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The exterior of Mount Kisco’s Golden Oldies.
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Hard-core antiquers may charge into New York City for their Louis XVI gems or trek to the Catskills or Connecticut for a rustic shopping spree. But with the slew of stores across Westchester, why not indulge your love for those precious pieces a bit closer to home?
We’ve combed a cross-section of area “antiques” stores—from the oh-so-refined to those where you’ll wade through bric-a-brac to find your objets d’art. From valuable pieces to vintage collectibles, here’s the plan of action for finding antiques in Westchester. Get ready to rummage.
Accents on Antiques
125 Wolfs Lane
Pelham
(914) 637-1195
Antiquing is fun; antiquing for a cause lends that fun blissful justification. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Accents on Antiques gives buying a boost: all proceeds benefit Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle. The 4,800-square-foot-showroom is filled with an eclectic collection of antique and period furnishings, art, silver, jewelry, crystal, china, and porcelain, along with accessories and other collectibles. It’s like a healthy obsession.
Celeb client: Phylicia Rashad of The Cosby Show enjoys rifling through the goods.
Typical finds: Period furnishings, art, and servingware in crystal, porcelain, and china.
Rare gem: One donor found—in his garage!—a four-foot 19th-century Russian samovar with a golden brass surface, says store manager Rita Borell. A rare heirloom that figures in traditional Russian tea service, it sold for a song at $750.
While you’re there: Break bread to celebrate your bounty at M.A.D. Café, steps away at 129 Wolfs Lane. To ensure your vintage desk gets its proper due, pick up some elegant notepaper at Ginger’s Pelhamville Stationery (153 Fifth Avenue) and swap online shorthand for an old-fashioned, handwritten letter.
Adams Unlimited, Inc.
19 Mount Vernon Avenue
Mount Vernon
(914) 668-0374
In naming his antiques showroom, Adams Unlimited, back in 1992, Josh Tane showed his marketing chops: “I picked a name that would place me up front in the Yellow Pages,” says the former TV producer. Seventeen years later, he’s still savvy about promoting his business, pointing out that filling your home with antiques and previously owned furniture is an environmentally friendly approach to home décor. Every day, Tane buys from local homes and estates—often the contents of entire houses—to replenish his supply.
Celeb clients: Set designers scoured the shop for NBC’s 30 Rock and The Good Shepherd.
Typical finds: A broad variety of vintage furnishings and lighting, from French Country to art deco.
Rare gem: A recent visitor unearthed a pair of mid-century Ward Bennett designer chairs. But you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves—and lace up your sneakers. “It’s not a Madison Avenue antiques shop,” Tane cautions. “It’s a two-thousand-foot cinderblock warehouse.”
While you’re there: Scope out Mount Vernon’s fast-growing Design District, an impressive consortium of local home businesses, for inspiration. Set up an appointment at Motif Designs, designer Lyn Peterson’s Mecca for fabrics and wallcoverings, as well as furniture, lighting, and mirrors (718 S. Fulton Avenue). Saunter into Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors (115 S. 4th Avenue), a home-furnishings and accessories store and interior-design studio that promotes earth-conscious living and wellness. And check out tile destinations such as Dal Tile (600 Franklin Avenue) and Walker Zanger (31 Warren Place).
All Your Yesterdays
67 Westchester Avenue
Pound Ridge
(914) 764-3063
Before opening their store (which specializes in country antiques and Americana, but offers finds for every taste), Robert and Vida Barbo spent their spare hours as collectors, selling antiques at shows in Northern Westchester and Connecticut. In 2006, after 20 years of dreaming about it, the couple opened All Your Yesterdays, at which most of the pieces come from quaint B & Bs throughout New England. The Barbos are more than willing to share their enthusiasm—and knowledge—about antiques. “I’ve been listening for 25 years,” says Bob, a retired psychologist. “Now I can talk.”
Celeb clients: Designer Joseph Abboud of Bedford bought a set of pitchers and Geraldine Ferraro, an 18th-century lift-top desk.
Typical finds: An eclectic inventory of country antiques and turn-of-the-century Americana.
Rare gem: On a recent visit, one shopper found an early 1900s J.T. Coats tabletop desk with a slate top embossed with scrollwork. The piece was purchased in mint condition from a New Hampshire library.
While you’re there: If you’re still shopping at the end of the day, consider stopping for an early dinner at North Star Restaurant (85 Westchester Avenue), where Chef Franz Fruhmann (formerly of Blue Hill at Stone Barn) uses local and natural ingredients, changing the menu seasonally.
Antiques & Interiors
67 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge
(914) 764-4400
A decorator by trade, Elinor Deutsch opened this store 14 years ago. She’s there from Thursday to Sunday only; other days, she’s probably combing Manhattan’s D&D building to add to her burgeoning stash. Besides antiques, she sells window treatments and upholstery, area rugs, table runners, and custom bedding—all of which she’s happy to integrate into your home design. Come in for a hutch; leave with a look.
Celeb client: Glenn Close bought a lamp, graciously accepting the discount upon which Deutsch insisted.
Typical finds: An international mélange: Dutch carved oak, French deco chairs, English serving pieces (think berry spoons and pickle forks). Vintage jewelry and desk accessories round out the collection.
Rare gem: A Picard (gold-on-porcelain) coffee set—tall pot, tray, creamer, and sugar—is a way to host graciously for $1,800. Deutsch picked up the set in Florida.
While you’re there: The owner, an “architecture buff,” recommends the Hiram Halle Memorial Library (271 Westchester Avenue) and the Inn at Pound Ridge (258 Westchester Avenue), among other Colonial Revival gems in the historic hamlet.
Belkind Bigi
21 Main Street
Tarrytown
(914) 524-9626
Crazy about retro? Wild about vintage? For those in the Knoll, Belkind Bigi is a divine destination, a major resource for mid-century modern designs. A wide selection of Scandinavian and Italian pieces also will whet the appetite of those hungry for modern pieces. A growing collection of artwork includes paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and even a few abstract paintings by co-owner Marina Bigi.
Celeb client: Lenny Kravitz popped in for a steel daybed.
Typical finds: Retro furniture from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s—think Charles Eames, George Nelson, and Edward Wormley—complemented by abstract art from the era.
Rare gem: Recent blasts from the past include a curvy Vladimir Kagan sofa.
While you’re there: You’ll need stamina to plow through Tarrytown’s additional 10 (yes, 10!) antiques shops, making the village’s Main Street an in-county destination for a day of shopping. Skip over to Carol Master Antiques (10 Main Street), Tarrytown Art & Antiques (19 Main Street), Tarrytown Antique Center (25 Main Street), North Castle Antiques (28 Main Street), and Michael Christopher Antiques (29 Main Street), among others.
Briggs House Antiques
566 E. Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck
(914) 381-0650
You can’t miss the big yellow building on Boston Post Road, which houses 10,000 square feet of English, Welsh, and French furniture, such as leather-topped desks, elegant lamps, and Gustavian tall clocks circa 1790. Grace notes abound in the form of art with a whimsical twist: a Swedish sailboat diorama from 1860, a pen-and-ink map of England from 1820. Owner Loraine Bauchmann travels overseas three to four times a year to refresh her supply. She also does a brisk online business through 1st DIBS, the nationwide multi-dealer website.
Celeb client: Bauchmann is sworn to secrecy, but tells Westchester Home of Academy Award nominees who’ve taken home treasures from her store.
Typical finds: Desks, buffets, and coffee tables in fruitwood and chestnut.
Rare gem: A rare Welsh housekeeper’s oak cupboard from an 18th-century manor house, more than eight feet tall and banded with mahogany. “It’s got a beautiful aged patina and literally glows,” says Bauchmann, who cites a price of $16,500.
While you’re there: Relax over sushi and tea at Haiku, an Asian bistro at 265 Mamaroneck Avenue. Feeling more in the mood for European or Middle Eastern? Consider Le Provencal Restaurant at 436 Mamaroneck Avenue for authentic French fare or Turkish Meze (409 Mount Pleasant Avenue) for some lamb and baklava.
Chatsworth Auction Rooms & Furniture Studios
151 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck
(914) 698-1001
Comfy shoes and plenty of time are what’s required to wend your way through this 20,000-square-foot, five-story warehouse, one of the county’s largest buyers and sellers of estate furniture and accessories. Owned by the same family since its doors opened nearly 85 years ago, Chatsworth has been filling rooms with bedroom and dining sets, china cabinets, sofas, and a whole lot more for decades.
Celeb client: Set designers scooped up pieces to glam up the set of Sex and the City.
Typical finds: Estate items, from 1900 to 1950, from furnishings to fine china.
Rare gem: Owner Sam Lightbody carted off a complete, “exceptionally finely carved” oak Jacobean dining-room set, circa 1920, from an estate.
While you’re there: Take in a show at the Emelin Theatre (153 Library Lane), the oldest continuously operating performing-arts theater in Westchester County. (American Idol’s Bo Bice and Los Lobos were recent features.) Follow it with a big piece of chocolate cake and a steaming cup of joe at Café Mozart (308 Mamaroneck Avenue).
Crown House Antiques
297 King Street
Chappaqua
(914) 238-3949
Owner Jane Holmes’ grandmother and mother dealt in antiques, and she employs her daughter, making for four generations of antique acumen. The store’s name is a logical choice for a building at King Street and Castle Road.
Celeb client: Acclaimed architect Keith Kroeger of Chappaqua often integrates the store’s copper handmade lanterns into the homes he designs.
Typical finds: Antique lighting—chandeliers, lamps, sconces—along with an exquisite selection of lampshades.
Rare gem: An 18th-century Scottish grandfather clock, its face featuring a ship that rocks on the ocean as it ticks.
While you’re there: To continue your quest, poke your head into Red Carpet Antiques (filled with furniture, paintings, silver, jewelry, and rugs) down the road at 201 King Street. Then brush up on local lore at the New Castle Historic Society Museum, one-time home of Horace Greeley (100 King Street).
Dualities Antiques & Art, Inc.
2056 Boston Post Road
Larchmont
(914) 834-2773
Fittingly, Peter Boehm opened Dualities as a second career. His mother (a collector) and father (a handbag designer) fostered an abiding interest in art and antiques. With a college major in art history, the former teacher put on an antiques show that kindled a passion for the pursuit. “With the limited income of a teacher, it was a way of furthering my own collecting habit,” he says.
Typical finds: Sculpture, silver, glass, and porcelain from the 1870s to the 1960s, with artwork that ranges from Impressionism to art deco.
Rare gem: For $2,450, you can take home a Delft blue-and-white pottery beerstein with pewter handles, dating from 1678 and remarkable for its age.
While you’re there: Larchmont has a potpourri of fine restaurants. Boehm’s favorite: Chat 19 at 19 Chatsworth Avenue.
Golden Oldies, Ltd.
91 East Main Street
Mount Kisco
(914) 244-4466
For more than three decades, Golden Oldies (a several-time Westchester Magazine Best of Westchester winner) has been a superb source for antique furnishings, reproductions, and accessories. Dining-room sets, armoires, hutches, chests, vanities, chairs, lighting, mirrors, and more abound in this Mount Kisco mega-store, as well as its flagship, full-city-block-long store in Flushing, Queens.
Celeb client: “Hillary’s husband” Bill Clinton came in to purchase a vintage golf bag, says manager Luciano Sabba.
Typical finds: Turn-of-the-century English, French, and Indian antiques from chandeliers to armoires.
Rare gem: An $18,000 mahogany secretary with a flip-top desk from England.
While you’re there: Have a fresh catch at Fish Cellar, one of the area’s best restaurants (213 E. Main Street) with top-notch clams and oysters and a handsome bar.
Post Road Gallery
2128 Boston Post Road
Larchmont
(914) 834-7568
Third-generation owner David Bahssin (who has worked at the gallery since high school) recalls his father dealing fine silver to such American barons as Walter Chrysler. He continues the tradition of curating a striking collection of art and antiques, especially American decorative art of the 19th century. “We’ve sold to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and high-end Madison Avenue dealers,” he says.
Celeb client: New York designer Martin Diamond has browsed on behalf of his discriminating clients.
Typical finds: High-end Victorian furniture from the late 1800s, especially rosewood and inlaid pieces, as well as 19th-century timepieces, including clocks commissioned from the Tiffany atelier.
Rare gem: Standing nearly a foot high, a sterling-silver Russian humidor, its top engraved with the winter palace at St. Petersburg, originally belonged to the man who built the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Bahssin’s father sold the million-dollar piece for $25,000 in 1980.
While you’re there: Enjoy live, mellow jazz at the Watercolor Café down the block. (Call the restaurant at 914-834-2213 for a schedule of performances.) To work up an appetite, stroll or jog through the majestic Manor Park, with landscapes designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to frame the water views.
Yellow Monkey
792 Route 35
Cross River
(914) 763-5848
Yellow Monkey Owner Heidi Johnston, a fabric designer for Scalamandré for 25 years, hops the pond to scour Europe for her distinctive pieces, gathering merchandise for quarterly shipments. The beauties she unearths are bound to astound in this 7,000-square-foot antiques shop. Its location in the Yellow Monkey Village, an enclave of shops set in 18th-century houses that formed the original village of Cross River, helps antiques lovers envision these distinctive pieces in the homes of yesteryear.
Celeb client: Martha Stewart has picked up the odd “good thing.”
Typical finds: English tables, French mirrors, and a smattering of bleached-oak pieces from Scandinavia.
Rare gem: In Northern Westchester’s “horse country,” a pair of lead outdoor wall-mounted horse heads ($9,000) from 19th-century France is bound to gallop out the door.
While you’re there: Wander through Yellow Monkey Village, of course. Don’t miss the hip Gallery Yellow (also owned by Johnston), Sorab & Roshi Design (for amazing—and expensive— custom-made jewelry), and Dharma Yoga & Wellness, which offers yoga classes, healing therapies, meditation, stress reduction, education, and, perhaps most importantly, lunch.
Mellisa F. Pheterson is a freelance writer based in New Haven, Connecticut.
Photography by Thomas Moore
