A LOVE LETTER TO THRIFTED FINDS
- May 21
- 5 min read
by Dagmar: a lover for vintage treasures and creator of a home with soul
Where Stories Begin
There is something quietly magical about stepping into a small, slightly hidden shop, the kind where the door softly creaks behind you and the air seems to carry traces of time. These are the places where everything feels a little slower, a little softer, and where each object seems to be waiting patiently to be noticed again. It is often in these moments that I feel most inspired.
I find this not only here at home, wandering through familiar streets and discovering new corners, but just as much when I am abroad. No matter where I am in the world, I cannot resist stepping into small local stores, old halls filled with treasures, or markets where everything feels just a little imperfect. Even when I do not understand the language, I somehow understand everything through texture, color, and atmosphere. Beauty, after all, does not need translation.
The Joy of the Hunt
When I go thrift shopping, I do not follow a list or search for something specific. Instead, I allow myself to wander slowly, to look without expectation, and to truly take in what is around me. It is not about buying, but about discovering.
Sometimes I come across a small ceramic piece with the softest, most natural glaze, or some cute little bottles that have been worn exactly where hands have touched them over the years. And other times, I find something larger, like a chair that feels as though it has been quietly waiting for a new home, not always mine, but a home nonetheless.
Old bottles handmade ceramic bowls unique chair
What makes these moments so special is that they are never forced. I do not look for things because I need them, but because something about them speaks to me. It is a feeling of recognition rather than intention, and that is what makes each find so personal. And again, whether it comes home with me or not is never the point; sometimes simply discovering it, pausing for a moment, and capturing it in a photograph is enough to make my heart quietly light up.
Vintage vs. New - Finding the Balance
I believe it is important to say that I am not against buying new pieces. A home needs both new and old to feel complete and balanced. New items often bring comfort, functionality, and a sense of calm through their simplicity. They create a foundation and offer the structure that allows a space to feel grounded, because, let’s be honest, everyone needs a comfortable sofa, and not one you slowly sink through till your bum hits the floor.
Vintage pieces, on the other hand, bring something entirely different into a home. They carry a history, a softness, and a depth that cannot be recreated. Even though we may never know where they came from or who once owned them, we can feel that they have lived a life before entering ours.
old stool and magazine vintage table vintage lamp
For me, the beauty lies in combining the two. By allowing new pieces to create space and calm, and vintage finds to add character and warmth, a home becomes layered and interesting. It is within that balance that a space starts to feel truly alive.
A Home Without Trends
I have never been someone who follows trends closely, even though I do notice them and often feel inspired by what I see. Especially on Instagram, I come across so many beautiful homes and creators whose style I truly admire, Farmhouse5540 , Wilspracht , and Jaquelineb7777
What I love most about the people I follow is not that they use trends, but how they use them. You can still feel them in their spaces. Their homes tell a personal story, even when a trend is present. It never feels like walking into a showroom where everything has been styled to perfection but lacks a sense of life. Instead, it feels layered, lived-in, and real.
And I think that is such an important difference.
scandinavian design Tom Ford 002 deco book black and white chair and table
Trends can absolutely be beautiful, and they can bring fresh ideas and inspiration into a home. But for me, they are never the starting point. A home should not feel like it was created in a single moment in time or shaped entirely by what is current.
I love for it to grow slowly, through collected pieces, meaningful finds, and thoughtful choices. It is not about everything matching perfectly, but about everything belonging together in a natural and effortless way.
Whether I am in my own home, working with my clients, or visiting spaces I discover online or during my travels, the places that stay with me are the ones where personality shines through. The ones where you can feel the person behind the space, not just the style itself.
French ceiling moulding and lamp Dagmar in Passage Pommeraye Nantes Christal lamp
Places That Inspire Me Along the Way
Throughout my travels and daily life, I come across places that make me pause. Spaces where everything feels just right, not because they are perfect, but because they seem to have been created with care over time.
In LA ROCHELLE - France, I once stayed in a charming chambre d’hôtes where old wooden shutters filtered the soft morning light, and the rooms were filled with a beautiful mix of weathered furniture and linen fabrics in the calmest, most natural tones. Everything felt lived-in, as if the home had slowly grown into what it is today.
In FREMONT Seattle - US, I stayed at a stunningly gorgeous B&B where old and new came together in such an effortless way with the character of a cozy Mid-Mod Style. Larger, beautiful pieces were combined with smaller, personal finds, creating a sense of freedom within the space. It was one of those places I instantly fell in love with, created by a friend of mine, where her warm personality and effortless eye for decoration are woven into every detail of the B&B. Thank you, dear Joie, for welcoming Beverly and me into your beautiful B&B, a place that so clearly reflects your warmth and style.
And in Italy - PARCO DE LAGO TRASIMENO, I stayed in a place unlike any other, an old wine cellar where simplicity and history lived side by side, with softly curved ceilings embracing the space and natural materials keeping it calm and grounded; subtle baroque details were quietly woven in, catching your eye without asking for attention and adding a beautiful sense of depth, making it a place that felt pure, balanced, and deeply connected to its past.
These are the places where I slow down, where I take the time to really see and feel. Spaces that inspire without trying, and that gently remind me of what makes a home truly special.
Bringing It All Home
What I bring home from these moments is rarely just the object itself. It is the feeling that comes with it. I remember where I found it, how the light fell into the space at that exact moment, and the quiet excitement of knowing that this piece would become part of my home.
chair and pillow french country coffee table book rustic sink
Once it is there, it always seems to find its place naturally. Not because it matches everything around it perfectly, but because it adds something meaningful to the whole.
That is what makes a home feel complete. Not perfection, but connection.
A Soft Invitation
If you ever feel that your home is missing something, not necessarily more, but something with character and depth, I would love to help you discover that balance.
Together, we can create a space that feels personal, layered, and truly yours by working with the pieces you already have and carefully adding those unique finds that bring warmth and story into your home.
Because in the end, styling is never just about how a space looks.It is about how it feels to live in it.
By the way, as I’m writing these words today, the soft guitar melodies of Jacob Gurevitsch are quietly filling the room. If you have a quiet moment, press play and let those gentle background notes drift around you, perhaps you'll fall a little in love with them too, just as I did.
With love,
Dagmar
Linen & Wood
