My Weblog

Customer Creations Spotlight of the Day Donna Long!

Today's spotlight is on Donna Long.  I did a quick post on facebook when I received the photo but never spotlighted Donna on our blog.   Donna came into the shop looking for a towel rack for her bathroom.  I told her about another Customer's idea with the door knobs on a board. I remembered we had some cool door trim upstairs.  Donna picked out some great early door hardware plus she liked the door trim.  With all the necessary pieces she went on her way.  The next day (quick!!!) I get this photo. Looks great with her wall color. I love the hardware Donna chose.  Thanks for sharing the photos with us Donna.  Suzanne

PS...Thanks for a great week of Customer Creations.  I am always looking for more photos of things or settings created by items purchased at the Royal Port.  Email me

Customer Creations Spotlight of the Day Trish Egan!

We met Trish Egan at the Kimberton Show in Kimberton, PA.  We set up at the show in March and November.  We had brought a few pairs of shutters as backdrops to sell at the show.  Trish loved the look for a head board she was trying to create.  She ended up coming to the shop to pick out the two pairs of Salem County louver shutters that worked perfectly in her space.  The paint on the shutters also matched perfectly with her decor.  As you can see Trish paired it with a beautiful architectural element she uses as a shelf above the bed.  Looks great.  Thanks Trish for sharing the photos.  Suzanne

Customer Creations Spotlight of the Day Pam Reed!

Our spotlight today is on the use of feed bags as curtains and valances.  We love using early feed bags to decorate throughout the shop including as window treatments.  Pam Reed stopped in last week to purchase some feed bags to use as window treatments.  She was describing to me how she hangs them so I asked her to share some photos of her valances.   She had a different take on how to hang them then I was used to.  I love how they look open.  You can see the woven striping and stenciled wording on the bag.  Pam cut them and frayed the edges.  She used string to hang them with clip clothes pins. On the smaller windows they are draped over the string.  On the larger windows the bags are open long ways and clipped on the string.  Love them over the checker curtains and the quilt.  As a result I will be taking all of my curtains down at the shop and rehanging them.  It's time for a new look.  Thanks Pam for sharing your photos with us.  Suzanne

Customer Creations Spotlight of the Day Barbara Dougherty!

Today we are spotlighting Barbara Dougherty and her vision for a table.  If you walked in the shop one day and saw this gadget would you say to yourself  "hmmm  that would make a great table base".  Well Barbara did. 
The base she picked is an Antique hand operated sheep shearer called the "Stewart Clipper"  manufactured by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Co.   It was missing its shaft that would run to the clipper.  Neat early American industrial ingenuity.  Barbara and her friend (and mine),  Terry Jacobucci, pondered the thought of what the table would look like and if the base would work.  Well it did.  Barbara had a table top mounted to the base.  A few alterations later and voila a beautiful table.  Mike and I love how it came.  We are always looking for iron bases for tables, mounting weather vanes, architectural elements and so much more.   Glad Barbara was able to use the clipper for the base she had been looking for.  Thank you for sharing your project and ideas with us.    Suzanne

It's That Time Again! Customer Creations Week at the Royal Port!

One of my favorite things to do on our weblog is to spotlight those customers that have gone "above and beyond" by creating some great things out of Salvage and Antique items from our shop.  For those of you who still owe me photos, please feel free to send them through email or drop them off at the shop.  My first Customer Creation Spotlight for this week is Scott Berkheimer.  What a really nice young man (showing my age)!   We loved what Scott did to create this Urban style desk from a salvaged barn door he purchased from us.  Scott shared with us how he created the desk.  Scott removed the hardware and added functional antique carriage bolts and raw steel legs and topped it off with customized 1/4" glass.  He also found a place for the shutter he purchased from us as well.  Another writing desk and coffee table are in the process of being created using the other barn door and barn loft hatch cover he purchased during his second visit to the Royal Port.  Stay tuned for additional photos.    Scott also sent us a photo of an old 6 pane window frame he bought from us that he hung from an exposed brick wall.  We love the look of the whitewashed frame on the brick surface.  Thank you Scott for the photos. Suzanne

What's New in July at the Royal Port Antiques!

Hope everyone is keeping cool this warm summer!  I added a New Album for July to keep you up to date on the new inventory here at the Royal Port.   We brought in several great smalls including a nice collections of various style cutting boards, stoneware, advertising boxes and early swifts.  One of my favorite new pieces to the shop is this Early 19th Century Pine Bed Cupboard.  They are also referred to as Murphy Beds.  This cupboard contains its original rope bed.  It has a nice painted exterior and interior.  The bed folds down for company!  The bed can be easily removed to use the piece as a cupboard.  Love it!   Also new to the shop is this Early One Drawer over 2 Door Grain Painted Jelly Cupboard.  This is in great condition and ready to use in any part of the home.    I also wanted to spotlight this unusual 2 door cupboard with an open shelf bottom.  This has gotten a lot of attention.  It is a perfect storage and display piece.  We haven't had it long and I have changed it up a few times.  Stop by to see what's new or remember to check out the July 2011 Album containing 56 photographs with descriptions and prices.  Keep cool.  Suzanne PS I didn't forget.  I will post second floor booth shots and vignette photos next week.

A Quick Photo Tour of Royal Port's First Floor!

We are always looking for ideas on how to make our webblog better for our customers.  Recently it was suggested that we need to add to our blog some photos of the shop as a whole not just individual items.  It was something I have been wanting to do.  So I took a trip around the first floor and added an Album of Shop Shots.  I will add the second floor next week.  If you see something in the photos and need more information about it don't hesitate to call or email.  If you have additional ideas of things you may want to see on the webblog feel free to let us know.  We appreciate the feedback.  Hope everyone is having a great summer.  Don't forget the Farmer's Market on Thursdays in Salem City from 10am-2pm.  Great produce, baked goods, flowers, barbecue and so much more.  Hope all are having a great summer.  Suzanne