6 Must-Have Kitchen Finds to Look for at Antique Shops

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I adore antique shops. I know this does not come to a surprise to all of you because I share about it often. As I always say, there’s nothing I need to really buy, it’s more the thrill of finding something so awesome, so unique, that makes me love antique shopping. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I have learned about days gone by just from visiting antique shops around the country. It’s so fun when you find something that you have no idea what it is, that you then in turn do research to find out what it is!

When we bought house #4, our 1886 Victorian, I was absolutely so excited {and completely scared if I’m being honest…we had never purchased a house that was over 14 years old!)} to have the opportunity to decorate my home with all of the stuff I loved collecting at antique stores!

I know not everyone has a 135 year old house to decorate with antiques, but I know a lot of people love the farmhouse look! So these five must-have kitchen finds to look for at antique shops that I am sharing will fit in every home, no matter the design or style!

1. Old Crocks

Well that’s a crock! Crocks are all the rage lately and boy oh boy are people selling them for big bucks. You all know me by now, and know that I’m a thrifty shopper. I love finding a good deal! However, sometimes you just have to break your own rules and bank account! HA! When you happen to walk into an antique shop and find such a unique crock that you just have to have it. Like my butter crock from a local buttery. I mean, come on, isn’t this just the cutest little thing you’ve ever seen? Now you all can understand why I had to buy it. 

I actually have old crocks placed all throughout my home, inside and outside! I love using them to decorate and to fill odd spaces. I have a 25 gallon crock sitting outside my front door. A large butter churn crock sitting next to my fireplace and another on my dining room hutch housing all of my wooden rolling pins.

2. Egg Baskets

I dream of having farm fresh eggs at my own home. If all goes the way we would like it to, and we don’t abandon ship and move far far far away…after the 298789374 reasons why we should get out of Dodge, we plan to build the cutest little chicken coop and raise Easter Egger chickens {because you guys, they carry the blue gene!!} Anyway, until that time, I get to fill my vintage collapsible wire egg basket with brown eggs from the grocery store. Haha!

P.S. Do not leave store bought eggs out on the counter. They have been washed and the “bloom” that the hen covers the egg with before laying it has been washed off. Eggs are very porous and bacteria can get inside without the bloom. So…all washed eggs must be store in the refrigerator. But nothing says you can’t store them in a cute collapsible wire basked IN the refrigerator! 🙂

3. Cutting Boards

Cutting boards, cutting boards, cutting boards. Gosh, there are so many cute cutting boards out there! You can hang them with a leather strap, you can stack a bunch together and prop them up on the counter, you can paint them with chalkboard paint and write on them. The possibilities are endless. I personally like when the more color variants. They just aadd some much texture and warmth to a room! If you plan on using the wooden cutting boards I highly recommend you follow my tutorial for how to clean and preserve wooden cutting boards. p.s. I do use mine and I seal them once per week.

4. Wooden Rolling Pins

I certainly do love my rolling pins. Maybe it’s my love for baking, but I always love finding wooden rolling pins because I then think of all the goodies that were made with them. One of my biggest joys in life is when I create a recipe that my family loves. Often times, that involves something I baked. Something sweet. Every year for my husband’s birthday, I bake him a blueberry pie. Sure, I could easily go and buy one from the grocery store, but by baking it myself, I get to put lots of love into it. I made my own pie crust, roll it out using my rolling pin, and then cut out fancy shapes to make the crust. Each year it’s a different design. It’s just a really simple and easy way to show him how much I love him. Then, when I’m not baking, the wooden rolling pins are stored in an old crock for decorations!

5. Glassware

Glassware. Asking for a friend, how much is too much? You guys! I have so much glassware that I literally don’t have a place to store it! I have my old kitchen cabinets in my attic = full. I have the closet under our stairs = full. I have my kitchen cabinets = full. I have my china cabinet in my dining room = full. I have a problem. I swear, glassware, dishes, stemware, you name it, I just love them! There are so many different patterns, styles, colors! Some for holidays. Some for every day. Some for tea parties. Some for kids. Man, the list just goes on and on. And I honestly can’t help myself when I see something I love. 

These Flow-Blue china tea cups I have are probably one of my most favorite collections…and some of my oldest pieces. Flow Blue is a highly-collectible, antique blue-and-white china. The vintage dishware was most popular during the Victorian era in the 1800s. I share all about the history and origin here.

6. Vintage Linens

A couple of years ago, during a visit with my grandma, she gifted me several hand embroidered linens ranging from tablecloths to hand napkins. Some she had made and many that had been handmade by my step grandpa’s mother (my paternal grandpa passed away when I was very young). The designs on them were so beautiful and dainty. Floral patterns were the most common but some had fun patterns that showcased dogs doing tricks, etc.

While I don’t actually use many of them, called me scared, I do keep them in my dining room china cabinet and pull them out from time to time.

What are you top antique items that you love to decorate with? i’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment or share over on our community Facebook page!