Happy Thrifting: America Designs

I have quite the virtual shopping treat for you today!

We recently visited the town of Lambertville, New Jersey.

Never heard of it? That’s okay.

It is a small town (population approx 4,000) located along the Delaware River and right on the border of Pennsylvania.

The Travel Channel recently named Lambertville the “Most Charming Small Town” in New Jersey on it’s list of “America’s 50 Most Charming Small Towns.”

That’s quite the endorsement, isn’t it?

With a recommendation from The Travel Channel and the town’s self-described label as the “Antiques Capital of New Jersey,” we HAD to check it out.

The very first store in Lambertville that we ventured into was America Designs. The instant we walked in I knew this was not your average antiques store.

The entire store had an industrial, Americana vibe.

The table the motorcycle was sitting on in the above photo looked like a custom creation. The base of the table was some sort of mechanical lift – at least, that’s what it looked like to me. I’m not a machinery expert, but I can spot a clever idea!

They had several tables that looked like they were custom fabrications and each one made me stop and say, “Someone has a much better imagination than I do. This is such an unique, amazing idea for a table!”

There were vintage clothes and old cowboy boots. Also, I’m a little disturbed that t-shirts from the 1980s can be considered vintage now. I was in elementary school in the 1980s. What does that say about me?!

Don’t answer that.

America Designs also had a large collection of clock tower dials from the 19th and 20th centuries. I had no idea that these clocks were such a big ticket item. This big one (below) was priced at $3,500. The small one in the upper right hand corner of the below photo was priced at $1,200.

A bit out of my price range, but they would look incredible in the right space!

When doing research on America Designs, I learned that they provide props for movies and are also a go-to source for interior designers working on hotel, restaurant and other projects.

You should check out America Designs’ website to see how their clocks and other creations have been used in tv and movies like Sex and the City and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I love it when I can make a local connection to a tv or movie that I’ve seen, don’t you?

For people who don’t live in or near New Jersey, America Designs keeps a running list of inventory with pictures on their website. I’m just guessing here, but I’m sure they can arrange for shipping in their sleep if you find something you like.

Whether or not this shop was my style or price range was besides the point. It was so inspiring to see the creativity on display in this store.

If you’re making the trip to Pennsylvania or New Jersey, a trip to Lambertville and America Designs will not be wasted!

You can also find America Designs on Instagram and Facebook.

Happy Thrifting!

P.S. If you want to see more pictures from our visit to Lambertville, click here to see one of the most amazing historic homes ever. This is not a sponsored post, by the way. We just had a really great visit.

P.P.S. Also, do not visit Lambertville without making time to have ice cream at OWowCow. The name alone is reason enough to visit, but the locally-made ice cream was delicious too – even in 30ºF weather.

Here are some other posts in the Happy Thrifting series:

Happy Thrifting: Antiques of Broadway

Happy Thrifting: The Nest at Farmstead Farmers Market

For laughs, here’s a story of what you shouldn’t do if you find a book on top of a garbage can.