What's Hot at Liberty & 33rd

Today I filmed a Lifestyle Segment at Liberty & 33rd Furniture Co, a fantastic store/warehouse in down town South Bend, IN which features antique and vintage furniture, lighting, and a wide selection of rugs. I spoke with founder Adam Cramer about what people are buying now. Of course I love antiques, but the more I speak to people in the business as well as customers, I'm finding that antiques are back in a big way. Young people are realizing there is a great value to be had when purchasing furniture that was made to last. Solid materials, excellent craftsmanship, and timeless style are just a few things that make antiques completely relevant today...especially with Millennials.

While we may live very differently from our ancestors, some things never change. We all want comfort at home, and most of us want to have a home that reflects our individuality. We want our decor to speak to guests before we ever utter a word. Antiques imbue warmth and character to a space and also offer a platform to showcase one's creativity. Adam and I talked about a few pieces that could be repurposed functionally while still providing the style and panache people are looking for.

A beautiful piece Adam showed me in the Liberty & 33rd showroom was an 18th century early American chest on chest. This piece is solid and can stand up to heavy use--after all, it's still sturdy after centuries of use! At just $2100, this is the type of piece people can invest in. Think about it--if you go to a large furniture retailer, you're going to pay more than $2100 for a piece this size made of solid wood. And then once you take that piece home, it immediately loses value. Antiques like this chest on chest will retain, if not increase in value over the years, which makes them a better investment than big box store pieces.

We also looked at a very nice vintage mahogany curved glass bookcase. The bookcase is solid, sturdy, and stable and also features beautiful curved glass and two adjustable glass shelves. While it was originally intended to hold books, Adam recently sold a similar piece to a customer who used it to store her shoes in her bedroom! I think this is such a fun idea! It's the perfect size and would give a master bedroom or even walk-in closet a merchandised feel--like walking into your own personal boutique!

An important thing to remember when shopping for your home is that antiques don't have to be stuffy. In the right setting, paired with the right accessories, and used in unexpected ways, antique and vintage pieces can really give a house character!

Liberty & 33rd

225 N. Lafayette Blvd.

South Bend, IN 46601

Email: liberty.33rd@gmail.com

Phone: (574) 607-3031

HOURS Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.