Our 2011 Antique Trends Blog was such a big hit that we decided to explore local antique trends specific to The Depot.

Since we opened our doors a little more than a year ago, we’ve seen all kinds of items, from small to large, simple to intricate and antique to reproduction. One thing that has remained consistent is the high demand for the old, worn and heavily used look, particularly Shabby Chic, Early Primitive and Industrial. More than 100 booths throughout The Depot feature this type of merchandise.

Shabby Chic

Early Primitive

Industrial

Early Primitive items were made as a substitute for the popular pieces of an era (1700’s-1800’s) until a superior piece could be purchased. Primitive pieces are simple, basic and crudely constructed with rough-hewn wood and commonly unfinished.

Industrial pieces were once used commercially and normally made of metal. They have a simple, minimalistic and utilitarian look.


SOURCES:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6825320_early-american-antique-primitive-furniture.html#ixzz1Jcfj8omf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabby_chic

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Did you know a movie called Artemis, a sci-fi thriller set for release in March, 2012 is filming several scenes in Concord? And guess where they shopped for props.  The Depot!

The film crew visited early this week to purchase items for the set including old shovels and rakes, a set of 1800’s Eastlake Revival chairs, several dark wooden pie safes, rugs, coal shovels, oil cans, gas cans and nearly every Mason jar and glass bottle in the place.  They were very pleased with their discovery of the largest antique and designer mall in the South and promised to be back.

Artemis is based on the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It is being directed by Gary Ross, of Seabiscuit and Pleasantville fame.


Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

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With the growing popularity of all things ‘vintage,’ vinyl records are making a comeback.  We’ve witnessed this firsthand at The Depot with a surge of rock & roll titles from the Beatles and Kiss to Journey and Elvis.  At least a dozen of our vendors have large selections for sale ranging in price from 50 cents to $40 depending on the artist, demand and condition.

So, if you are collector or new to vinyls and want to buy, there are two things you need to understand. 1) records are only getting older and 2) they can be permanently damaged if not stored properly.

Here are some quick storage and handling tips to keep your records singing a happy tune:

1: Vertical, NEVER Horizontal – Always store your records vertically and try to avoid excessive leaning to prevent any bending or warping, but don’t pack them too tightly. It will put pressure on the grooves over time and distort the sound. Always avoid any pressure on your records.

2: Think Cool… But no basements – Heat ruins vinyl as it softens the material and causes warping. Keep your records in the coolest place at home and avoid humidity which will eventually cause mold to grow on sleeves and record itself. Once that happens it’s extremely hard to clean out the tiny grooves.

3: Keep in Sleeves – Dirt is one of the main reasons for scratches. Always keep your records in its liner or sleeve when they are not being played. Also, keep them away from windows or any natural light as the sun’s UV rays damage and cause discoloration to the sleeves.

4: Hold By The Edges – When you finally get ready to play your records, remember to always handle with care and only touch the edges to prevent anything on your hands getting into the grooves. Handle them the same way you would a CD. Dropping a vinyl record can cause scratches and permanent damage. No one likes listening to a song that skips!

Are you sitting on a goldmine of vinyl?  If you want to sell your collection and put some jingle in your pocket, best bet is Ebay or Craigslist.

SOURCES:

http://www.vinylrevinyl.com/2008/10/02/how-to-maintain-your-vinyl-records/

http://www.ehow.com/way_5188612_sell-vinyl-records.html

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The Tiffany Lamp, a handcrafted, stained-glass shade created by Louis Tiffany back in the late 1800s, surges in popularity from time to time.  It did so in the 1950’s and seems to be again in 2011. We’ve been seeing a lot of replicas come through The Depot lately so figured it would make a timely topic.

Based on some Internet research and dealer input, here are some tips on how to know if a Tiffany lamp is real or a replica:

1. Quality and Craftsmanship – Tiffany used only the best materials and was known for his expert craft, so if you see sloppy soldering, inexpensive glass or applied antiquing to make the lamp look aged, it’s probably a fake.

2. Damage/Cracks – Authentic Tiffany lamps will be about 100 years old, so it’s very rare to find an original without cracks or loose glass.

3. Company Mark/Label – Not all Tiffany lamps were marked, but most were. So, when you see a mark (which will be found on the base of the lamp) look for these three things to determine authenticity:

• Both the TGDCO logo and TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK
• All numbers and letters are the same font, size and in a single line
• All uppercase letters

Can you tell the original from the replica found at The Depot?

If you’re in the market for a Tiffany lamp, The Depot has quite a few ranging in price from $55 to $200. Come use your new-found knowledge to see if they’re real!

Sources:

http://tiffanylampinfo.blogspot.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_2078687_know-genuine-tiffany-lamp.html

http://www.arcadianlighting.com/tiffany-lamps-history.html

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You’ve probably experienced the 460+ booths full of antiques and collectibles on the retail side of The Depot but did you know there are commercial vendors in the Depot’s Design Center?

We want to introduce you to some of them:

3D Landscapes prides itself on high quality work that stands out. They offer services in irrigation systems, hardscapes, estate maintenance, mowing and edging, aerating, seeding, fertilization and chemicals, bedding and pruning.

Michael Wetter – Owner
704.720.7736
www.qualitystandsout.com

Closet Solutions offers the John Louis Home line of wooden closet organizers with options from ‘closet-in-a-box’ to custom closet organization systems in three levels, Premiere, Deluxe and Standard.

Lisa Harris – Owner
980.581.1383
www.woodclosetsystem.com






DP Contracting & Consulting is a fully licensed, bonded and insured general building contractor company specializing in renovation and additions. DP’s team boasts a combined 75 years of  construction experience. Check out their model showroom at the Design Center that showcases kitchen, bathroom and outdoor design ideas.

Dennis Pless – Owner
704.970.7268
www.dpcontracting.net




Quality 1st Construction has 25 years experience in the construction business specializing in remodeling, custom pergolas and screened porches, a southern necessity.

Rodney Jones – Owner
704.363.7562

Painted Rock Custom Countertops and More manufactures decorative concrete products and systems for interior and exterior spaces. From replicated natural stone countertops to commercial and residential flooring systems, Painted Rock can help with any remodel or makeover need.

Paula Smith – Owner
704.607.2953
www.paintedrocknc.com

We want to hear from you. Before reading this, did you know the Design Center has commercial vendors?

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Just in time for the NCAA Tournament, The Depot is opening a man-cave like Media Lounge for our male visitors who want to watch the big game while their better half shops.

Located in The Design Center, visitors can enjoy some of the comforts of home including leather chairs, flat screen and cable TV.  Food and beer are available from The Depot’s new restaurant, TJ’s Diner, featuring homemade specials.

Ladies, take your man shopping this weekend at The Depot and surprise him with the Media Lounge.  Guys, suggest a shopping trip and watch her faint!

Keep the Media Lounge in mind for all future televised events from May race to Fall football.

Next week…meet the diverse tenants of The Design Center and learn about upcoming events there.

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Depot Yard Sale returns this Saturday, March 12 at 8am. Many of our vendors will be clearing out merchandise to make room for new items.

2011 Antique Trends

We’ve had a lot of questions about antique trends for 2011 so we scoured the Internet and surveyed Depot vendors for some answers. Three trends we’ve read about consistently and/or experienced live at The Depot…

Fine china is readily available and priced at historic lows, perhaps because fancy entertaining with ‘the good dishes’ just doesn’t happen much anymore. The Depot sees a lot of China traffic with 10 and 12 piece sets of fine porcelain with serving pieces sometimes going for a few hundred dollars.

On the other end of the spectrum, gold and silver prices are out of control largely due to the melt or scrap value it offers. The Depot has seen a recent surge in silver coins and flatware.

According to The Depot’s General Manager, Janna Baker, painted furniture, from white to vibrant hues, is all the rage right now with all the shabby chic decorators out there.

Tell us what trends you’re seeing by commenting below.

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The Depot has officially been open for one year now and what a fun year it has been!  We are so grateful to our 400+ vendors and thousands of customers from all over for helping make us the largest antique and designer mall in the South.

Home to the Cabarrus Art Guild

The Depot’s Design Center is now home to The Cabarrus Art Guild (CAG) which means art exhibits, workshops and original art for sale on site.  The ‘Fabulous Fakes’ exhibit and annual fundraiser, featuring local artist versions of famous paintings, opens this Sunday, March 6 and runs through April.  Join us for a reception next Sunday, March 13, from 2 – 5 pm.  Tell them you heard about it in our blog!

New Concord Eatery: TJ’s Diner

Our restaurant located in The Design Center, TJ’s Diner, becomes official on March 15 at 11am with a ribbon cutting and scheduled visit from the Mayor of Concord, Scott Padgett. This event is open to the public so stop by to show your support and have lunch while you’re here.  Save the date for a grand opening celebration on March 26 from 4-7pm to sample home-cooked items from the menu for free!

Tweet Tweet

The Depot is now on Twitter and we want more followers.  Please join us at twitter.com/depotgibsonmill.  And, if you have a Twitter following of your own, please consider re-tweeting the link to this blog post to help us increase our fan base.

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Kitchen Trends Talk

Spring Brings Return of Depot Yard Sales

Save the Date: March 26 Booksigning



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Welcome to The Depot at Gibson Mill’s new blog. In our first year of business, we have become the largest antique and designer mall in the South with 460 vendors and a Design Center.

The goal with our new blog is to be in touch with our faithful followers more frequently (weekly) with scoop on all things Depot related from events and expert talks to new vendors and great finds that just came through the door. We will look to you, our readers, to guide us on content so let us know what you want to hear about by commenting on blog entries.

For those of you who have never visited, we are less than two miles from downtown Historic Concord off of McGill Ave and 25 minutes north of Charlotte, NC (Poplar Tent exit 52 off of I-85). Picture a huge mill that has been converted into a decorator’s dream with rows and rows of treasures and uncommon finds.

Speaking of uncommon, one of our newest vendors, Elliot Motlow, sells African animal heads (pictured left).

Check out what people are saying about us online…

“Can’t wait to come back up to look at all the wonderful antiques there…I could spend a whole day here! Great finds!” – Loretta Heun (Facebook)

“This place is huge and filled with many unique goodies!!! Feels like you’re on a treasure hunt!” – Cathy Smith (Facebook)

Don’t miss the Design Center located within The Depot at Gibson Mill featuring DP Contracting’s Showroom built for designers and consumers looking for renovation ideas. This Saturday, Feb. 19 from 11:00-11:30AM, DP will host Interior Designer, Grace Godfrey Thomas, ASID who will talk about 2011 Design Trends and how to incorporate them into your home. This event is free and open to the public.

And, because we never want you to shop hungry, The Depot has a new restaurant on site called TJ’s Diner with homemade daily specials from burgers and wraps to desserts. We also sell ice cream by the scoop.

Come visit us soon and mention to staff and in the guest registry that you heard about us through the new blog.

Also, we are now on Twitter, if you are too,  please consider reTweeting a link to this page www.depotgibsonmill.com/blog

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