Something Old Something New

An heirloom, an old piece of furniture, or delicate china that has been given as a gift or found in an antique shop may have a special appeal, not only because it is a treasure in its own right, but also because it reflects a period or style for which you feel an affinity. Just one item can be the starting point for a collection of similar objects from that era and, in some cases, can inspire a room to be decorated and furnished to invoke the atmosphere of that time. Then add the freshness of new colors or art for a feeling of vibrancy to your room.

Old objects bring a nostalgic ambiance to any room, with the warmth and mellowness that come with age as well as soften the whiteness of modern materials.

Classic Attic

Looking for treasures! Classic Attic is a consignment store seeking antiques and fine home furnishings. Are you getting ready to move, redecorate or just clean out some rooms? Now there's a better way to spring clean. Empty YOUR attic into the CLASSIC ATTIC!

New arrivals daily, LOVE,LOVE, LOVE this zebra print accent chair!!!! The perfect focal point for any room.

Perfect for the bedroom, or dorm room. This is a fresh design print which could give you a great color splash accented with browns and celery, greens and rust.

Ahhh, the perfect wing back chair, with the ever so popular mini print which blends with most any decor.

Located right in the midst of Myers Park, SouthPark, Eastover and Dilworth, Classic Attic is tucked behind Park Road Shopping Center next to The Gardens of BlackHawk Hardware. We're specializing in antiques, finer accessories and decorator pieces - especially those one-of-a-kind items.

Looking for treasures?

Don't have anything to sell but you're looking for that perfect table, armoire or Oriental rug for a special place in your home? Classic Attic is the finer consigner. Come by soon and check back regularly, the treasures are moving quickly and inventory is coming in every day.

Call Ede Graves at Classic Attic (704) 521-3750 for details on how to bid farewell to those items just taking up space (and make some money at the same time) or stop in and pay us a visit!

Hours of operation:

Mon- Fri 10:00 am- 6:00 pm

Sat 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 4301-C Park Road

Charlotte, NC 28209

(704) 521-3750

Beautiful Things

While shopping for a few furniture items today I found a great shop and the name truly says it all, " Karen's Beautiful Things", they began in 1986 as Karen's Boutique, located in the quaint Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem, NC, adjacent to Wake Forest University. The small but charming boutique was filled with exquisite lingerie and romantic dresses, reminiscent of the Victorian Era. Being a designer myself, I was very impressed the way the store was arranged so beautifully. Everywhere your eye roamed, there was another breathtaking item, I spent over 1,000. in my mind immediately!!!!! I did purchase the animal print ottoman shown in the last picture, it worked well with my pillow and animal/oriental accents. I already have plans to purchase a lovely animal accent chair next month, which will complete the finishing touch in my family room.


During time in Winston-Salem, Karen was a flight attendant for the former Piedmont Airlines. On one of her flights, she met her future husband, Bobby Holder, who owned an Art and Antiques business. They married in 1991, merged their businesses, and relocated to historic Dilworth - a suburb of Charlotte. The business was renamed "Karen's Beautiful Things", inspired by many customers who came into the shop and commented on how BEAUTIFUL everything was. They soon outgrew this location and the business moved to McMullen Creek Marketplace south of Charlotte. After 3 more years, they moved to the Park 51 Shopping Center south of Charlotte and filled it to the brim with treasures from all over the globe.

Karen's Beautiful Things is proud to announce that as of June 1, 2009 they have left the Park Rd location and moved to a Beautiful and more exciting space. They are now centrally located in the Arboretum Shopping Center. (see Map below) They still have all the Beautiful Things, Clothing and Accessories that Karen's is known for as well as delightful vignettes with new home decor and furnishings, antique furniture, and home accessories from as far away as England and the Netherlands. Karen and Bobby stay busy on frequent buying trips, always finding unique and unusual pieces! They now have a quaint area filled with vintage clothing & accessories reminiscent of the days gone by.


Brian, their son, is a partner and buyer for the business. He graduated from Kings College with a degree in Retail Management, Purchasing, and Advertising. He brings with him over 18 years of retail experience. Brian has managed stores from Gadzooks to Stein Mart and decided to follow his family's dream and become a part of Karen's Beautiful Things.


And the MOST unique feature of Karen's Beautiful Things - is their Unique Greeter - Gracie! Gracie is a small Yorkie with big personality. As Karen's "Official Greeter", she is a major contributor to the charm and "GRACE" of Karen's Beautiful Things.
While browsing, I found Gracie sleeping on the ottoman I was interested in buying, I thought she was a toy until she raised her sweet head to look at me, startled me because I thought she was a toy.

You'll always be well taken care of at Karen's Beautiful Things. Karen greeted me, complimenting me on my choices of lamps which were gorgeous oriental and of course, my taste gravitates toward the most expensive everything, however, the price was quite resonable for the unique quality and size.

There are always New Arrivals!!

8042 Providence Rd, Suite 900 Charlotte, NC 28277

Arboretum Shopping Center at the corner of Pineville-Matthews Rd. and Providence Rd.

If you live in Charlotte, the shop, is a must visit. If you are visiting Charlotte you can ask anyone on the street where the Arboretum Shopping Center is located and they will know, it is one of our cities quaint shopping experiences in the city.

Eron Johnson Antiques

Eron Johnson Antiques evolved from the passion of a young collector more than 30 years ago. Eron's showroom has moved and expanded numerous times over the years. In 1995, we moved to our present location, a 20,000 square foot building which dates to around 1910. In 2008, we opened a second 20,000 square foot warehouse to handle our architectural division. Both are located just minutes from downtown Denver.
Eron continues to expand his collection of fine antique furniture, accessories and architectural antiques. Their inventory dates from the 17th to the 19th centuries and originates from over 38 different countries in Europe, the Americas, the United Kingdom and Asia.

antiques gallery

antiques sofa

Recognizing Age and Construction in Antique Furniture

by Wayne Mattox


Ever play guitar with a broom? Or aim a flashlight as if it was a Star Wars blaster? It can be fun, even productive, to break out of our everyday routine and assume other roles. Golfing we become Tiger Woods. Driving 84, some people play the part of Rusty Wallace. Faced with a situation that calls for a cool head we can turn ourselves into James Bond or Grace Kelly. On your next antique expedition, you might try assuming the role of Sherlock Holmes.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a sleuth who succeeded where others failed by employing systematic powers of observation and inference. Additionally, Holmes was a student of trivial facts pertinent to his work. Here's a few furniture tips that may prove useful to you.

You can often date a piece by studying nails and screws. Furniture predating 1790 will include "rose-head nails," that were hand-forged by blacksmiths. These nails can be identified by their irregular, rose-shaped heads. "Square-head nails," employed from 1790 to 1830, were machine cut and finished off by a blacksmith who squared the heads. From 1830 to 1890 cabinetmakers used headless "machine-cut nails, that are tapered and rectilinear in shape. Modern "brad" and "penny" nails were introduced around 1890. Screws were occasionally used in furniture pre-dating the beginning of the machine era (Circa 1830). Blacksmith forged examples can be identified by inspecting for thin and slightly off-centered slots and off-round heads.

The "circular saw" invented in the 18th century, did not come into wide usage until after 1830. Thus, boards displaying "circular saw marks" will not be found on furniture pre-dating the "Empire Period" (1830-1850). Unfinished pre-1830 boards cut from vertical motion "ripsaws" will often display small, somewhat parallel, saw lines.

Before the introduction of power driven woodworking machinery in the mid 19th century, lumber was worked by hand. After hand-sawing, cabinet makers dressed their boards with a jack plane and draw knives. On authentic furnishings pre-dating the "Victorian Period," (1850-1910) unfinished non-visible "secondary" surfaces like backboards and drawer bottoms will show evidence of "hand-planing" by feeling for subtle undulating rows in the wood.

Small wooden pins known as dowels can be helpful in authenticating age. Machine era pins will be perfectly circular and flush to the surface. Antique dowels are non-round and will protrude slightly from the surface because of shrinkage in the wood they are securing.

Wood shrinks in a direction opposite the grain. The degree is determined by softness of the lumber, age, and environment. Therefore, authentic antique furniture can be discerned by inspecting for evidence of: gapping between boards, shrinkage cracking, buckling veneer, protruding pegs and breadboard ends, and legs extending slightly beyond the frame or "skirt." Early circular tabletops will measure somewhat oval, 1/8" to 1/2" longer in the direction of the grain.

Outline and thickness on early hand-wrought iron and brass hinges will be non-uniform.

The top rail on early 19th century chairs will be joined with non-round tenons that can be viewed by slightly pulling the yoke from the stile. Circular dowels are evidence of "non-period" chairs.

Visible surface planks (primary wood) on genuine antique furniture will be wide, varying in thickness, and relatively free of blemishes. Knotty pine was not employed by olden day cabinetmakers.

Although it has been stripped and refinished back to the original wood, much old-time non-mahogany furniture was originally painted. Analysis of wood pores and fissures with a jeweler's loop will often show several layers of paint residue. This "paint history" can help authentic a piece and determine whether individual components-the feet, the top, etc.-are original or undesirable replacements.
Role-playing, especially with a creative friend, can be fun and profitable. I look forward to exchanging greetings you into you and your "Dr. Watson" at some future antique affair.

antiques chairs

Mirrors Antiques

Description
Mirror in Kilim frame hand-decorated by an old hippie with bone, teeth, heishi beads and tassels. The kilim was originally a rug in poor condition so the best pieces were used for mirrors, seat coverings and other miscellaneous furniture. This mirror is about 25 years old.

Description
Mirror with frame made from an antique Kilim rug. This mirror is extremely heavy and has a hidden light (see image below).

Description
Mirror with frame made from an antique Kilim rug. This mirror is extremely heavy and has a hidden light (see image below).

Description
Antique French ornate gilt mirror in fantastic original condition. France circa 1890

Description
Breathtaking antique French faux-bois mirror with all the original glass and decorated with bird, leaves, and grapes, all in untouched original condition. The hand-carved details are extremely realistic, you have to touch it to beieve it. Mirrors such as this are few and far between. France circa 1850

Description
Hand-carved antique French mirror in gilded gesso over wood frame with wonderful patina throughout. The soot marks still remain from the many years it most certainly stood over a coal burning fireplace and we chose to leave it this way. The condition is excellent; there has been some minor restoration and there is a leaf missing from the pediment. France circa 1920

Decorative Arts Antiques , Confit Pots , Glass

Description
Antique French confit pots with vibrant honey, green and rich brown colors, the patina of which can only evolve from the passage of time, the hot provencial sun and Mother Nature; this look cannot be duplicated by man. These Confit Pots were originally used as utilitarian pieces in country homes and on farms, burying them in the ground for the storage of duck confit and other foods, keeping them cool and fresh throughout the summer. Today, they are treasured accent pieces, displayed to add the charm and character of times gone by. These pots can instantly transform any space creating the ambiance of sun drenched Provence. All these pots are in original condition and vary in price from $350.00 to $850.00. We will be happy to send photos of the pots that meet your size and budget requirements. France circa 1870-1900

Description
Antique French Baccarat lady's perfume set, in fantastic original condition. These bottles are absolutely stunning in person, its a shame they aren't more photogenic.

Description
Fabulous collection of vintage green glazed pottery from France (mostly Biot) and the USA. Comprising mainly signed pieces in all sorts of shapes and sizes, this collection definitely makes a statement. Bold green colored pottery has a charm all its own, whether you are decorating a home kitchen, or even a restaurant, this collection is spectacular.

Description
Antique Parian ware "Portland" jug attributed to the S. Alcock Company. The design is based on the Portland vase in the British Museum

Tapestries antiques

Description
This wool and silk tapestry was woven in France in the 1600s and is documented. It has its original floral border and beautiful verdure and classical motifs. Completely handmade and all authentic. Needs minor restoration.

Description
Beautiful antique French hand-made needlepoint tapestry that has been cleaned, blocked and restored where necessary. The colors are still vibrant with very little fading. France circa 1850

Description
Beautiful vintage Belgian tapestry depicting life in a much earlier time. This tapestry is thickly woven and is backed with a wonderful fabric that self-frames the piece. Belgium circa 1920

Description
Beautiful antique hand made tapestry with wonderful colors depicting forestry scene. France, circa 1850

Description
Exquisite set of two hand made Aubusson tapestry panels in near mint condition. Dimensions above are for one panel, two pairs available. Price shown is for ONE pair. They have been professionally cleaned. France circa 1820

Description
Authentic handmade French Aubusson tapestry in unbelievable original condition, and judging by the brightness of the colors, it must never have seen the light of day. There are no moth holes or repairs. France circa 1840