Why buy vintage furniture, and where to find it in Barcelona
Many times with clients and friends I see how sometimes they don't really know where to start sourcing furniture; and if they end up going to the big-yellow-letters empire, how to avoid having the exact same living room as the neighbour.
“Suppliers” are one of the best kept secrets in the industry, everyone knows that's what a good outcome relies on. A special and unique space.
In this article, I am going to name a few of my favourite spots to find vintage furniture. Six online shops and six physical shops in the Barcelona area. Ready, set, go.
Usually I am not someone keen on impulse purchases. That's why, as with any other acquisition, there are two considerations to think about: Do I really need this? Which requirements should fulfil?
I am also guilty of “just browsing”, but before filling all the card details and hitting that “buy” button, go back to the aforesaid questions. The search must always come from necessity, and before anything else: do take measures.
After all of this, it's always good to consider vintage sourcing. The charm of a piece with its history, durability, quality, and also sustainability reasons. Vintage furniture should be one of the first options to look at in our search.
It doesn't have to be an overly dressed sofa, nor a cabinet with heavy boiserie and French decor. Vintage items are from different eras and can come in multiple shapes and materials, and today I want to show you some places to find them in Barcelona (and online in Spain).
But… Where to start? Personally I am quite comfortable browsing from my sofa, the possibilities, and shops you can reach with the thumb are endless, but sometimes one also enjoys seeing and enjoying pieces on the flesh.
If you’re that type of person that likes touching and feeling the materials, keep reading because I’ll tell you some of my favourite spots in the Barcelona area.
But if your mind also thrives with those 76543345 pixels of information per second, and the immediacy of our friend internet, these are the shops you should definitely check out:
Wallapop & Facebook Marketplace
Wait, whaaat? Yes, other than cheap furniture, you can find some rough diamonds on these. It's not like you'll find the best deal every time you check, but worth browsing through it every once in a while.
Anticuable
You won't find wall fittings or chairs, but if you're doing building works, they have some outstanding elements. They stock tiles, wood beams, chimneys, big marble sinks, … They recover distinctive elements from demolitions, and often have gems that are worth considering.
Llava Vintage
You’ll find them at Mercantic (I’ll tell you all about it at the end of the list), but they also have a considerable catalogue online to lure you with.
Rue Vintage 74
If you’re into vintage furniture already, you should know them already. They have beautiful pieces chosen with the utmost care by Piluca Huesco and her team. And if you're not lucky enough to be in Madrid, you can have a small slice from their space on their online shop.
Smokit
They do all the field research to recover the pieces from the 20th century, and you find them in perfect condition on their website. Sound like a great deal, right?
On the other hand, if you're someone that likes it the old-fashioned way, you like to caress the wood and sit on the chairs. If you enjoy the immersive experience, these are the shops to have on your radar while vintage furniture shopping in Barcelona:
Noak´s Room
(Barcelona)
If you're a fan of Scandinavian design, this is your place, a great opportunity to score that original piece you've always dreamt of.
Azul Tierra
(Barcelona)
Toni Espuch curates this space in Barcelona's city centre, an eclectic culture mix with aesthetics from all over the globe.
Against
(Barcelona)
For the lovers of mid-century design, Against is specialized in architect-designed furniture. Pieces are sold as near to their original condition as possible. The prices match the store’s ambition, which is only logical.
Última Parada
(Girona)
I personally love the website, and a good graphic design is the quickest way to my heart, but if you're lucky enough to be near their warehouse at Corçà, Girona, you’ll see it’s worth it. A project by the photographer Salvador Fresneda, with furniture made to order, vintage, and a great selection of home-ware.
Antic Centre de Bulpellac
(Girona)
A 3.500 m² space where more than 40 antique dealers offer a huge variety of vintage pieces. The perfect place to get lost.
Mercantic
(Barcelona)
They do have a website with a small selection from some of the vendors, but you get the full experience when you visit it. There are multiple exhibitors and shops displaying their more special pieces. Considering how close they are from the city and how big the space is, it’s 100% worth visiting them.
