Christine Schwalm Design

I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday and took a trip over to the outdoor flea market in Hell's Kitchen to do a bit of browsing.  I was pleasantly surprised by all the treasures I found there.  First off, ladies, if you are looking for jewelry (costume)--this is the spot!  But I was looking for some things for the home.  These antique keys here could be framed in shadowboxes, for a less expensive version of what you can find at Ballard Design. 

This item works well for that "industrial chic" look that's popular right now.  You could easily add glass or wood for an interesting console table or even a dining table.  The overall look of it reminded me a lot of the coffee tables I saw when I visited Restoration Hardware.  This piece would allow you to have a true original, again at a much lower price.

Aren't these fretwork pieces beautiful?  They would be great covered with glass and used as a tabletop--very high end.  Or you could even hang them with eye hooks and chain from the ceiling in a series as a room divider.  They would even look fantastic as simple wall art by attaching D rings to the back and hanging on regular picture hooks.

I've got a few more treasures to share tomorrow, but you should definitely check this flea market out.  It's open on saturdays and sunday 10a-6p and is located on 39th St. between 9th and 10th Ave.