How to Source Vintage Pieces for Your Home

Sourcing vintage is not shopping. It's a different skill entirely — one that takes patience, a trained eye and a willingness to look slowly. Here's what I've learned after years of finding the most considered pieces for my clients and my own home.

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1. Know what you're looking for before you go

Before any sourcing trip I have a clear sense of what a space needs — the scale, the material direction, the feeling. Not a rigid list, but an intention. That intention guides the eye.

2. Look at proportion first

Before you fall in love with a piece — look at its proportions. A beautiful chair that's the wrong scale for a room will never feel right no matter how much you love it. Always bring measurements.

3. Learn to read condition honestly

Vintage pieces carry wear. The question is whether that wear adds character or compromises function. A patina is beautiful. A broken frame is not. Know the difference before you buy.

4. Trust the pause

If you're not sure — don't buy. The right piece will stop you immediately. When you find yourself convincing yourself something works it usually doesn't.

5. The unexpected find is always the best one

The pieces I'm most proud of were never what I went looking for. Keep your eye open for the thing you didn't know you needed.

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Sourcing vintage is how a home becomes collected rather than decorated. If you'd like help finding the right pieces for your space — https://www.casacdm.com/bookings

— Jasmina, CASA CDM