version), Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Little Women (either version), Bridget Jones, About a Boy, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, Catch Me If You Can (my favourite entry), Die Hard, While You Were Sleeping, Remember the Night, Groundhog Day, Stepmom, Carol
I managed to squeeze in a visit to The Spotlight Market on a flying visit to London last weekend. The brainchild of siblings Kate and Sam Ridges (both dealers themselves), it’s a two day event that brings together some of the best furniture and decorative antique dealers all in one space. Unsurprisingly it was full of some seriously stand-out pieces.
This is the sort of thing that is perfect to go to if you’re looking for something that’s going to bring some wow factor to your home. I’d really recommend going along - even if you don’t come away with anything, it’s great to talk to the dealers, get a feel for their style and what sort of things they source. And if you’ve been looking for something very particular and you’re struggling to find the right thing, they might be able to source it for you.
The thing that really caught my eye was the green Swedish rug below from @fosbergandsoane, which fortunately for my bank balance was the only thing not for sale… typical!
I recently received a request from an Instagram follower and subscriber (it’s so nice to hear more about what you want to read and my DMs are always open) asking me to share my tips for sourcing the good stuff on Facebook Marketplace, specifically ‘antiques for good value’. It feels like a slightly obvious thing to have overlooked in almost a years worth of writing about sourcing second-hand so I was more than happy to oblige.
Firstly, important to say - be wary of scams. Because you don’t pay through the app, it’s easy to get caught out. I think it tends to happen more with electronic items and it’s less likely with furniture (luckily it’s never happened to me), but if you’ve enquired about something and communication feels a bit off, they’re asking you to follow a link (don’t) or the bank details don’t correspond to the name of the seller - move on. You should never feel under any obligation or pressure to purchase. I usually always try and pay in cash or do a bank or PayPal transfer once I’ve seen the item.
Here are my top tips:
Persistence is key. FBMP can be hit and miss and a lot of it comes down to luck and timing, but keep looking and you will find it.
Like all algorithm led platforms, you want to tell it what you like. So search for things, try and scroll regularly (said no one ever) and if you see something that’s along the right lines but not quite right or too far away, still save (heart) it so that the algorithm knows to send similar things your way. As soon as it clocks on you’re looking for ‘a wardrobe’ lets say, your feed should start filling up with them.
Even with the map set locally, my homepage mostly serves me stuff that’s ‘further away’ or ads so always check the category pages too - I think you see a more varied mix here, most of which don’t make it onto your homepage.
Although the ‘Antiques and Collectables’ category is useful, I think people mis-label a lot on FBMP and so I’ll still check the other categories too. For example, I still see a lot of indoor furniture in the ‘Patio and Garden’ category.
Try using more basic or broad search terms like ‘old wardrobe’ or even ‘old pine furniture’ or ‘old wooden furniture’ instead of antique or vintage wardrobe.
Use your imagination - most of the time photos are taken from awkward angles or in bad lighting so a little imagination is key.
Always ask for more information about items as descriptions can be vague and unhelpful, and more often than not missing measurements. I’ll always ask for specific dimensions or extra photos if there’s any damage that’s listed.
Don’t be afraid to haggle! People are usually looking to get rid of things quickly on FBMP and are usually very open to negotiating, especially for cash in hand.
And here are a few things that I’ve saved recently…
There were a few practical things we needed for the house that I’ve recently managed to track down second-hand…
The alcove in my office (and my clothes) have been crying out for a big wardrobe and whilst I wish we could have gone for built-in storage to really make the most of the ceiling height, it wasn’t worth it when we don’t know how long we’ll be in this house and I’d rather spend the money on something I can take with us. A lot of the wardrobes I was looking at on eBay were surprisingly expensive (£1K+ ?!) so I was hoping something would come up on FBMP and whilst we did find a few hopefuls the measurements were all slightly out. Luckily I spotted this one from Kat @pato_interiors and as you can see it’s the perfect size for the space. It also comes apart so that made getting it up the stairs nice and straightforward. I love that it’s quite a simple shape but still has a little detailing - the mouldings at the top and the beautiful feet.
Now just to build out my basket collection to sit across the top…
Secondly, curtains for our french doors downstairs, which *might* just be one of my best eBay scores yet.
They’re not hanging up yet so I don’t have a photo to show you but below is one from the listing. They’re a neutral ticking stripe which isn’t necessarily what I would have gone for if I was having them made new but actually they look great in the space. The clincher was that whilst they were too wide (over 4M), they were exactly the right length, which would make adjusting them really simple (and cheap). They’ve also used the ticking fabric on the inside linings meaning they look great from inside or outside - perfect for french doors.
I really hope you’re all looking forward to Christmas and hopefully some time off. I won’t be sending a December round-up, partly because I’m sending this one part way through the month, but I’ve got three more newsletters planned for 2024.
An interview with colour consultant Harriet Slaughter who shares her top tips for painting second-hand furniture - a great way to add colour and interest to your home. Really excited about this one.
A round-up of my best second-hand finds of the year.
Three weekends away to plan for 2025 if you’re looking to go sourcing - where to stay + where to source!
Until next time x
Thank you so so much for coming to the market Rachel, it was such a pleasure meeting and chatting you! ❤️