I was at the Nicholson House earlier this evening to meet up with my dear future mother-in-law, the indominable Paula Reed and had a chance to peruse the items that will be for sale this week at the annual Lakewood Historical Society Sale on the Grounds fundraiser. (Also had a chance to sneak a few cookies into my stomache that the ladies had made for the preview party).



As in years past, the selection and quantity of items just amaze me.

When you first enter the house, you will be greeted by a refreshments and mingling room on your left. (Make sure you sample the cookies and have a beer catered by Rozi's). To your right will be a room filled with dolls, toys, stationery and jewelry from the past 3 decades. I call this the lady room because I can't imagine any guy finding this room interesting for more than 5 minutes. But don't let that deter you. In past years I have found great earrings and necklaces for a couple of dollars in this room. Item to look for this year: an antique children's miniature stove made out of iron with workable doors and hinges. And lots of candlesticks.

Past this room you will enter the entertainment and dining room. There is a complete set of Noritake china and a complete set of 12 place-setting Waterford (?) flatware with storage box. There are also a ton of stemware, plates, candle holders, salt and pepper shakers and the such. These items are generally under $10 dollars. Oh and lamps. Lamps galore.

From this room you can either exit into the yard or continue into the antique room.

In the antique room, you will find quality antiques at reasonable prices. Example, I have my eyes on a pair of Baldwin candle sticks for $20. There are a couple of really pretty complete teacup sets. And a variety of stemware, fine china, server ware, jewelry, etc etc. Having just done my registry I can really appreciate the value of purchasing a find dining silver tray for $35 as opposed to $200. And since I just love the finely crafted detail work, this stuff is right up my alley.

If you chose to go outside, you will find a lawn of interesting trunks and large furniture as well as outdoor decor and tools. There is also a tent filled to the brim with all things casual dining and cooking. This tent is great for deals. Lots of 50 cent items to be found. This year is the large collection of owl ornaments that make up an entire display.

The Historical Society work hard to put this on every year and it's a win-win due to the great value that can be found at this gem of a sale. The preview party this year is on Friday April 30. It starts at 7 and costs $10. Saturday, the sale starts at 9-3. Sunday is 12-3 with everything half off except for the antique room. The address is: the Nicholson House, 13335 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH. Please check it out. If you have any questions call Paula Reed at 216.221.7343.

though i have lived in cleveland since 9 yrs old, the west side (of cleveland) was as foreign to me as alaska. and even though i have lived in lakewood for 2 years now, i have never really explored the "antiques of lorain avenue"...until today.

i was really impressed by the range of selection in all these stores. we didn't get to go to nearly all the stores, of the ones we went to, there were 3 that really stood out to me: bijou, reincarnation, and craftsman's *.

bijou's inventory is your traditional antique ware. the size of their collection and the quality of the items is what is impressive. spread out on 2 floors and a lot of square footage, they have separate showing room dedicated to a variety of styles and time periods. the presentation makes the experience pleasant and it's easy to envision the pieces nestle in your own home. tho the price tag is a bit heavy, every item is worth it for the true antique connoisseur.

craftsman* is located just a few doors down and is much different. for starters, it's a lot smaller...and a lot cheaper. craftsman takes antique items and presents them in an artistic manner. example: a glass jar of antique buttons, or an old machinery table as a console table, or a wooden cart as storage. there is such beauty in taking cast aside items and turning them into objet d'art. we purchased a 10 unit apothecary cabinet for $160. same price as something from target, but with a lot more interest.

reincarnation is by far my favorite out of the whole bunch. in a lofty warehouse setting, this out of the box shopping experience really challenges the way that we've been trained to look at objects. the husband and wife proprietors are carpenters, designers, inventors, and salvagers, all in one. the items they create by reusing and reinterpreting antique furniture, fixtures, and decorations are truly mind-bending. "We take vintage furniture and home accessories and redesign them for contemporary use, for today's lifestyle. We try to make things more functional and fun," says Cindy Nicholson, who has co-owned Reincarnation with her husband, Ron, for eight years. before you stop into target for that shabby chic chair, or world market for that ethnically flavored table, take a trip to reincarnation, what you find will be beyond your expectations.


* i'm pretty sure that's the name of the place. but i'm not positive.