IACF - Organiser of Antique Fairs in the UK

Next fair...

Fri - Sat Fair |

29 - 30 Mar 2024

NAEC Stoneleigh

NAEC, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth - CV8 2LZ

Next fair...

Fri - Sat Fair |

29 - 30 Mar 2024

NAEC Stoneleigh

NAEC, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth - CV8 2LZ

August 26, 2021

| IACF Team

Upcoming iacf Antiques Markets

Fri 29 Mar

- Sat 30 Mar, 2024

NAEC Stoneleigh

Thu 11 Apr

- Fri 12 Apr, 2024

Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground

Tue 23 Apr

- Wed 24 Apr, 2024

South of England Showground

Mon 29 Apr

- Mon 29 Apr, 2024

Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground

Antiques Fairs are not only the best places to find collectors items and antique curiosities that will excite any antiques collector, they are also amongst the most inspiring places to gather interior design inspiration and source items for the home. Those who are looking for high quality decorative items, sustainable furniture and pre-loved vintage goods must add Ardingly to their calendar.

Ardingly Antiques Fair, will return to the South of England Showground, on Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th September 2021. The largest antiques fair in the South is known for its humongous choice of antiques stalls, meaning you can find items with unique styles, discover decorative antiques, speak with knowledgeable dealers and find exciting rare finds! 

Let’s take a look at some of our favourite interior design inspiration from Ardingly Antiques Fair, giving you ideas on how you can style items sourced from Ardingly, the possibilities are truly endless.

Antique Dining Table with Drawers & Matching Chairs@surreyhillscottageholidays

Our first interior inspo comes from Surrey Hill Cottage Holidays (@surreyhillcottageholidays). They found and purchased this stylish antique dining table with drawers (and 8 chairs to match!) for plenty of guests to sit around and share memories together. Ardingly Antiques Fair is ideal for to find furniture that is stylish, ethically sourced and within your budget!

iacf spoke with Julie regarding how she felt about sourcing items from Ardingly Antiques Fair, to which she responded:

“All I can add really, is how much we love going to Ardingly and have done for many years now. We love buying from the lovely independent traders, and we adore the uniqueness of some of our finds. We have upcycled some of our furniture to fit in with our decor too. It is better for the environment to buy pre-loved furniture and accessories…

We absolutely love the French table, it’s so well made and I love the signs of wear on it, it’s been used and loved.

The furniture we have bought over the years from Ardingly for our home and our cottages have got memories for us, and we will probably keep to pass on to our family in due course and the pieces will have memories of us for them too.”

Antique Conjoined Chairs@littlenorfolkcottage 

Conjoined chairs are faultless for hallway seating, they don’t take up much space and you can use the extra areas to add in a plant pot, an umbrella stand or anything you want! These antique chairs look perfect in Little Norfolk Cottage’s hallway.

Any home owner that is looking to add a little bit of eccentric style to their interior design can play around with conjoined furnishings to add something different to their interior!

Conjoined furnishings provide that design aesthetic that people look for when sourcing furniture for the home, and offer a more ‘artistic aspect’ on your furniture allowing a more visually stimulating experience for visitors!

Conjoined chairs are great ways to stand out from the ordinary and provide a lovely place to ‘hang out’ with friends and family.

Ardingly Antiques Fair is one of the best places to source interior design inspiration that is a little bit different. You truly never know the extent of the items you can discover.

Remember to follow @iacfantiquesfairs on Instagram for all the interior design inspiration you need from our antiques fairs!

Antique Haberdashery Box – Upcycled! – @theyesmumnest

Upcycling Inspiration from @theyesmumnest

A big part of Ardingly is thinking of all the possibilities each item has. It may not go with your current colour scheme but you love the size and design… so why not paint it the colour you want back at home! 

@theyesmumnes spotted a £6 sticker on this antique find, so she couldn’t resist taking this little box home with her. After a little bit of TLC, this old haberdashery box has been reborn, a new side table for such a good price, you can’t go wrong!

Here are some top tips for how to upcycle old pieces of furniture by the wonderful Dave Stopher.

1. Choosing the style

When you are going for an antique look, opt for carved, raised moldings or curved furnishing. Most upcyclers look for this authentic look, but if you’re out for the contemporary look, opt for clean lines and simplicity, for example, flat-front drawers and straight legs.

Finish the look with perfectly chosen cabinet knobs. Remember to assess the quality of the furniture, and make sure you buy a solidly built piece. Buying an old desk doesn’t mean you should settle for a weak or chipped off piece.

2. Find your style

Different kinds of furniture have different painting styles, all invented by creative minds. Instead of copying others, how about creating something fresh out of the box? You’d be surprised by coming up with a genius way of decorating old furniture and creating a theme that matches your living space perfectly.

3. Find good lighting

Natural lighting is the best when choosing colors since it showcases the original look, uncorrupted by colored bulbs and fluorescent indoor lighting. When it’s not practical due to rain and other weather conditions, paint your furniture in a room that receives a lot of natural light.

4. Preparation is key

Before working on the surfaces, prepare and prime them. Wipe off all dust and debris, and if the furniture has scratches, paint peels, and dents, use sandpaper to soften the look beforehand.

5. Use good quality brushes

Good quality brushed paint better. They also last longer in case you need to use them in the future. After using them, simply clean them then wrap them in tin foil to keep them moist.

6. Protect your piece

When using a water-based paint such as Milk and Chalk paint, you need an extra moisture protective layer. This can be achieved by adding a top varnish or wax layer to the painted finish. High usage areas need 2 to 3 layers of wax.

Besides protecting your piece, the wax will also give a nice soft sheen. Moreover, polyurethane varnish comes in matt or gloss options which increases versatility and protects your piece!

Antique Ladder & Antique Urn@hazel.and.white

Antique Ladder & Antique Urn – Interior Design Inspiration from Ardingly Antiques Fair

There’s something extremely refreshing about these photos, perhaps it’s knowing that the antique ladder and antique urn have been sourced in the most sustainable way, from iacf Ardingly Antiques Fair

We love the pride our customers get when they say they sourced items for their home ethically, you really can’t beat the feeling of finding something stylish and sustainable to show off to your guests. There will be plenty of antique ladders and antique plant pots at Ardingly in September for you to browse. 

We got in touch with Chrissie from @hazel.and.white to find out more about her style and shopping antiques!

“I would describe my home style as modern rustic, I like to mix vintage pieces with modern. Since moving from a Victorian stable conversion to a newly built three-story-house six months ago, I’ve had to change and adapt my style to fit a more contemporary home.

“My parents sold antiques in Portobello Road for many years and I grew up surrounded by old and vintage items. I goto Ardingly Antiques and Collectors Fair at least 3-4 times a year. I love wandering around hoping to find that special thing that I will fall in love with! The diversity of what you see never fails to amaze me. From priceless antiques to items priced at a few pounds, from fabrics to DIY and paint.

“I try to be considerate in my approach to buying things for the home, preferring to buy quality over quantity. When I saw the ladder (pictured above) I immediately liked it, but had to think about where I would place it!

“Once I knew where it would go, I managed to buy it just as the sellers were starting to pack up. The colour of the wood and the rustic nature of it appealed to me, I feel it’s something that fits well into modern decor but with an edge of rustic charm.

“I was absolutely delighted to stumble across the stall selling urns. I’d been looking for one for a while, but the prices were always so high. @lotsofpotsgatwick has a huge supply of Greek and Turkish urns at very reasonable prices. The only difficulty was choosing just one!

“I absolutely love my urn and they (Lots of Pots Gatwick) were so helpful and friendly. I ca’t wait to make a beeline for the stand at the next Ardingly Antiques Fair!”

Discover more interior design inspiration and the next Ardingly Antiques Fair, on Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th September 2021! Tickets are available now, see you next week!

Upcoming iacf Antiques Markets

Fri 29 Mar

- Sat 30 Mar, 2024

NAEC Stoneleigh

Fri 25 Oct

- Sat 26 Oct, 2024

NAEC Stoneleigh

Thu 11 Apr

- Fri 12 Apr, 2024

Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground

Tue 23 Apr

- Wed 24 Apr, 2024

South of England Showground

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