4 Cork antiques shops where beautiful furniture is not as pricey as you think
Antique shopping is an art.
Few things are more satisfying than nabbing a one-of-a-kind piece and giving it a new lease of life.
And if you’re someone who is trying to live more sustainably but who also doesn’t want to compromise on style, vintage and antique hunting is a wonderful way to furnish your flat with thoughtful and beautiful ‘forever’ pieces – often for the same price as a trip to IKEA.
Happily, Cork is home to plenty of quirky antique stores run by some of the most seasoned spotters in the business.
Here are four shops to check out this weekend:
Salvagem
This antique and vintage workshop and store located on MacCurtain Street was first opened in December of last year by owner Michael Wall, who had humble Harry Potter-style beginnings when he first started out, operating from under a stairwell in 27a.
The name ‘Salvagem’ reflects the purpose of this unique Cork business: to salvage and repurpose old furniture that would otherwise end up in the skip.
All of Michael’s pieces are handmade and repurposed using upcycled material. There are beautiful lamps crafted with frames from the 1930s and 50s, with lampshades made from old Japanese kimono silk and vintage designer fabrics in cotton and natural fibres.
Other pieces such as dressers, couches, chairs and tables are all given a new lease of life in the Salvagem workshop before they hit the shop floor.
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2. St Luke’s Antiques
Just up the street is St. Luke’s Antiques, who sell some very unusual vintage pieces found in Ireland, the UK, France and America.
From old posters of the film Titanic to horn-tipped cutlery and portraits, St Luke’s Antiques is a curator of unusual and once-sentimental objects that are sure to spike your curiosity.
It’s a brilliant spot to find a fabulous gift for a vintage fan too.
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3. Willow Antiques
Willow Antiques offers a combination of antique furniture and home decor pieces, all artfully arranged and utterly covetable.
Their chairs, tables and dressers add an inviting, warm vibe to any room – it’s no wonder that pieces featured on their Instagram fly out the door.
Check out their feed for more details or shop online here.
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4. The Store Yard
The Store Yard will appeal to fans of furniture that is almost aristocratic with hints of maximalism – a trend that is currently seeing a real resurgence in the home decor space as a reaction to the minimalism of the 2010s.
You’ll see plenty of larger-than-life pieces (and perhaps even a wild Robert Sheehan casually wearing Hope Macauley of a Tuesday) instore with shops in Youghal and Portlaoise, but you can also shop online.
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