Vintage-Inspired Child’s Room A three-drawer chest or credenza can be used as a changing table that can easily be painted to match the decor of the room. A 1950s-era low bookshelf is great for letting little ones access toys and books themselves. Place it next to a rocking chair for easy access during story time. Vintage Fisher Price toys are fun to play with and make great decorative items. 1970s-era macramé hanging shelves are handy next to the changing table or when you want to keep items out of reach. Mexican or Indian blankets used as wall décor make a room cozy and add a graphic element. Vintage metal file cabinets provide sturdy storage for toys or clothes.
Peacock feather wall hanging, $40
Mixing vintage with modern: “Make sure there aren’t too many woods and metals. If you have one metal fixture and a couple of colors going on, you can easily tie in modern and vintage items.”
Chrome and glass bar cart, $89
72 Austin Woman a u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Laura Thomas
1977 Fisher Price pocket radio, $9; West German metal top, $17
Dealer, Room
Service Vintage, 107 E. North Loop Blvd., roomservicevintage.com Owner, DIG Vintage Clothing, digvintageclothing.com
On most weekends during her childhood, Laura Thomas got up at five in the morning to hunt for vintage items at rummage sales with her mother, but it wasn’t until she was 25 that her longtime hobby became a career. After earning her degree in art history, she began working for a travel company and selling vintage clothing on eBay as a side project. She soon returned to Texas, where her skillfullypicked pile of items at an estate sale caught Room Service Vintage owner LuCretia Sisk’s eye. Thomas has been a dealer at the popular shop ever since, traveling all over Texas and even cross-country to bring unique, high-quality pieces to Austin.
Sofas and chairs: “If it has a broken leg that’s been repaired, definitely take a look to see if it’s been repaired correctly; if not, it could definitely cause problems. Make sure it’s structurally sound, and never pass on anything you really love because it has stains or bad upholstery, because you can always have it reupholstered.”
Mod vinyl rocker, $139
Personal style: Homespun, nostalgic, Americana