| Tips for searchers
Two Great Falls collectors, Mark McCaffrey and Dorene Woody, have some advice for those starting out in the pursuit of antiques.
Like what you buy.
Dont buy antiques as an investment. Their values might go up, but there are no guarantees.
Buy quality and condition. Cracks and chips diminish value.
Watch for reproductions. In furniture, check materials inside and underneath. Know original markings and materials used in other items.
Go to museums to study authentic collections.
Stick with reputable dealers.
Study. There are no shortcuts.
If youre unsure of an items value, get an appraisal before you sell it.
Check www.replacements.com for gaps in a collection of dishes.
Stamford auctioneer offers uncommon treasures
STAMFORD In one room, a 12-foot Asian-themed jade boat sails toward the doorway. In another, the floor space is packed with pieces including 19th Century oak breakfronts, Americana decor and a Ms. Pac-Man machine. The eclectic mix of antique and vintage items which include furniture, jewelry and art can be found on Canal Street, home to Connecticut's largest auctioneer and New England's biggest estate liquidator.
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Make bath beautiful, practical
Q. My mother-in-law just informed me that my bathroom was boring and needed to be decorated. I have to confess that I agree with her, but I have no clue how to decorate a bathroom. Any ideas? A. Don't you hate it when your mother-in-law is right? I agree that bathrooms should be as warm and inviting as any other room in your home. The key to a great restroom is to make the space both striking and practical. If your bathroom is small, your goal is to make every inch beautiful and efficient. I've become a master at this because the bathrooms in my historic home are about as big as postage stamps. Frankly, I like my little lavatories, and when we renovated our home, I decided to keep them small to preserve the character of the house. But I did freshen them up with white subway tile, creamy bead board and brown wall paint.
A new way to think globally: The latest spin on antique and modern globes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There's a galaxy of globes out there. Celestial globes map stars and constellations. Lunar globes depict the craters, seas and mountain ranges of Earth's moon. Terrestrial globes, the most common type, represent the world's continents, countries and cities. All show places in small spheres, making them feel within reach.
"Globes symbolize possibilities," said Andy Newcom, Hallmark's home decor expert, who accessorizes his Kansas City house with globes. "They signify seeing new places and things and meeting new people."
Newcom likes how globes look grouped together on a shelf or table. Their round shape unifies a collection, even though their styles and sizes may vary wildly.
Replogle, one of two American globe manufacturers, makes more than 120 models.
Find affordability and appeal nearby
To drive to Pocono Pines, Pa., in the heart of the Poconos, from North Jersey is to immediately realize the bucolic region's quaint appeal. As you head west, urban and suburban sprawl gives way to the hilly terrain of Sussex and Warren counties in northwest New Jersey. By the time you arrive, in even higher elevations, there's no mistaking that you're in the mountains. .
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