This summer two interns, Ashley and Rachel, worked with me in the home design and decorating department. As part of their assignments for their last week, I asked them to visit the flea market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The girls took many pictures of the one-of-a-kind items they found at the market, and I wanted to share their finds with all of you!
1 The entrance to the market.
2 What a great antique! This piece is truly a unique find, and would provide excellent storage.
3 An entire area of the flea market was cleared to make room for this white, distressed furniture.
4 New and old brown leather belts.
5 Hand-painted denim!
6 These frames are vintage and wonderful.
7 The guitar would be beautiful on display in a music-lovers home.
8 A vintage game set in excellent condition.
9 I really liked this wooden kitchen set for salads.
10 Ashley and Rachel found lots of letters in different shapes, sizes, and colors. I think they would make a nice addition to bedrooms or offices.
11 These ones in particular are great, and are made from enamel on tin.
12 Old wine cases–ideal for storage.
13 I've always loved glass jars, and a flea market is the perfect place to find them in bulk! You can use the jars as candle holders, or to store spices or oils.
14 What a great color for the dresser! Only at a flea market can you find a piece like that.
15 The interns particularly liked this vendor. He had an interesting collection of nature-inspired items for the home.
16 Here's another shot. Horns, skins, shells–this vendor really has everything!
17 I know my colleague Yvette would love these gilded lobsters.
18 The light fixtures remind me of globes. They would look beautiful in a kitchen or dining space.
19 Not only did the girls find great jewelry at the flea market, but they were excited to see all of the interesting ways the vendors displayed it.
20 I particularly like this stand. The hand crafted pillows are fantastic.
21 The pillows come in animal designs.
22 I also liked this pillow with a bicycle design.
23 Painted, vintage milk bottles make beautiful vases.
24 Rachel took home the burger salt shakers on the top level of this shelf! Very cute.
25 The instruments are made from cigar and coffee boxes.
26 An old set of silver spoons.
27 Vintage soda cases would look great stacked up like this in a kids or play room. (brooklynflea.com)
28 Here's a wider view of the flea market.
29 Some of the market's delicious food.
30 This vendor sells fresh squeezed juices: mango, watermelon, and papaya, just to name a few.
31 The girls' lunch at the market consisted of this corn, tomato, and zucchini salad, and an Asian-spiced hot dog. All ingredients were fresh and local.
32 I love the way this vendor has displayed his products. He clearly has an eye for style.
As you can tell from the photos, there are some great finds available at the Brooklyn Flea Market. Antique furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles, hand-crafted jewelry, artwork, and delicious food are just some of the market's treasures. Rachel picked up a pair of ceramic, cheeseburger-shaped salt shakers, and Ashley bought herself a vintage striped top!
I've always loved flea markets–the crowds of people, the fresh food stands, the wide assortment of unique items for purchase. They are great places to find gifts for friends and family, and even better places to browse for quirky, interesting pieces for the home. Mixing store-bought products and flea market accents can create a really beautiful room. Here's a list of the great flea markets in New York. I hope you have a chance to visit one soon!
Brooklyn Flea Market
176 Lafayette Street in Fort Greene (10 am - 5 pm Saturdays)
East River Waterfront in Williamsburg (10 am - 5 pm Sundays)
Hell's Kitchen Flea Market
W 39th Street Between 9th and 10th Avenue (9 am - 5 pm Saturdays and Sundays)
The Antiques Garage
112 West 25th Street (9 am - 5 pm Saturdays and Sundays)
West 25th Street Market
Between Broadway and 6th Avenue (9 am - 5 pm Saturdays and Sundays)
Kevin Sharkey 
From: Trish | 8/13/11 at 9:49 am
What an interesting collection of wares. I especially like to find wine crates - I keep a couple in the back seat of my car to hold items when I shop at Costco. I am sure Ashley and Rachel will be looking at flea market finds in a whole different light from now on after being your intern for the summer. No doubt you have been a great influence on them. Thanks for the pictures - maybe I'll go browsing myself this weekend.
From: Pam Heavner | 8/17/11 at 5:33 pm
I am a vintage flea marketer and did not know about this one in Brooklyn. These sound like lucky interns. What a great job!I live in NC and am an interior designer. I have been going to the Brimfield show in Mass. each year for 25 years and sometimes make it to Roundtop in Texas.Let me know if you need a roving reporter on what's hot.
We have a wonderful market in Liberty, NC that is twice a year. If you have never been, put it on your list. It is coming up Sept. 23,24. Not as big as Brimfield, but worth the trip. It was started by a family on their farm and it has grown to quite an event.The venue is beautiful with rolling green hills and a silo,but the whole environment is like a slice of 1950's life. The parking is free and the cheeseburgers, bar-b-q and homemade pies are served up by the local church folk. There is a bit of junk, but a lot of good dealers have found this show and there are plenty of goodies to buy from all over the country. It is not unusual for the Reinactors to show up in their Civil War uniforms and musket guns and set up camp....complete with campfire. But the best thing of all is the lady on the microphone. She spends the day announcing who has left their wallet where,describes lost children and dogs and in her free time bestows the benefits of kettle korn.All being broadcast to echo over the rolling hills of a town called Liberty. You just can't make it up. Let me know if you need a guide. I'll be going! Have a great day! Pam