Welcome to Part 2! This is where we give you the lowdown on where we sweep and hunt and find the gems. Half the fun in vintage furniture shopping is most certainly in the hunt.

Do you like flea markets and junk sales? How imaginative are you when scouting for pieces? Do you get put off by the dust and cobwebs? Can you see beyond the scratches and age marks? Do you appreciate the patina of aged metals or worn wood? Do you embrace the joys and disappointment of seeking one-off items? Do you view something used as old or full of life and history?  Are you hopping with pure delight when you've procured something unique and characterful? The experience of vintage furniture shopping can be incredibly sensorial and emotional, be warned.

I've always been inspired by vintage furniture, Chinese antiques, Indian wood carvings. Where given a choice, I would choose a used and well-loved over a shiny brand new. Any day. One golden rule of decor, that at least one thing in the room should be old/vintage/antique. The other rule is to always have one hand-made item. Pottery, wooden bowls, macrame all count. This visceral quality of imperfection, against the backdrop of a perfectly clean and finished space, is nourishing to the soul. Patina in brass lamps, or old leather chairs, creates depth. And depth stirs emotion and brings soul to a room. Striking that balance of aged texture and unexpected silhouettes is a lot easier than we designers like our clients to think!